Flanked out my mind [Archive] - Wizards Community

Flanked out my mind [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
FenrisNorth
04-03-04, 07:59 PM Is there any way to avoid getting your butt handed to you by a whole mess of monsters surrounding you and flanking the bejezus out of you? The group has tried sticking together, but that just gets the wizard and rouge pounded, (we're fairly low level, not much magic), and when the paladin (me) and the ranger move up to engage the enemy before they get to the fragiles then we get pounded into the ground so fast it makes my head spin.
Thorak
04-03-04, 08:57 PM Use the terrain to your advantage. Two fighters, back to back, next to a wall can't be flanked, IIRC. Sure, you're abandoning the fragiles a bit, but the mage is supposed to be turning monsters into little chunky bits while you hold them off anyway.
Vanigo
04-03-04, 11:25 PM Well, there's uncanny dodge, but neither paladins nor rangers get that. I'd say stick close together and use things like Cleave and Whirlwind Attack to cut down flankers faster. You could also have the spellcasters summon monsters to get in the way of flankers, or use a tower shield to gain cover agaist a flanker. (You can use a tower shield to gain total cover in one direction, and you can't flank a guy who has total cover from you, nor can you help someone else flank him.)
lantzer
04-05-04, 12:53 PM The best I can do for you is:

1) Don't fight in the open when you are outnumbered. Of course they will surround you.

2) If the fight looks too tough, try to avoid it or move it to more advantageous terrain.

3) Sometimes retreating is a good idea - even if it's just to a more defensible position.
Lanoitakude
04-05-04, 11:34 PM Consider yourself lucky that those enemies don't have rogue levels, or you'd be toast. Sneak Attack can be vicious.

Feats like Improved Bull Rush and etc can move the enemies around, also, if you have a Wizard, have him learn the Baleful Transposition spell from the Miniatures Handbook (allows you to switch two creatures' places), if you can use it. Be careful, the stuff in that book is VERY powerful...
tarkin
04-06-04, 12:19 PM Ways to avoid being Flanked.

1) Improved Uncanny Dodge

2) Flight vs. non-flying (or slower) creatures

3) Invisibilty/Hiding/Darkness/Fogs/unseeableness.

4) Back To Back against a wall

5) Running battles (Shot on the run, etc. etc. etc.)

6) Phalanx type fighting / Combat lines (Across a corridor, one person in each space.
eRaz0r
04-06-04, 02:20 PM The Wizard should have some sort of area denial spells - web is a good one at low levels, especially in dungeons where you've got a ceiling to anchor it to.

Throw the web up not just to trap creatures, but to ensure that the others have to come around the web to get to you.
then you can hold the line with the fighters standing in the hole and then they can't be flanked.

That's one idea that's worked well for our group.
FenrisNorth
04-06-04, 04:02 PM I just had an idea of my own, have someone stand back with a knockback longbow, then anytime someone tries to get around the sides the person can blast themback a couple of squares, provoking the precious precious AoO!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
FenrisNorth 04-03-04, 07:59 PM	Is there any way to avoid getting your butt handed to you by a whole mess of monsters surrounding you and flanking the bejezus out of you? The group has tried sticking together, but that just gets the wizard and rouge pounded, (we're fairly low level, not much magic), and when the paladin (me) and the ranger move up to engage the enemy before they get to the fragiles then we get pounded into the ground so fast it makes my head spin.
Thorak 04-03-04, 08:57 PM	Use the terrain to your advantage. Two fighters, back to back, next to a wall can't be flanked, IIRC. Sure, you're abandoning the fragiles a bit, but the mage is supposed to be turning monsters into little chunky bits while you hold them off anyway.
Vanigo 04-03-04, 11:25 PM	Well, there's uncanny dodge, but neither paladins nor rangers get that. I'd say stick close together and use things like Cleave and Whirlwind Attack to cut down flankers faster. You could also have the spellcasters summon monsters to get in the way of flankers, or use a tower shield to gain cover agaist a flanker. (You can use a tower shield to gain total cover in one direction, and you can't flank a guy who has total cover from you, nor can you help someone else flank him.)
lantzer 04-05-04, 12:53 PM	The best I can do for you is: 1) Don't fight in the open when you are outnumbered. Of course they will surround you. 2) If the fight looks too tough, try to avoid it or move it to more advantageous terrain. 3) Sometimes retreating is a good idea - even if it's just to a more defensible position.
Lanoitakude 04-05-04, 11:34 PM	Consider yourself lucky that those enemies don't have rogue levels, or you'd be toast. Sneak Attack can be vicious. Feats like Improved Bull Rush and etc can move the enemies around, also, if you have a Wizard, have him learn the Baleful Transposition spell from the Miniatures Handbook (allows you to switch two creatures' places), if you can use it. Be careful, the stuff in that book is VERY powerful...
tarkin 04-06-04, 12:19 PM	Ways to avoid being Flanked. 1) Improved Uncanny Dodge 2) Flight vs. non-flying (or slower) creatures 3) Invisibilty/Hiding/Darkness/Fogs/unseeableness. 4) Back To Back against a wall 5) Running battles (Shot on the run, etc. etc. etc.) 6) Phalanx type fighting / Combat lines (Across a corridor, one person in each space.
eRaz0r 04-06-04, 02:20 PM	The Wizard should have some sort of area denial spells - web is a good one at low levels, especially in dungeons where you've got a ceiling to anchor it to. Throw the web up not just to trap creatures, but to ensure that the others have to come around the web to get to you. then you can hold the line with the fighters standing in the hole and then they can't be flanked. That's one idea that's worked well for our group.
FenrisNorth 04-06-04, 04:02 PM	I just had an idea of my own, have someone stand back with a knockback longbow, then anytime someone tries to get around the sides the person can blast themback a couple of squares, provoking the precious precious AoO!