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Switch to Forum Live View The boring fighter... or is he?
13 months ago  ::  May 31, 2012 - 10:05AM #1
J.Trudel
Date Joined: Feb 29, 2012
Posts: 55
In a desperate manoeuver, I grab my bastard sword with both hand and charge my foe slicing a deep cut in his knee. He lose 6 hp... Well, this kind of things bore me to tears. However it doesn't have to be this way. We want to feel like we are an action hero, this is the particular reason why a lot of people prefer the 4e. The standard attack is plain boring. When you watch an action movie, the hero often try some desperate moves that can change the tide of the whole battle. 

A way around this boring fight mechanics is so simple that I don't know why nobody use it, I call it fight with intent. Something any character can do so it's not game breaking, and even the monsters so it's way more challenging. You only have to describe your action and WHY you want to make it. For an exemple I would say I charge my foe and atempt to hit his legs so he fall to the ground. If my attempt is succesfull, my opponent would roll a DEX save or else he falls. As simple as that, it could even be used with spells. 

And it's way way more entertaining than describing a cool moves just to hack away a few hp from your ennemy. 




 
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13 months ago  ::  May 31, 2012 - 10:07AM #2
rampant
Date Joined: Oct 26, 2004
Posts: 7,990
Ideally that's somethign everyone should be doing.
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13 months ago  ::  May 31, 2012 - 10:10AM #3
Gwathir
Date Joined: Feb 9, 2012
Posts: 529
Absolutely,

Its basically a called shot without the penalty, if the player is creative enough, no need to apply a penalty.

Its why I like the Advantage rule, if the player is creative enough, and puts enough effort in the role-playing, I just give them advantage on the attack.

I don't need a power to tell me how I attack, I can think of that on my own.

And heck, if the manuevre seems very difficult, the DM can just as easily ask for a skill check to see if you acomplish the deed (in addition to the attack)
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13 months ago  ::  May 31, 2012 - 10:12AM #4
Janx_14
Date Joined: Sep 19, 2007
Posts: 3,449
Every class can do improv.


We shouldn't be looking for workarounds to boring fight mechanics though.  
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13 months ago  ::  May 31, 2012 - 10:13AM #5
7he_professor
Date Joined: Jun 17, 2010
Posts: 88
Balance is an issue with the method you describe.  Consider the player that charge every humanoid and says, "I aim for the neck and try to decapitate him." Every. Single. Battle.  It's way more powerful than just knocking the enemy prone.

I totally agree that combat could (and should) be made more interesting and dynamic by such descriptions. I'm not sure a mechanic is necessary though.
My Paladin: Hey mage, why are you always reading that book?

Party Wizard: This tome contains a wealth of knowledge, sir knight.

My Paladin: Well if tomes contain knowledge, knowledge is power, power corrupts, and corruption is evil...than the more you read the more evil you become!  Quickly everyone, get her!
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13 months ago  ::  May 31, 2012 - 10:14AM #6
TheLoneCleric
Date Joined: Sep 21, 2005
Posts: 743

May 31, 2012 -- 10:12AM, Janx_14 wrote:

Every class can do improv.


We shouldn't be looking for workarounds to boring fight mechanics though.  




True, but I'd LOVE to see the fighter with builds that expressly give bonuses to improvised weapons, crazy attack stunts, and unusual tactics.

Swashbuckler the Theme and Background. Or Fighter "school".

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13 months ago  ::  May 31, 2012 - 10:15AM #7
Cyvaris
Date Joined: Jun 9, 2008
Posts: 877
Riddle me this. Would you want to play the Wizard if the only spell he had was Magic Missle? 


You can improv and call shots as much as you want by the way, all you have is Magic Missle. 
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13 months ago  ::  May 31, 2012 - 10:15AM #8
J.Trudel
Date Joined: Feb 29, 2012
Posts: 55

May 31, 2012 -- 10:12AM, Janx_14 wrote:

Every class can do improv.


We shouldn't be looking for workarounds to boring fight mechanics though.  




The fights mechanics are not that boring, they are just not well explained. When you give a class some manoeuvers to use. Everyones use them, when you say what an attack is. Everyone just do plain attacks why little room for improv. 

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13 months ago  ::  May 31, 2012 - 10:16AM #9
TheLoneCleric
Date Joined: Sep 21, 2005
Posts: 743

May 31, 2012 -- 10:15AM, Cyvaris wrote:

Riddle me this. Would you want to play the Wizard if the only spell he had was Magic Missle? 


You can improv and call shots as much as you want by the way, all you have is Magic Missle. 




Sure IF I can pick a theme that gives the Magic Missle alternative attack styles. MIRV, around corners, rebound attacks, etc.

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13 months ago  ::  May 31, 2012 - 10:19AM #10
Cyvaris
Date Joined: Jun 9, 2008
Posts: 877

May 31, 2012 -- 10:16AM, TheLoneCleric wrote:

May 31, 2012 -- 10:15AM, Cyvaris wrote:

Riddle me this. Would you want to play the Wizard if the only spell he had was Magic Missle? 


You can improv and call shots as much as you want by the way, all you have is Magic Missle. 




Sure IF I can pick a theme that gives the Magic Missle alternative attack styles. MIRV, around corners, rebound attacks, etc.




Does the Fighter get this as well? Doesn't look like it right now.


Picking a "Theme" should not be what makes a class interesting. If a class needs something outside of itself to make if fun that is failed design. 

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