How often do you provoke AOO/OAs as a DM?

[El Mahdi]

deleted

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Chose about once. Really hard to determine, it can vary so mch by the encounter. Generally, dumb monsters will provoke a lot more than smarter ones. I've had encounters with wads of zombies where I probably deliberately let them provoke 3-5 times in a single combat. Then I'll have a classed NPC that never provokes at all.

Intentionally. The PCs in 3E have plenty of ways to force AoOs on enemies. Tripping and the mechanics of reach alone account for a lot of them. Then some PCs might take Hold the Line, Robilar's Gambit, or what have you. So AoOs are moderately common, maybe on average 2-3 per encounter total, in my games. But for the ones caused solely by NPC choice, ~1 per encounter is the most accurate.

 

[Shroomy]

I probably provoke at least once per combat, maybe more depending on the situation. I'm prone to having my monsters run away if they're losing and not complete idiots, which is usually good for a whack or two from our PCs. I also provoke if the monster doesn't care (whether it is hungry, insane, fanatical, etc.), is tougher than the PCs, or it makes tactical sense from the monster's perspective.

 

[malraux]

I trigger marks and OA all the time as a DM. Monsters, IMO, have way too many HP as it is. Anything that pull extra HP away is a good thing to me. My only issue is just how amazingly sticky the fighter is.

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

I always base it on the critter's intelligence and a bit of roleplaying. A centipede isn't smart enough to avoid an AoO, it just barges right in.

A wolf would probably avoid them if it can help it, though.

A minotaur is likely to charge into combat, not caring about AoOs. A goblin, on the other hand, would do its best to avoid provoking.

Etc, etc.

 

[Blackbrrd]

My monsters provoke when the threat seems lesser than the gain. The same goes for ignoring defender marks.

 

[Mercule]

I said "every 2-3 combats", but it's getting more often as I find that 4e makes provoking a reasonable risk for some things.

I try to play to the monsters' intelligence, and I'm a fairly good tactician (not great, but better than most in the group). So, they have usually come as either genuine mistakes or distractions from me or from things like mindless undead, constructs, or berserking/enraged foes.

 

[Wormwood]

I trigger marks and OA all the time as a DM. Monsters, IMO, have way too many HP as it is. Anything that pull extra HP away is a good thing to me. My only issue is just how amazingly sticky the fighter is.

This for me as well.

It helps drain hit points, rewards party tactical positioning, and allows certain classes to shine.

Plus, players like to kick ass. I encourage that.

 

[Haltherrion]

As a guide, I'll do it about as much as the players do it. More often than the players for less intelligent creatures, maybe less often for very clever creatures.

But if the players find it appropriate to do at times, why shouldn't their foes?

 

[Benimoto]

I put more than once a combat in the poll, though it may not be a lot more. Monster hit point is a resource, and I will use that resource to obtain better positioning or the opportunity to attack a more vulnerable target.