Variant for Duelists and other swordsmen

[Romotre]

Instead of picking random DC's, why not make them opposed checks?

 

[LostSoul]

I generally figured that these "combat styles" were Feats.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I generally figured that these "combat styles" were Feats.

Too little variation between fighters, and feats are big changes in combat capability, this is equivalent to the DM's friend circumstance bonus.

Adds a useful additional dimension to combat in general and fighting in particular IMO.

 

[jdfrenzel]

Instead of picking random DC's, why not make them opposed checks?

That was the original plan, actually. What changed my mind was that fighting disciplines begin to get mechanistic. That is, maneuver A will always defeat maneuver B, if executed correctly.

So it should be possible for one combatant to stymie his opponent's maneuver, even if he can't execute it as flawlessly or precisely. He just needs to be able to identify the maneuver used against him and its remedy.

So that's the Knowledge check, with the DC based on the obscurity and/or difficulty of the maneuvers. The execution of the maneuver is played out in the attack rolls. Allowing the players to set the DC themselves gives them some idea of how difficult their maneuver is, and how likely it is of being countered.

--- John