I find having the players run away is mind-numbingly boring and dispiriting for them, as well as causing you to track where they have run in relation to the rest of the battle, and taking them ages to get back to the combat even when the effect has ended.
So I'm going to start using the following alternatives.
Frightened In addition to being shaken a frightened creature may not approach to within 10 ft. of the object of its fear, nor take any aggressive action, such as would end the spell invisbility, towards the object of their fear or affecting anything within 10 ft. of the object of fear without making a Will save against the initial DC. They can only make one Will save against each individual frightened condition per round. If a creature is within the 10 ft. radius, and fails this Will save they must move to 10 ft. away in anyway they have at their command.
Panicked In addition to be shaken and staggered a panicked creature must move away from it's object of fear at at least half its speed, or 10 ft. which ever is higher, per round. If cornered they must cower, and take the total defensive action. At the end of each round the panicked creature may make a Will save against the initial DC to become frightened instead of panicked.
As a side note, I've ruled that if you fail to control a mount not combat trained, it gains the frightened condition and moves 10 ft. from your enemy for that round. If it takes damaged, it becomes panicked for that round instead.
So what do you think?
If I'm reading this right, you can still take actions to some degree when these fear effects are at work. This means that everyone should now add potions/scrolls/spell-slots of remove fear to their inventory and thus be prepared for a blown Will save. As soon as you're afflicted with fear, use the item or spell-slot and hopefully be ready to go. Calm emotions would also work. Takes some of the sting from these things. Mind you, panicked is different since you're staggered and forced to move away.
If I'm misunderstanding, I'll apologize now. My main point is that I'd like to see this played in-game to see if it takes all the sting out of fear or not.
If I'm reading this right, you can still take actions to some degree when these fear effects are at work. This means that everyone should now add potions/scrolls/spell-slots of remove fear to their inventory and thus be prepared for a blown Will save. As soon as you're afflicted with fear, use the item or spell-slot and hopefully be ready to go. Calm emotions would also work. Takes some of the sting from these things. Mind you, panicked is different since you're staggered and forced to move away.
If I'm misunderstanding, I'll apologize now. My main point is that I'd like to see this played in-game to see if it takes all the sting out of fear or not.
Didn't think about the potions, though this will ultimately take out some sting, I don't want it to be totally irrelevant. Maybe a note that you can only reduce your level of fear once per minute, so fright -> shaken, panicked -> frightened, but don't totally go away with ease.