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<blockquote data-quote="(Psi)SeveredHead" data-source="post: 6281626" data-attributes="member: 1165">In two encounters I did something ridiculous like this in 4e.Enemy archers in a building, shooting at the PCs from the window. Each round, the archer gets up from prone (move action), shoots (standard action), drops prone (free action). I gave the archers improved cover for being prone beneath a window (realistically they couldn't be targeted at all, but then realistically they'd have to waste actions finding the PCs again). The PCs clustered behind a building, and the encounter was pretty boring until someone pulled a strategic flank attack. (Specifically getting into that building and ganking vulnerable archers.)Readied actions are a &quot;cure&quot; but it seems like that tactic is still &quot;too easy&quot;. In any event, I stopped doing that (except for one specialist lurker ranged attacker that hasn't met my Pcs yet).I think in the quoted example, that only works if the archer is a lot faster than the melee attacker. (Ranged attackers can used readied actions to counter.)I agree that M-a-M is creating a problem here. In 3e, the attackers would stop right after attacking the fighter, and since they can't share spaces, pretty soon they can't all target the fighter. In 4e, same only the fighter gets more opportunity attacks and if they have some sort of Spring Attack ability might get &quot;stopped in their tracks&quot;. (A lot of Spring Attack/Mobile Melee Attack abilities in 4e deny an opportunity attack as they move away, however.)It even makes a difference with ranged attacks. If the duergar are all popping out of a tunnel and firing at the fighter, usually they have to stop right away, occupying positions that another duergar could have used and reducing the incoming volume of fire... unless they're using M-a-M. Of course in a wide open space said fighter could get killed before he even draws his sword; M-a-M wouldn't make things different there.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="(Psi)SeveredHead, post: 6281626, member: 1165"] In two encounters I did something ridiculous like this in 4e. Enemy archers in a building, shooting at the PCs from the window. Each round, the archer gets up from prone (move action), shoots (standard action), drops prone (free action). I gave the archers improved cover for being prone beneath a window (realistically they couldn't be targeted at all, but then realistically they'd have to waste actions finding the PCs again). The PCs clustered behind a building, and the encounter was pretty boring until someone pulled a strategic flank attack. (Specifically getting into that building and ganking vulnerable archers.) Readied actions are a "cure" but it seems like that tactic is still "too easy". In any event, I stopped doing that (except for one specialist lurker ranged attacker that hasn't met my Pcs yet). I think in the quoted example, that only works if the archer is a lot faster than the melee attacker. (Ranged attackers can used readied actions to counter.) I agree that M-a-M is creating a problem here. In 3e, the attackers would stop right after attacking the fighter, and since they can't share spaces, pretty soon they can't all target the fighter. In 4e, same only the fighter gets more opportunity attacks and if they have some sort of Spring Attack ability might get "stopped in their tracks". (A lot of Spring Attack/Mobile Melee Attack abilities in 4e deny an opportunity attack as they move away, however.) It even makes a difference with ranged attacks. If the duergar are all popping out of a tunnel and firing at the fighter, usually they have to stop right away, occupying positions that another duergar could have used and reducing the incoming volume of fire... unless they're using M-a-M. Of course in a wide open space said fighter could get killed before he even draws his sword; M-a-M wouldn't make things different there. [/QUOTE]

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