According to ruling of movement, you can go through a friendly creature using your movement and can't stop on a space that is occupied by another creature. I've had players say you can move to another character's space, stop on their spot to attack, and move back to an empty space. Is that even allowed?
Player 1 moves their character into the square behind the monster, attacks, and ends their turn.
Player 2 moves their character into the square behind the monster, attacks, and then moves to a square adjacent.
By strict reading of the rules it's not possible, as you'd be ending your movement in an occupied square, attacking, then moving again.
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Now, for the sake of narration you could allow something like this to happen but it would be purely home rules. Looking at some of the cinematic moments in movies, where there are multiple people fighting, this type of thing happens. A gunman rolls across the back of an opponent or team mate while shooting at a target in front of, or behind, them. Two fighters are taking on a group of opponents, one fighter ducks down to sweep the legs out from an opponent while their partner throws a kick over their head knocking the opponent backward. It sounds cool, but gain, by the rules it's not something that is technically allowed.
You can't end your turn in another's space, but you can move through it. It's difficult terrain.
I've always believed that attacking isn't stopping. The only way this would every be "weird" is if the defender had Sentinel and the OoA as they left the allied space thier speed is now 0. So they now can't leave the space.
It does beg the question though, does doing an action (attacking, casting spells, etc.) invoke stopping its movement on its current spot (with some movement remaining) to do said action? Because if the action doesn't really mean you have to stop moving(unless its movement is reduced to 0) then halting on another occupied spot to do something then moving out of said spot is allowed.
EDIT: Did some thorough reading and I would like to ask some insights from the others regarding a few things. How does one define "breaking up movement"? Does this also define as stopping somewhere to do an action or just another motion that is in sync with the movement?
That's the fun part, if you look at it as it's described in the PHB both Movement and Attack are individual actions that can be done in your turn. They are separate actions, so as such would be considered a sequence like: Move action -> attack action -> move action. What you're suggesting is that these two actions could be considered a singular action so would be Move action + attack action.
While it could be presented that way, as FullMetalBunny pointed out, it's an interpretation that is combining two actions into one. I can, especially as a martial artist, understand the argument that moving and attacking could be seen as a simultaneous thing. However for the sake of a turn based combat such as D&D, that stricter definition is necessary for the cause and effect of the abilities, triggers, and effects that may happen and be missed by a more fluid approach.
It does beg the question though, does doing an action (attacking, casting spells, etc.) invoke stopping its movement on its current spot (with some movement remaining) to do said action? Because if the action doesn't really mean you have to stop moving(unless its movement is reduced to 0) then halting on another occupied spot to do something then moving out of said spot is allowed.
As I understand it, the game treats movement and actions as two different entities, not overlapping each other. So, if you want to break the movement to take the action, you effectively stop moving, take the action and then take the movement left.
Allowing combatants to attack while stopped in an occupied square leads to some strange situations.
For example, Conan moves into Juma's square and attacks Thoth-Amon and moves away. Unfortunately, Thoth-Amon turns out to have the Sentinel feat. He opportunity attacks as Conan moves away, stopping Conan's move. Now Conan is forced to end his movement in Juma's square.
For example, Conan moves into Juma's square only to discover that Thoth-Amon has readied an attack which he uses to knock Conan prone. Conan doesn't have enough movement left to stand or crawl so is forced to end his movement in Juma's square, prone.
For example, Conan moves into Juma's square only to discover that Thoth-Amon had readied flesh to stone. Conan's player fails the save so now is forced to end his movement and his turn in Juma's square, restrained.
Allowing combatants to attack while stopped in an occupied square leads to some strange situations...
I think all those can arise without allowing an attack from an occupied square. You could easily trigger an opportunity attack while trying to move through (out of) an occupied square and could face a Sentinel situation. Attacking or not makes no difference.
Personally I think it's fine to allow the attack while moving in an occupied square, as long as both PCs and monsters get the chance. It frees up options in an otherwise cluttered battle, and increases chances of opportunity attacks. Less chance of players getting bored because they are just stuck behind the line.
