IMT: Individual Monster Tactics

[GMMichael]

Thinking caps here, theoretical question:

You're an NPC, and in each round of combat, you get to do three things.
[sblock]Defending yourself is not an assumed, nor free, action. However, short tactical movements to stay in position are assumed. Typical actions are melee attack, ranged attack, reload ranged attack, move offensively/defensively, parry, and cast a spell...[/sblock]
What would your default three things be if you're:

A) a bandit.
B) a zombie.
C) a monstrous spider?

 

[Tonguez]

A) a bandit. - ranged attack, move defensively, melee
B) a zombie. - move offensively, melee, melee
C) a monstrous spider - ranged? OR move, melee, parry

 

[GMMichael]

A) a bandit. - ranged attack, move defensively, melee
B) a zombie. - move offensively, melee, melee
C) a monstrous spider - ranged? OR move, melee, parry

These were my first thoughts:
A-bandit) fight, parry, and/or move to defense.
Reasons: bandits are mortal, mortals like to keep being mortal. Good call on the ranged attack; they can be a lot safer than melee attacks.
B-zombie) two melees, one defense.
Reasons: zombie already died once. So they don't have fear of the unknown. I think we're in agreement here.
C-spider) two attacks (shoot poison or fangs) and one defense.
Reasons: Spiders aren't that bright. I don't even know if they're smart enough to run away. But they ARE smart enough to assess opponent difficulty (size). So instead of move, melee, parry, I'd see melee, melee, move - but only moving long enough to avoid one enemy attack.