Taunt or no taunt?

[Flying dutchman]

In a lot of recent games, following the success of many MMORPGs, there has been a movement to add more abilities to the warriors arsenal. I think most of us can agree that this is mostly a good thing as we all want as many options as possible (within reason) in combat.

 

One thing however that atleast i despise in some recent CRPGs (DAO for example) is the inclusion of a "taunt" ability as a cornerstone of combat. I feel that a taunt ability makes no sense at all! Why in all hells would someone attack a heavily armored warrior when there is a mage (artillery) just a few paces away that is going to blast you away if you don't do anything about it?

 

This is especially frustrating when the enemies lack the same ability, like in DAO. It's lazy design and should not be implemented in a tactical isometric game.

 

Why not just let the warriors get something like an "attack of oppertunity" (like in D&D) when an enemy tries to move when he is close to a another character? That way it would actually matter how you position your characters in relation to the enviroment.

 

 

What do you all think? Am i alone in this sentiment or is this something that should be done away with?

Edited September 16, 2012 by Flying dutchman

[Gibbscape_Torment]

 

Why in all hells would someone attack a heavily armored warrior when there is a mage (artillery) just a few paces away that is going to blast you away if you don't do anything about it?

 

 

Because it's a game? Good luck finding a video game that is 100% realistic and fun at the same time.

 

And how would enemies having taunt work? Would all your characters suddenly drop their **** and run after the toon that activated taunt? I can't imagine how ridiculously frustrating such a mechanic would be. Lining up a barrage of tactical attacks, only to have them ALL ruined by one silly ability.

 

I'm in favour of a taunt like ability, but i have to say that concept of prejudicial taunt that you suggested looks extremely fascinating.

[Stun]

Well, in PS:T, Morte's litany of curses was fun to use. And in NWN, taunt was marginally amusing/useful. But since then it's been a mostly MMO mechanic tied to the aggro-control system, which is a heap of illogical garbage. So I'd just as well see it far, far removed from Project Eternity.

Edited September 16, 2012 by Stun

[fan]

Instead of using taunts, I'm in favor of making attacks of opportunity or attacks from the back deadly. Ignoring the fighter should be suicide.

 

Likewise, I'd like to see "normal" combat mechanics only apply when fighting 1 on 1.

 

xx on 1 should incur serious penalties for the defender.

Edited September 16, 2012 by fan

[Gurkog]

NPC combatants taunting a player character should result in a lack of ability to control that character for a short period. Depending on the abilities of characters, their actions while under the effect of a taunt should be quite varied. A fighter might charge and shield slam the the insulter, a mage could polymorph and incinerate him or whatever the classes do.

[Seagloom]

It depends on how its handled. As an aggro ability? No. I dislike how threat mechanics trivialize combat in any game I played that includes them. It turns every fight into a cycle of taunt, tank, and rout with the occasional need for healing thrown in. I prefer NWN's take on it. It was a useful debuff--particularly at higher levels, that helped in combat without tempting me to turn off my brain.

[aluminiumtrioxid]

An ability like the different "marks" of the DnD 4 defender-type classes is a good idea, I think. It doesn't force characters to do anything, but incurs damage and/or penalties if they attack another target. Which is, in my opinion, quite realistic (after all, a huge armored guy cleaving at you does count as a distraction).

[Grayman]

the predjudice based attack sounds interesting. In general I do not like an ability that forces the ai to dumbly attack the person the player wanted them to.

[Nonek]

Why not have a "challenge" ability for the warriors, where they can call out high level foes and resolve combat mano a mano (the way John Wayne would have done it,) thereby avoiding mass combat. Make its use limited to once a day, and have its usefulness be mitigated by the risk of facing a mob without your best meat shield by your side, as he's currently near death and will require days of healing and recovery.