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<blockquote data-quote="jimmifett" data-source="post: 5606823" data-attributes="member: 55006">I would roll init as soon as the gladiators came out, since both parties knew there'd be a fight in the arena.&nbsp;For the standoff, if my players are smart, they move forward and ready &quot;when an enemy comes within x, I charge&quot;.&nbsp;If the enemy never triggers the charge, that still allows the players (or the enemy) to change position around the field.&nbsp;I would find a way to set up a pincer formation, and the other ready for &quot;when the defender gets attacked&quot;. Have the defender move forward, accepting the attack (hoping for a miss), then the pincers close in and surround the enemy, hopefully getting CA.&nbsp;They key to handling these standoffs, is the players tell you, the DM, thier readied action. As a DM, part of the contract is that you expect your monsters to die, eventually. You know what the players are going to do, but you have to get in the head of your monster. Is this his first rodeo, would he recognize an opponent holding something back? So, You ready an action, but you write it down and don't tell the players what the trigger is until after it's been triggered.&nbsp;DM: &quot;Stabbitha the halfling barbarian, playfully skips forward 2 and... *scribble scribble, flip note upside down* casually resting one hand on her dagger's hilt, picking her teeth with the other, readying an action.&quot;Player: &quot;What is the trigger?&quot;DM: &quot;On your turn, give me an insight (Moderate DC), streetwise (Moderate DC), or history (Hard DC) as a move action to either size up your opponent, recall something you may have overheard about how this opponent fights, or recall some piece of history of the fighting traditions of this arena or it's peoples. Beat the check, and i'll tell you his trigger.&quot;Player: &quot;How come I have to tell you my trigger then?&quot;DM: &quot;If I want my guy to know what you've told me, I'm going to do the same thing. I need to know so I can be prepared to make a ruling.&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="jimmifett, post: 5606823, member: 55006"] I would roll init as soon as the gladiators came out, since both parties knew there'd be a fight in the arena. For the standoff, if my players are smart, they move forward and ready "when an enemy comes within x, I charge". If the enemy never triggers the charge, that still allows the players (or the enemy) to change position around the field. I would find a way to set up a pincer formation, and the other ready for "when the defender gets attacked". Have the defender move forward, accepting the attack (hoping for a miss), then the pincers close in and surround the enemy, hopefully getting CA. They key to handling these standoffs, is the players tell you, the DM, thier readied action. As a DM, part of the contract is that you expect your monsters to die, eventually. You know what the players are going to do, but you have to get in the head of your monster. Is this his first rodeo, would he recognize an opponent holding something back? So, You ready an action, but you write it down and don't tell the players what the trigger is until after it's been triggered. DM: "Stabbitha the halfling barbarian, playfully skips forward 2 and... *scribble scribble, flip note upside down* casually resting one hand on her dagger's hilt, picking her teeth with the other, readying an action." Player: "What is the trigger?" DM: "On your turn, give me an insight (Moderate DC), streetwise (Moderate DC), or history (Hard DC) as a move action to either size up your opponent, recall something you may have overheard about how this opponent fights, or recall some piece of history of the fighting traditions of this arena or it's peoples. Beat the check, and i'll tell you his trigger." Player: "How come I have to tell you my trigger then?" DM: "If I want my guy to know what you've told me, I'm going to do the same thing. [I][B]I[/B][/I] need to know so I can be prepared to make a ruling." [/QUOTE]

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