Based on reading this article about a round of combat against a dragon (which is under discussion in this thread), it looks like movement is going to be much more of a factor in 4E combat than it is in 3E. In the article, the dragon only uses a standard action to make two claw attacks (plus a tail slap as an immediate action), and then moves. No standing still and unloading six attacks at a time.
Currently, in 3E, there's a strong disincentive to move around in most combats. Not only are you giving up half or more of your attacks, but you also open yourself up to AoOs. This tends to result in fights where the PCs and the monsters move up next to each other, or into flanking position, then stand still and slug it out until one of them falls, maybe taking the occasional 5' step while this goes on.
But, if iterative attacks are out in 4E (rumored), and AoOs are out as well (also rumored, though immediate actions might replace them to some degree?), this disincentive is gone. I can see this making combats a lot more mobile, where one combatant will attack and then move, trying to take a better tactical position.
I really really hope this is the case. In most fantasy battles, the hero doesn't simply stand in one place and trade blows with four orcs while 5' stepping to get out from being flanked. The hero moves around the battlefield, dodging and striking, using the terrain for cover, trying to take the high ground, etc. When the hero comes face-to-face with his arch-enemy, they don't stand stock-still in the middle of a room swinging at each other over and over again. They move up and down staircases, around obstacles, out along the top of the castle wall. It's cinematic. It's exciting.
And, I think more mobile combats would also work well with the "dynamic terrain" they've said they have planned.
What do you all think?
Currently, in 3E, there's a strong disincentive to move around in most combats. Not only are you giving up half or more of your attacks, but you also open yourself up to AoOs. This tends to result in fights where the PCs and the monsters move up next to each other, or into flanking position, then stand still and slug it out until one of them falls, maybe taking the occasional 5' step while this goes on.
But, if iterative attacks are out in 4E (rumored), and AoOs are out as well (also rumored, though immediate actions might replace them to some degree?), this disincentive is gone. I can see this making combats a lot more mobile, where one combatant will attack and then move, trying to take a better tactical position.
I really really hope this is the case. In most fantasy battles, the hero doesn't simply stand in one place and trade blows with four orcs while 5' stepping to get out from being flanked. The hero moves around the battlefield, dodging and striking, using the terrain for cover, trying to take the high ground, etc. When the hero comes face-to-face with his arch-enemy, they don't stand stock-still in the middle of a room swinging at each other over and over again. They move up and down staircases, around obstacles, out along the top of the castle wall. It's cinematic. It's exciting.
And, I think more mobile combats would also work well with the "dynamic terrain" they've said they have planned.
What do you all think?