Random fear effect on mobs?

[Mistletoes]

<DIV>This has been happening to me somewhat frequently lately, and I'm not sure why. Grouped or solo, when I (41 mystic) fight a group of mobs, for some reason, partway through the fight, usually after one mob dies, the remaining mobs turn around and start walking away, as if feared. They aren't running, but are trying to get away very slowly. If I let them, they will really get far away, never turning back on me.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This happened with multiple mob types. I've seen it happen with crabs on the beach in Zek, as well as valley deer in the same zone. I think I saw it happen with other mobs too. I'm pretty sure it happened with a named tree mob in the Zek "Refuge" area.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>For the life of me, I can't understand what is going on. Are there certain mobs that will randomly try to escape once you kill one of their group members? Or is there some undocumented fear proc on some buff or item I may possess?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Has anyone else experienced the same? Is it a bug?</DIV>

[BigDa]

It's a vague memory, but I think there used to be this behavior in beta.  <EM>Some</EM> mobs would run if the encounter looked bad for them.  I think I have seen this too, recently.  Perhaps if you're seeing it more it's because you are now fighting the kind of intelligent mobs that do run?

[Banditman]

I've seen this happen on some of the Grimlings in NF as well.  Those don't slowly walk away, they turn around and haul @$$. <div></div>

[Monr]

<DIV>I've had this occur as well quite often. And it is a new "feature/bug" as it is occurring with gnolls in antonica which I know never used to do this (or at least, they never used to for me). Quite annoying trying to track them all down when they run to, as they all tear off in different directions.</DIV>