MarauderX
Explorer
Battletech anyone?
I am used to the game Battletech in which facing is very important and used with a hex map.
For D&D, I keep the facing rules but allow characters to turn as a free action. So if you have a bunch of tumbling thieves in the party they won't be able to backstab every round just because they tumbled to an enemies backside. I consider an opponent who is aware of the tumbler to automatically put their back in the least vulnerable position, and the rules still makes flanking work. It also gives rogues the chance to backstab if they sneak up on somebody (as usual) and no complicated facing rules needed to be written down as it became clear how it worked once a fight was conducted.
What you really have to worry about is where your back is, not so much which way you are facing towards, as only the 1 side with your back to it is ever vulnerable and is the only direction you cannot attack.
Also with 3E and AoOs, someone can move into or out of the threatened 5' square directly behind the subject without provoking an AoO. It works, makes some sort of sense with a fight in reality, it's not complicated, and it's not overpowered.
I am used to the game Battletech in which facing is very important and used with a hex map.
For D&D, I keep the facing rules but allow characters to turn as a free action. So if you have a bunch of tumbling thieves in the party they won't be able to backstab every round just because they tumbled to an enemies backside. I consider an opponent who is aware of the tumbler to automatically put their back in the least vulnerable position, and the rules still makes flanking work. It also gives rogues the chance to backstab if they sneak up on somebody (as usual) and no complicated facing rules needed to be written down as it became clear how it worked once a fight was conducted.
What you really have to worry about is where your back is, not so much which way you are facing towards, as only the 1 side with your back to it is ever vulnerable and is the only direction you cannot attack.
Also with 3E and AoOs, someone can move into or out of the threatened 5' square directly behind the subject without provoking an AoO. It works, makes some sort of sense with a fight in reality, it's not complicated, and it's not overpowered.
