In the absence of other guidance, I've so far been running it that a successful Recall Knowledge check about an enemy also reveals whether that creature is capable of AoO.
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The rules on p 338 imply that it would be a on a critical success on a recall knowledge check to identify,
"A character who succeeds identifies the monster and singles out one of its best-known attributes—such as a troll’s weakness to acid and fire or a manticore’s tail spikes. On a critical success, the character gets that information plus something more subtle, like a demon’s weakness or the trigger for a reaction."
Though that seems pretty hard.
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Wow, that seems exceptionally difficult. And this doesn't help out the PC's adversaries figure out which PC may have a reaction. Currently I'm having monsters only be careful around martial looking characters.
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I do think a critical success seems like a rather high bar to set for this task. I'm sort of thinking I'll run them like knowledge checks often got run in PFS. Give the player a choice for what they recall from a list of categories such as reactions, weaknesses, resistances, special attacks, etc. And have a critical success provide more items off of that list than a regular success.
As for how enemy's figure out if a PC may have a reaction, I guess they could attempt a Recall Knowledge against the PC's class DC using the same rules? But I'd probably save such actions to be initiated by especially canny foes. Saying "the enemy spends an action studying you," is probably a good clue to the player that this is happening.
Otherwise, I'd assume most enemy's won't act with class specific reactions in mind. I don't think "Fighters" are going to be nearly as ubiquitous under PF2 as they were in PF1 due to the new NPC creation rules. NPC martial types can just be given a stat block appropriate to their role. I think this is a nice way to let stuff like AoO shine more than it did in PF1. It is no a super awesome secret technique to surprise people with. Keep in mind, even a lack of knowledge is no guarantee an enemy will actually trigger a AoO or Retributive Strike or whatever. It might be a lone foe with no flanking partner, or it may concentrate its attacks on the Fighter/Paladin instead of going after others.
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I've been running it with the NPCs (and pretty much all PCs do the same thing) assuming that nobody has an AOO until Valeros teaches them differently. In world, it is the obvious conclusion to reach. Attacks of opportunity are rare and its best to ignore the possibility.
One obvious exception - when there is no cost they'll assume an opponent can AOO. So, for example, they'll move as if AOOs are a thing IF they have enough movement to get where they want without proking
Spending an action to fish for a crit on a knowledge check just ain't happening.
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Yes, I've been assuming that NPCs don't act as though enemies can take AoO unless (1) they see them take an AoO or (2) they crit succeed a knowledge check - which most NPCs won't try unless they are trained and have no other meaningful actions. (Having them act as if an opponent can AoO when there is no cost is a good idea, though.)
We have already had one spellcaster lose a spell as a result of a surprise AoO.
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I'd assume you basically find out when they make one :)
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I'd assume you basically find out when they make one :)The problem with that, as above, is that it makes AoOs much more powerful because they don't just have the usual effect of controlling areas, they also give you a free extra attack in each encounter (well, ok, not EVERY encounter, but many).
Why is that a problem? AoO is now something that actually can happen. It is a class feature Slash feat, people should get to use their class features Slash feats.
Why is that a problem? AoO is now something that actually can happen. It is a class feature Slash feat, people should get to use their class features Slash feats.I'd assume you basically find out when they make one :)The problem with that, as above, is that it makes AoOs much more powerful because they don't just have the usual effect of controlling areas, they also give you a free extra attack in each encounter (well, ok, not EVERY encounter, but many).
I agree with this. In all of my PF1 games, the only times attacks of opportunity happen is when the enemy is basically unable to hit, the PC is desperate and moves, or the GM is running the enemy with a very specific set of tactics and following those tactics. Almost none of these ever actually happen.
It should never be a given or an assumption that a monster or NPC would have information relating to a game mechanic. An animal intelligence creature is far more likely to charge into a combat without consequence than a more intelligent one for example.
As a GM you have to consider what assumptions the monsters would make about an individual and as a Player, there is a level of entertainment about not knowing exactly what the capabilities of the enemy are.
I am not quite sure when it became a given that players should have every little bit of knowledge about an encounter, fear of the unknown can make a less powerful encounter a lot more exciting for both players and GM.
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There is also distinction of recognizing classes who COULD have AoO (Paladin)
vs ones who have it baked in (Fighters). So if you recognize somebody as Fighter, or recognize any of their moves as Fighter abilities, you should think it's likely they have AoO. Whereas that is less certain re: Paladins. Although it's reasonable to think anybody in Heavy Armor has good chances of having AoO.
It should never be a given or an assumption that a monster or NPC would have information relating to a game mechanic.
Oh, so no monster or NPC would ever move to Flank position, because that relates to a game mechanic of getting +2 bonus. Characters won't metagame about their knowledge of how far each move action takes, or difficult terrain effects that, or if they can fit in attack vs enemy at end of that movement or would be better off making ranged attack. That would be bad metagaming. /s
Some mechanics are just normal parts of effective combat. NPCs/monsters woud use them, and expect others to potentially use them. Using this wide of a brush for "bad wrong metagaming" really will only lead to breakdown of game.
I've been running it with the NPCs (and pretty much all PCs do the same thing) assuming that nobody has an AOO until Valeros teaches them differently. In world, it is the obvious conclusion to reach. Attacks of opportunity are rare and its best to ignore the possibility.
One obvious exception - when there is no cost they'll assume an opponent can AOO. So, for example, they'll move as if AOOs are a thing IF they have enough movement to get where they want without proking
Spending an action to fish for a crit on a knowledge check just ain't happening.
I'm similar to this, though rarely canny NPCs might make certain tactical changes to minimize the impact, like casting a low level spell or cantrip before a higher level one, just in case, or making a step before firing at a melee enemy, and thus giving up a -10 attack to protect against AoOs, but only if doing so isn't a significantly worse prospect than their actions taken if the enemy doesn't have an AoO. Most NPCs probably wouldn't have enough experience with enemies who might have AoOs to even think about that, so my rule of thumb would probably be mostly for named NPCs, and they'd probably do it to most primarily weapon wielders, since they'd have no way of knowing who is/isn't a Fighter, or even the concept that "Fighter" is some distinct entity. All they'd know is that a skilled opponent might be able to take advantage of an opening if they gave them one.
But monsters, other than maybe creatures like a lich or an ancient dragon, probably will just never assume AoOs unless shown otherwise.