Taunt Effect

[Parzivel]

"This effect will cause the target to attempt to exclusively engage the caster, or those preventing engagement with the caster, in combat for the duration of the effect. The target must either engage the caster using ranged attacks or attempt to advance into melee range, but never in a manner that will cause direct harm to the target."

What does "direct harm to the target" mean in this case? Are swords direct harm? Is instant-death lava? It has been suggested that this part doesn't refer to the "target" at all, but the "target's player" meaning that the player should not move in ways that might be dangerous.

If I hit someone with Taunt Strike and back up and the rest of my companions set up a spanking line (i.e. NOT getting in the way, but obviously going to murder that person on the way through) does the target have to "run the gauntlet" or is that direct harm? And can the target even block? It says that the target may only engage with the caster or those preventing engagement with the caster.... in this case there is no prevention... so the taunted creature can't engage, right, which would include blocks?

It looks like throwing daggers is acceptible (The target must either engage the caster using ranged attacks)... is there an expectation about how many thrown weapons is reasonable for 10 seconds? If I keep my thrown weapons in my backback, but I put my best-faith effort into getting them out to throw, is that sufficient if I want to stay safe?

It feels like this needs a lot more clarity before we have any idea how to play it.

 

[Ragnarok]

**Non ARC Response**
As far as instant death lava goes, its not the intent to force you to jump into it, but you would spend those 10 seconds either using ranged options or trying to find a way around the lava.

I think your throwing dagger response to the 'Spanking Line' is a totally fair and valid one. You aren't required to enter melee and Taunt doesn't make you stupid. If you have ranged options and its obvious the caster of the Taunt has buddies that also want to kill you, do the ranged options.

If you do decide to run the gauntlet, I think its fair to attempt to block attacks as you run the gauntlet, doubly so depending on the precise positioning of the Spank Line Participants, and you can still use defensive abilities to negate their attacks.

 

[Gandian Ravenscroft]

Question: Can a person be under the effect of multiple Taunts (from different Taunters) at the same time? Or does a more recently-taken Taunt take priority?

Elaboration Example: I have a melee weapon. I am hit by a Taunt from NPC A, who is 10 steps to the North of me. I immediately take 1 step North to start towards engaging NPC A with my melee weapon, but then I am hit from behind from another Taunt from NPC B, who is 10 steps to the South of me. What direction do I go to attack which NPC?

(Note: Since text is hard to convey tone and there's a lot of hostility happening online at the moment regarding Taunt, I want to clarify that this question is being asked in sincere good faith for a possible mechanical interaction that may need to be added to the Taunt rules text and my personal opinion of Taunt - good or bad, and you don't know which it is - is irrelevant. Thanks!)

 

[Ragnarok]

Since you cant be under the same effect twice, the new Taunt overwrites the old one and resets the timer. Go get beat up NPC B!

(Works similarly with Shun, Subjugate and other 'caster matters' effects unless otherwise specified)