D&D 5E Advantage when two allies are in melee with the same enemy?

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I was going to try to add in more stuff like flanking before dropping the idea as it didn't really add anything to the game. Miniatures are just for location reference and I think the game plays great without all the miniatures game stuff of the last two editions. Advantage/Disadvantage would be something to think of but it would come up too often and require reworking some monsters.

 

[doctorhook]

Thanks for the feedback, gang! I obviously was confused, and I think [MENTION=907]Staffan[/MENTION] and [MENTION=12731]CapnZapp[/MENTION] were exactly correct: there was a rogue in the first party I DM'd for 5E, and I think I mistakenly translated the rules for sneak attack onto the rules for advantage. I appreciate the input.

 

[MBM]

We use flanking because it makes sense. I would suggest sword fighting (with safe padded weapons of course) two friends in front of you, then try it while they are flanking you, and if you think two people is hard try three people. You can also choose to allow the enemy to use their reaction, to move (if they have move left) and prevent the flank, because of course that is what they would do, if they have half a brain.

 

[jgsugden]

We use flanking because it makes sense. I would suggest sword fighting (with safe padded weapons of course) two friends in front of you, then try it while they are flanking you, and if you think two people is hard try three people. You can also choose to allow the enemy to use their reaction, to move (if they have move left) and prevent the flank, because of course that is what they would do, if they have half a brain.

The thread was from 10 years ago - but Flanking for advantage is a fun optional rule - but it drastically changes the math of the game. Many abilities that are otherwise good become redundant as they offer advantage, but flanking makes them redundant. For balance reasons, I do not have Flanking give advantage - but I do have a flanking rule. If you flank, the target provokes an OA by moving, even if they do not leave your reach. They can elect to ignore someone for purposes of determining flanking, but doing so allows that person to immediately make an OA that does not require a reaction. Thus, if two people flank an enemy, the enemy can elect to take an OA from both if they move, or take an immediate OA from one that does not require that one to use a reaction. This means you can elect to ignore an enemy rat and risk a 1 hp attack, but might be less inclined to ignore two capable fighters and might allow them to pin you down.

 

[doctorhook]

We use flanking because it makes sense. I would suggest sword fighting (with safe padded weapons of course) two friends in front of you, then try it while they are flanking you, and if you think two people is hard try three people. You can also choose to allow the enemy to use their reaction, to move (if they have move left) and prevent the flank, because of course that is what they would do, if they have half a brain.

Excellent thread-necromancy here!

When I got the notification about a new comment in the thread about “two allies in melee”, I thought this was the tariff discussion thread for a second, lol.

And you’re correct of course, flanking rules are much more realistic (which I usually prefer) than no such rules, but realism isn’t always worth the hassle in these games. In the 10 years since this thread, I’ve played 5E to death and my interests have moved past it to several games, some of which emphasis realistic tactics and others where combat is so abstracted that a flanking rule isn’t needed. I’m not even sure what the 2024 5E flanking rules are.

 

[aco175]

@MBM welcome to the site. I played with flanking all through 5e and it is fine. When my group switched to the new 5.5e I will drop the flanking and play without it. The new rules look like they have so many ways to get advantage already that I do not think they need them.

 

[DragonLancer]

Going into 2024 edition I wasn't going to use it as learning a new system I wanted to learn the rules proper first. However, both groups I DM for are accustomed to the old flanking rules and wanted to keep them. They don't feel that it takes anything away significantly from anything else and after running it that way for the last five months I am happy to agree with them. Plus, if they can do it so can the baddies so it works both ways.