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Monsters that mark: A pain for DMs
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<blockquote data-quote="DM_Blake" data-source="post: 4132896" data-attributes="member: 57267"><p>Yep, already thought of this.</p><p></p><p>But I have also thought of the possibility that some monsters are just not smart enough to utilize marking to the greatest tactical advantage.</p><p></p><p>Take skeletons. </p><p></p><p>To start with, a skeleton is just a decayed corpse laying on the ground. It not only cannot mark anything, it can't even move around. Then along comes a necromancer who animates the skeleton and gives it magical power to move around and fight things, but doesn't give it intelligence. Part of the magical power this necromancer gives to his skeletons is the ability to protect the necromancer my marking stuff. But the skeleton can't make tactical decisions, so it markes whoever it is fighting. The necromancer intends to swarm any party of heroes invading his lair with an army of skeletons, so that every hero is marked every round, maximizing the necromancer's chance to survive.</p><p></p><p>Or take kobolds:</p><p>Kobolds win battles by swarming their opponents, shifting about and being hard to hit while being very mobile and getting into positions to gain combat advantage and overwhelming the weakest party members with sheer numbers. But that's about all they know. Any kobold with the ability to mark an opponent will be just smart enough to use that marking ability to facilitate those battle tactics. He will mark a nearby foe, preferably the weakest looking one (e.g. mage before rogue before fighter, melee types before ranged types), hoping that guy will move toward him and into position to be swarmed by the all the kobold's buddies.</p><p></p><p>Or take Ogres:</p><p>Ogres like to smash things. They take pride in smashing things. Smashing big scary things is more of an accomplishment than smashing little squishy things. It might be a good idea to mark the sneaky ranger who is off to the side sniping at the chieftain or his ogre mage shamans, but it's not very manly (or, uh, ogrely), so the ogres will probably be marking the fighter, barbarian, paladin instead. Not a tactically wise decsion, but hey, we're talking ogres here.</p><p></p><p>Which all fits in with your last line:</p><p></p><p></p><p>Given my adjustment to this statement, recognizing that "what makes sense to yourself" varies from fight to fight based on the intelligence, fighting style, and tactical acumen of the monsters at hand, I totally agree.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DM_Blake, post: 4132896, member: 57267"] Yep, already thought of this. But I have also thought of the possibility that some monsters are just not smart enough to utilize marking to the greatest tactical advantage. Take skeletons. To start with, a skeleton is just a decayed corpse laying on the ground. It not only cannot mark anything, it can't even move around. Then along comes a necromancer who animates the skeleton and gives it magical power to move around and fight things, but doesn't give it intelligence. Part of the magical power this necromancer gives to his skeletons is the ability to protect the necromancer my marking stuff. But the skeleton can't make tactical decisions, so it markes whoever it is fighting. The necromancer intends to swarm any party of heroes invading his lair with an army of skeletons, so that every hero is marked every round, maximizing the necromancer's chance to survive. Or take kobolds: Kobolds win battles by swarming their opponents, shifting about and being hard to hit while being very mobile and getting into positions to gain combat advantage and overwhelming the weakest party members with sheer numbers. But that's about all they know. Any kobold with the ability to mark an opponent will be just smart enough to use that marking ability to facilitate those battle tactics. He will mark a nearby foe, preferably the weakest looking one (e.g. mage before rogue before fighter, melee types before ranged types), hoping that guy will move toward him and into position to be swarmed by the all the kobold's buddies. Or take Ogres: Ogres like to smash things. They take pride in smashing things. Smashing big scary things is more of an accomplishment than smashing little squishy things. It might be a good idea to mark the sneaky ranger who is off to the side sniping at the chieftain or his ogre mage shamans, but it's not very manly (or, uh, ogrely), so the ogres will probably be marking the fighter, barbarian, paladin instead. Not a tactically wise decsion, but hey, we're talking ogres here. Which all fits in with your last line: Given my adjustment to this statement, recognizing that "what makes sense to yourself" varies from fight to fight based on the intelligence, fighting style, and tactical acumen of the monsters at hand, I totally agree. [/QUOTE]
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Monsters that mark: A pain for DMs
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