Subdual encounters are also an excellent way to handle sparring with NPC heroes or defeating mythical guardians. Literature has instances when you only needed to prove your worthiness, rather than rend a devious beast limb from limb. Guardians of dangerous locations are best defeated, rather than destroyed; would you really want to kill Charon and let any old shmuck into the underworld?

I’m not so sold on the idea of subdual encounters being applied to group combats. Perhaps that band of orcs fights to the death simply because the shame of surrender would be a death warrant once/if they return to their tribe. Goblins, on the other hand, are a different story entirely! As always, it’s up to the individual DM and his campaign environment to decide when a monster flees or fights to the death.

That sounds too much like the reward for actually beating him — it’s treading on the toes of combat by being basically a “half combat.” I would do subdual as “You’re not strong enough to beat this thing, but like the Sarlacc, you can make its life unpleasant enough that it will go away.”

I was glad the mechanic was removed from the game, but maybe it’s more appropriate these days? It definitely doesn’t work in every case (such as the above undead situation) but perhaps it could be useful in more than just the solo case? The question is, how would I structure a morale save?

Since Wizards says that they don’t intend for solos to be Intimidated to surrender like that, it seems like a subdual encounter is a much better option. If I were running one, I don’t think I’d ask the players first because you’re basically asking “Do you want to fight him till he’s dead or do you want to fight him till he’s bloodied and then talk to him,” which just seems pointless. I’d just let the BBEG talk after he’s bloodied and, should the players decide to attack him after he’s said his thing, just have him book it off the map.

Personally, I like the idea of the enemies being defeated once they are all bloodied (it makes sense, as they have far fewer healing surges than PCs do, so the proportional damage is much higher). It also means shorter combats (which results in MORE combats!). Unfortunately, most of my campaign’s recent combats have been against undead and it does make any sense for a zombie to run away or surrender.