PC discussing strategy while in melee

[candidus_cogitens]

Is it permissible for PCs to shout tactical instructions or information to other PCs when it is not their turn in the round?

I don't know whether there is a rule on this, but clearly it makes a big difference as to the feel of the combat and as to the speediness of the gaming.

Would you allow this: "Hey Krusk, move five feet this way so I can flank this goblin!"?

Or this: "Mialee, don't cast Fireball yet! Wait till I get out of the way!"?

What about a simple ... "Duck!"?

Keep in mind, we're asking about whether you would allow it when it is NOT the PCs turn.

 

[Corlon]

I would, why not! The problem with yelling out is that the enemy knows your plans.

And the "duck" thing, I think it should be a rule that any character as a free action may become prone, but is not engaged in melee anymore, for an archer to get a better shot (no -4 penalty)!

 

[Crothian]

Ya, it's not like we don't allow them to have perfect cordination with the use of a mat and minatures anyway. And the fact the spellcasters can perfectly place any spell they want to, and there really are no penalties for not being able to see an enemy when your friend can (you might not be able to target him, but you still know exactly where it is).

 

[kreynolds]

Is it permissible for PCs to shout tactical instructions or information to other PCs when it is not their turn in the round?

No. Not at all. The idea that I could speak, when it's not my turn, is absolutely ludicrous.



You thought I was serious, didn't you?

Would you allow this: "Hey Krusk, move five feet this way so I can flank this goblin!"?

Yes. Why? Because it works better than...

Player 1 (in character): "Hey Krusk! Flank!"
Player 2 (in character): "Argh! Yes! Rrrrrar!"
Player 2 (out of character): "Where, you frickin' idiot!?"
Player 1 (out of character): "Right there, stupid!" *points to grid*
Player 2 (out of character): "How was I supposed to know that you wanted me there!?! Your figure is way the hell over there!!!!" *points waaaaayyyyy across the grid*
Player 1 (out of character): "I haven't moved there yet, Captain Blunder! It's not my turn! I'll get there next round."
Player 2 (out of character): "Next time....point."
DM: "Are you children finished?"
Player 1 & 2: *nod heads*
DM: "Well...where are you going player 2?"
Player 2: *points to grid, which will set up a flank when player 1's turn comes up*

 

[candidus_cogitens]

And the "duck" thing, I think it should be a rule that any character as a free action may become prone, but is not engaged in melee anymore, for an archer to get a better shot (no -4 penalty)!

This would be a house rule, of course, and in my view, a bad one. Why? Precisely because it allows people to get around rules such as the penalty for firing into melee! Actually, the main reason would be that it just seems like too much activity for when it is not even your turn.

 

[Corlon]

mabye as a move equivilant then...
Isn't it true that if you're flat on the ground, there is an extremely small chance that the arrow will hit you?

 

[shurai]

Yes, but remember that combat isn't as turn-based as we think it is. In real life it's all happening at once. So when you shout "Duck!" and wait for your opponent to duck, you're taking a possible opportunity to shoot and using it to yell and wait. You can't wait, because every second counts when a skilled swordsman can kill three people in the space between one and the next.

You can already do this in the core rules, you'll just have to use the delay action to wait until they actually drop. You may not lose an action relative to the enemy, which is really what matters.

-S

 

[candidus_cogitens]

The fact that the actual action is more simultaneous than sequential is important to discuss. You might use it as an argument that you should be able to talk out of turn, but if you really think about it, while you're shouting your commands, the other PC might ALREADY be beginning their action. So, I would say it makes it MORE realistic to require PCs to only speak on their turn in the round!

 

[AuraSeer]

At any time during your turn, you may drop to the floor as a free action. Standing up is move-equivalent. (These are listed in the SRD.)

Ranged attacks against a prone character suffer a -4 penalty, but melee attacks get a +4. So if you drop prone, you're harder to hit with arrows (and you no longer provide cover to the enemy behind you), but the enemy may bash your skull in before you can get up.

 

[Caliban]

I allow them to talk about tactics out of character when the combat is going on. This is because the PC's spend a lot more time together in the game world, and experienced adventurer's would have worked out many tactics or ploys between fights.

Instead of making the Players sit down between adventures and draw up battleplans or create strategies, I assume that the PC's have already done so, and allow the table talk to simulate this.