Since @Selganor suggested splitting it off into a separate thread, I'll go ahead and do that. And, first post, I'm posting some combat synergy ideas. Most of these rely on characters using an action to attack or cast a spell, or spending a reaction to initiate the synergy. Whether this is resolved by sharing initiative counts, reserve actions, readying actions, or otherwise. "Uses" refers to how many times you can use it in a given fight before the enemy gets wise to your tricks and won't let you pull it off, again.
Cross the Streams
Uses: Once
Requirements: Four characters capable of making a line which requires a dexterity saving throw. Each character must be adjacent to at least one other person performing the synergy.
Action: Each character must use their action to create a line effect, however all four line effects start at the same point, and follow the same line.
Risk: The combat synergy’s line length and width are determined by the line with the shortest length and the line with the shortest width.
Benefit: All four characters roll damage for their line effect individually. But the highest damage roll of the group is applied to all four line effects.
Fastball Special
Uses: Twice
Requirements: Two characters of different size categories must be adjacent to each other.
Action: The larger character uses their bonus action to throw the leaping smaller ally toward a distant target.
Risk: The smaller character must make an athletics check to jump as part of their movement. The DC is 10 plus the Strength modifier of the throwing ally. On a failure they fall prone at the end of their movement.
Benefit: The smaller character gets a bonus to their jump distance of 5ft per point of the larger character’s Strength modifier, and treats it as a running jump. Their movement speed for the turn is increased by the same value, but this benefit doesn’t extend to the dash action or similar effects.
Get Down!
Uses: Once
Requirements: Two characters adjacent to one another in an area of effect with a duration of instantaneous.
Action: One character must spend their reaction to use the knockdown basic maneuver on the other.
Risk: If the second character chooses to roll and succeeds on the saving throw, the first character still becomes prone, and neither character benefits from this combat synergy.
Benefit: If the second character fails, or chooses to fail, their saving throw against being knocked down, both characters become prone and the second character gains advantage on their saving throw against the area of effect.
Hammer the Gap
Uses: Twice
Requirements: Two characters must make an attack on the same creature which possesses resistance to a damage type. If one or both attacks are ranged, the attackers must be in a direct line to the target.
Action: Each attacker attacks the same location on the target.
Risk: If either attacker misses, neither attack overcomes the damage reduction, but the missed attack deals half damage, one quarter if the damage type is resisted.
Benefit: If both attacks are successful, both attacks overcome the damage resistance.
Hefty Boost
Uses: Twice
Requirements: Two characters of different size categories must be adjacent to each other and an obstacle that must be climbed.
Action: The larger character uses their action to heave the smaller ally up the obstacle.
Risk: The smaller character must make an athletics (climbing) check against the obstacle’s DC. On a failure, they fall the full boosted distance.
Benefit: The smaller creature is able to get a boost of 5ft, +5ft per point of the larger character’s Strength modifier to their distance climbed within a single move action.
Push Offguard
Uses: Once
Requirements: One character must create an area of effect that requires a strength or dexterity saving throw. One or more other characters must be adjacent to a creature that is within 5ft of the area of effect, but not inside it.
Action: The characters near the area of effect may use their reaction to use the shove basic maneuver to push enemies into the area of effect.
Risk: If a creature resists the shove basic maneuver, they gain advantage on their next attack against the person that failed to push them into the area of effect.
Benefit: Creatures successfully shoved into the area of effect have disadvantage on their strength or dexterity saving throw against the area of effect.
Shield Redirect
Uses: Once
Requirements: One character must direct a line effect toward another player who must possess a shield.
Action: The shieldbearer must use their reaction to make a dexterity saving throw against the line effect.
Risk: On a failed saving throw, the shieldbearer takes damage as if the line effect had rolled the minimum amount of damage.
Benefit: The line effect stops when it reaches the shieldbearer and goes no further. The shieldbearer creates a 30ft line effect with the same properties in a new direction of the shieldbearer’s choosing.
Cross the Streams
Uses: Once
Requirements: Four characters capable of making a line which requires a dexterity saving throw. Each character must be adjacent to at least one other person performing the synergy.
Action: Each character must use their action to create a line effect, however all four line effects start at the same point, and follow the same line.
Risk: The combat synergy’s line length and width are determined by the line with the shortest length and the line with the shortest width.
Benefit: All four characters roll damage for their line effect individually. But the highest damage roll of the group is applied to all four line effects.
Fastball Special
Uses: Twice
Requirements: Two characters of different size categories must be adjacent to each other.
Action: The larger character uses their bonus action to throw the leaping smaller ally toward a distant target.
Risk: The smaller character must make an athletics check to jump as part of their movement. The DC is 10 plus the Strength modifier of the throwing ally. On a failure they fall prone at the end of their movement.
Benefit: The smaller character gets a bonus to their jump distance of 5ft per point of the larger character’s Strength modifier, and treats it as a running jump. Their movement speed for the turn is increased by the same value, but this benefit doesn’t extend to the dash action or similar effects.
Get Down!
Uses: Once
Requirements: Two characters adjacent to one another in an area of effect with a duration of instantaneous.
Action: One character must spend their reaction to use the knockdown basic maneuver on the other.
Risk: If the second character chooses to roll and succeeds on the saving throw, the first character still becomes prone, and neither character benefits from this combat synergy.
Benefit: If the second character fails, or chooses to fail, their saving throw against being knocked down, both characters become prone and the second character gains advantage on their saving throw against the area of effect.
Hammer the Gap
Uses: Twice
Requirements: Two characters must make an attack on the same creature which possesses resistance to a damage type. If one or both attacks are ranged, the attackers must be in a direct line to the target.
Action: Each attacker attacks the same location on the target.
Risk: If either attacker misses, neither attack overcomes the damage reduction, but the missed attack deals half damage, one quarter if the damage type is resisted.
Benefit: If both attacks are successful, both attacks overcome the damage resistance.
Hefty Boost
Uses: Twice
Requirements: Two characters of different size categories must be adjacent to each other and an obstacle that must be climbed.
Action: The larger character uses their action to heave the smaller ally up the obstacle.
Risk: The smaller character must make an athletics (climbing) check against the obstacle’s DC. On a failure, they fall the full boosted distance.
Benefit: The smaller creature is able to get a boost of 5ft, +5ft per point of the larger character’s Strength modifier to their distance climbed within a single move action.
Push Offguard
Uses: Once
Requirements: One character must create an area of effect that requires a strength or dexterity saving throw. One or more other characters must be adjacent to a creature that is within 5ft of the area of effect, but not inside it.
Action: The characters near the area of effect may use their reaction to use the shove basic maneuver to push enemies into the area of effect.
Risk: If a creature resists the shove basic maneuver, they gain advantage on their next attack against the person that failed to push them into the area of effect.
Benefit: Creatures successfully shoved into the area of effect have disadvantage on their strength or dexterity saving throw against the area of effect.
Shield Redirect
Uses: Once
Requirements: One character must direct a line effect toward another player who must possess a shield.
Action: The shieldbearer must use their reaction to make a dexterity saving throw against the line effect.
Risk: On a failed saving throw, the shieldbearer takes damage as if the line effect had rolled the minimum amount of damage.
Benefit: The line effect stops when it reaches the shieldbearer and goes no further. The shieldbearer creates a 30ft line effect with the same properties in a new direction of the shieldbearer’s choosing.
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It might be a good idea to provide a role-playing example so that we can get a better idea on how they work.
