Side Effect: No more running away?

[Agamon]

In fact, I like that they make difficult running away from a monster faster than the slowlest party member. If the monster is fast, running away shouldn't be an option.
Retreating around corners to get a safe retreat is ( YMHO ) metagaming, so I'm glad it won't work.

Trying to escape, retreat, surrender, tricking or simply dying, but not just running away from corner to corner YMMV, of course...

Yep. The running joke when my friends an I go hiking in the mountains is, I don't have to run faster than the bear, just faster than one of you.

 

[Agamon]

Sadly this is where D&D stops being a RPG and becomes a boardgame. If the DM determines its a plot vacuum to have the villain escape then the encounter is over when he 'leaves the grid' and further pursuit should be pointless.

Wait, are you arguing for that last sentence or against? And how does it relate to the speculated rule change? Sorry, maybe I'm just a bit thick.

 

[Agamon]

My experience with 3E is that it's already almost impossible to flee from a battle without using some sort of magic.

My players would disagree. The bad guys getting away infuriates one in particular, and it happens quite a bit.

 

[an_idol_mind]

Give your bad guys Improved Initiative, Tumble, Balance, and other acrobatic-like skills.

Have them knock things over, throw stuff, and generally create hastily-made obstacles while they're running away.

Using strategies like that, it's not too hard to recreate the beginning foot chase in Casino Royale if you're into that sort of thing.

 

[Pygon]

Pursuit and evasion should certainly be options in 4e. I was somewhat bothered by the straight line run rule in 3e as well.

 

[Rechan]

Give your bad guys Improved Initiative, Tumble, Balance, and other acrobatic-like skills.

If they don't have fast movement and your party does, they're borked. Unless they have a 60ft headstart.

Have them knock things over, throw stuff, and generally create hastily-made obstacles while they're running away.

That costs a standard action. They're better off doing a full-on run.

 

[ThirdWizard]

My players would disagree. The bad guys getting away infuriates one in particular, and it happens quite a bit.

I find it's much easier to run away if you don't care about your allies.

 

[Nightchilde-2]

Yep. The running joke when my friends an I go hiking in the mountains is, I don't have to run faster than the bear, just faster than one of you.

The running joke, eh? BWAHAAH!

 

[Doug McCrae]

Chase rules are the #1 most needed missing rule in D&D imo. Not sure if they should be cinematic or not.

 

[wgreen]

I am going to take this opportunity to pimp my rough, unpolished, 100% unplaytested chase rules. I hope to have the opportunity to try them out soon!

-Will