UA Facing [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

UA Facing [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gold Katana
10-18-06, 01:48 PM We are just starting the Savage Tide campaign and are considering integrating the facing rules from UA. Has anyone used them before? Any praises or caveats?

Also, we are using the "armor converts damage to nonlethal" rules and LOVE IT! Working great and more realistic with very minimal changes to standard play.

Thanks!
RobbyPants
10-18-06, 02:13 PM I'm using the facing rules (as well as the SP rules, but that's a different matter).

All in all I like them. One thing I wanted to introduce is that a character can change facing as an imediate action, allowing him to do it on other's turns. The reason for this is that if an opponent with sufficient movement were fighting him, he could circle 10' around to his rear and attack! Certainly someone could spin in a semi-circle faster than someone could walk around him!

The only other addition I have to add because of that is that if you turn your back on someone, they get an AoO. This prevents someone from always facing them right before they attack (or at least without an AoO).
Gold Katana
10-18-06, 03:13 PM That's exactly the kind of feedback I'm looking for! Does the spinning count at all towards their movement?

I can't figure out by RAW, why anyone would ever sidestep to avoid AoO. The rules allow turning prior to stepping in any direction, and turning with every movement. All a rules-lawyer has to claim is they turn to the side and step, then turn back to face their opponent. Your rule regarding back turning may be used to combat this.
The_Levitator
10-18-06, 08:12 PM We use the same kind of idea, only we call it engagement. You can designate 1 opponent per round and engage with that opponent. Once you engage with a combatant, you may freely change your facing to keep your opponent in front of you as they move. We found that using the rules as they are stated, you could kind of play leapfrog to get flank and rear attacks. We tore them apart trying to see if we were interpreting it wrong, but decided that it was a bit of a flaw, as others have done similar things to prevent leapfrogging.

Our group loves facing and have all stated that they wouldn't enjoy playing "the old way" nearly as much. It seems to give a livlier feel to combat, encourages movement during combat (instead of standing toe-to-toe and trading blows), and increases strategic options. One great thing about facing is how it can work with teamwork. If you are engaged with your opponent, you can move in such a way so that they follow you and open themselves up to a flank or rear attack from one of your allies.

It's definitely worth a try, so have some fun with it! :D
RobbyPants
10-18-06, 10:59 PM That's exactly the kind of feedback I'm looking for! Does the spinning count at all towards their movement?

I think as written, no. You can change your facing all you want during your movement and one more time on your turn.

As I said earlier, I allow people to change facing whenever, even if it's not their turn. Again, the reason for this is to keep people from "leap-frogging" to get rear attacks. They way I handle it is if you turn your back on an opponent who threatens you, they get an AoO.

"leap-frogging" - nice term The_Levitator, a little more elagent than my paragraph long destription!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gold Katana 10-18-06, 01:48 PM	We are just starting the Savage Tide campaign and are considering integrating the facing rules from UA. Has anyone used them before? Any praises or caveats? Also, we are using the "armor converts damage to nonlethal" rules and LOVE IT! Working great and more realistic with very minimal changes to standard play. Thanks!
RobbyPants 10-18-06, 02:13 PM	I'm using the facing rules (as well as the SP rules, but that's a different matter). All in all I like them. One thing I wanted to introduce is that a character can change facing as an imediate action, allowing him to do it on other's turns. The reason for this is that if an opponent with sufficient movement were fighting him, he could circle 10' around to his rear and attack! Certainly someone could spin in a semi-circle faster than someone could walk around him! The only other addition I have to add because of that is that if you turn your back on someone, they get an AoO. This prevents someone from always facing them right before they attack (or at least without an AoO).
Gold Katana 10-18-06, 03:13 PM	That's exactly the kind of feedback I'm looking for! Does the spinning count at all towards their movement? I can't figure out by RAW, why anyone would ever sidestep to avoid AoO. The rules allow turning prior to stepping in any direction, and turning with every movement. All a rules-lawyer has to claim is they turn to the side and step, then turn back to face their opponent. Your rule regarding back turning may be used to combat this.
The_Levitator 10-18-06, 08:12 PM	We use the same kind of idea, only we call it engagement. You can designate 1 opponent per round and engage with that opponent. Once you engage with a combatant, you may freely change your facing to keep your opponent in front of you as they move. We found that using the rules as they are stated, you could kind of play leapfrog to get flank and rear attacks. We tore them apart trying to see if we were interpreting it wrong, but decided that it was a bit of a flaw, as others have done similar things to prevent leapfrogging. Our group loves facing and have all stated that they wouldn't enjoy playing "the old way" nearly as much. It seems to give a livlier feel to combat, encourages movement during combat (instead of standing toe-to-toe and trading blows), and increases strategic options. One great thing about facing is how it can work with teamwork. If you are engaged with your opponent, you can move in such a way so that they follow you and open themselves up to a flank or rear attack from one of your allies. It's definitely worth a try, so have some fun with it! :D
RobbyPants 10-18-06, 10:59 PM	That's exactly the kind of feedback I'm looking for! Does the spinning count at all towards their movement? I think as written, no. You can change your facing all you want during your movement and one more time on your turn. As I said earlier, I allow people to change facing whenever, even if it's not their turn. Again, the reason for this is to keep people from "leap-frogging" to get rear attacks. They way I handle it is if you turn your back on an opponent who threatens you, they get an AoO. "leap-frogging" - nice term The_Levitator, a little more elagent than my paragraph long destription!