Bad Guys, Initiative, and Ready

[Ravingdork]

I've been yelled at by my players for moving all of my monster into beneficial positions and THEN having them all attack. They argued that it was unfair to them in that they didn't have the same versatility due to differentiating initiatives.

Now I can just up and say "Prepared actions?" I never thought of that. I wonder if the above statement would allow me to get away with it or if my players would still skin me alive.

 

[TheMagus]

I've been yelled at by my players for moving all of my monster into beneficial positions and THEN having them all attack. They argued that it was unfair to them in that they didn't have the same versatility due to differentiating initiatives.

Now I can just up and say "Prepared actions?" I never thought of that. I wonder if the above statement would allow me to get away with it or if my players would still skin me alive.

The ready rules really haven't changed much. You probably just need to walk your players through the detailed version of the process so they understand what you are doing.

1st creature moves and readies for flank.

2nd creature moves into flank, triggers the readied attack, and then attacks with combat advantage.

Repeat for each pair of creatures.

So it's perfectly legit to claim flanking for both creatures when a group is moving and working together.

The only time this shouldn't work is when you are running mindless creatures or animal intelligence creatures that don't work in packs. In that case it's still easiest to move everyone then roll attacks, but you only claim one instance of combat advantage for each flanking pair. Assuming any of them end up flanking at all, since such creatures generally just move to the closest available square and attack.

 

[Bagpuss]

I have been using this tactic against my players for years. They have never complained.

Me too this isn't new.

 

[Bagpuss]

I've been yelled at by my players for moving all of my monster into beneficial positions and THEN having them all attack. They argued that it was unfair to them in that they didn't have the same versatility due to differentiating initiatives.

My players have used the same method so long as they both go before the target there isn't a problem. If one goes before, he just delays until after.

 

[erik_the_guy]

Wow. I never thought of that, but it's true. You can ready any standard action.

DM: Okay kobold skirmisher moves to... here, and holds his spear at the ready.
Fighter: He doesn't attack?
DM: Nope, he's poised to strike, but he's not lunged at you.
Rogue: I don't like this.
DM: Okay, so this kobold minion goes next--he shifts twice to here, making the fighter flanked, and the skirmisher strikes!
Fighter: Wait! What?
DM: He readied an action to attack you when you are flanked.
Fighter: ...
DM: Okay... so let's roll some dice here.
Rogue: Sweet! Don't forget he gets Mob Attack, too!
Fighter: You're not helping.

Well, I'm anxious to hear my players the first time I do this. (Mind that they will start doing it afterwards.) Actually... the fighter needs to swing to mark his targets, so I don't see him doing this as much, but the rogue might.

What about a Warlord readying Wolf Pack Tactics for when the rogue gets to one square shy of a flank? The rogue gets to shift, the warlord belts the creature he's now flanking, and the rogue is set up for a sneak attack.

Hmm, that sounds exactly like kobolds to me...
And of course the players will see their enemies using this tactic and copy it themselves. Bonus exp for learning from your enemies?

 

[Bagpuss]

Bonus exp for learning from your enemies?

The bonus XP comes from the future dead enemies.

 

[DracoSuave]

There's quite a few player groups that delay-hold their actions to get things all nice and coordinated.