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

[F4NBOY]

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.

Yeah, it would be cool to see some of that design philosophy in 4E.

"Your fighter can activate that special maneuver at will, but if it fails, he is prone, or he provokes an AoO."

Or something like that.

 

[Christian]

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

I don't know--that 'lead developer' title doesn't make me think he's being allowed to give much input.

 

[TarionzCousin]

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.

Nicely said.

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.

I agree as well. If BoIM had contained another 20+ sample maneuvers and stunts, it would have been even more useful.

Isn't a lot of it OGL?

Actually, it is. Good catch!

 

[Varianor Abroad]

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.

I also recall being able to do this in earlier editions. Now, the mechanics sucked, but it's not unique to Book of Iron Might. That said, yes, it's cool that new stuff like this is being put into the ruleset.

 

[Edheldur]

I don't know--that 'lead developer' title doesn't make me think he's being allowed to give much input.

Heh... I know, I know. Still, what really got me excited about the new edition is precisely the fact that Mearls is heavily involved in it. And, by the way, count me in with people who prefer BoIM over Bo9S.