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<blockquote data-quote="Foxen" data-source="post: 4374225" data-attributes="member: 71674">Ultimately though, I believe it is an issue of DM discretion.&nbsp; &nbsp;Not ALL monsters are intelligent and go for the strikers.&nbsp; in fact, my kobolds tend to lob all their javelins right off the bat at the big shiny thing with the big axe....and the dragonshield guys rush them for glory and honor.&nbsp; &nbsp;Threat to the monsters isn't perceived in &quot;damaged dealt&quot; but rather, the psychology of the beast in question.&nbsp; I hate to do this, but take WoW for instance...&nbsp; Warriors in defensive stance deal 10% less damage...but draw more aggro...much like how the 4e Paladins with Enfeebling Strike are played.&nbsp; It's not necessarily how much damage the paladin deals, but how much attention they are hoarding and what their perceived level of threat is (think Ripley in the Loader against the Queen in Aliens).&nbsp; &nbsp;I allow my players to &quot;taunt&quot; the mobs especially when they are declaring that they are trying to &quot;draw&quot; the attention of the monsters even if they are unable to &quot;mark&quot; them.&nbsp; This gives the players somewhat &quot;more control&quot; in attempting to control the combat something beyond cold static numbers.&nbsp;However, against &quot;smarter&quot; monster or opponents, the party is going to face a whole new slew of punishment.&nbsp; So far, almost EVERY lurker I tossed in the mix went after the clothies.&nbsp; Again, hate to use the analogy, but WoW PVP is the same...the much smarter human opponents go after the strikers and healers first...before taking down the guys in the heavy armor.&nbsp; &nbsp;Over all though, in my encounters, I throw in enough threat for each player that they more or less face their own small little challenges, whether it be a lurker/minion combo on the clothies, or an owlbear with a threatening reach (yeah yeah, I changed it) who slowly shifts over and OA a wizard hiding in a covered wagon shooting magic missles to annoy it, or the slingers or archers in the backrow having their own battle against the bow weilding ranger or wand bearing wizard (why he chose wand over orb...I do not know, add flavor though).&nbsp; &nbsp;In the end, I still think it's totally DM discretion...&nbsp;Fox</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Foxen, post: 4374225, member: 71674"] Ultimately though, I believe it is an issue of DM discretion. Not ALL monsters are intelligent and go for the strikers. in fact, my kobolds tend to lob all their javelins right off the bat at the big shiny thing with the big axe....and the dragonshield guys rush them for glory and honor. Threat to the monsters isn't perceived in "damaged dealt" but rather, the psychology of the beast in question. I hate to do this, but take WoW for instance... Warriors in defensive stance deal 10% less damage...but draw more aggro...much like how the 4e Paladins with Enfeebling Strike are played. It's not necessarily how much damage the paladin deals, but how much attention they are hoarding and what their perceived level of threat is (think Ripley in the Loader against the Queen in Aliens). I allow my players to "taunt" the mobs especially when they are declaring that they are trying to "draw" the attention of the monsters even if they are unable to "mark" them. This gives the players somewhat "more control" in attempting to control the combat something beyond cold static numbers. However, against "smarter" monster or opponents, the party is going to face a whole new slew of punishment. So far, almost EVERY lurker I tossed in the mix went after the clothies. Again, hate to use the analogy, but WoW PVP is the same...the much smarter human opponents go after the strikers and healers first...before taking down the guys in the heavy armor. Over all though, in my encounters, I throw in enough threat for each player that they more or less face their own small little challenges, whether it be a lurker/minion combo on the clothies, or an owlbear with a threatening reach (yeah yeah, I changed it) who slowly shifts over and OA a wizard hiding in a covered wagon shooting magic missles to annoy it, or the slingers or archers in the backrow having their own battle against the bow weilding ranger or wand bearing wizard (why he chose wand over orb...I do not know, add flavor though). In the end, I still think it's totally DM discretion... Fox [/QUOTE]

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