Flanking

[sparhawk]

I joined a new gaming group and they use 2e rules for flanking. If 2 people are facing the same baddie you only get flanking if you are potioned properly.
I thought that there are no facing rules any longer. Is this true?
I thought if 2 people are facing the same guy then flanking is used? If this is correct how do I approach this with them with out creating an argument or getting them upset.

This has not affected me to much because I use a bow most of the time but I think it could have changed some fights if I am correct on flanking.

Any advice would be helpfull

Thank you

 

[JChung2003]

You are correct in stating that in 3rd edition rules, facing is irrelevant when it comes to flanking. Allies must be on opposite sides of the opponent and threaten the opponent's area to flank.

I would be upset if I were a rogue playing in your campaign.

 

[sparhawk]

flanking

Ok so they have to be on oppisite sides not just in different spaces facing the same baddie

example (will this create flanking?)

x x
b

x=players
b= baddie

*edit :"b" should be between the "x's"

 

[Maitre Du Donjon]

no, there is no flanking in that situation. You need

x
b
x

or

x b x

to have flanking (ie opposite sides of the opponent).

Maitre D

 

[sparhawk]

Thanks for the clarification

My understanding of flanking was not "oppisites"
but "seperated".

Now would something like this work

x
bx

 

[Maitre Du Donjon]

No. Diametrically (sp?) opposite sides only.

Possible combinations (2 attackers, 1 defendant)

a.. .a. ..a ...
.d. .d. .d. ada
..a .a. a.. ...

If there are more than 2 attackers, only those that actually flank get the flanking bonus. ie: (1, 2 and 3 are attackers, d is still the defender)

12.
.d.
..3

Only 1 and 3 get flanking bonuses.

Maitre D

 

[sparhawk]

Thank you for the help and the clarification.

I guess they are doing right and I was wrong.

God I hate it when that happens.

 

[Maitre Du Donjon]

Next time you see them, try to convince them that you had the right method of flanking, they had the wrong one, then you can pretend that you were both saying the same thing all along and it was all a misunderstanding and that everything is beautiful.

That's what I always do

 

[Drawmack]

here is the diagram I draw for my players when they are confused


123
4x4
321

matching numbers are flanking x, if they both are holding a melee weapon in their hand.

 

[Pielorinho]

Nice diagram!

The one thing I'd add to is is that in this case:

123
4x4
3_1

#2 does not get a flanking bonus.

The fact that X is being flanked by some combatants does not mean that all his combatants get a flanking bonus against him. Since #2 isn't participating in a flank, #2 does not get the bonus.

(This isn't a correction -- it's just an additional point I'm making with the diagram.)

Daniel