Ialdabaoth
2013-07-22, 07:34 PM
Tactics (Any) is a collection of Wisdom-based skills, much as Profession (Any) and Knowledge (Any) are collections of skills. However, Tactics skills have profound battlefield effects.
The Fighter and Ranger classes may choose Tactics as a class skill; for all other classes, Tactics is a non-class skill.
Tactical styles
Each military unit, adventuring party, or bandit band has its own tactical style. For example, if you are part of Johen's Ironwolves, you may develop and use the Tactics (Johen's Ironwolves) Skill. If you are a regular in the Ithanian Militia, you will undoubtably be tought Tactics (Ithanian Militia).
Some tactical styles are descended from other styles; for example, if Johen was a member of the Ithanian Militia before forming his Ironwolves party, then Tactics (Johen's Ironwolves) will likely share some similarities with Tactics (Ithanian Militia). Whenever a tactical style shares a lineage with another style, the DM may decide to allow players who know the related style to use it at half rank. When learning a new style, if you already know a related style at a higher rank, you may learn the new style as if it was a class skill.
Use in Combat
As a standard action, any character with a Tactics skill may declare that they are using that skill to command the unit. They do not make a dice roll; instead, they may make any of the following adjustments to themselves, or any friendly unit within line of sight who can see or hear them:
- Apply a penalty to one unit's Initiative, in order to provide an equal bonus to another unit's Initiative, AC, or saving throw.
- Apply a penalty to one unit's base attack bonus, in order to provide an equal bonus to another unit's base attack bonus, so long as both units are engaging the same target.
These bonuses and penalties last until the commanding character's next action.
Limits
No character may receive a total bonus or penalty greater than that character's relevant Tactics skill rank, and the total number of bonuses provided may not exceed the commanding character's total Tactics skill bonus (including their Wisdom modifier).
The Fighter and Ranger classes may choose Tactics as a class skill; for all other classes, Tactics is a non-class skill.
Tactical styles
Each military unit, adventuring party, or bandit band has its own tactical style. For example, if you are part of Johen's Ironwolves, you may develop and use the Tactics (Johen's Ironwolves) Skill. If you are a regular in the Ithanian Militia, you will undoubtably be tought Tactics (Ithanian Militia).
Some tactical styles are descended from other styles; for example, if Johen was a member of the Ithanian Militia before forming his Ironwolves party, then Tactics (Johen's Ironwolves) will likely share some similarities with Tactics (Ithanian Militia). Whenever a tactical style shares a lineage with another style, the DM may decide to allow players who know the related style to use it at half rank. When learning a new style, if you already know a related style at a higher rank, you may learn the new style as if it was a class skill.
Use in Combat
As a standard action, any character with a Tactics skill may declare that they are using that skill to command the unit. They do not make a dice roll; instead, they may make any of the following adjustments to themselves, or any friendly unit within line of sight who can see or hear them:
- Apply a penalty to one unit's Initiative, in order to provide an equal bonus to another unit's Initiative, AC, or saving throw.
- Apply a penalty to one unit's base attack bonus, in order to provide an equal bonus to another unit's base attack bonus, so long as both units are engaging the same target.
These bonuses and penalties last until the commanding character's next action.
Limits
No character may receive a total bonus or penalty greater than that character's relevant Tactics skill rank, and the total number of bonuses provided may not exceed the commanding character's total Tactics skill bonus (including their Wisdom modifier).