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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quatermane" data-source="post: 7720444" data-attributes="member: 6785744">IMHO, tactics in almost all RPGs still fall back to fundamental factors that translate to real world conflicts even today.- Terrain- Knowledge (intelligence about ones self, ones team mates, and the opposition)- Training/Talent either side of the conflict may have.- Elements of surprise (what your opponent doesn't know can kill them quickly)- Availability and quality of resources- Environment (weather, time, motion, sound, politics, etc)- Communications capability and skill (The single largest hurdle to success for any team is the establishment and maintenance of effective and consistent communications).Any and/or all of the above come into play for any given conflict situation.If there was anything that I found consistently frustrating to observe as a GM of any RPG, it was the common failure of a group of players to take a few moments to define and plan team roles and tactics to address the most common tactical circumstances and situations.  In the military, we generally called this SOP (standard operating procedures).Of course, sometimes SOP has to be summarily developed among a group of people who have just met.  But any professional crew (in just about any vocation or situation) who may have just met will (before moving out) try to take a moment to at least assign/assume roles within the group so that they can have some semblance of coordination and preparation for an unexpected conflict.  This practice will include an assessment of each others capabilities to ensure the right people are in the right roles... and that they are up to the task of fulfilling that role.Although RPG character classes generally define role definition from the outset as part of the game structure itself, it is never safe to assume that what you initially observe is the real situation.  I recall many an occasion when a party stepped into an engagement assuming the cleric was a healer but to find out that the cleric was specialized as something else completely.As a retired military veteran, I can attest that the most effective combat units are those that constantly train in team focused tactics where everyone knows their role in a given situation as well as the roles and capabilities of their team members.  By knowing their role in the team, each team member can focus their individual skills and resources to carry out that role in a manner that is usually efficient and effective. By knowing the roles and capabilities of their team members, everyone can hone their interactions with those around them to compliment each others capabilities...  working as a team.And always remember.... In hostile territory or situations, avoid splitting the party for any but the most extreme situations.</blockquote>

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