D&D 4E Secret 4E Ingredient: Book of Iron Might

[TarionzCousin]

The Book of Iron Might by Mike Mearls (Malhavoc Press) has several non-core combat mechanics that sound like things various playtesters have mentioned doing in 4E.

1. Combat Maneuvers. These are a variant of "called shots" and include how to attack someone to blind, daze, weaken, etc. Basically, you take a "drawback" to gain potential effects. Example: "Called Shot, Glancing Blow to the Head." You take a full-round action to attack at -10. If hit, your opponent takes 4 additional points of damage and must make a Fort Save or be staggered for one round.

2. Combat Stunts. Similar to using the Bluff skill in combat, these techniques enable players to do things such as run along walls, make a leaping charge, attack while tumbling, etc. There are also guidelines to creating one's own stunts.

Since this material is copyrighted by Monte Cook, I don't really expect to see it in 4E. But, given what WotC bloggers have written (no links, sorry) about doing cool things in combat, this seems like a good place to look to get some more pseudo-factual fuel for the fires of 4E speculation. What do you think?

Also, has anyone used Combat Maneuvers or Stunts in 3.5?

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Have you looked at the Book of Nine Swords?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Since this material is copyrighted by Monte Cook, I don't really expect to see it in 4E.

Isn't a lot of it OGL?

 

[F4NBOY]

You can see Mike Mearl's ideas evolving and maturing in his recent works regarding combat focused characters, starting in BOIM, going to Iron Heroes, Bo9S and finally 4E edition.
It's basically the same intent behind all these rules.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

Have you looked at the Book of Nine Swords?

There's a progression in Mike Mearls' work which runs from the Book of Iron Might through Iron Heroes to his development (not design) of Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords.

I've often commented that people who got excited over Iron Heroes and wanted to adapt its action-movie mechanics to a standard D&D game would do well to pick up Mike's earlier book, which was written to be 3.5-compatible out of the gate.

I hope that Fourth Edition's "maneuver mechanics", if such there be, are a little more streamlined and easier to calculate on the fly than the Book of Iron Might/Iron Heroes versions, which worked better and faster when calculated ahead of time as pre-determined moves. I have a lot of faith that Mike, and everyone else on the design and development teams, can make that happen.

 

[wedgeski]

I hope that Fourth Edition's "maneuver mechanics", if such there be, are a little more streamlined and easier to calculate on the fly than the Book of Iron Might/Iron Heroes versions, which worked better and faster when calculated ahead of time as pre-determined moves. I have a lot of faith that Mike, and everyone else on the design and development teams, can make that happen.

Agreed. Core D&D isn't the place for either of those books, but 4ed will do very well if the *spirit* of the books finds a place within its pages. Everything we've heard so far suggests that will be the case.

 

[Edheldur]

Also, has anyone used Combat Maneuvers or Stunts in 3.5?

I have, and they have worked out quite nicely. I also use IH's zones rules.

I sure hope to see a lot of Mearls-isms in 4th edition.

 

[Greg K]

I vastly prefer BOIM to TOB:BO9S.

 

[F4NBOY]

I vastly prefer BOIM to TOB:BO9S.

Me too.
Mechanics in BOIM REALLY look like combat maneuvers rather than spells for fighters.

 

[Greg K]

Me too.
Mechanics in BOIM REALLY look like combat maneuvers rather than spells for fighters.

I also like that a character can attempt the same maneuver multiple times with the only thing discouraging doing so being the penalties to attempt the maneuver and not not some per encounter limitation.