Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="Keldryn" data-source="post: 5573834" data-attributes="member: 11999">This is a nod to how older versions of the game handled breaking off from melee and retreating.In AD&amp;D, once engaged in melee combat, breaking off allows the opponent a free attack (or entire attack routine if applicable, e.g. claw/claw/bite), calculated as an attack to the rear (no shield or Dex bonus).&nbsp; After the free attack is resolved, the combatant may move at his full movement rate.In B/X and BECMI, to withdraw from combat at his full movement rate, the combatant must forfeit his attack and grant his opponents a +2 bonus on attack rolls (equivalent to a rear attack).&nbsp; A fighting retreat allows him to continue to make attacks, but he may only move at half of his movement rate (revised to 5' per round in the Rules Cyclopedia).I think that the AD&amp;D 2e Combat &amp; Tactics book introduced Attacks of Opportunity in very much the same form as they appeared in 3e, but I don't have that book anymore and I don't remember the details.It's also a playability issue... provoking an AoO when entering a threatened square would discourage anybody from initiating melee combat, make missile weapons too desirable, and make combat take even longer to play out.In an abstract combat system, it isn't very realistic anyway.&nbsp; Both opponents would generally be approaching one another at the same time, looking for an opening.&nbsp; It's not as if one opponent is just standing still in a melee while the other advances.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Keldryn, post: 5573834, member: 11999"] This is a nod to how older versions of the game handled breaking off from melee and retreating. In AD&D, once engaged in melee combat, breaking off allows the opponent a free attack (or entire attack routine if applicable, e.g. claw/claw/bite), calculated as an attack to the rear (no shield or Dex bonus). After the free attack is resolved, the combatant may move at his full movement rate. In B/X and BECMI, to withdraw from combat at his full movement rate, the combatant must forfeit his attack and grant his opponents a +2 bonus on attack rolls (equivalent to a rear attack). A fighting retreat allows him to continue to make attacks, but he may only move at half of his movement rate (revised to 5' per round in the Rules Cyclopedia). I think that the AD&D 2e Combat & Tactics book introduced Attacks of Opportunity in very much the same form as they appeared in 3e, but I don't have that book anymore and I don't remember the details. It's also a playability issue... provoking an AoO when entering a threatened square would discourage anybody from initiating melee combat, make missile weapons too desirable, and make combat take even longer to play out. In an abstract combat system, it isn't very realistic anyway. Both opponents would generally be approaching one another at the same time, looking for an opening. It's not as if one opponent is just standing still in a melee while the other advances. [/QUOTE]

Verification