Gloomhaven · Board game rules

please explain monster focus with a complex example

Monster focus in Gloomhaven determines which enemy a monster will target and move towards during its turn. The rules for monster focus are detailed on pages 29-30. Here's a complex example to illustrate how monster focus works:

Example Scenario:

Imagine a scenario where you have three characters: a Scout, a Brute, and a Tinkerer. The map has various obstacles and walls, and there are several Living Bones and Bandit Archers on the board. The Scout is in a position where they can be seen by a Living Bones, but the Brute is closer to the Living Bones. The Tinkerer is further away but within the line of sight of the Living Bones. The Bandit Archers have a ranged attack.

Step-by-Step Focus Determination:

1. Determine the Closest Enemy:

   • The Living Bones will first determine which enemy it can reach with the least amount of movement. It will find the shortest possible path to get in range and line-of-sight to use its attack.
   • If the Living Bones can move to attack the Brute in fewer steps than the Scout or Tinkerer, it will focus on the Brute.

2. Tie-Breakers:

   • If the Living Bones can move the same number of spaces to get within range of multiple enemies (e.g., the Scout and the Brute), it will then check the proximity from its current position. The enemy closest in terms of hexes (not counting through walls) will be the focus.
   • If there is still a tie, the Living Bones will focus on the enemy who is earlier in the initiative order. Summons are focused on before the character who summoned them, and a character performing a long rest would be focused on last.

3. Range and Line-of-Sight:

   • If the Living Bones has a melee attack, it will move to be adjacent to its focused enemy. If it has a ranged attack, it will move to a position where it can attack without Disadvantage.
   • The Bandit Archers, having a ranged attack, will move to a position where they can attack their focused enemy without Disadvantage, prioritizing losing Disadvantage on their focused enemy over maximizing their attack on secondary targets.

Complex Example:

Let's say the Living Bones has a melee attack and can move 3 hexes. The Brute is 2 hexes away, the Scout is 3 hexes away, and the Tinkerer is 4 hexes away. The Living Bones will focus on the Brute because it is the closest.

• If the Living Bones had a ranged attack: It would move to a position where it can attack the Brute without Disadvantage, even if that means moving further away from other enemies.
• If there are obstacles: The Living Bones will consider these as part of its pathfinding. If moving through an obstacle is the only way to reach an enemy, it will do so, suffering any consequences.

Summary:

Monster focus is determined by the shortest path to get in range and line-of-sight to attack, with tie-breakers based on proximity and initiative order. Monsters will prioritize moving to attack their focused enemy without Disadvantage, even if it means moving further away from other enemies. (Page 29-30)

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