A, they're farther away and probably harder to hit anyway
That would be a good argument.
But i cant help but wonder, if you apply it to every spellcaster in game ... do you often kill the most distant target last? O_o
I admit freely, that i tend to kill them ASAP ...
and more importantly B. if the enemy is busy killing each other, there's less of them to kill your people.
And here i presume you joined others, who are talking about situation, where action of PC clearly states that their main target are other Goblins, rather than Aradin and your friends?
No argues there ... except its not really relevant for the point. :-/
It's just better tactically to let any in-fighting go on for as long as possible to thin out the herd.
Indeed ...
As long as our troops are not in the middle of that fight, and if every participant maked it clear on wich side he stands ... neither is our case (at the beginning of the fight).
I mean, dont be too focused on my example with Tiefling archer, its just something i (foolishly) hoped helps you understand my point better ... clearly i didnt ilustrate it as well as i hoped. :-/
It didnt work ... i give up with it.
But think futher ... everything that AI does, it does based on if you are Friend or Foe ... and that is set in stone and nothing can change it (that is core of my complain).
You attack Aradin > Aradin heals you. (Throw a potion at you.)
You are a Goblin (forget who is with you, its perfectly possible to get here solo, or just separated from your group that gets there from different side) > Aradin heals you.
You are a Goblin > Other Goblins attack you.
That is the problem i was talking about!
"the teiflings attack you along with the raiders and you either die or flee with no opportunity to interact with the grove at all" is just the less interesting possibility that could happen.
Well, just that we are able to create worse bullshit, doesnt mean that whatever we have is pure gold ... does it?
What i imagine as perfect scenario would be:
There is some kind of reputation you have from NPCs ... If i remember corectly it have 4 stages ... its shows by every merchant.
1 Green - NPCs are actively helping you, trying to avoid you while using AoE effects, healing you, etc.
2 Yellow - NPCs dont attack you directly, still trying to avoid you while using AoE, but no longer heal you.
3 Orange - NPCs dont attack you directly, but dont care if you get hit with their AoE, no longer heal you.
4 Red - NPCs are hostile towards you.
You start exactly between 2 and 3 at the battle of the groove.
You attack goblin > get small amount of possitive rep.
You kill goblin > get big amount of possitive rep.
You attack friendly creature with an AoE > you get small amount of negative rep.
You attack friendly creature directly > you get HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE amount of negative rep. (I wouldnt even mind if it would send you 1 layer lover ... 1 > 2 > 3 > 4)
You kill friendly creature > Straight on 4. (Yes, it would suck to accientaly ruin all your reputation with single poorly aimed Fireball ... i get it ... but i would say aim thoroughly)
After the battle is gone, depending on your final reputation Zevlor would either:
- greet you as a Friend (as he does now, that is 1 and 2) ...
- or he would ask you to surrender your weapons and warn you that you will be arested if you will be seen with any (3 ... after all, you just helped them at least) ...
- or simply keep attacking you until you either kill them all, or die (4 ... i mean, its hostile, isnt it?
)
Evil races would start with lower rep. (for example mid 3 rather than between 2 and 3) so it represents that NPCs dont trust them ...
Meaning our Goblin (even tho its still kinda weird, but at least acceptable for me) wouldnt be imediately attacked by whole grove ... but if there will be option to hit him aswell as other Goblins, nobody would think twice about it!
And that would be awesome.
I'm of the opinion that realism should only be implemented when it makes a story more interesting.
My whole goal in this topic is to present how this game could be more interesting.
To me, play a Drow/Duergar/Half-Orc/Githyanki/Goblin/etc. and not being recognized as such ... is not interesting. :-/
Its boring actualy.