I would not allow a character to attack while on an ally's square. I'd feel like that area is a bit too "crowded" to land a solid attack. Also, it would make it very easy for a Rogue to land his sneak attacks; simply cunning action Disengage, step in the fighter's area, stab and get out. This, in some situations such as narrow corridors where there is one square, feels odd to me. You could also rule it as Squeezing for both characters:
Squeezing into a Smaller Space
A creature can squeeze through a space that is large enough for a creature one size smaller than it. Thus, a Large creature can squeeze through a passage that's only 5 feet wide. While squeezing through a space, a creature must spend 1 extra foot for every foot it moves there, and it has disadvantage on attack rolls and Dexterity saving throws. Attack rolls against the creature have advantage while it's in the smaller space.
A player could also ready an action to attack when an enemy is adjacent, and then perform their move. They then declare they are making a move which happens to pass through an ally's square... can the readied attack trigger?
A player could also ready an action to attack when an enemy is adjacent, and then perform their move. They then declare they are making a move which happens to pass through an ally's square... can the readied attack trigger?
If you select a trigger which is impossible in the current situation then it won't trigger. A readied action is that characters hope of what they can do, but all normal rules still apply.
I let my players do this. And I do it for enemies. But the attack get disadvantage. Because the space is crowded. So I had a situation where the players were going through a ruin and there were 10 skeletons on the other side of a door. The players wanted to “hold” the door way to negate the numbers advantage. The way I see it narratively is the skeletons are stacking and mobbing the doorway like a zombie movie and the players are fighting them back. Even though the literal placement on the game board doesn’t really reflect it.
I also allow the attacks of opportunity for the creatures moving out of the occupied space. And only creatures with enough movement to get in and back out to an unoccupied space can do it.
You normally can’t willingly end your move in another creature's space. Exception such as the Swarm or Engulf feature allow you, so are actions that swallow others.
You have to remember that each player's turn occurs at the same time. We go by initiative for game play purposes but a round lasts roughly 6 seconds in game because everyone is moving simultaneously. Going into another player's space will interrupt whatever they are doing. Even as a house rule, in that scenario you should both have disadvantage for the rest of the round.
As everyone keeps saying, you can not end your turn in some one else's space. This is raw.
BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT IS GOING ON.
The original poster is not talking about ending your turn in someone elses space. He is having someone move into an ally's space, attack, then move out, all in the same turn.
This is legal, as per RAW.
You do not end your turn when you stop moving or when you take an attack. You are allowed to attack in the middle of your move, totally legal.
As per RAW, there is no disadvantage.
With regards to Sentinel, Flesh to stone, and other 'restraints' from an AoO/ready action, the actual rule is:
Whether a creature is a friend or an enemy, you can't willingly end your move in its space.
This is an unwilling end of move, and is legal. The DM has to deal with the strange situation, without much guidance from the RAW.
I personally would House Rule that once this has done, the space is no longer merely 'difficult terrain', and now no other ally can move into that same space. Both players in the same space would count as 'squeezing', which mostly means they get disadvantage on attacks and dex saves, and enemies get advantage to hit them.
As a player, I would change my action that round to grab the restrained creature and pull it out of that space. This is not ending my space in the same space as a character, but instead is me carrying another creature. Our game has ruled that doing so means the carried person is in the 5 ft cube 'above' you (unless stated otherwise), and someone of the same size or larger always gives up your attack. In addition it cut's your movement in half, unless you are strong enough to carry them without encumbrance.
As everyone keeps saying, you can not end your turn in some one else's space. This is raw.
BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT IS GOING ON.
The original poster is not talking about ending your turn in someone elses space. He is having someone move into an ally's space, attack, then move out, all in the same turn.
This is legal, as per RAW.
Whether a creature is a friend or an enemy, you can't willingly end your move in its space.
Not turn, move. So you cannot stop moving to attack inside another creature's space.
