All this talk about the Command skill, what about Tactics?

[Naaman]

Okay, so, I've been thinking about how we all think the command skill should be implemented in-game, and starting contemplating the idea of different applications for the command skill.

Some folks have pointed out that certain tasks may require participants to actually use different skills, while other tasks would dictate that all participants should use the same skill if a bonus is going to be added.

Now, from a combat perspective, a Naval officer is not necessarily going to know what to do if he finds himself the highest ranking person in a group of ground-fighting army soldiers. Likewise, a SpecForce officer would not know how to coordinate the activities of a logistics and supply element.

So, I've been toying around with some ideas:

First of all, though, it would require dividing the Tactics skill into various specializations, much like the Scholar skill. Taking "Tactics" by it self would either not be allowed, or would limit the success possible (GM's call). For example, a SpecForce commander would specialize in Tactics: Small Unit Tactics, or Urban Warfare, or Guerilla Tactics etc.

1. A "leader" may use the command skill to coordinate the actions of his followers. If he has a relevant specialization in the Tactics skill, he may add a bonus to his command roll (bonus up to GM, but, for example, just add the Tactics dice to the Command skill, effectively increasing the number of troops he can coordinate at once).

2. The number of dice he has in the Tactics skill increases the bonus granted to the task resolution roll. For example, if the officer has 6D in Tactics: Small Unit Tactics, then when his troops roll their combined action, they get an additional +6 on the roll (not +6D).

3. (Any other suggestions?)

I am in favor of number 2, myself.

[garhkal]

Interesting idea.. I have always thought tactics as a skill should be more like Scholar, where you have a focus....

PS take a look at these 2 prior threads on Tactics..

http://www.rancorpit.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=226&highlight=tactics

http://www.rancorpit.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2471&highlight=tactics
_________________
Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Naaman]

Thanks for those references. The give me some ideas on how to implement the tctics skill all by itself.

Though, what I was trying to get at was the idea that if you are coordinating troops to accomplish a task, your tactical expertise (or lack thereof) should be a factor.

Does that make sense?

[Fallon Kell]

[Bren]

[atgxtg]

[garhkal]

[Bren]

[Fallon Kell]

[Naaman]

[garhkal]

[Raven Redstar]

For me, Tactics is a GM aid skill.

Let's say for instance, you have players who haven't got a lot of tactical experience, so they come up with a relatively simple strategy and roll their tactics. This can result in one of two outcomes.

A) The GM gives the players a hint as to a more effective way to approach the battle, warning them that if they do x then y will happen. This can also be used to help players predict where enemies may attack at or defend, or possibly an enemy contingency plan.

B) The GM rolls the opposing commander's tactics skill and if he loses, then he and his forces are caught off guard by the players. Perhaps the enemy commander wasn't expecting something quite so reckless and did not account for his forces being attacked in such a manner. His forces then take several rounds to adapt to the attack.

In either case I usually will allow for bonuses or penalties to be applied to entire units if a successful command roll is made. These are usually in the +5 or so range. I may increase this bonus if the character rolling specializes in the type of tactics being used.

Also, I use house rules for command skill mixing aspects of 2nd edition and 2nd Ed R&E. I use the command tables from 2nd Ed, while making the commander split bonus dice as described in 2nd Ed R&E. Something didn't sit right with me with regards to a professional level commander only being able to command 4 subordinates.

So, if the commander rolls high enough to command 1500 troops, then they all get the bonus from his tactics skill test.
_________________
RR
________________________________________________________________

[Naaman]

What I am trying to address is that the command skill works the way it does BECAUSE tactics are involved in coordinating troops. If you are not using tactics to command your troops, then you are not actually coordinating any actions. In order to be a successful commander, you must possess tactical expertise.

Its the difference between the leader saying "everybody shoot!" and "you guys supress; you guys flank; and you're on overwatch."

If both of these scenarios occured, it's obvious who's going to enhance the effectiveness of his troops and who is just barking orders.

In other words, the command skill NEEDS the tactics skill.

[Raven Redstar]

I don't like the idea of requisite skills for non-advanced skills in the game. In combat, pretty much the only use for command is combining attacks. It doesn't take a lot of tactical know-how to say "Everyone shoot the rancor!" You cannot combined action dodge.

Suppression, flanking, and taking overwatch are skills that can't really be combined, not unless you have everyone jumping on overwatch or whatever. Technically, they're not even actions that can be taken in combat. This isn't D&D where attacking characters get a bonus when flanking. Suppressive fire is an optional rule which only gets brought up in Rules of Engagement.

What about with uses of command that don't involve combat, like coordinating a repair effort? You don't need tactical know how to know how to deploy a repair crew to fix something more effectively.

I think that like most knowledge skills, the tactics skill gets sort of glazed over, but that is because the GM fails to reward a player with a decent tactics skill. Reward the player for taking tactics, don't force them to.

Also keep in mind that neither Luke Skywalker, nor Han Solo have tactics at all, yet they are in command of Rebel troops.
_________________
RR
________________________________________________________________

[Bren]