Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="webrunner" data-source="post: 4649580" data-attributes="member: 63727">It's worth noting that if your monsters are canonically working for the BBEG or a Smaller Bad Evil Guy, then it's quite possible that no matter what your party can do to them it'll be better (quicker and less painful) then what they imagine the XBEG will do to them if they desert their post.&nbsp; It's okay for monsters to be cowardly, but it isn't necessary that they're afraid of the PARTY.As for things like Combat Challenge, although a monster knows if he's marked, a monster doesn't know what the fighter can do to a marked opponent.&nbsp; Marked essentialy means &quot;preference to attack target X&quot;, but other factors can make other targets better targets, even if you do want to target the fighter first.&nbsp; If there's a mage in the back setting you on fire, then yes, maybe, you should disengage the fighter.&nbsp; It's not like you know you'll take a combat challenge hit.&nbsp; Sure if you walk you might take an OA, but that's gotta be better than definitely being set on fire again.Additionally if you add these two things together: a boss fight with other monsters.. the boss can be barking out commands like &quot;FOOLS!&nbsp; Stop that infuriating spell casting whelp or any survivors will spend an evening with the Machine!&quot;, then immediately have several of the enemies go after the spellcaster.&nbsp; It can even be a plot hook you bring up later.&nbsp; Your party will wonder what the machine is, and no matter how many times various groups bring it up, don't tell it, and if any allies of the enemy, you can threaten the party with it.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="webrunner, post: 4649580, member: 63727"] It's worth noting that if your monsters are canonically working for the BBEG or a Smaller Bad Evil Guy, then it's quite possible that no matter what your party can do to them it'll be better (quicker and less painful) then what they imagine the XBEG will do to them if they desert their post. It's okay for monsters to be cowardly, but it isn't necessary that they're afraid of the PARTY. As for things like Combat Challenge, although a monster knows if he's marked, a monster doesn't know what the fighter can do to a marked opponent. Marked essentialy means "preference to attack target X", but other factors can make other targets better targets, even if you do want to target the fighter first. If there's a mage in the back setting you on fire, then yes, maybe, you should disengage the fighter. It's not like you know you'll take a combat challenge hit. Sure if you walk you might take an OA, but that's gotta be better than definitely being set on fire again. Additionally if you add these two things together: a boss fight with other monsters.. the boss can be barking out commands like "FOOLS! Stop that infuriating spell casting whelp or any survivors will spend an evening with the Machine!", then immediately have several of the enemies go after the spellcaster. It can even be a plot hook you bring up later. Your party will wonder what the machine is, and no matter how many times various groups bring it up, don't tell it, and if any allies of the enemy, you can threaten the party with it. [/QUOTE]

Verification