Jon_Dahl
2016-10-26, 12:46 AM
I have this homebrew skill in my game, and the PCs take it quite frequently but they don't seem to use it and when they use it, it really doesn't help the PCs in any way. What do you guys think?
Knowledge (tactics) (Int; Trained Only)
A class skill for the following: Fighter, Expert.
Fields of study
Military formations; tactical planning and preparation in practice and theory; large-scale and small unit tactics; conventional and asymmetric combat; naval, aerial, land and joint warfare.
Check
Answering a question within your field of study has a DC of 10 (for really easy questions), 15 (for basic questions), or 20 to 30 (for really tough questions).
In many cases, you can use this skill to identify the non-supernatural and non-magical abilities and attacks of monsters. In general, the DC of such check equals 10 + the monster’s HD. A successful check allows you to know what the natural AC of the monster is.
For every 5 points by which your check result exceeds the DC, you recall another piece of useful information as follows:
Exceeding the DC by 5 points: Knowledge of number of primary natural attacks and secondary natural attacks and their base damage die/dice.
Exceeding the DC by 10 points: Knowledge of physical attributes (Str, Dex, Con).
Exceeding the DC by 15 points: Base attack bonus.
Exceeding the DC by 20 or more: Optional by DM.
If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (tactics), you gain +1 bonus to your Leadership score.
Two characters with 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (tactics) can use hand signals to communicate basic combat maneuvers (one hand signal with a free hand as a free action once per round) regardless of possible language barriers. Anyone with 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (tactics) who sees the hand signals is able to understand them too.
Action
Usually none. In most cases, making a Knowledge check doesn’t take an action—you simply know the answer or you don’t. Hand signals work in the same way as talking, but with an extremely limited military terminology.
Try Again
No. The check represents what you know, and thinking about a topic a second time doesn’t let you know something that you never learned in the first place.
Synergy
If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (tactics), you get a +2 bonus on Perform (weapon drill).
Knowledge (tactics) (Int; Trained Only)
A class skill for the following: Fighter, Expert.
Fields of study
Military formations; tactical planning and preparation in practice and theory; large-scale and small unit tactics; conventional and asymmetric combat; naval, aerial, land and joint warfare.
Check
Answering a question within your field of study has a DC of 10 (for really easy questions), 15 (for basic questions), or 20 to 30 (for really tough questions).
In many cases, you can use this skill to identify the non-supernatural and non-magical abilities and attacks of monsters. In general, the DC of such check equals 10 + the monster’s HD. A successful check allows you to know what the natural AC of the monster is.
For every 5 points by which your check result exceeds the DC, you recall another piece of useful information as follows:
Exceeding the DC by 5 points: Knowledge of number of primary natural attacks and secondary natural attacks and their base damage die/dice.
Exceeding the DC by 10 points: Knowledge of physical attributes (Str, Dex, Con).
Exceeding the DC by 15 points: Base attack bonus.
Exceeding the DC by 20 or more: Optional by DM.
If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (tactics), you gain +1 bonus to your Leadership score.
Two characters with 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (tactics) can use hand signals to communicate basic combat maneuvers (one hand signal with a free hand as a free action once per round) regardless of possible language barriers. Anyone with 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (tactics) who sees the hand signals is able to understand them too.
Action
Usually none. In most cases, making a Knowledge check doesn’t take an action—you simply know the answer or you don’t. Hand signals work in the same way as talking, but with an extremely limited military terminology.
Try Again
No. The check represents what you know, and thinking about a topic a second time doesn’t let you know something that you never learned in the first place.
Synergy
If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (tactics), you get a +2 bonus on Perform (weapon drill).