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<blockquote data-quote="Ferghis" data-source="post: 5142548" data-attributes="member: 40483">I'm not sure this is what you meant, but has anyone mulled over whether there is a real problem with allowing everyone to begin combat in total defense? This would obviously apply to monsters as well, and would be representative of an alert, armed combatant bracing for some kind of attack, moving cautiously, and playing it safe...I'm not suggesting that everyone would be in total defense all the time, just when they state they are &quot;advancing cautiously&quot; or enter a heightened state of guard. If they want to move through an entire dungeon like that, so be it, but it will take them literally twice as long. I assume from the posts above that most will be opposed to this style of play. I guess the argument in favor of allowing this is that there are real actions that these mechanics reproduce, and those real actions can still be taken in absence of combat. I still find it strage that if you use total defense while initiative is running, you get +2 on all defenses against any attack, even one from an enemy you were completely unaware of. But if initiative is not running, no matter what mentally or physically prepared state the player has the character in, those defenses are lower.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Ferghis, post: 5142548, member: 40483"] I'm not sure this is what you meant, but has anyone mulled over whether there is a real problem with allowing everyone to begin combat in total defense? This would obviously apply to monsters as well, and would be representative of an alert, armed combatant bracing for some kind of attack, moving cautiously, and playing it safe... I'm not suggesting that everyone would be in total defense all the time, just when they state they are "advancing cautiously" or enter a heightened state of guard. If they want to move through an entire dungeon like that, so be it, but it will take them literally twice as long. I assume from the posts above that most will be opposed to this style of play. I guess the argument in favor of allowing this is that there are real actions that these mechanics reproduce, and those real actions can still be taken in absence of combat. I still find it strage that if you use total defense while initiative is running, you get +2 on all defenses against any attack, even one from an enemy you were completely unaware of. But if initiative is not running, no matter what mentally or physically prepared state the player has the character in, those defenses are lower. [/QUOTE]

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