UA Facing rules

[monboesen]

We have recently decided to use the variant facing rules from UA. The main reason being that most of us found it problematic that it was so damn difficult doing ranged sneak attacks on enemies locked in melee combat.

But the facing rules brings on other problems. Most glaring is the fact that the rogue/fighter with spring attack now is more or less insured a sneak attack on an enemy every round. As they can only adjust facing on their own turn it is very easy for her to use spring attack to move behind them and attack. Without a wall or some other way of protecting their back there is no way to stop it.

Though it is not technically a problem (one sneak attack a round aint that bad) it seems strange that it is not possible to change facing in response with your enemies actions. What usually happens in game is that the character and the enemy have facing front to front on the enemy action (as the enemy attacks the character). Then on the fighter/rogues action she spring attacks past them and stabs them in the back. It seems very strange that they can not turn as she goes round them.

I am thinking of letting everyone adjust their facing once a round as a free action, what do you guys and girls think of that ?

 

[Li Shenron]

I was very skeptic about the facing rules, and your example with sneak attack is a good one. The game clearly has to work in turns and not real time, which already creates some unrealistic issues sometimes, and facing simply aggravates this fact as you point out. Furthermore, I think facing is in principle incompatible with 3.5 square facing... or at least it doesn't make sense to first adopt square facing because creatures are constantly moving, and then use the variant facing rules which goes in the opposite direction of thoughts.

However... now I don't remember exactly which are the benefits of attacking from the rear. Without the facing rules, a Rogue can still easily get to sneak attack at least once a round by getting to flanking position, provided there is at least an ally in combat.