D&D 3.5 - Rules Compendium (OEF) .PDF - Attacks of Opportunity

Attacks of Opportunity PROVOKING ATTACKS
The melee combat rules assume that combatants are actively OF OPPORTUNITY
avoiding attacks. Sometimes combatants in a melee let their Moving out of a threatened square can provoke attacks
guard down. In such cases, other combatants nearby can take of opportunity, as can being in a threatened square while
advantage of the lapse in defense to attack for free. These free performing an act that requires focused attention.
attacks are called attacks of opportunity.
Moving
THREATENED SQUARES
ATTACKS OF OPPORTUNITY
Moving out of a threatened square usually provokes an attack

If you’re considered armed, you threaten all squares into of opportunity from any opponent who threatens that square.
which you can make a melee attack, even when it isn’t your Two methods of movement allow you to avoid such an attack:
turn. That usually means everything in all squares adjacent to 5-foot step and withdraw. See Movement, page 90.
your space, including diagonally. An enemy that undertakes Moving out of more than one square threatened by the
certain activities while in a threatened square provokes same opponent in the same round doesn’t count as more
attacks of opportunity. If you’re considered unarmed, you than one opportunity for that opponent.
don’t normally threaten any squares and thus can’t make
attacks of opportunity. Certain conditions in combat, such Focused Act
as concealment and cover, also affect your ability to make When you focus your attention on what you’re doing, you
attacks of opportunity. divert your attention from the battle. The Actions in Combat
table, page 8, notes many activities that provoke attacks of
Reach opportunity for this reason. Some such actions allow you
Most creatures of Medium or smaller size have a reach of to make a Concentration check to avoid provoking (see
only 5 feet. This means that they can make melee attacks Concentration, page 33). Even actions that normally provoke
only against creatures up to 5 feet (1 square) away. However, attacks of opportunity can have exceptions.
Small and Medium creatures wielding reach weapons might
threaten more squares than a typical creature. Creatures larger MAKING ATTACKS OF OPPORTUNITY
than Medium have a natural reach of 10 feet or more, so they An attack of opportunity is a single melee attack you can make
threaten all squares within that reach, including diagonal ones. when you’re active in combat and an opportunity presents
Creatures smaller than Small typically have a natural reach of itself. If you’re ﬂat-footed, you can’t make attacks of opportu-
0 feet, meaning they can’t reach into adjacent squares. Since nity, and you don’t ever have to make an attack of opportunity
they have no natural reach, such creatures don’t threaten the if you don’t want to. Making an attack of opportunity isn’t
squares around them at all. See Size, page 116. considered an action, but you can make only one attack of
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ATTACKS OF OPPORTUNITY
Illus. by T. Nordstrand
opportunity per round unless you have an attribute that Multiple Attacks of Opportunity
allows you to make more (see below). If you have multiple Some abilities allow you to make more than one attack of
attacks for some reason, you use your highest normal attack opportunity per round. Most such abilities, unless they
bonus when you make your attack of opportunity, even if say otherwise, don’t let you make more than one attack
you’ve already attacked during the round. for a given opportunity. If the same opponent provokes
An attack of opportunity interrupts the normal ﬂow of two attacks of opportunity from you, however, you could
actions in the round. If an attack of opportunity is taken, make two separate attacks of opportunity. Each provoking
immediately resolve that attack of opportunity, then continue act represents a different opportunity. Multiple attacks of
with whatever was happening when the attack of opportunity opportunity otherwise follow the rules for normal attacks
was provoked. of opportunity.
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CLERICAL ERROR
Especially when you’ve got lots of hit points, it can be tempt- Because the giant had reach and some advantageous terrain,
ing to provoke attacks of opportunity willy-nilly, taking a little Rob’s cleric provoked an attack of opportunity just for moving
damage in exchange for unfettered action. That’s a valid tacti- nearby. It’s just an attack of opportunity, right? What’s the worst
cal option, but a nonchalant attitude toward such attacks from that could happen?
powerful opponents can backfire. One critical hit from a massive greataxe later, Rob’s cleric was
In a playtest a few years ago, we were fighting a frost giant jarl dead on the icy floor. But the disaster didn’t end there. When
(not the CR 17 one in the Monster Manual), and we were hard Rob’s cleric fell, that triggered the jarl’s Cleave feat and killed
pressed. One of us slipped out of the meeting room and grabbed the fighter, too.
a phone. Word soon went out over the building’s intercom: The final tally for Rob’s cleric: 15 feet moved, two PCs
“Could a 7th-level cleric please report to Focus Group Room 2 dead. That might be the shortest PC life span I’ve ever seen.
immediately?” And it’s worth noting that if Rob’s cleric hadn’t been there,
Enter Rob Heinsoo and his 7th-level cleric, possessed of both the fighter would have survived until his next turn—and
hit points and moxie in abundance. Seeing wounded comrades maybe beyond.
locked in melee with the frost giant jarl, he moved forward, —David Noonan, designer
eager to drop a big cure spell on the fighter.
pqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqrs
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Attacks of Opportunity PROVOKING ATTACKS

Moving out of a threatened square usually provokes an attack

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