Moving past opponents and non-combat actions near opponents

[Dristram]

I wasn't finding specific rules dealing with players moving past opponents or doing non-combat actions within the threat area of an opponent. If there is could someone point to where please?

How I've been ruling it in my game, since I consider a 5' area a pretty good amount of space, that if a character has not been engaged in melee combat with an opponent, and that opponent is engaged in melee combat with another character, that character is free to move past the opponent or do some non-combat action like swig a potion. I was trying to stay away from the whole, "I move 5' back and..." It takes away from the narrative aspect for me. So if the opponent is not engaged in melee then characters have to stop moving when they reach an opponent or risk the opponent getting a free attack on them. Also, if the character is engaged in melee combat with an opponent, in order to perform a non-combat action like swigging a potion, they'd have to put some distance between them and the opponent first or risk the opponent getting a free attack on them.

How do others handle these situations?

[serleran]

Case-by-case. I don't want, or have, a detailed subsystem for things like this. I figure if I can't decide how to handle it, the player can't do it... and that's gonna happen about .000000000000000000000000000000000000000001% of the time.

[BeZurKur]

Case by case is a good way to rule. Combat is more lively than static counters or miniatures on a map. Those games can be fun too, but C&C doesn't tailor to that style of play (although there is nothing stopping someone from writing houserules and making it that kind of game.) If someone wants to break from combat, make him earn it. He can flip a table at him, lock swords then shove back, kick sand in his face, etc. Just be cool about it: that's my houserule.

[DangerDwarf]

BeZurKur wrote:
Just be cool about it: that's my houserule.

Thats a good way to go about it too.

[Tadhg]

Dristram wrote:
I wasn't finding specific rules dealing with players moving past opponents or doing non-combat actions within the threat area of an opponent.

I encourage a certain amount of this, to stimulate my younger players into more role playing and less just swinging their swords. Oh, and flanking comes to mind as something that I recently reminded my group that they could utilize when appropriate.

Other situations and non-combat actions, I have no problem with and will examine on a case by case basis just using common sense. Hehe, if they try something unusual, they may get some unusual results!
_________________
Count Rhuveinus - Lejendary Keeper of Castle Franqueforte

"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

[PeelSeel2]

Depends on the situation. I will usually tell the player if I feel his action will endanger him, then let him make the decision from their.
_________________
Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

-George Washington

[Combat_Kyle]

There isn't a specific rule because it is not a miniature driven game like 3.X. I just use rule of thumb, in a small battle typically one can manuveur without getting attacked. Now, for example if a mounted knight charged a formation of human soldiers, he may he attacked by men he rushes by with his lance. Just use common sense, and use it sparingly too many Attacks of Opportunity or whatever you call them slow down a battle in C&C.
_________________
CK the CK
"My goddess touched me at an early age."

-Grikis Valmorgen, Paladin

The beginnings of my homebrew campaign world and info for my play by chat game:
http://kbdekker.googlepages.com/home

[moriarty777]

A felt an odd shiver when I thought of 3.5 for a moment!
Seriously, I like some of the others who already responded, pretty much use common sense mostly. The only circumstance I've encountered so far was a character who decided to charge through a group of opponents to get to an enemy spellcaster who was on the other side of said group.

Keep in mind that characters engaging large opponents (say a hill giant for example) have a chance to be used as a baseball as they try and close with the larger foe. I suppose this could be considered entering the giant's 'threat range'.

Which brings up another question for me actually... small opponents versus medium opponents... is this handled the same way? Anybody? So far I haven't been inclined to because it didn't seem to make much sense. I figure it's more of a question of 'reach' than anything else. For example, I might consider it if a small creature was moving to engage a medium creature who was using a pole arm.

Moriarty the Red
_________________
"You face Death itself in the form of... 1d4 Tarrasques!"

Partner to Brave Halfling Publishing
http://www.arcanacreations.com

[babbage]

If I remember correctly, this is mentioned in the PHB. Using large weapons does give the opponent his strike first (notice I didn't say 'free strike'). Something like a long spear, or pole arm.

[james_austintx]

Ideas?
Moving Past an Opponent: Our model for using miniatures assumes that combatants, who are not surprised or already engaged, immediately turn to face their opponent.

Additionally, once you engage with an enemy, you cant just run around to get behind the opponent or run by a readied opponent.

To that end, running or moving past an enemy who is armed with a melee weapon and with whom you are engaged is not possible. A Move Silently/Hide check can be used to slip by an enemy as normal.
OPTIONAL: Those characters, that are Dex Prime and are engaged, may attempt to maneuver to the rear or flank of an opponent via a Dex check.
_________________
I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.