Tactical Advantage {Wis}

Written by DoStuffZ

In the campaign, characters have access to a special resource known as Tactical Advantage, representing their proficiency in tactical awareness, battlefield coordination, and strategic planning. This resource is honed through training sessions, crafting tactical resources, and strategic planning during downtime periods.
Characters can hold up to their proficiency bonus (PB) in tactical cards, each representing a specific combat drill, manoeuvre, or strategy practised by the party. These tactical cards are essential for executing coordinated tactics and gaining the upper hand in combat encounters.
During downtime periods, typically lasting a week (5 days), characters have the opportunity to replenish their tactical cards by dedicating their time to training, crafting tactical resources, or strategic planning. Each week of downtime allows characters to regain 1 tactical card, assuming they focus their efforts on replenishing their resources.
However, characters may choose to spend their downtime on other activities, such as carousing or pursuing personal quests, in which case they do not replenish their tactical cards for that period. This encourages players to prioritise their time during downtime and make strategic decisions about how they allocate their resources.
To enact a tactic during combat, coordination and cooperation between party members are essential. Both parties need to be in on the deal, understanding and prepared to execute the described tactic to capitalise on its benefits effectively.
Tool Proficiency - Tactical Advantage (Wis):

• Characters can gain proficiency in Tactical Advantage through training sessions focused on tactics, strategy, and battlefield awareness.
• This proficiency represents a character's ability to assess tactical situations, identify strategic opportunities, and coordinate with allies effectively during combat encounters.
• Characters with Tactical Advantage proficiency may gain mechanical benefits such as advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks to assess battlefield conditions, Intelligence (Tactics) checks to devise strategies, or Wisdom (Insight) checks to anticipate enemy movements.

Tactical Cards:

• Tactical cards are physical or virtual representations of specific combat drills, manoeuvres, or strategies practised by the party during training sessions. Each card embodies a tactical advantage that characters can leverage during combat encounters to gain the upper hand against their enemies. These cards represent the party's collective knowledge, experience, and ingenuity in navigating the complexities of battle.
• A card represents a change of the scenery, so that a certain condition is true.

Replenishment:

• During downtime periods, characters have the opportunity to replenish their tactical cards by dedicating their time to training, crafting tactical resources, or strategic planning. Each week (5 days) of downtime allows characters to regain 1 tactical card, assuming they focus their efforts on replenishing their resources. However, characters may choose to spend their downtime on other activities, in which case they do not replenish their tactical cards for that period.

Crafting and Resupplying Tactical Resources:

• Some tactical cards may require special items or resources to use effectively, such as smoke grenades, caltrops, or alchemical concoctions. Characters can spend their downtime crafting or acquiring these items to replenish their tactical resources. Crafting or acquiring tactical resources may require specific materials, gold, or downtime activities, as determined by the DM.

Example Tactics:

• Flanking Manoeuvre: Gain advantage on attack rolls against a target if two or more allies are positioned on opposite sides of it.
• Covering Fire: Provide ranged support to an ally, granting them temporary cover against ranged attacks.
• Diversionary Tactics: Create a distraction to draw enemy attention away from a specific area or ally, granting advantage on Stealth or Deception checks.
• Shield Wall: Form a defensive barrier with allies to provide protection against incoming attacks, granting temporary hit points or increasing AC.
• Ambush Setup: Lay traps or prepare an ambush to gain surprise on approaching enemies, granting advantage on initiative rolls or the first round of attacks.
• Hit-and-Run Assault: Execute a coordinated hit-and-run attack to harass enemies and retreat safely, granting increased movement speed or bonus damage on attacks.

Example Tactical Card Usage:
Player: "I play the 'Ambush Setup' card. META: I'm altering the fabric of space for this situation to be true. As I do, the dense foliage around us seems to thicken and shift, creating natural hiding spots for us to lay traps and prepare our ambush."
DM: "Roll your Tactical Advantage (Wis) check to see how effective your ambush setup is."
Player: Rolls dice "I got a 17 total."
DM: "With your keen tactical insight, you effectively lay traps and position your party members to gain surprise on the approaching enemies. As they come into view, you spring your ambush, catching them off guard and gaining the upper hand in the ensuing battle."

Example Usage and Refresh:
Player: "I play the 'Covering Fire' card. META: I'm altering the fabric of space for this situation to be true. As I do, I pull out a handful of smoke grenades from our supply pouch and toss them at the enemies' feet, obscuring their vision."
DM: "Roll your Tactical Advantage (Wis) check to see how effectively you obscure the enemies' vision."
Player: Rolls dice "I got a 15 total."
DM: "With a well-timed toss, the smoke grenades detonate, creating a thick cloud of smoke that hinders the enemies' ability to see. Your party gains a tactical advantage as they move through the cover of the smoke."

After the mission, during downtime: "As you return to your home base and restock your supplies, your party's tactical resources are replenished, and you regain expended tactical cards (at 1 per week)."