Flanking

[Land Outcast]

I know D&D's combat is nowhere near realistic... but isn't anyone bugged by the fact that a flanked target only gets a [far too small] "AC penalty" [only] against those flanking it?

Something which would be in line, maybe giving the flanked target a -4 to AC as long as it remains flanked (on top of losing Dex bonus to AC).

I mean, if you are being flanked you are quite a bit more than 10% (+2 to the attack of flankng enemies) more likely to get hit (Dex bonuses aside).

 

[Stalker0]

Keep in mind its not just 10% on one side, its 10% for the other guy too, that's 2 guys who have a better chance to hit you, that adds up.

However, if you feel that flanking should be stronger, my suggestion is to allow the bonuses to grow if you add in more flankers. For instance, if another pair flanks you as well, everyone gets a +4. That means a person completely surrounded (on a square map), would suffer a -8 to AC against all attacks by those around him.

 

[genshou]

How about this?

For every additional character who used their last action to attack your target with a melee attack and who still threatens the target, you gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls. If you are flanking the target, you gain an additional +1 bonus and can sneak attack if you have the ability.

 

[Land Outcast]

How about this?

For every additional character who used their last action to attack your target with a melee attack and who still threatens the target, you gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls. If you are flanking the target, you gain an additional +1 bonus and can sneak attack if you have the ability.

I've seen a similar idea in another thread here in the HR forum... and I like it, if possible I'll implement it in my game...

But yet, it's not really about modifying the rules, just a comment... I mean, everyso often I do sparring, and certainly being flanked is worth more than a "+2"...

 

[genshou]

I've seen a similar idea in another thread here in the HR forum... and I like it, if possible I'll implement it in my game...

But yet, it's not really about modifying the rules, just a comment... I mean, everyso often I do sparring, and certainly being flanked is worth more than a "+2"...

Well, it wasn't my idea. I was just echoing that idea from that other thread.

Don't discount the value of a +2 bonus! At low levels that is a serious advantage. A +2 bonus lets a 2nd-level Fighter Power Attack for an extra 4 damage with a two-handed weapon, without losing any chance to hit over his non-flanking attack roll.

 

[Hautamaki]

The weak flanking rules are probably mostly there to help out PCs, who are probably outnumbered in more encounters than not, but I agree that flanking is pretty weak. In my system I give a flat flanking bonus, plus reduce a targets AC for every attack against them in the same round. The first attack against them they get full AC, but if they are hit by several opponents at the same time, the stacking AC penalties almost guarantee the pain is coming on.

 

[Stalker0]

Another idea is once flanked, always flanked. So once your flanked by two opponents, anyone else who joins the fight also flanks you.

Again though keep in mind its actually a net +4 bonus, as two people are getting this +2 bonus.