Players not taking AoO

[Agamon]

While I don't think you're obligated to remind them, I think you should. If you forget as well, then no one remembered and there's nothing that can be done about that. But if you're dancing around the PCs with monsters thinking, "well, there's abunch of AoOs they could have had" it sounds like your trying to get away with it in order to hurt the party as much as possible.

If it were the other way around, where a player only tells other players when they get an AoO, but doesn't do the same for the DM, he'd be a rules lawyer.

I guess if you play DM vs players, then my whole arguement is moot.

 

[jaerdaph]

Another observation over the past 2+ years of playing 3e/d20 - players eventually do catch most if not all of their AoOs and take advantage of them, at least in my experience.

 

[jaerdaph]

Wow - I think we're seeing a dichotomy of DMs who play "with" their players, and DMs who play "against" them. Both styles can be fun, and it's clear that there are a lot of folks in between - but I admit I'm surprised by how many people wouldn't remind their players. My rules-savvy players remind me when the monster forgets an AoO, and I try to do the same. *shrug* I guess whatever works for your group.

I think (personally speaking again) we're all playing together in the sense that we're trying to tell a story together and above all, have fun. But I also think that part of the fun for the players is a sense of real challenge and independent accomplishment, both for the player and the PC (at least if I'm reading the signs right from behind the screen).

 

[GameWyrd]

Good heavens! Remind them! It's your role as DM to do this.

It's been said before here but it's worth saying again. The players might forget but the experienced characters would not.

If I found myself playing under such a DM then I'd find myself running through a mantra of "AoO, reflex save, will save, fort save, spot check, listen check, dodge!" after anything happened.

 

[coyote6]

I generally remind people of those sorts of things. If I remember 'em, that is.

Oh, and if the player is paying attention. If the player missing the AoO opportunity* is missing it because he or she is having a side conversation or crocheting or whatever, then I tend to let 'em miss it.

*(Attack of Opportunity opportunity? Is that redundant?)

 

[shilsen]

I say remind them. I'm the resident rules lawyer in our group, and since everyone isn't equally clear on the rules, it's my job to remind both the other players when they miss something and the DM when he does so. Fair's fair. When I'm DM-ing, it's a lot less likely that I forget something, but I always tell the players when they do.

 

[Zerovoid]

Well, my players usually ask for AOO's when they don't get them, and I have to explain the rules and why they don't get them. I also have to remind them to cast defensively alot of the time. I just can't stand to see them make that simple mistake.

I would say, as long as you are making it clear how the monster is moving, so that they can obviously see when it goes through one of their threatened areas, then don't remind them all the time. Just after the battle or something.

 

[tburdett]

I guess it all depends on your outlook as the DM.

If your primary goal as the DM is to screw over your players, cause them extra grief and hardship, and ensure that they suffer defeat at your almighty hands, then you'll certainly not want to remind them about the opportunities that the rules provide them. After all, it's all about YOU having a good time, right?

If your primary goal as the DM is to provide a challenging and rewarding experience that tests the players ingenuity and skill, while remaining FAIR and IMPARTIAL, you will certainly want to inform your players when rule provided opportunities arise. After all, you are ALL there to have a good time, right?

That's my take on it.

 

[Jemal]

I guess it all depends on your outlook as the DM.

If your primary goal as the DM is to screw over your players, cause them extra grief and hardship, and ensure that they suffer defeat at your almighty hands, then you'll certainly not want to remind them about the opportunities that the rules provide them. After all, it's all about YOU having a good time, right?

If your primary goal as the DM is to provide a challenging and rewarding experience that tests the players ingenuity and skill, while remaining FAIR and IMPARTIAL, you will certainly want to inform your players when rule provided opportunities arise. After all, you are ALL there to have a good time, right?

That's my take on it.

WHOA! talk about issues...
Who pissed in your Healing potion?
"You will want to inform your players when rule provided opportunities arise" So I should remind them that the mage slinging fireballs at them has a low fort save? Or that they should stay away from the big barbarian with the glowing axe?

There ARE certain things the players have to learn eventually. Just because you don't remind them about everything they can do, doesn't mean your an @$$hole (As implied very heavily in your post). If they can't be bothered to keep track of 1 thing, which (Following my PRIOR suggestion) they would know about ahead of time, then why would I want to play with such self centered people anyways?

True, the DM should be fair and impartial. Requiring your players to actually know the rules is, in my opinion, fair.

 

[Sanackranib]

remind them or not?

I generally remind people of those sorts of things. If I remember 'em, that is.

Oh, and if the player is paying attention. If the player missing the AoO opportunity* is missing it because he or she is having a side conversation or crocheting or whatever, then I tend to let 'em miss it.

*(Attack of Opportunity opportunity? Is that redundant?)

I tell 'um once, but if they aren't paying attention then thats not on me.