I would love a unique AoO ability

[Thaago]

One thing I'm noticing in my playtesting as an air kineticist is that I'm forcing enemies to do move actions rather than steps, which is great. The aura, flinging updraft, and boomerang's damage on the next turn (depending on GM: is the boomerang noticeably whirling back so even animals know its coming? Or is it subtle so even high intelligence enemies only know after they've seen it?) all combine to force enemies to use that move action, which the other party members with AoO love (have a fighter and a stand still monk).

However, my poor kineticist is in melee with no reaction other than feather fall - which is a great reaction to have and has been very useful out of combat! But its not a combat reaction, so I'm usually not using one.

I know one of the directions being considered for the kineticist is "more martial" - if that is the direction taken, I think an AoO type ability, with a rider attached for each element, would be really cool and a good increase in the class's combat potential.

It would also just increase the number of actions that kineticists take overall: right now with gather elements being a "dead" action after an overflow, and there being 2 and 3 action impulses, this would give the player a bit more to do.

[graystone]

The only problem with an AoO is that everything the kineticist does triggers an AoO itself, so if you used that AoO you might get hit back by their AoO...

[siegfriedliner]

Personally I think it would be cool to have an ability to kinetic blast enemies who take an attack of opportunity against you with the option of disrupting the attack of opportunity on a hit. Which would make melee kinetesist feel a lot better.

[Dubious Scholar]

I think that's actually interesting... so you'd be winding up Burning Wave, they try to AoO on you, and you get to punch them in the face with a fire blast in response, with a chance of throwing off their AoO and wasting the reaction? I like it.

[PossibleCabbage]

I think the natural reaction a kineticist should get somewhere is "I interfere with your movement by messing with the terrain, a sudden gust of wind, a slippery patch, unexpected fire" etc.

Let people do it in aura range when their aura is up.

[graystone]

PossibleCabbage wrote:

I think the natural reaction a kineticist should get somewhere is "I interfere with your movement by messing with the terrain, a sudden gust of wind, a slippery patch, unexpected fire" etc.

Let people do it in aura range when their aura is up.

I go with some damage and a save [DC using con modifier] based on the element: earth [trip], air [shove away], water [force a balance check], fire [flatfooted].

[Thaago]

I like that idea! A save vs damage and effect would be great, and the damage doesn't need to be high if the effect is decent.

Just some sort of offensive reaction would really fill in a hole in the kineticist.

[Ryuujin-sama]

Air reaction reposition? Push?
Earth reaction turn the ground beneath them into quicksand or just pull them part way into the earth. Stuck/immobilized needing to spend an action to be able to move, and possibly a check as well.
Fire reaction Massive Damage for daring to attack me!
Water reaction uh push or reposition? Inflict slow on someone who attacks you or otherwise cost them actions? Maybe a reaction to cause them to start drowning?