D&D 5E Should standing up from prone trigger opportunity attack?

[Mrodron]

Unless I am mistaken, given two attacks, it is always better (for the fighter) to attack twice than (try to) shove a target prone and attack it once with advantage. Standing up from prone consumes half of ones movement. Therefore, standing up is kind of moving, and movement does provoke attack of opportunity within the threatened area otherwise. If the prone target chooses the stand up, the fighter would kind of get his/her second attack back (with advantage!). Is this even overpowered? I am trying to make this option more worthwhile and more commonly used.

 

[iserith]

Is this even overpowered?

Nothing is overpowered when the DM has infinite dragons at his or her disposal.

I am trying to make this option more worthwhile and more commonly used.

Why?

 

[Mort]

The only trigger of opportunity attacks (in 5e) is moving out of a threatened area. So standing up wouldn't trigger the condition. You can expand that with Polearm master to targets that move into your reach, but that still wouldn't trigger the condition here.

 

[akr71]

Look at it from the reverse angle for a minute. If your character were knocked prone in combat and then on your turn, you provoked an attack of opportunity from a nearby opponent just because you were getting back into the fight, would it seem fair to you, or would you feel the DM was picking on your already penalized character?

You you would be fine with it, then go ahead. If I were to implement a rule like that, I would allow the prone creature a 'movie style' roll out of the way while on the ground which does not provoke an attack of opportunity. That is, spend your action to disengage while still prone, now get up (still costing half your movement).

 

[Mort]

I am trying to make this option more worthwhile and more commonly used.

If you allow the pre-errata'd use of shield master - it'll likely get used more.

Also BM fighters can take advantage of this better than most classes.

But also, it can still be very effective if you coordinate with the rest of the party. Knock the target down and everyone who goes before the target's turn gets advantage (well for melee, not a great tactic for ranged) - that's plenty effective.

 

[Mort]

Nothing is overpowered when the DM has infinite dragons at his or her disposal.

True, which is why I tend to judge power level as to the PCs relative to each other.

But also, how will the PCs react if/when the DM uses this on them? And he has a lot more monsters then they have PCs!

 

[MarkB]

Unless I am mistaken, given two attacks, it is always better (for the fighter) to attack twice than (try to) shove a target prone and attack it once with advantage.

In a duel, yes. But fights in D&D are rarely straight-up duels. There are plenty of reasons why a fighter might want to put their foe on the floor in combat.

If they're part of a melee-focused group, and multiple other party members will get to act before the foe's next turn, they all get to attack with advantage.

If the foe is trying to get somewhere in a hurry, whether that somewhere is "away" or "to the squishy wizard" or "to the big red button", then making them waste half their movement can be well worth it.

 

[iserith]

True, which is why I tend to judge power level as to the PCs relative to each other.

I'm only concerned about that if it actually makes it harder for the DM to share the spotlight between the PCs. Which generally means that it will have to be something truly egregious.

I think the most important question in this thread is why the OP wants to do this. Because then the likely game impact can be compared to his or her goal to arrive at relevant conclusions.

 

[Mort]

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I'm only concerned about that if it actually makes it harder for the DM to share the spotlight between the PCs. Which generally means that it will have to be something truly egregious.

Yes, I agree. If one character has an ability (or abilities) that allow them to consistently step on the toes of the other PCs - then you might have a problem. This likely doesn't qualify as it will help other characters without stepping on their shtick.

I think the most important question in this thread is why the OP wants to do this. Because then the likely game impact can be compared to his or her goal to arrive at relevant conclusions.

Seems like he thinks the tactic should work better than it does and wants to fix that? But, yes, it's an important question that only the OP is equipped to answer.

 

[Mrodron]

Look at it from the reverse angle for a minute. If your character were knocked prone in combat and then on your turn, you provoked an attack of opportunity from a nearby opponent just because you were getting back into the fight, would it seem fair to you, or would you feel the DM was picking on your already penalized character?

No, because that's how it worked in 3.5/PF. I'd be actually more worried about PCs around a poor monster that has been knocked prone.