Combat Reactions (3.5e Variant Rule)

Background

Combat is no fun when you spend most of your time waiting for your turn. Combat reactions encourage you to stay engaged on other players’ turns.

Rules

Combat reactions allow you to take certain actions when it is not your turn. You gain your first combat reaction at BAB +0. At BAB +6, BAB +11, and BAB +16, you gain an additional combat reaction each turn.

Any condition that prevents you from making an attack of opportunity prevents you from using a combat reaction.

Aid Attack

You may assist another character’s melee attack on his turn. If you’re in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is engaging a friend in melee combat, you can aid your friend as a combat reaction. Before your friend makes his attack roll, announce your intention to use your combat reaction to Aid Attack. Your friend gains a +2 bonus on his attack roll. Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and the bonuses stack.

Aid Defense

You may assist another character’s defense. If you’re in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is engaging a friend in melee combat, you can aid your friend as a combat reaction. On the opponent’s turn, before he makes his melee attack roll against your friend, announce your intention to use your combat reaction to Aid Defense. Your friend gains a +2 bonus on his AC against that attack. Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and the bonuses stack.

Dodge

You may attempt to dodge a single melee or ranged attack. On the opponent’s turn, before he makes his attack roll against you, announce your intention to use your combat reaction to Dodge. Against that single attack, you gain a dodge bonus to your AC equal to ¹⁄₂ your BAB.

Block

If you are engaged in melee, you may use your combat reaction to block your opponent’s melee attack. On the opponent’s turn, before he makes his attack roll against you, announce your intention to use your combat reaction to Block. Against that single attack, you gain DR against that attack equal to ¹⁄₂ your BAB. If you are blocking with a buckler or shield, add the shield’s AC bonus (including any enhancement bonus) to the amount of DR. If you have DR from another source, the DR from block stacks with your highest applicable DR.

Attack of Opportunity

As a combat reaction, you may make a single melee attack at your normal attack bonus against an enemy that provokes an attack of opportunity in your threatened area.

Feats

This is a revised feat for this variant rule.

Combat Reflexes

Prerequisite: Dex 13.

Benefit: A character with Combat Reflexes gains one additional combat reaction per turn. A character with this feat may also make combat reactions while flat-footed.

Normal: A character may make one combat reaction per round at BAB +0 and one additional combat reaction per round at BAB +6, +11, and +16. A character may not make a combat reaction while flat-footed.

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