Do you prefer damage or "tactics" during combat?

[RigaMortus2]

I was wondering, if you had to make a preferance, do you prefer (or are more apt to do) damage during combat, or do you prefer a more tactical approach? What do I mean by tactical? Anything that ISN'T pure damage. This can be anything from casting non-damage utility spells, tripping, aiding another, disarming, etc. Anything to help you or your allies gain an advantage in combat, or hinder your enemies. Tactics can really change the swing of a combat, especially if your side is starting to lose. Though, generally the quickest way to end a combat is to do damage quickly and take out the opponent ASAP.

Edit: Also wanted to add.... This is more of an intent thing than anything else. There are times where an effect you do does both damage and has side effects (ex: Sound Burst does damage AND has a chance to stun). But was your intent behind it the damage, and the "tactical" advantage was a nice side effect, or is it the other way around? The tactical advantage was your primary interest, the damage was just a nice side bonus

So again, I ask, do you prefer (or more often do) damage or tactics during combat?

 

[EricNoah]

I would love to use more tactics but a lot of those tricks are harder (i.e. less probable outcome) than just hitting and doing damage. I like to see my players use them. I have had monsters use them now and then -- aid another is good for lower level grunts.

My spellcasters do tend to use utility spells -- walls of force, dispel magic, things like that.

 

[ThirdWizard]

I said tactics, but not because I think it is a better solution to beating the opposition, but because its more fun! I'm the crazy roleplayer type, so my "tactics" aren't always good... they're more flamboyant and risky than anything else. Like climbing a slippery wall to grapple an archer instead of just shooting back at him with my own arrows, even if I know I can kill them before they kill me...

 

[Odhanan]

I prefer tactics, but damage is indeed easier and more probable to occur.

The problem with tactics is that many of the options are hard to remember/with too many steps to fulfill. Just too freakin' complicated in the heat of battle, I tell you!

How many of us check the Grapple rules more than 50% of the times it occurs? I know I do. All the time.

 

[Odhanan]

I voted "tactics" by the way. Now that I have them codified with 3.X, I don't want to do without them!

 

[Umbran]

If all you do is tactics, eventually you wind up with no more tricks up your sleeve, and a critter at near full hit points. Not a good place to be.

There's only two basic points to tactics - to get the critter out of trhe way so you can reach some mroe important goal, or to put you in a better position to do damage before it kills you. While the former case happens often enough, the basic case is the latter.

So, in the end you need damage. Tactics are just a means to that end.

 

[Odhanan]

There's only two basic points to tactics - to get the critter out of trhe way so you can reach some mroe important goal, or to put you in a better position to do damage before it kills you. While the former case happens often enough, the basic case is the latter.

So, in the end you need damage. Tactics are just a means to that end.

Yup. 'bsolutely agreed.

 

[shilsen]

As Umbran pointed out, tactics without damage can be quite ineffectual, and the same is true for simply damage without tactics. That being said, I personally prefer a focus on tactics. I've found that the best way to take most enemies down is to use a method that ignores their hit points.

 

[Hussar]

I agree with tactics as well. Yes, you need to do damage, that's a given of course. But, if you can deal a little damage while preventing your opponent from dealing any, then you win every time.

If you simply go for the hit point race, and see who drops first, well, as a DM, I tend to kill a lot of PC's that do that.

BTW, on the point about grapples. We don't look up those rules any more. Done far too many combats with grappling creatures. Then again, I've probably just done far too many combats period.

((Heh, I loves me the hack))

 

[The_Gneech]

Tactics are usually much more fun, IMO. They're also less likely to get me pounded into mash, since I rarely play the party tank.

Having said that, even when I am playing the party tank, I try to think tactically. ("High AC? Straight attack. Low AC, lots of hit points? Power attack." That kind of thing.) Although "All Power Attack, All the Time" has a certain kickbutt thrill to it, I get bored with a one-trick pony.

-The Gneech