Picking combat targets - how do NPCs choose?

[Driddle]

A question to those of you who have GM'd combat scenes between PCs and NPC parties:

When the groups initially meet, and it becomes clear that blood will flow, how do you determine which characters are targeted by which NPC enemies? Is it a random assignment, for example, or whoever happens to be closest to an opportunity, or perhaps some sort of semi-intelligent tactical assessment, like, "That guy looks like a mage, so I'm gonna shoot at him first?"

 

[reveal]

A question to those of you who have GM'd combat scenes between PCs and NPC parties:

When the groups initially meet, and it becomes clear that blood will flow, how do you determine which characters are targeted by which NPC enemies? Is it a random assignment, for example, or whoever happens to be closest to an opportunity, or perhaps some sort of semi-intelligent tactical assessment, like, "That guy looks like a mage, so I'm gonna shoot at him first?"

It all depends on the intelligence/tactics of the NPC. I try to play my NPCs the way I think that particular group or individual would actually respond to a situation.

In my Eberron last session, the PCs were ambushed by a group of Shifter ranger/rogues in Sharn. Each of the ranger/rogues started off combat by firing a poison covered crossbow bolt. They then advanced, dropping their crossbows and drawing two swords. Each sword was covered by poison that would only do anything on the first hit. The PCs included 2 humans, a shifter and 2 warforged. The NPCs weren't stupid; they realized that the warforged were immune to poison so they didn't waste their initial attacks on them. They went straight for the humans and the shifter because they knew they (the rogues) would do the most damage to that group of beings.

Another example would be when the PCs were ambushed by a group of jungle trolls in Xen'drik. The trolls started off by throwing their spears, which were poisoned, at the two people who noticed them in the woods; one target being a warforged. The trolls had no idea that warforged were immune to poison. The trolls then advanced, concentrating their attacks on who was in front of them and, eventually, surrounding the biggest warforged, since he looked like the biggest threat.

 

[Henry]

Depends on intelligence. Simple-minded or animalistic creatures usually attakc whatever threatens most, usually whoever's closest. There's no way the Gray Render or the Owlbear is targeting the wizard or the cleric in the rear, and ignoring everyone else. They attack whoever's in arm's reach, or who can be in range of a charge.

The intelligent humanoids (orcs, goblins, etc.) will proably target those who look like spellcasters, or look weakest and easiest to fall first. Experience and clan lore would teach them that you take out the spell-slingers first.

VERY intelligent foes (liches, powerful outsiders, etc.) would likely take out foes based on assumptions of skill. Heavily bulked armored people, and wiry acrobatic fighter-types get targeted with will-saving spells, wizardly looking people and people with holy symbols get targeted with reflex save spells, etc. I'd even allow some type of sense motive or WIS check to see if they are successfully faked out by characters dressing against type (say, the wizard who wears elven mithral shirts).

 

[WayneLigon]

1. If anyone casts a spell, any spell, he becomes an instant missle target. Virtually all intelligent monsters know that a spellcaster can %#&*$ them up but good, and still have clean fingernails afterwards. They die first.

2. The person in the best armor or the best weapons. He's likely to be either (a) the best warrior, and thus the person to take out first so that an easy time can be had with the others - maybe even some chasing and torture before dinner - or (b) the richest, in which case you kill him, toss his body to the goblins or other footmen you have to ben dragged off and looted while you deal with the others.

3. Kill the person who does the most apparent damage. If three people are sticking your guys with sticks and 1d6 rapiers and stuff while one guy is cleaving through the ranks with a flaming brilliant thundering + 4 Great Axe doing 34d10+456 points of damage, you take down the guy with the Great Axe first. Or make him king.

I generally give the opposite side some Spot rolls, or Appraise, or some Knowledge roll to give them a quick assessment of the party strengths and weaknesses (and the party generally gets the same thing). Some encounters end there, as the leader of the potential ambush goes 'um, guys? See those teeth on that lanyard on that guys belt? Those are Hill Giant canines. Fresh ones. Um, we're just gonna wait for a fat merchant with a crippled old donkey or something'.

Unintelligent monsters will generally go after (1) the slowest party member (2) the smallest (3) the one that hurts them worst (4) any wounded members or (5) the ones who smell best. Generally random determination.

If the opposite side fails most of their checks or no good assessment can be made, then it's pretty random. That will change during the battle, depending on who can see what.

 

[Driddle]

So it can be an effective tactic for a mage to appear as fighter-like as possible, foregoing the cliche robes and pointy hat and staff? Perhaps some disguises or illusion (group or individuals) to make combat threats more difficult to determine?

 

[Stormborn]

Generally once the situation devolves into close quarters melee, where an opponent has multiple choices for an attack I use one of two methods, dependng
1) if the NPC was damaged it attacks the last person who damaged him (everything else being equal)
2) if the NPC has not been injured and has multiple targets I assign each target a range on a die and roll for it.

Other wise much as above.

 

[Darkness]

What the others said, plus:

Whoever they like least. Dwarf NPCs are likely give preference to half-orcs. Orcs will slay elves first if feasible. Evil outsiders will attack good outsiders, paladins and priests. Gnomes will attack kobolds. Occult Slayers will hit spellcasters.

When trying to figure out who they hate most, Charisma is also a factor.

Whether tactical considerations or hatred are more important depends on the NPC in question.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

My NPCs behave much as has been already described. In addition, they take advantage of the same rules that the PCs do: If NPC 1 can choose from two PC fighters, one of which he can flank - he will select the best tactical advantage for him and move to flank - if he is intelligent enough to realize that, of course. If a PC looks to be close to going down, he may find that he gets extra attention - being close to dropping does not stop the enemy from huting my NPCs at all, but being out of the fight does.

One thing I do tend to do with my NPC fighter-types that is different from my players is to not concern myself with AoOs too much. They will often take a direct path to their chosen target, if it allows them to get hit by an AoO, so be it.

 

[ChaosEvoker]

I a world where magic exists, it depends on hwo obvious your wizard is. If he is dressed in a Robe of the Archmagi then yeah, he'll get targeted, he looks like a caster. however, if he is dressed in simple looking clothes, then the NPC's are more likely to think "Hmm...must be the torchbearer, better not waste ammo." That is, until a Fireball explodes on their butts...

I'd say unless the wizard is obvious, they'd go for the toughest looking one, or if their smart, attack the one that looks like he'd play towards that NPC's weaknesses, in which case that PC would be the target.

It is heavily based on intellegence though. Stupid NPC's are more likely to be random with their targets.

 

[shilsen]

Similar to what Thornir Alekeg said above, but my NPCs (or those smart enough, to be precise) are just as careful about AoOs as the PCs are. On the whole my NPCs tend to fight smarter than the PCs, since the PCs are less likely to make intelligent use of combat maneuvers and work as a team, though the players/PCs are much better now than when I first joined my group 3 years ago, when I had to explain flanking to them