Let Me Get This Straight...(Threatening Reach)

[Tequila Sunrise]

Maybe I'm the odd man out, but I would actually have difficulty describing a big monster that doesn't have threatening reach if a player specifically asked for a description. I mean, the 3e way of handling reach/AoOs seems quite natural to me -- so the 4e default of a big creature threatening no more than a PC seems very gamey. I think that if pressed, I'd simply say "Ugh, this one doesn't have threatening reach."

 

[sfedi]

I tell the creature's reach on sight (if it is in combat stance. i.e. rolled initiative).

This kind of information is essential to keep the players making meaningful choices, and keeping the game fun.
The monsters have already surprises: their encounter powers and other abilities that are not obvious.
In addition to any nasty trick a DM can pull :evil:

Back to the OP, Threatening Reach is also used to turn a Standard Monster into an Elite, because TR effectively gives the monster a second attack (depends a lot on the monster)

 

[the Jester]

Back to the OP, Threatening Reach is also used to turn a Standard Monster into an Elite, because TR effectively gives the monster a second attack (depends a lot on the monster)

Where's this from? You need a lot more than just to add threatening reach to make a monster a good elite, imho.

 

[Jack99]

"He's very alert and watching for any openings whatsoever."

or

"He's waving his claws in a defensive pattern. You'll need to make sure you keep your guard up, because this guy is fast."

and so on...

-O

Seems a little far-fetched in my book. Your first example could just as well be an indication from a DM that this is a powerful (perhaps higher level monster) monster the players are facing. IMO ofc course..

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Seems to me that most TR monsters have TR because they are BIG and have long reachy necks, tentacles, whatever. Not every such monster has TR by any means, but the party is at least on notice of the possibility when they run into something like that.

And really, monster knowledge checks will reveal these kinds of details. Every party should have good knowledge skills. The checks aren't that hard to pass.

 

[sfedi]

Where's this from? You need a lot more than just to add threatening reach to make a monster a good elite, imho.

My bad.

I didn't mean that this was the only thing needed to turn them Elite, but it's something that some monsters use.

Note that the majority of monsters with Trheatening Reach are Elites or Solos, and rarely Standard.