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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Some_call_me_Tim" data-source="post: 2570844" data-attributes="member: 35982">Maybe I'm in the minority, but I get sick of people saying wolves flank in real life so they must flank in D&D. Yes, wolves and wild dogs do try to flank their prey in real life, but they also tend to use hit and run tactics to wear their prey down. Yet, I don't see these same people saying they should move in and out of combat (i.e. take five foot steps) as being realistic.Have they ever watched a police or military dog in action. I've never seen a police dog attack someone by running around to the other side to 'flank' with his handler. No, instead they just charge right in and attack. Yes, I know that sheep dogs have been taught to circle and herd sheep and the like but combat is much more unpredictable and fluid. Dogs can be taught a lot of tricksI just get tired of players using animals as if they had human intelligence and reasoning. When I DM I don't allow animals to meta-game; they aren't going to stay far away from the guy with spiked chain, but walk right next to guy in robes, stay just outta the reach the other dude with the big stick, to arrive on the opposite side of person it was commanded to attack. Stuff like that makes Lassie and Rin Tin Tin look like retarded retrievers.I'm not saying animals can't use tactics but be prepared to veto any move the PC makes or control the animals yourself if the player can't be reasonable. My general rule of thumb is you command it to attack, which it will do to the best of its ability, generally by moving as quickly as possible to attack, as others join the fight I will allow 5' steps to adjust to try to get flanking, but the circuitous route around the entire room weaving to avoid AoOs and to allow its handler to flank is right out.  The other thing I strictly enforce is that Handle Animal is a Move Action that requires a Handle Animal check. Why, because it weakens one of the Druid's ability to give to everyone for free.</blockquote>

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