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Optional Facing Rule: do you use it?
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<blockquote data-quote="toucanbuzz" data-source="post: 7431990" data-attributes="member: 19270"><p>In follow up, I previously stated why we tried and ditched facing (as written). But, I dug a bit more to see what others had done to see if it could be done (and easily). Some suggestions:</p><p></p><p><strong>Attacks of Opportunity.</strong> The optional Facing Rule (DMG 252) changes the area you can attack to what's ahead and to the flanks (aka your <em>threat zone</em>). Attacks of Opportunity (PHB 195) occur if a creature moves out of your reach. Treat your reach as your <em>threat zone</em>. This helps compensate for the absurdity of an enemy running circles around you like a bad game of old school <strong>Goldeneye.</strong> If they leave your threat zone, AoO. </p><p></p><p><em>As a criticism, I'm not sure how much sense it makes that an enemy gravitating to your side would somehow open itself to an attack. Also, since foes must affirmatively trigger an AoO, wouldn't be triggered by you changing facing to abuse the rule.</em></p><p></p><p><strong>Reaction.</strong> Alternately, as previously suggested, considering abolishing the need to use a Reaction to adjust Facing. My addition to that is to grant a character the option to change Facing once per round, no reaction needed, by selecting one foe to mimic (wherever it goes, you face until you can't see it anymore). If you react to the first thing that comes your way or strategically wait, your call. This prevents the silliness of single foe darting behind your back while you stand there like a fool. Used in conjunction with above, eliminates single foe movement abuse and requires multiple foes to easily gain a bonus.</p><p></p><p><strong>Bonus to Attack.</strong> That's tough. We didn't like that Facing would denigrate class abilities that granted Advantage and was fairly easy to achieve. And, Advantage is pretty strong. Still a major attraction of Advantage is that it eliminated the extreme # of modifiers to track, +1 to this, +2 to that, -1 because of this, and so on. Personally, I'd settle for a +2 and leave it at that. It's middle ground for a <em>Bless</em> spell's +1d4 modifier to attack without adding more dice to the equation.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Shields</strong>. I don't like what D&D did with shields. The idea of one-size-fits-all shields that can guard, on a grid, 2 squares (front and whatever side shield is worn) is silly when you compare a Buckler and Tower Shield. Consider a House Rule that would require you to implement prices and weight from previous editions. </p><p></p><p><strong>Brainstorm</strong></p><p></p><p>Buckler: covers your flank only. Can gain benefit of shield even when taking other actions that occupy that hand (like casting).</p><p>Medium Shield (heater, kite, etc.): covers front and one flank. Occupies use of that hand totally. </p><p>Tower Shield: covers front and flank, occupies use of hand and reduces movement by 5. Can use an Action to use this shield as Half Cover.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="toucanbuzz, post: 7431990, member: 19270"] In follow up, I previously stated why we tried and ditched facing (as written). But, I dug a bit more to see what others had done to see if it could be done (and easily). Some suggestions: [B]Attacks of Opportunity.[/B] The optional Facing Rule (DMG 252) changes the area you can attack to what's ahead and to the flanks (aka your [I]threat zone[/I]). Attacks of Opportunity (PHB 195) occur if a creature moves out of your reach. Treat your reach as your [I]threat zone[/I]. This helps compensate for the absurdity of an enemy running circles around you like a bad game of old school [B]Goldeneye.[/B] If they leave your threat zone, AoO. [I]As a criticism, I'm not sure how much sense it makes that an enemy gravitating to your side would somehow open itself to an attack. Also, since foes must affirmatively trigger an AoO, wouldn't be triggered by you changing facing to abuse the rule.[/I] [B]Reaction.[/B] Alternately, as previously suggested, considering abolishing the need to use a Reaction to adjust Facing. My addition to that is to grant a character the option to change Facing once per round, no reaction needed, by selecting one foe to mimic (wherever it goes, you face until you can't see it anymore). If you react to the first thing that comes your way or strategically wait, your call. This prevents the silliness of single foe darting behind your back while you stand there like a fool. Used in conjunction with above, eliminates single foe movement abuse and requires multiple foes to easily gain a bonus. [B]Bonus to Attack.[/B] That's tough. We didn't like that Facing would denigrate class abilities that granted Advantage and was fairly easy to achieve. And, Advantage is pretty strong. Still a major attraction of Advantage is that it eliminated the extreme # of modifiers to track, +1 to this, +2 to that, -1 because of this, and so on. Personally, I'd settle for a +2 and leave it at that. It's middle ground for a [I]Bless[/I] spell's +1d4 modifier to attack without adding more dice to the equation. [B]Shields[/B]. I don't like what D&D did with shields. The idea of one-size-fits-all shields that can guard, on a grid, 2 squares (front and whatever side shield is worn) is silly when you compare a Buckler and Tower Shield. Consider a House Rule that would require you to implement prices and weight from previous editions. [B]Brainstorm[/B] Buckler: covers your flank only. Can gain benefit of shield even when taking other actions that occupy that hand (like casting). Medium Shield (heater, kite, etc.): covers front and one flank. Occupies use of that hand totally. Tower Shield: covers front and flank, occupies use of hand and reduces movement by 5. Can use an Action to use this shield as Half Cover. [/QUOTE]
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