Basilisk and petrification Options

[aigleborgne]

In the game, basilisk attacks by looking at their target (projectile type). Sometimes, they go melee with their claws.

Wouldn't it more logical that they always melee, and those who look at them would roll or be petrified? (they would autocast a spell every round that would affect nearby enemies)

I have already done this thing for the death gaze of the tanari.

I remembered a fight between Drizzt and a basilisk in the underdark. Basilisk was attacking him with his claws but Drizzt has protected his eyes with something.

[Rabain]

it can't differentiate, but usually, a mage is looking at this target when he cast a spell, doesn't he?

The problem with this is that the basilisk would target a mage that was not necessarily looking at it or any other enemy in the vicinity. Take for example the encounter in the wilderness were you meet that mad little mage with the pet basilisk. You would have to assume that the party will meet only a basilisk and never a basilisk together with another enemy.