From a mechanical perspective, it's also deeply sus if a dying, unconscious creature telekinetically keeps you out of its combat space, but as soon as it becomes a corpse, it doesn't. Theoretically, a creature's space is the area in feet that it effectively controls in combat, not an expression of its physical dimensions, which means a creature that can't exert any control in combat (e.g. due to being unconscious, which basically means you function like a corpse, or petrified, which makes you function like a statue, both of which are objects) should have its space shrink. We don't have rules for that in practice, but I don't think I've ever had a DM stop me from standing on top of a downed ally as if they were already dead.
According to ruling of movement, you can go through a friendly creature using your movement and can't stop on a space that is occupied by another creature. I've had players say you can move to another character's space, stop on their spot to attack, and move back to an empty space. Is that even allowed?
According to the PHB, you can't end your move in another creature's space.
So the events play out as such:
Player 1 moves their character into the square behind the monster, attacks, and ends their turn.
Player 2 moves their character into the square behind the monster, attacks, and then moves to a square adjacent.
By strict reading of the rules it's not possible, as you'd be ending your movement in an occupied square, attacking, then moving again.
---
Now, for the sake of narration you could allow something like this to happen but it would be purely home rules. Looking at some of the cinematic moments in movies, where there are multiple people fighting, this type of thing happens. A gunman rolls across the back of an opponent or team mate while shooting at a target in front of, or behind, them. Two fighters are taking on a group of opponents, one fighter ducks down to sweep the legs out from an opponent while their partner throws a kick over their head knocking the opponent backward. It sounds cool, but gain, by the rules it's not something that is technically allowed.
You can't end your turn in another's space, but you can move through it. It's difficult terrain.
I've always believed that attacking isn't stopping. The only way this would every be "weird" is if the defender had Sentinel and the OoA as they left the allied space thier speed is now 0. So they now can't leave the space.
But this could be true without attacking.
It does beg the question though, does doing an action (attacking, casting spells, etc.) invoke stopping its movement on its current spot (with some movement remaining) to do said action? Because if the action doesn't really mean you have to stop moving(unless its movement is reduced to 0) then halting on another occupied spot to do something then moving out of said spot is allowed.
EDIT: Did some thorough reading and I would like to ask some insights from the others regarding a few things. How does one define "breaking up movement"? Does this also define as stopping somewhere to do an action or just another motion that is in sync with the movement?
That's the fun part, if you look at it as it's described in the PHB both Movement and Attack are individual actions that can be done in your turn. They are separate actions, so as such would be considered a sequence like: Move action -> attack action -> move action. What you're suggesting is that these two actions could be considered a singular action so would be Move action + attack action.
While it could be presented that way, as FullMetalBunny pointed out, it's an interpretation that is combining two actions into one. I can, especially as a martial artist, understand the argument that moving and attacking could be seen as a simultaneous thing. However for the sake of a turn based combat such as D&D, that stricter definition is necessary for the cause and effect of the abilities, triggers, and effects that may happen and be missed by a more fluid approach.
As I understand it, the game treats movement and actions as two different entities, not overlapping each other. So, if you want to break the movement to take the action, you effectively stop moving, take the action and then take the movement left.
Allowing combatants to attack while stopped in an occupied square leads to some strange situations.
For example, Conan moves into Juma's square and attacks Thoth-Amon and moves away. Unfortunately, Thoth-Amon turns out to have the Sentinel feat. He opportunity attacks as Conan moves away, stopping Conan's move. Now Conan is forced to end his movement in Juma's square.
For example, Conan moves into Juma's square only to discover that Thoth-Amon has readied an attack which he uses to knock Conan prone. Conan doesn't have enough movement left to stand or crawl so is forced to end his movement in Juma's square, prone.
For example, Conan moves into Juma's square only to discover that Thoth-Amon had readied flesh to stone. Conan's player fails the save so now is forced to end his movement and his turn in Juma's square, restrained.
I think all those can arise without allowing an attack from an occupied square. You could easily trigger an opportunity attack while trying to move through (out of) an occupied square and could face a Sentinel situation. Attacking or not makes no difference.
Personally I think it's fine to allow the attack while moving in an occupied square, as long as both PCs and monsters get the chance. It frees up options in an otherwise cluttered battle, and increases chances of opportunity attacks. Less chance of players getting bored because they are just stuck behind the line.
