How often do NPCs/monsters flee in your group?

[sniffles]

I have one GM who's got a reputation for wanting his NPCs and monsters to escape if things start to go downhill. He doesn't necessarily always bring them back later. He just habitually uses 'run away' as a tactic. Occasionally if he can't get away within the rules he'll just say something like "The (insert monster here) disappears and you can't find it" or some other lame cop-out excuse to let his precious NPC escape.

Not that running away is necessarily a bad strategy. It makes more sense than the monsters and NPCs that fight to the death for no good reason. It's just that the aforementioned GM is so predictable about it. :\

 

[Darklone]

Hmm. I love running away with my NPCs, but by the rules. That's why my NPCs use to have horses and the PCs not.

[not serious]That's why soldiers used to throw their shields away... no loot = no reason to kill them.

 

[thompgc]

In the game I'm running the 'enemy' often try to flee if things are going badly.
They have been fairly successful in escaping
The PCs usually aren't happy but haven't had much luck pursuing.

 

[kigmatzomat]

I have NPCs flee when it seems the best course of action. It usually only works when the PCs are outnumbered but have routed their foe, their foe has significant flight speed, or the foe is faster on foot.

Fact is, escape on the ground is easier thanks to breaking line of sight. Very few places are perfectly flat, devoid of trees, etc. Heck, medium or smaller quadrupeds should easily be able to get full concealment in tall grass or shrubbery. The untended wilds tend to have taller grasses than lawns and far more bits of shrubbery and trees. Even deserts and hilly terrain will have small hillocks and gulleys that can provide cover.

If you can go a full round without anyone seeing you, you've got a darned good chance of escape, barring serious effort by the PCs. Mine have learned that tracking wounded animals/non-sentients is bad, since they tend to hide with intent to ambush & flee. The sentient beings are actually less likely to be as vicious against pursuit but the exceptions have been notable.

My favorite fleeing creature was a dragon that the party would use Know Location and then teleport there. Thing is, the dragon's escape route was based on teleporting to lairs of other monsters it had charmed/intimidated/tamed. Nothing like encountering a broodkeeper, a geriviar, or the dragon's own brood (quote "I can make more") to drag out a fight.

 

[Darklone]

... buffed PCs teleport in ... dragon says: I wish you all were SOMEPLACE else...

In which storyhour did that happen ?

 

[Roadkill101]

Very often. NPCs/monsters in my campaigns are fairly quick to run away when they realize they are overmatched. Once upon a time, however, I in my ignorance treated my creatures as ignorant cattle being led to the slaughter, where I had them go toe to toe with the party until wiped out. Eventually I got wiser.
PC's doggedly pursuing a fleeing enemy is all too often a familiar scene in my campaigns.