Magic affecting the choice to stand and fight or run.

[alsih2o]

Lots of high CR critters have extremely low intelligence. Many seem as if they would leave most encounters at a display of showy magic or stinging might.

How do you justify not having the Tyrannosaur run at first sight of lightning or a fireball? Do you ever have low INT monsters fight to the death outside of a "Lair" scenario?

 

[Saeviomagy]

Lots of high CR critters have extremely low intelligence. Many seem as if they would leave most encounters at a display of showy magic or stinging might.

How do you justify not having the Tyrannosaur run at first sight of lightning or a fireball? Do you ever have low INT monsters fight to the death outside of a "Lair" scenario?

I think it's easy to justify predators not running at the first sign of unusual magic. That's primarily because there are so many monsters (ie - the creatures that live in the wild) that use magic. If every unintelligent creature gave up at the first sign of magic, they probably wouldn't eat that often.

However I agree that the average animal should probably flee at the first sign of serious resistance. But depending on how you interpret hitpoints, that could be anything...

 

[Stalker0]

I think its a mixed bag.

For instance, if your Trex was used to dealing with magical creatures, then he might have evolved some SR. It makes sense if he lives in an area where magic is common.

 

[Jdvn1]

Lots of high CR critters have extremely low intelligence. Many seem as if they would leave most encounters at a display of showy magic or stinging might.

How do you justify not having the Tyrannosaur run at first sight of lightning or a fireball? Do you ever have low INT monsters fight to the death outside of a "Lair" scenario?

Also, low Intelligence doesn't mean easily scared. You make a Will save to resist fear, which is based on Wis, not Int. Feel free to make creatures make will saves against fear for spells, though. Remember that different things handle fear differently -- some creatures will run away and some will attack all the more. Some creatures might attack to try to save the rest of its species, or whatnot.

Being scared doesn't mean running away.

 

[Berandor]

I make it a oint of a lot of monsters/NPCs not to fight to the death. Some still do because they're overconfident (e.g. trolls who rely on their healing abilities). Magic can be used as a bonus to intimidate checks imc (I also changed intimidate to take only 1 round, 1 minute if you want to disregard size penalties).
Last game, the wizard of our group repelled some thugs with a successful "light" spell (only because he wasted the spell and made the thugs think he's high-level - and because I was a little lenient).
Most animals will not attack through a wall of fire imc, for example.

 

[Jdvn1]

I forgot where it was that talks about which types of creatures will fight to the death -- does anyone know? I'm thinking Savage Species, but I'm not sure.

 

[the Jester]

In the example of the dinosaur above, I think fire lizards were described as being possible prehistoric ancestors of red dragons in 1e.

Well, if that tyrranosaur had to compete with fire lizards, I can sure see him competing with a wee lil medium-sized wizard throwing a fireball.

 

[Li Shenron]

I very often have wild animals and beasts run away from combat, altho most of the time it happens when they are seriously injured or receive a massive blow, rather then being scared by a flashy spell. I haven't thought of this option before, but I guess it makes sense to have them flee sometimes as a survival instinct (unless they're seriously hungry or protecting the offsprings). Probably more weird monsters would have a different mindset and may usually fight to death.

By the way, I'm not sure how this should be related to Int or other mental faculties. If danger is coming, who's the first one to flee or get cover? The smart guy or the dumb guy?

 

[diaglo]

T-Rex also may be territorial. so why should it give up the best eating grounds it knows cuz some small biped threatens it with something it knows only comes from the sky. or maybe it has such a small brain it can't remember what should scare it.

heck it is at the top of the food chain. it shouldn't be afraid of anything except another T-Rex.

 

[Napftor]

How do you justify not having the Tyrannosaur run at first sight of lightning or a fireball? Do you ever have low INT monsters fight to the death outside of a "Lair" scenario?

For this example, I'd say because the T-rex is hungry. Low Int monsters fighting to the death outside a lair? Sure, why not? In fact, my monsters rarely retreat because I so don't often have random encounters. My monsters are supposed to kill the PCs or else!