My DM has decided to add flanking to our newest campaign. The rule pretty much says, that if the flanked creature would possibly cower due to the other flanking creatures, advantage is granted. So a troll surrounded by four halflings would not cower(no flanking). The reverse though, four trolls around one halfling (flanked). Even two trolls could flank if your hero is a sissy druid or something similar. Four heros around a goblin.... he will talk or die. Seems real enough to use in proper situations. We figured we would throw it out there and see if faults in the rule could cause issues.??
I don't think the flanking rule revolves around whether a creature would cower, but rather around the fact that surrounding a creature confuses them and prevents them from defending properly, as they have to focus on two enemies at once, on either side of them.
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"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
It almost seems like your DM is making a hybrid version of the optional flanking and morale rules in the DMG. Instead of flanking always giving advantage, there is a second trigger that needs to happen as well. (Cowering as I see it lines up with the morale rules.) If that was their intent, I would suggest adding a wisdom check with a DC determined by how many enemies are flanking using the morale rules as a guideline.
Common sense would determine if the creature is afraid/overwhelmed/cowering. My DM uses size strength, how many hostiles. Some creatures just aren't going to be afraid bases on their makeup. Its flexible but we try to keep it based on what we think would happen in a "real" situation.
Common sense would determine if the creature is afraid/overwhelmed/cowering. My DM uses size strength, how many hostiles. Some creatures just aren't going to be afraid bases on their makeup. Its flexible but we try to keep it based on what we think would happen in a "real" situation.
Without set rules, it will inevitably piss off a player, whether they are trying to use flanking and getting told "no", or when they get flanked.
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My DM has decided to add flanking to our newest campaign. The rule pretty much says, that if the flanked creature would possibly cower due to the other flanking creatures, advantage is granted. So a troll surrounded by four halflings would not cower(no flanking). The reverse though, four trolls around one halfling (flanked). Even two trolls could flank if your hero is a sissy druid or something similar. Four heros around a goblin.... he will talk or die. Seems real enough to use in proper situations. We figured we would throw it out there and see if faults in the rule could cause issues.??
How do you decide if a PC would cower?
Literally my first question.
I don't think the flanking rule revolves around whether a creature would cower, but rather around the fact that surrounding a creature confuses them and prevents them from defending properly, as they have to focus on two enemies at once, on either side of them.
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
It almost seems like your DM is making a hybrid version of the optional flanking and morale rules in the DMG. Instead of flanking always giving advantage, there is a second trigger that needs to happen as well. (Cowering as I see it lines up with the morale rules.) If that was their intent, I would suggest adding a wisdom check with a DC determined by how many enemies are flanking using the morale rules as a guideline.
Common sense would determine if the creature is afraid/overwhelmed/cowering. My DM uses size strength, how many hostiles. Some creatures just aren't going to be afraid bases on their makeup. Its flexible but we try to keep it based on what we think would happen in a "real" situation.
Yup I never realized there was a cower the "action" . I was using it as a descriptive word only. Afraid or overwhelmed is a better description.
Were are running a goblin cull and This adds alot of fun options.
Without set rules, it will inevitably piss off a player, whether they are trying to use flanking and getting told "no", or when they get flanked.