Suppose a character with 1 HP and a max HP of 10 provokes an opportunity attack from two separate guards at once. What happens?
1) Both guards attack normally and manage to hit simultaneously. Guard A does 5 damage, Guard B does 7 damage. Character took 12 damage so he dies instantly due to Massive Damage.
2) Guard A attacks normally and hits for 4 damage, reducing character to zero hit points. Guard B attacks with advantage due to due to unconscious and hits AND scores an autocrit due to unconscious for 9 damage, giving character two failed death saves.
3) Guard A attacks normally and hits for 4 damage, reducing character to zero hit points. Guard B doesn't get to attack.
This is interesting because Opportunity Attacks are triggered by leaving a creature's reach but the attack is resolved before the creature actually leaves the attacker's reach.
I would go with Option 2 but there is an argument that can be made for Option 3.
Yes, it can depend on the setup if both guards are able to attack. So they both might not be get an opportunity attack.
But in the situation that both guards do get the opportunity attack then it is #2. Each guard gets their reaction and you resolve them one at a time. Their damage is separate, from separate sources so #1 doesn’t happen. And if both guards get an opportunity attack, even if guard A puts them down, the trigger still happened so guard B can attack, so #3 doesn’t happen
It would be up to guard B if they want to use their reaction to attack the unconscious character once guard A puts them down. The DM could have them save their reaction for something else seeing as the character is unconscious.
" If two or more things happen at the same time on a character or monster’s turn, the person at the game table — whether player or DM — who controls that creature decides the order in which those things happen. For example, if two effects occur at the end of a player character’s turn, the player decides which of the two effects happens first."
So using this rule the player decides which guard attacks first (though if they have identical stats it doesn't matter. I also believe before xanather's JC tweeted that the GM dicides which happens first if you go by tweets.
The fact that the reactions are sequential rules out 1. I would argue however it is however quite possible that the second guard seeing that the character is unconcious and no longer able to escape choose not to make an op attack. For many guards where possible they will arrest offenders rather and only and as judge and executioner if that is not possible.
A related issue is how to deal with counterspell is two or more members of the party are able to cast it.
Do both have to decide whether to cast counterspell without knowing what the other is doing and both use a spell slot even if the first succeeds?
A second caster can choose whether to cast counterspell knowing that his allay is going to cast it as well but must make the decision before the result of the first is known
Do both have to declare whether they are casting counterspell and the level first but if the first character succeeds the second does not use their reaction or spell slot (or maybe uses their reaction but not the spell slot)
The first person to declare they will cast counterspell but after failing the ability check another player can then choose to counterspel possibly using a higher leve spell slot.
Most games I have been in use the 4th option but I like the 3rd and it avoids a certain amount of information that might be considered meta. The first two options which are the equivalent of saying the second guard can not change his mind and not op attack when the guy trying to run away has been knocked unconcious is pretty brutal in the use of resources. .
Forgot to ask which Guard is A and which is B, but I suppose Xanathar rule can resolve that. Is there a rule that requires all attacks to be resolved separately, or is that just assumed because nothing says it's simultaneous
Forgot to ask which Guard is A and which is B, but I suppose Xanathar rule can resolve that. Is there a rule that requires all attacks to be resolved separately, or is that just assumed because nothing says it's simultaneous
The latter - everything in the game is sequential unless you're told otherwise. Also, while you are correct in general to use Xanathar's rules for tiebreaking any time two or more reactions have identical triggers and therefore would happen simultaneously, every DM I've ever had has broken reaction ties using initiative order.
I'd say both guards would simultaneously make an opportunity attack against the character, leaving it to 0 HP. Because the damage comes from two seperate attacks, Massive Damage would not apply.
I resolve it in similar ways when multiple creatures Ready an Action with the same trigger. Each can take reaction when the trigger occur or hold on. Its rare cases where i allow simultaneousness to occur.
Opportunity attacks aren't mandatory. After guard A takes down the bad guy, guard B could elect not to attack. Just because you are able to do something doesn't mean you have to do the thing.
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Suppose a character with 1 HP and a max HP of 10 provokes an opportunity attack from two separate guards at once. What happens?
1) Both guards attack normally and manage to hit simultaneously. Guard A does 5 damage, Guard B does 7 damage. Character took 12 damage so he dies instantly due to Massive Damage.
2) Guard A attacks normally and hits for 4 damage, reducing character to zero hit points. Guard B attacks with advantage due to due to unconscious and hits AND scores an autocrit due to unconscious for 9 damage, giving character two failed death saves.
3) Guard A attacks normally and hits for 4 damage, reducing character to zero hit points. Guard B doesn't get to attack.
This is interesting because Opportunity Attacks are triggered by leaving a creature's reach but the attack is resolved before the creature actually leaves the attacker's reach.
I would go with Option 2 but there is an argument that can be made for Option 3.
Yes, it can depend on the setup if both guards are able to attack. So they both might not be get an opportunity attack.
But in the situation that both guards do get the opportunity attack then it is #2. Each guard gets their reaction and you resolve them one at a time. Their damage is separate, from separate sources so #1 doesn’t happen. And if both guards get an opportunity attack, even if guard A puts them down, the trigger still happened so guard B can attack, so #3 doesn’t happen
It would be up to guard B if they want to use their reaction to attack the unconscious character once guard A puts them down. The DM could have them save their reaction for something else seeing as the character is unconscious.
At least that’s how I would rule it.
This is an optional rule in XGtE
" If two or more things happen at the same time on a character or monster’s turn, the person at the game table — whether player or DM — who controls that creature decides the order in which those things happen. For example, if two effects occur at the end of a player character’s turn, the player decides which of the two effects happens first."
So using this rule the player decides which guard attacks first (though if they have identical stats it doesn't matter. I also believe before xanather's JC tweeted that the GM dicides which happens first if you go by tweets.
The fact that the reactions are sequential rules out 1. I would argue however it is however quite possible that the second guard seeing that the character is unconcious and no longer able to escape choose not to make an op attack. For many guards where possible they will arrest offenders rather and only and as judge and executioner if that is not possible.
A related issue is how to deal with counterspell is two or more members of the party are able to cast it.
Most games I have been in use the 4th option but I like the 3rd and it avoids a certain amount of information that might be considered meta. The first two options which are the equivalent of saying the second guard can not change his mind and not op attack when the guy trying to run away has been knocked unconcious is pretty brutal in the use of resources. .
Forgot to ask which Guard is A and which is B, but I suppose Xanathar rule can resolve that. Is there a rule that requires all attacks to be resolved separately, or is that just assumed because nothing says it's simultaneous
The latter - everything in the game is sequential unless you're told otherwise. Also, while you are correct in general to use Xanathar's rules for tiebreaking any time two or more reactions have identical triggers and therefore would happen simultaneously, every DM I've ever had has broken reaction ties using initiative order.
I'd say both guards would simultaneously make an opportunity attack against the character, leaving it to 0 HP. Because the damage comes from two seperate attacks, Massive Damage would not apply.
I resolve it in similar ways when multiple creatures Ready an Action with the same trigger. Each can take reaction when the trigger occur or hold on. Its rare cases where i allow simultaneousness to occur.
In the end there is no general rules on this, but an optional rule exist but the Devs otherwise have left it up to DMs. https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/651511921498193920?s=20&t=Um-5_5hru9kqZzI2yU48vw
Opportunity attacks aren't mandatory. After guard A takes down the bad guy, guard B could elect not to attack. Just because you are able to do something doesn't mean you have to do the thing.