Knowledge, Tactics?

thalmin

Retired game store owner
A little help, please. This skill, Knowledge (tactics) appears in a list in the Iron Kingdoms book, but where is the skill explained? I know I've seen it, but I can't find it now. Thanks for the help.
 

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thalmin said:
A little help, please. This skill, Knowledge (tactics) appears in a list in the Iron Kingdoms book, but where is the skill explained? I know I've seen it, but I can't find it now. Thanks for the help.
I guess they "invented" it for one of their prestige classes as a requirement, didn´t they? :)

The D20 Modern Core rulebook does contain the skill "Knowledge (tactics)", it should also be in the D20 Modern SRD (someone else might be able to provide a link to it...)

I don´t know if it´s described somewhere else...
 


I think knowledge skills in general are just poorly described, in fact I'm thinking of dropping them completely after reading that Spycraft 2.0 has done so, and it sounds to work well.
 

We created a Knowledge (Tactics) skill in a D&D game once. Basically you could roll against a DC determined by the DM (factoring in things like the complexity of the plan, and the experience and Intelligence of the opposition), and if successful you could get advice on how to best execute a particular plan, such as infiltrating a building, planning an ambush, etc. It wasn't useful in the "heat of battle", only to set up a planned maneuver, and only covered small groups (ie, an adventuring party). Thus it wouldn't be that helpful in an army scenario.
 

I think it would be more a profession skill - most of the time you're actually trying to do something with it, not analyze some historical battle.
 

Here is how I handle a similar knowledge skill....

Knowledge (Military)

DC.......Task
5 Identify a standard weapon or piece of armor
10 Repair simple damage to weapons/armor
15 Identify someone's country & branch of service
20 Identify someone's rank & unit
25 Logistics of moving/feeding/housing large groups
30 Identify serice medals & past battles/theatre of operations

As an opposed check, two characters with Knowledge (Military) can attempt to guess the other's route or basic tactics given that they have know each other and have access to reliable maps (or first-hand knowledge) of the area. For these purposes, knowing the other is defined as fighting alongside or against them, or having reliable intelligence reports about their past battles. This can grant a bonus in certain conditions (see the Order of the Stick website for ideas).
 


I've used it as a fighters opposing roll for Tumbling and feints. Tactics (placement advantage, combat experience, logical conclusions) do take place in combat, even i a split second or intuitive levels.
 

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