Tactics skill
Tactics is a new skill in the Lore skillset. It is the skill of seeing your enemies weaknesses and capitalizing on them. It is contested against an opponent's Defending skill.
It has two current uses: Applying multiple-opponent penalties to a target (useful for ganging up on people), and using the former non-damaging brawling moves. The current way to train it is to use tactical maneuvers like WEAVE and BOB against creatures. Tactics trains like a weapon skill, and in order to train should be contested against an opponent of suitable challenge.
Notably, tactical maneuvers are favored by Empaths because they will not cause empathic shock, and the skill is in their primary skillset.
- Bob regenerates fatigue
- Circle increases position and debuffs enemy balance; no fatigue cost
- Weave temporarily debuffs an enemy's defense in exchange for a fairly high fatigue cost
- Grapple enables certain brawling moves (like butt) and prevents some kinds of attacks
- Shove can knock opponents to the ground or to pole range
If you lack the skill, some manuvers (not bob) can backfire and decrease your balance/position.
Maneuver Table
| verb | type | fatigue | balance | speed | accuracy | most suited | least suited | least pen. def. | most pen. def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weave | tactical | 5 - extremely fatiguing | 2 - unbalancing | 3 - reasonably paced | 2 - accurate as most | equal | equal | evasion | shield |
| Circle | tactical | 3 - moderately fatiguing | 4 - balance building | 3 - reasonably paced | 2 - accurate as most | equal | equal | equal | equal |
| Bob | tactical | 1 - barely fatiguing | 5 - very balance building | 3 - reasonably paced | 2 - accurate as most | equal | equal | evasion | parry/shield |
| Grapple | tactical | 2 - somewhat fatiguing | 0 - extremely unbalancing | 3 - reasonably paced | 3 - more accurate than most | equal | equal | equal | equal |
| Tackle | tactical | 5 - extremely fatiguing | 3 - balance neutral | 1 - very quick | 1 - less accurate than most | equal | equal | equal | equal |
| Shove | tactical | 2 - somewhat fatiguing | 2 - unbalancing | 3 - reasonably paced | 3 - more accurate than most | equal | equal | evasion | parry/shield |
Empaths and Tactics
Empaths may use tactical maneuvers (without experiencing Empathic shock). As with other aspects of combat, anything that has the potential to do damage causes shock, even if the action is unsuccessful.
Tactics is an effective way for an Empath to maintain position and balance in combat while training defenses. A skilled tactician can even shove or grapple an opponent to assist another adventurer in making a kill.