Picking someone up?

[SangoProduction]

So, can you lift someone up from prone? Like, someone trips them, in hopes of doing an AoO when they get up. But you can stand outside of their reach, while still reaching your friend. Can you take the action to get your friend, instead of them? Are there any rules regarding this?

[Zaq]

I don’t think there’s any RAW support directly (aside from actions that grant a move action to the target), but it seems like a reasonable thing to allow on the fly most of the time.

[Thurbane]

It would probably be similar to picking up an item, which is a move action that provokes AoO (for the person doing the picking up) - but what that does for the prone character, I don't believe there is a RAW answer...

[Doctor Awkward]

Specifically as written?

I don't think the rules support this.

Extrapolating a ruling from other existing rules? Well...

Aid Another:
(http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#aidAnother)
In melee combat, you can help a friend attack or defend by distracting or interfering with an opponent. If you’re in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is engaging a friend in melee combat, you can attempt to aid your friend as a standard action. You make an attack roll against AC 10. If you succeed, your friend gains either a +2 bonus on his next attack roll against that opponent or a +2 bonus to AC against that opponent’s next attack (your choice), as long as that attack comes before the beginning of your next turn. Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and similar bonuses stack.

You can also use this standard action to help a friend in other ways, such as when he is affected by a spell, or to assist another character’s skill check.
You may use the standard action of Aid Another to "help a friend in some way."

However, as is noted on the table for Standard Actions in combat: (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm#standardActions)

If you aid someone performing an action that would normally provoke an attack of opportunity, then the act of aiding another provokes an attack of opportunity as well.


So a common sense ruling based on existing text would be helping an ally up from the prone position would be a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity. This seems entirely sensible to me. It's a little unclear if only you, the helper, would get the attack, or if both of you would. But ruling that only the helper is subject would probably be the one that promotes the most fun, and it would better reflect the reality of what your character is trying to do: put themselves at risk to alleviate risk to a friend in trouble.

[Calthropstu]

Specifically as written?

I don't think the rules support this.

Extrapolating a ruling from other existing rules? Well...

Aid Another:
(http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#aidAnother)
You may use the standard action of Aid Another to "help a friend in some way."

However, as is noted on the table for Standard Actions in combat: (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm#standardActions)



So a common sense ruling based on existing text would be helping an ally up from the prone position would be a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity. This seems entirely sensible to me. It's a little unclear if only you, the helper, would get the attack, or if both of you would. But ruling that only the helper is subject would probably be the one that promotes the most fun, and it would better reflect the reality of what your character is trying to do: put themselves at risk to alleviate risk to a friend in trouble.

Hmmmm, I like this. I am making this an official house rule at my table.

[heavyfuel]

Specifically as written?

I don't think the rules support this.

Extrapolating a ruling from other existing rules? Well...

Aid Another:
(http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#aidAnother)
You may use the standard action of Aid Another to "help a friend in some way."

However, as is noted on the table for Standard Actions in combat: (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm#standardActions)



So a common sense ruling based on existing text would be helping an ally up from the prone position would be a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity. This seems entirely sensible to me. It's a little unclear if only you, the helper, would get the attack, or if both of you would. But ruling that only the helper is subject would probably be the one that promotes the most fun, and it would better reflect the reality of what your character is trying to do: put themselves at risk to alleviate risk to a friend in trouble.

I came here to post exactly this piece of rule.

The language used ("such as") makes Aid Another perfectly applicable

[Thurbane]

Hmmmm, I like this. I am making this an official house rule at my table.

Agreed - seems a perfectly sensible way to handle it.

[Elkad]

..........
But ruling that only the helper is subject would probably be the one that promotes the most fun, and it would better reflect the reality of what your character is trying to do: put themselves at risk to alleviate risk to a friend in trouble.

This is excellent. Thirded or something.

You take the AoO, but you are standing, so at least the enemy isn't getting the bonus vs prone/etc.
Edit: One more thing I just added to my houserules doc. The "helper" counts as in both squares (his own, and the square of the prone player" for purpose of determining if he is in reach of that AoO.