Looking good killing the bad guys

[Wycen]

I've been trying to change the way I play DnD for a few months now, being more cinematic and trying manuevers that aren't necessarily the best or fastest way of killing the opponent. Seeing the movie 300 only encouraged me to find a way. Narrative combat of course is how we've handled it to this point, but I'm looking for a crunchy/mechanic way of looking good killing people.

I don't want to buy Iron Heroes, (or learn it) but I have considered the inspiration for that, the Book of Iron Might. Iron Heroes was suggested by my DM, but we both know it would bog things down (we have the DM + 7 players and some of the players are barely rules literate).

Anyone else have suggestions on a feat or something that would provide a mechanical bonus/ability for this?

 

[starwed]

You could get a set of cards which are all level appropriate ToB maneuvers, and filter out any which are too situational. Then, X times per combat, let a player use them sight unseen, drawing them blindly from the deck.

You could also just use the ToB as inspiration, coming up with your own set of maneuver cards. In either case, having all the rules right there on the cards should both speed things up and help out those who don't like memorizing a ton of rules.

 

[Umbran]

I don't want to buy Iron Heroes, (or learn it) but I have considered the inspiration for that, the Book of Iron Might. Iron Heroes was suggested by my DM, but we both know it would bog things down (we have the DM + 7 players and some of the players are barely rules literate).

Anyone else have suggestions on a feat or something that would provide a mechanical bonus/ability for this?

Well, that depends on what kind of bonus or ability you're looking for.

I intend to use the Book of Iron Might in a similar way as my campaign goes on. As the characters advance, I'm going to hand out bonus manuvers for them to use. If th GM is the one doing the manuver design, and you hand the player one manuver at a time, rules literacy isn't much of a problem, I think.

 

[blargney the second]

Book of Nine Swords fits the bill. It's cinematic, fun, and often has really neat effects that your party members will really appreciate. (Like leaving foes prone, flanked, flatfooted, etc.)

 

[jasin]

You could get a set of cards which are all level appropriate ToB maneuvers, and filter out any which are too situational. Then, X times per combat, let a player use them sight unseen, drawing them blindly from the deck.

You know, I could really go for something like this.

It's only been one session, but I was amazed at how much fun the crusader's random refresh mechanic turned out to be. Especially since at first reading, it seemed to me the single most unappealing element in Bo9S.

 

[mvincent]

Narrative combat of course is how we've handled it to this point, but I'm looking for a crunchy/mechanic way of looking good killing people.

In my games I allow players to describe an attack or stunt anyway they wish, then just resolve it using the standard attack and/or move mechanics (example: moving across the room can be described as swinging across the room on a chandelier, but we still use the moving across the room mechanics, possibly with a tumbling rolls if AoO's need to be avoided).

Is that what you meant when you said "Narrative combat of course is how we've handled it"? A mechanical way to support this is to give the standard (DM's descretion) +2 circumstance for anyone describing an action thusly.

Also, the use of the performance skill could be used in conjuction with such actions in order to acquire a reputation.

 

[jasin]

A mechanical way to support this is to give the standard (DM's descretion) +2 circumstance for anyone describing an action thusly.

Shades of Exalted...

 

[Wycen]

The question of what I'm looking for is a good one, part of the reason I was posting. I don't want a character build around a new system, I'd much prefer something I can easily tack on and wont annoy the DM with. But would a simple feat "Combat Charisma" or "Dashing Swordsman" ala Order of the Stick, also work?

So any and all ideas are appreciated.