I don't know why or for what reason you and others so readily and aggressively jumped onto this assertion, but please, stop.
I don't think I've been aggressive at all. But if you want to know the issues that we are "jumping on" I can point out some of them. For example, your assertion that rules won't fix the issue I'm discussing in this example, because it is a personal issue... when the entire point is that with a lack of ways to reliably interact meaningfully with the environment means I don't look to the environment for things to do. This IS a rules issue. And it is something I've seen in other games. When you have a scenario where everyone has guns, you often find players and DMs using cover more. But when the majority of the people have melee weapons... cover stops being a thing they look for, even if mechanically it still helps, because the tools they have been given push forward a certain set of actions more than others.
But also this
It was brought up again, by me, in post #249 to make the point that Improvise Action is a valid option Martials have at all tables, even if the specific improvs a person may want might not be depending on their DMs, which I likened to the randomness of a loot table.
You claim it is a valid option. Now. What do you mean by that? Because if you are saying it is a legal option to take in the rules, then great, we are in agreement. But if you mean it is an effective option... then no. My interpretation, based on you saying that improvised actions "temper how severe the problem is" is that you think the improvised actions are effective options. And this is where a lot of the disagreement comes in. A lot of our counter-points are based around the idea that, despite the fact that we CAN attempt to intimidate an enemy as an action... it isn't effective enough to be worth an action.
For example, notably the undead such as zombies and skeletons are not immune to the Frightened condition. You can cast Fear on them, and it will work. But if you tried to intimidate them... most DMs would laugh thinking it was a joke. And even if they let you, it might work on one zombie in melee range, not exactly worth the same as attacking twice. This is why the Intimidating Prescence ability had to be buffed, because using your entire action to frighten a single enemy wasn't worth it.
And thus, while we are all aware you declare non-standard actions, in practice, this doesn't amount to much. It is usually just using a skill in combat, as an action. And so it doesn't really temper the problem like you claim.
I brought up DCC's Mighty Deed more than once for a reason, and I even linked my own creations earlier on as well, which I'll add are all based on the same logic I use here about combat being shallow, abilities needing to be specific and non-generic, and the integration of improv; all done across 7 separate Martial designs. I argue the things I do because I look at these issues from the perspective of a game designer, and Im confident in them because Im literally watching them work with every playtest I run with these ideas.
I did a search for this in the thread, only found two examples and neither went into specific mechanics. Googling the design, it seems like it is... basically what I've been saying as the thing most DMs won't allow improvised action to do. I'd like to see the full rules that you think for this, since I can't find them in the thread, but I will say I've found a rather serious snag in the designs I've seen online.
"The DM agrees the Deed is reasonable for a fighter of their level."
This is tricky, because it is again just putting the entire weight of this on DM fiat. The usefulness of the ability is 100% on the DM agreeing that your character can possibly pull off the thing they are attempting. And I know the typical response "well, if you don't trust your DM, why are you playing with them" but the point is? Casters don't NEED to trust their DM. If a warlock with repelling blast wants to knock someone back 10 ft? They do it. The DM has to design reasons they can't do it, because the default is that they do it. No check, no consideration of their level. They just succeed.
Now I'm not saying we need a million martial abilities that do X thing. But an improv'd system has limits that abilities and expectations DON'T. So even a list that says "a character of X level should expect to be able to do Y things with this ability" would help, because it gets everyone on the same page.
