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Message: <blockquote data-quote="inati" data-source="post: 4480311" data-attributes="member: 71567">IV. Advanced ConceptsThere are a wide variety of ways of changing the basic technique to fit a situation.  Below are just a few of the many modifications possible: Maintaining Flank (aka Move without Moving)If the monster is being flanked for combat advantage by the Defender and the PC, the PC can move one square, draw the attack, activate the Defender’s damage, and simply move back one square into flanking position again.<img src="http://bkk4e.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/maintainflank.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />So, in the above example, a Rogue (acting as the PC) could move away, activate the Defender’s damage ability, move back in to restore flank, and then nail the monster with sneak attack.  If the Rogue happened to apply a Riposte Strike (you know, that ability most Players say never gets activated) beforehand on the monster, it’s all the more sweeter.  Now we’re cooking with gas! Opportunity Attacks by Ranged attacks ( aka Provoke without Moving)Of course, movement isn’t the only way to draw an Opportunity Attack.  A PC has the choice to maintain position and simply use a Ranged attack instead, as Ranged attacks provoke OAs.  This can be very useful for when you are unable to move, or don’t want to move from your location.  In a multiple Monster encounter, it can even be possible to shoot at another target across the battlefield, draw an OA from an adjacent marked monster, activate the Defender’s damage ability and enjoy the fact that two Monsters have been damaged for the price of a single standard action.  Efficiency at work! Using the Defender as a meatshieldSometimes a PC is caught between a rock and a hard place.  Here’s one way a retreating PC can still move through the threat zone, draw the attack, and move safely away behind the Defender.  By placing the Defender between the PC and the Monster, it makes it that much harder for the Monster to get at the PC.<img src="http://bkk4e.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/defendermeatshield.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />If the PC can’t afford to take a hit, they might be better off shifting and then moving away.  In desperate times, though, drawing an OA so that the PC can move as far away as possible from a sticky situation might be preferable. Two Defenders / Mark swappingWhen two defenders work in conjunction with each other, they can pingpong the monster between them to great effect by swapping marks with each other and drawing an OA.  Also, by mark swapping, the Defenders are able to spread out the damage the monster does to two characters as opposed to just one.<img src="http://bkk4e.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/twodefender1.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /><img src="http://bkk4e.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/twodefender2.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Although it is not necessary for the two Defenders to be flanking the Monster to perform this maneuver, it is probably ideal. No need to be Adjacent Nothing says you must start out adjacent to the Monster in order to draw an OA.  By passing through (but not stopping in) the monster’s threat zone, a PC can still activate the Defender’s extra damage.  PCs with powers that allow them to move before or after an attack can be especially effective performing this technique.<img src="http://bkk4e.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/noneedadjacent.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />In the above example, if the PC were a Warlock, their Shadow Walk ability would have activated when they entered the threatening area, thus gaining Concealment and a +2 boost to their AC.   Again, it is not necessary to move into the flanking position, but if the PC can still end up where they want to go while drawing the OA from the flank, it would be ideal.</blockquote>

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