I was playing a villager. This was when you could call thirst without fighting first. I knew a group of Nexuns were out exploring or something and decided to wait for them thirsting at the pit. They all popped back one by one and I whacked them all. Thror gave me huge props for that move and tactics.

Cut to several years later, during Thror's away period, I was again playing a Villager and I went after a mage sitting in a guild. I was pretty certain he'd word out as soon as I would hit the guild guard so I told another villager to wait at his pit. This is exactly what happened. I never engaged in combat with the mage, but, a battle imm notified the Drillmaster about it who then proceeded to lecture me on courage and parity. When I protested, Kasty vis'd and came and spoke to me and explained why he disapproved of that tactic. He was real cool about it and actually tossed me a bit of immxp for arguing my point and not being an ass about it.

Now that Thror is back and basically running Battle again, I have no idea what his thoughts on this tactic are.

It's tougher to do in a scenario like the first one. If you can't find a mage and think he will recall for some reason you could end up sitting at the pit waiting for him for an hour. I really don't see anything wrong with doing that because you don't know for certain if or when he will recall.

Obviously, it works better if you are working with someone. As in the log or my second scenario, however, I definitely think its more of a gray area. Personally, if the only person to engage the mage is the one waiting at the pit, I don't really think that's an issue. But, if Villager #1 nearly kills the mage and he words right to another villager waiting for him who one hit kills him. Well, that might as well be a gang IMO.