For my house rules I've done a lot of nerfing to spells and magic. I won't get into detials but suffice it to say that magic users need protecting again. To that end I've been trying to think of a way to make melee combat stickier.
I've ditched Attacks of opportunity as written, though they still exist. and instead have instituted a rule that harkens back to simpler editions. I call it "engagement".
Basically what happens is that when characters, or monsters or whatever, come into contact. For medium creatures this means 2, 5 foot spaces bump up against each other with hostile intent. Then they are essentially locked together until some one goes down. They either die or are incapacitated some other way.
The only other way to get out of combat is to make a withdarw action, which is a standard action that allows you to move your movement speed but it has to be away from the target you are withdrawing from.
Once engaged you can't move except for using the withdraw action or by taking a 5 foot step. But any target currently engaged with you can take their own 5 foot step to match, if they want to.
I think this capture the feel of both the static old school battle lines while also giving a bit of a dueling feel. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.
I've ditched Attacks of opportunity as written, though they still exist. and instead have instituted a rule that harkens back to simpler editions. I call it "engagement".
Basically what happens is that when characters, or monsters or whatever, come into contact. For medium creatures this means 2, 5 foot spaces bump up against each other with hostile intent. Then they are essentially locked together until some one goes down. They either die or are incapacitated some other way.
The only other way to get out of combat is to make a withdarw action, which is a standard action that allows you to move your movement speed but it has to be away from the target you are withdrawing from.
Once engaged you can't move except for using the withdraw action or by taking a 5 foot step. But any target currently engaged with you can take their own 5 foot step to match, if they want to.
I think this capture the feel of both the static old school battle lines while also giving a bit of a dueling feel. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.
