Are You a Good Tactician?

[Ranger Rick]

I think I am pretty decent. In fact I voted being one of the best. But superior tactics can not overcome bad rolls, it can only make it competive. Because of that I have lost lost my share of battles.

 

[Umbran]

Heh. If everyone thinks they're "above average", what's true - that they're above average, or that they underestimate what "average" is?

 

[drothgery]

Heh. If everyone thinks they're "above average", what's true - that they're above average, or that they underestimate what "average" is?

Or that ENWorlders think they're better tacticians than non-ENWorlders

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Or that ENWorlders think they're better tacticians than non-ENWorlders

There is a selection effect that works in that direction. ENWorld includes a number of people who take the time to study the game. Those that tend to show up at the table with an unopened PHB and a crumbled character sheet they have not glanced at since the last session do not answer surveys.

The distribution we are seeing could easily be accurate.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

I answered "Excellent, few better" because in my experience, I am the most tactically-minded guy at the gaming table. I'm always noticing things that others miss, such as a simple 5-ft step to provide flank or increase cleavable targets. I'm positive there are EN Worlders that could put me to shame - unfortunately I don't have the pleasure of gaming with any of them.

 

[frankthedm]

If i want the players dead, then they are dead. The one player in the group that could out tactic me, usually has a brain spliting head ache. Another one comes close. The rest of my group tends to be... incompetent and quite familiar with generating characters.


I am up there in the tactics, though i too often indulge my impatience and let the PCs win when waiting just one more round would have let the monsters gain a devastating advantage. Though the PC also have a nasty habit of jumping the gun.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I answered "Excellent, few better" because in my experience, I am the most tactically-minded guy at the gaming table. I'm always noticing things that others miss, such as a simple 5-ft step to provide flank or increase cleavable targets. I'm positive there are EN Worlders that could put me to shame - unfortunately I don't have the pleasure of gaming with any of them.

Do not take this personally, but if you cannot name tactics that are more impressive than 5-foot steps for flanks and setting up Cleave, you probably belong in the "Good, I got game" category.

 

[Greylock]

I consider myself well above average. Good thing I'm playing a soldier-type right now. It would be a bit meta to play other classes as well tactically. Here's hoping alsih20 doesn't hold me to a stopwatch someday, however.

 

[Toras]

When it comes to tactics (military style) I'd like to think I'm brilliant, at least on the player side. As a DM, I run too far off the cuff for the tactics not to suffer. I have to say a gnomish water cannon (super soaker-esque backpack device) when combined decanter of endless water like enchantment and a perm'ed bless water spell makes for a great heavy infantry weapon against fiends, especially when you consider it is effective even in the hands of an unskilled user (fire hose) and the more its used (water on the ground) the more deadly it becomes. It can double as firefighting implement as well.

But I do admit my tactics tend towards the brutal and realistic. (Breaking the mages arms, Cutting tendons, or shattering hands to prevent somatic components. Smashing the voice box or destroying the adam's apple to prevent verbal. And blinding for good measure.)

 

[tetsujin28]

I entered 'excellent' -- I've been wargaming since '74.