Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 naderion Mar 25, 2008 12:29:56	There are a lot of discussions around about what a fighter should be able to do. When I think of fighters, I think of proffessional elite-soldiers who are not just the brute who keeps the enemies busy while the rest of the party hurls magic and ranged weapons at them. There's so much more for fighters to do than just beat on enemies until they drop. Most importantly, I think fighters should be able to transform their ragtag-band of diverse companions into a powerfull fighting force and direct their men into battle. He makes plans for assaults against enemy camps or directs the building of baricades and other defenses. I think there should be a skill like "Knowledge (martial)", "Warcraft", or "Tactics" or something like that. Instead of being silently in the back and following the orders of the rogue or wizard, they should be placed into the position of front-line commanders instead of being seen as walls of blades and shields. Small problem here: What would such a skill do? :D I think the skill should be intelligence based. Though the battlefield is probably the most chaotic condition imaginable, creating good tactics is not something you do by your guts, but takes a lot of knowledge and expirience. As it's a skill for high-Int fighters, they should also be able to affor the skill points required. ;) Of the core classes, it would be a class skill for fighters and paladins, probably also for rangers, monks and barbarians. One application for the skill would be the following: - As the dm usually has prepared the battlefield and has some ideas which tactics the enemies will use to take advantage of it, a skill check would give the fighter some hints of what features of the battlefeld he should take note. This reflects the fighters expirience of battlefield-tactics. - With a DC 15 check, the character can take note of locations that are usefull for ambushes. Anyone who gets a warning of the possible ambush recieves a +4 bonus on initiative rolls. The DC raises to 20 or 25 for ambush positions, which are particulary well hidden or only discernable as such from the opposite direction than the character approaches. - With a successfull skill check, the character can direct a number of his allies in setting up an ambush. Each one of them recieves a +4 bonus on initiative rolls when the trap is sprung. - With a DC 15 check, you are able to find weak spots in fortifications. All allies that attack the weak spot take only half the penalties for attacking enemies with cover. It's probably a very vague skill in any case, but maybe other people find more applications, that would fit the idea and make the skill greatly useable.
#2 cranewings Mar 25, 2008 22:09:44	Fighter Skills: Search - Special Fighters get Search as a class skill. When searching an area, they can locate areas that are suitable for an ambush or for stealthy movement. The difficulty of the skill check is equal to 10 + the intellegence of the enemy director, + the enemy leader's level. Passing the skill check causes all alerted allies to add +4 to their Spot checks. A critical success adds +10. Battle Tactics A contested roll is required against the enemy commander's skill. Success results in the winner's force being concidered 20% larger. If the enemy commander doesn't have the skill, or has 4 or more fewer skill ranks, then the victor gains +40% to his unit's total force. Tactics of Magic After gaining some information about the enemy caster's level of ability, the fighter is able to suggest formations that limit the enemy's ability to target the whole group with single spells. The fighter can arrange shield walls that will stop magic missiles. Anyone that has trained with the fighter for 20 hours receives a +2 on their saving throw against evocation. The fighter can use this skill as his reflex saving throw when evading evocation spells. The use of this skill may make the use of battle tactics impossible. Any other ideas?
#3 werral Mar 26, 2008 11:36:06	Something like "Animal training" but allows the fighter to teach drills to units of troops- stuff like shield walls, wedges and stuff. Allows the person to assess the condition/level/morale of a unit before battle and perhaps even during battle. Basically stuff that applies to large scale combats (not something you get much of in 3E, but in older editions 9th level fighters got their own baronies and small armies.