I would not allow a character to attack while on an ally's square. I'd feel like that area is a bit too "crowded" to land a solid attack. Also, it would make it very easy for a Rogue to land his sneak attacks; simply cunning action Disengage, step in the fighter's area, stab and get out. This, in some situations such as narrow corridors where there is one square, feels odd to me. You could also rule it as Squeezing for both characters:
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
No. Per Jeremy Crawford: "The intent is that you can't willingly end your move—any part of it—in another creature's space (PH, 191)."
(also discussed here)
A player could also ready an action to attack when an enemy is adjacent, and then perform their move. They then declare they are making a move which happens to pass through an ally's square... can the readied attack trigger?
If you select a trigger which is impossible in the current situation then it won't trigger. A readied action is that characters hope of what they can do, but all normal rules still apply.
I let my players do this. And I do it for enemies. But the attack get disadvantage. Because the space is crowded.
So I had a situation where the players were going through a ruin and there were 10 skeletons on the other side of a door. The players wanted to “hold” the door way to negate the numbers advantage. The way I see it narratively is the skeletons are stacking and mobbing the doorway like a zombie movie and the players are fighting them back. Even though the literal placement on the game board doesn’t really reflect it.
I also allow the attacks of opportunity for the creatures moving out of the occupied space. And only creatures with enough movement to get in and back out to an unoccupied space can do it.
You normally can’t willingly end your move in another creature's space. Exception such as the Swarm or Engulf feature allow you, so are actions that swallow others.
You have to remember that each player's turn occurs at the same time. We go by initiative for game play purposes but a round lasts roughly 6 seconds in game because everyone is moving simultaneously. Going into another player's space will interrupt whatever they are doing. Even as a house rule, in that scenario you should both have disadvantage for the rest of the round.
As everyone keeps saying, you can not end your turn in some one else's space. This is raw.
BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT IS GOING ON.
The original poster is not talking about ending your turn in someone elses space. He is having someone move into an ally's space, attack, then move out, all in the same turn.
This is legal, as per RAW.
You do not end your turn when you stop moving or when you take an attack. You are allowed to attack in the middle of your move, totally legal.
As per RAW, there is no disadvantage.
With regards to Sentinel, Flesh to stone, and other 'restraints' from an AoO/ready action, the actual rule is:
This is an unwilling end of move, and is legal. The DM has to deal with the strange situation, without much guidance from the RAW.
I personally would House Rule that once this has done, the space is no longer merely 'difficult terrain', and now no other ally can move into that same space. Both players in the same space would count as 'squeezing', which mostly means they get disadvantage on attacks and dex saves, and enemies get advantage to hit them.
As a player, I would change my action that round to grab the restrained creature and pull it out of that space. This is not ending my space in the same space as a character, but instead is me carrying another creature. Our game has ruled that doing so means the carried person is in the 5 ft cube 'above' you (unless stated otherwise), and someone of the same size or larger always gives up your attack. In addition it cut's your movement in half, unless you are strong enough to carry them without encumbrance.
Whether a creature is a friend or an enemy, you can't willingly end your move in its space.
Not turn, move. So you cannot stop moving to attack inside another creature's space.
Here's one way to stop moving in an ally's space.
Here's an optional rule from the DMG for doing it.
This isn't technically a way to stop moving in an ally's space, but it is a way to stop moving in an ally's grid square.
From a mechanical perspective, it's also deeply sus if a dying, unconscious creature telekinetically keeps you out of its combat space, but as soon as it becomes a corpse, it doesn't. Theoretically, a creature's space is the area in feet that it effectively controls in combat, not an expression of its physical dimensions, which means a creature that can't exert any control in combat (e.g. due to being unconscious, which basically means you function like a corpse, or petrified, which makes you function like a statue, both of which are objects) should have its space shrink. We don't have rules for that in practice, but I don't think I've ever had a DM stop me from standing on top of a downed ally as if they were already dead.
You move between actions and possibly between attacks if you take an action that includes more than one weapon attack which means before and after it.