Shifty vs move

[Trolls]

Thanks everyone.
So if i understand this correctly: *
1)Anyone can shift as a move action and then safely move away without coping a OA
2) Kobolds can shift as a minor action , then move (mainly to flank) and THEN attack, all in the same round?
3) Kobolds can shift as a minor action, and then use a standard action to move to retreat.
4) Kobolds can shift and then attack
5) Moving 1 square as a move action and then attacking normally provoke a OA (ie no 5ft stepping)

*lets assume theres only one enemy
Im sure #2 is wrong

Cheers
Z

#2 is actually right.

Think about a character having three distinct actions: a minor action, a move action and a standard action.
Normally, a shift is a 1 square move which doesn't provoke an OA. It costs a move action.
Kobolds have the power to shift 1 square as a minor action. Whatever else they do in the round doesn't matter.

So, the kobold's turn might go something like this:

Minor - Shift 1 square
Move - Move 6 squares
Standard - Attack

or

Minor - Shift 1 square
Move - Move 6 squares
Standard -Move 6 squares

For example, you can use a minor and a move action to do this:
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|k|P|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|

Minor:
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|*|P|_|_|
|k|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|

Move:
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|P|k|_|
|*|_|_|_|*|
|_|*|*|*|_|

Then attack on P's opposite side so another kobold can come in and flank.

 

[Regicide]

This means Kobolds have a very easy time retreating from their foes, or regrouping to get to a better position. (Shift away, move around the foe to a flanking position, attack).

It also means the little kobolds are faster than the PCs and can run them down and kill them with ease.

 

[Aldarc]

Oooooo...I wonder how these kobolds would fair in an updated Dragon Mountain adventure.

 

[GorTeX]

Thanks everyone.
So if i understand this correctly: *
1)Anyone can shift as a move action and then safely move away without coping a OA
2) Kobolds can shift as a minor action , then move (mainly to flank) and THEN attack, all in the same round?
3) Kobolds can shift as a minor action, and then use a standard action to move to retreat.
4) Kobolds can shift and then attack
5) Moving 1 square as a move action and then attacking normally provoke a OA (ie no 5ft stepping)
*lets assume theres only one enemy
Im sure #2 is wrong

1). You'd have to use a Standard action to move away, but essentially correct
2-4) correct. Note that you can use a move action to shift another square, heck even use a Standard action to shift again..up to 3 shifts for a Kobold in a turn (if they did nothing else)
5) Why would you move 1 square and provoke, when anyone can use their move action to shift 1 square. Then use your standard action to attack with. No OA at all, even if you left a threatened square.

 

[Kaffis]

Thanks everyone.
So if i understand this correctly: *
1)Anyone can shift as a move action and then safely move away without coping a OA
2) Kobolds can shift as a minor action , then move (mainly to flank) and THEN attack, all in the same round?
3) Kobolds can shift as a minor action, and then use a standard action to move to retreat.
4) Kobolds can shift and then attack
5) Moving 1 square as a move action and then attacking normally provoke a OA (ie no 5ft stepping)

*lets assume theres only one enemy
Im sure #2 is wrong

Cheers
Z

#2 is actually right.
#1 is right, but a non-shifty creature/player has, at that point, used their entire turn. (shifting as a move, and then moving their speed as a traded-down second move action to replace their standard action)
#3 is under-utilizing the kobold's shiftiness. A kobold can shift with a minor, then move their speed as a *move* leaving their standard unaccounted for.
#4 anybody can shift then attack. Most people will use their move and standard to do so. A kobold can shift and attack and still have a move free (or, alternately, move in as a move, attack as a standard, and then shift away as minor).
I'm not sure what you're getting at with #5. If you move *only* one square as a move action, you might as well shift and not provoke. As long as you shift, it doesn't matter what you do with the rest of your turn, the shifting doesn't provoke.

You can shift and move in the same turn (this is the primary difference between shifting and a 5-foot step). You only provoke Opportunity Attacks for moving *out* of a threatened square, not into one.

Charging breaks both of those, but it's an exception. Charging grants an opportunity attack to your enemy as part of the charge, rather than as a consequence to how you move (but if you charge past others, you might provoke more as a consequence of leaving threatened squares). Also, charging prevents you from moving after the charge in that turn, so no charging and then shifting away, whether you're shifty or not.

 

[MindWanderer]

Kobolds can do some pretty crazy things. Shifty basically means they never take an OA. They can shift and then double-run, getting 17 squares away and much too far to be caught. They can move to melee, attack, and shift away (very handy for Dragonshields). They can shift twice before attacking, or move, shift, and attack, letting them flank nearly whenever they want. A kobold ranger or sorcerer can quarry/curse an opponent, shift away, then shoot them. And so on.