If the PCs don't have reach, almost never. Attacking closest, which is generally the appropriate action for NPCs, doesn't provoke. Only when tactics call for killing a specific class, or if the monsters feel going after a weaker/weakened opponent is worth provoking, which again is almost never unless the monster has enough HPs that an OA isn't very dangerous to it or for some reason it doesn't care about it's safety.
How often do DMs draw opportunity of attack
- Thread starter Final Attack
- Start date
Wormwood
Adventurer
I'm the opposite. If I'm running a group with fighters, I'll see many more OAs than in group w/o fighters.
Why? I like seeing players use their powers (even though a monster choosing to stand still rather than get an OA *is* a use of the fighter's power, it's just not as satisfying as swatting it and making it stand still).
keterys
First Post
Yeah, I just have trouble playing monsters specifically stupid. In general I almost never trigger OAs unless it really makes sense - and if an intelligent creature is fighting a fighter, has been marked, etc... then it makes even less sense, so it decreases further. Sure, unintelligent creatures might trigger an OA but they so rarely do _because they're unintelligent_ - they just keep hammering away on the target next to them, rather than provoking.
I typically play monsters intelligently (I'd like to think), and sometimes, it's better to take an opportunity attack, if it's going to give a Skirmisher the flank it needs to get +2 attack and dish out an extra 2d6. Sometimes a soldier will suffer an opportunity attack so it's not caught in a devastating burst from the Controller. Sometimes a controller will suffer an opportunity attack to get more characters inside a blast.
In one of the fights, I had a Dragonshield attack the paladin, marking him, and then walk back to screen a Slinger, drawing an opportunity attack in the process. Then a bunch of skirmishers and minions surrounded the paladin. Now the paladin will be suffering a -2 to attack any of them because he is marked by the Dragonshield.
I find that monsters have enough hitpoints, to be able to deploy this sort of tactical movement, especially at higher levels. In previous editions monster hitpoints were a much more precious resource, than they are in 4.0. In 3.x you never wanted to draw attacks. I also don't mind getting my monsters bloodied if it triggers some of their abilities, especially if I can do it on the monster's turn via an opportunity attack to get that bonus before the monster is torn down.
I'm the DM for my group. I draw OAs almost never. Exceptions include
1: Monsters too dumb to know better (rare)
2: Monsters with a strategic reason to draw an OA (rare)
3: Monsters who are drawing OAs from characters with poor OAs (charisma paladins, etc) (relatively common)
4: Monsters who are fleeing the field of battle and are likely to make it. (rare)
1: Monsters too dumb to know better (rare)
2: Monsters with a strategic reason to draw an OA (rare)
3: Monsters who are drawing OAs from characters with poor OAs (charisma paladins, etc) (relatively common)
4: Monsters who are fleeing the field of battle and are likely to make it. (rare)
Generally not too often. But sometimes you have to risk that Opportunity Attack if you want the last piece of pizza.
Oh, you mean how often to the Creatures draw OAs. Sorry, I misunderstood.
As several above have indicated, the tactics of a creature vary with the intelligence and 'social behavior' of the creature. Intelligence is easy to determine - its a value you can read. "Social Behavior" is related, but it has to do with whether the creatures think as a group or not and is a case by case judgement call. For example, a skeleton has an intelligence of 3 and a wolf has an intelligence of 2 but wolves are pack animals and will instinctively use tactics that include flanking while skeletons will typically focus on their own attacks and not try to coordinate with those around them.
As for OAs specifically, I don't have a fighter in the current group so I don't have to play dumb to make him feel useful, so typically only the dumbest of targets will draw one, except when choosing to flee.
Carl
Oh, you mean how often to the Creatures draw OAs. Sorry, I misunderstood.
As several above have indicated, the tactics of a creature vary with the intelligence and 'social behavior' of the creature. Intelligence is easy to determine - its a value you can read. "Social Behavior" is related, but it has to do with whether the creatures think as a group or not and is a case by case judgement call. For example, a skeleton has an intelligence of 3 and a wolf has an intelligence of 2 but wolves are pack animals and will instinctively use tactics that include flanking while skeletons will typically focus on their own attacks and not try to coordinate with those around them.
As for OAs specifically, I don't have a fighter in the current group so I don't have to play dumb to make him feel useful, so typically only the dumbest of targets will draw one, except when choosing to flee.
Carl
It is often the monster's perogative, if it's smart enough to understand what it's fighting, to kill the weaklings first.
A brute can easily charge and start slapping a wizard or rogue around. Why? They got the hit points to spare; an OA isn't going to hurt them too much. Same with a solo monster or elite.
A soldier might also do this. It's riskier, but with their higher AC, the defender can miss. And a soldier, with their ability to keep you in place, might be very useful against a striker or controller, who doesn't want to be locked down.
A brute can easily charge and start slapping a wizard or rogue around. Why? They got the hit points to spare; an OA isn't going to hurt them too much. Same with a solo monster or elite.
A soldier might also do this. It's riskier, but with their higher AC, the defender can miss. And a soldier, with their ability to keep you in place, might be very useful against a striker or controller, who doesn't want to be locked down.
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