Fighters Surge, thoughts

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Maybe Surges use up Hit Dice, and the Fighter gets extra Hit Dice? But IIRC, hit dice are a rules module and not actually core? Also, this may have unfortunately gameplay consequences, like a "Nova Fighter" that spends all his hit dice for one combat and then must go to sleep. (Same problem as Wizards have.) But the Fighter actually has this problem somewhat with the current version of Surges, of course.

I think the key to Surges is that it adds resource management for Fighters and that's a good thing IMO. Otherwise, it always boils down to "I attack" with no or very little variation. Even Surges aren't really enough, though.

 

[Raith5]

There is definitely some potential in these triggers, but I think the beauty (and some say the unreasonableness) of the current rule is the flexibility - as a Fighter, you decide when to bash in an extra goblin or dish out more punishment to the chieftan.

In the recent Q&A, Mike Mearls mentioned that they were thinking about a stamina system, which might provide flexibility and reasonableness together.

Yep. Character choice is the thing that makes the game fun. If abilities are only triggered then everything becomes automatic - a computer could play it.

I have no problem with daily or encounter breakdown even for fighters precisely because they are merely a representation that the fighter a) has special manoeuvres/abilities, b) he needs to ration the energy to do them, and c) he knows how to ration them. In real life we dont always know how to ration our abilities/energy but in a game we do, so that we can make choices and have fun.

However, is respect to the OPs idea I would like to see more possibilities for interaction between circumstances and manoeuvres. For instance shield bash powers should be more effective on stairs etc

 

[Herremann the Wise]

Maybe Surges use up Hit Dice, and the Fighter gets extra Hit Dice? But IIRC, hit dice are a rules module and not actually core? Also, this may have unfortunately gameplay consequences, like a "Nova Fighter" that spends all his hit dice for one combat and then must go to sleep. (Same problem as Wizards have.) But the Fighter actually has this problem somewhat with the current version of Surges, of course.

Interesting idea.

Perhaps:
*Fighters can expend a single hit die to surge.
*At higher levels, a fighter can expend multiple hit dice at once to garner more powerful surge-like effects.
*A Fighter can expend surge(s) only once an encounter.

I think the key to Surges is that it adds resource management for Fighters and that's a good thing IMO. Otherwise, it always boils down to "I attack" with no or very little variation. Even Surges aren't really enough, though.

You have to remember that some players really like their fighters without the complexity. However, I agree for those that love the complexity, this idea provides a neat package of resource management and could be easily extended.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise