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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kigmatzomat" data-source="post: 1490898" data-attributes="member: 9254">I use a similar mental gradation with some variation depending on motivation.Mindless thug: typically dumb undead or rampaging beasts like the gray render.  Basic combat tactics are understood but no complicated use of cover, tactics, or mobility.  Depending on the type of beast they either try to hurt everything in reach or kill off opponents one at a time.  Cunning predator: describes most int<4 predators.  Most cunning animals are either hunting for food or displaying dominance/territory.  Dominance will be against the biggest while food will be the "weakest" according to feral logic.  (alone, slow, weak/thin, small, etc)  Pack animals will harry the group while allowing the toughest members to  focus on the chosen individual while lone predators will try to use some semblance of stealth and ambush. During dominance fights some predators will not break off but virtually all hunting battles will result in withdrawl as the animals take 50% hp.  They may not flee but retreat to edge of fight or join in a better fight (like joining a 4:1 battle in their favor)    These kinds of foes do not recognize spellcasters as such and can be confused/routed by magic.Basic intelligence: this covers most anything beast/abherration/humanoid/etc that has an int >6 and <16 and isn't described as being a berserker or especially tactical.  Ambushes, reasonable use of available tools, feints, ability to recognize weapons and armor and judge threat levels based on their presence, and group tactics should happen.  They are generally not experts but are thoroughly competent.  Often they focus abuse on the casters to increase the odds.  Dangerous: these are highly trained or capable foes.  Maximum use of items is achieved  and the fights are planned out rather extensively.  Tactics will change dynamically as they re-evaluate their opponents.  Especially cunning tricks, like combining Summons with Shadow Conjurations and pure illusions to sow confusion on the battlefield.  Traps will often be laid and special attacks used on the individual most susceptible to it (i.e. using ranged attacks on fighters while grappling casters).</blockquote>

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