The 'Swift' Trait

[Robin Smallburrow]

Villain6

Please show me where in the RAW it says you can't use Traits in combat! Traits can be used for an auto success on a common skill or to gain Advancement points on Common Skills sure, but that doesn't exclude the use of Common skills in Combat ( this can be done instead of an attack) not to mention the third use of Traits- an Unforeseen action. Imaginative use of traits should be rewarded.

Robin S.

[Falenthal]

that doesn't exclude the use of Common skills in Combat ( this can be done instead of an attack) not to mention the third use of Traits- an Unforeseen action. Imaginative use of traits should be rewarded.

Very, very interesting point.

The use of Common Skills outside from Combat Action (Rally Comrades, etc.) is normally something that I, as LM, don't incude. In my conception, Battle Dice substitute in a way the use of the skills.
My idea is that a player can't say "I use Stealth to avoid being attacked this round". He has to Escape Combat.
Or he can't go with "I use Athletics to jump onto a shield and do a skate-charge". He uses a Battle Die and describes the situation anywhere he sees fit.

I always felt that Common Skills should be inside combat, but I don't know how to make them compatible with the concept of Battle Dice, then.

Could you give us some examples of how your group has used them?

[Robin Smallburrow]

The main one our Swift Elf has used is Athletics:

"I climb up the rope so fast that I arrive at the top before they can attack", Or " I use my speed to get into position faster than anybody else" etc.

Our tall guy has used his Tall trait to aid his Awe when using Intimidate Foe, another one (he hasnt used yet but I have pointed this out to him) would be to use his Honourable to help his Inspire when Rallying Comrades.

Really, actions such as Intimidate Foe & Rally Comrades should give you guys ideas for how to use Common skills & Traits in Combat - be creative!! (and check out Rich H's Guide to Trait Usage!!)

If you have a problem with a suggested idea of a player in this regard, simply make the Skill TN high - the rope example I set at TN 18 Athletics (he still succeeded!)

Robin S.

[Stormcrow]

Really, actions such as Intimidate Foe & Rally Comrades should give you guys ideas for how to use Common skills & Traits in Combat - be creative!!

Yes, the listed uses of common skills in combat should be considered only a guide to what sorts of things can be allowed in combat, not as an exhaustive list.

If you have a problem with a suggested idea of a player in this regard, simply make the Skill TN high - the rope example I set at TN 18 Athletics (he still succeeded!)

Was this an Unforseen Action? Otherwise the player can simply invoke an Automatic Action, in which case it doesn't matter how high the TN is.

[Rich H]

The player playing the Mirkwood elf in my campaign chose Keen-eyed & Swift as traits because he wanted a character who 'usually acted before others, especially in Combat' and 'I don't want to be surprised'.

Thus his character usually acts first in Combat, even in Defensive stance - to me Swift is a VERY Powerful trait to have.

Robin S.

Traits dont work in combat, just with common skill so i dont understand how your elf player acte first when in defensive stance

Villain6

Please show me where in the RAW it says you can't use Traits in combat! Traits can be used for an auto success on a common skill or to gain Advancement points on Common Skills sure, but that doesn't exclude the use of Common skills in Combat ( this can be done instead of an attack) not to mention the third use of Traits- an Unforeseen action. Imaginative use of traits should be rewarded.

Robin S.

You can't use/invoke Traits in combat unless they are being invoked as part of the use of a Common Skill. Common Skills can be used in combat (eg, Combat Tasks) but the example you quote in your first post, Robin, (ie, going first in combat even when the PC is in Defensive Stance and other PCs are in Forward or Open Stance by invoking the Swift trait), isn't in my opinion a correct application of the rules as no Common Skill is used in determining order of attacks - ie, it's just based off of Stance and Wits.

"I climb up the rope so fast that I arrive at the top before they can attack"

Assuming this is in the middle of a combat and not an attempt to evade engagements, as a Common Skill isn't used to avoid attacks I don't think I'd allow this in my campaign - at least in that format. However I have created an 'Evade Attack' Combat Task where Athletics is rolled/used to increase a character's Parry bonus and I would allow an appropriate Trait to be applied to such an action when using the task. However, if this example is related more to a chase which if failed results in combat, or a successful attack by an enemy, then it's a perfect example of trait usage.

Our tall guy has used his Tall trait to aid his Awe when using Intimidate Foe, another one (he hasnt used yet but I have pointed this out to him) would be to use his Honourable to help his Inspire when Rallying Comrades.

Yep, have had similar get invoked in my game - that's exactly what Traits are for, although not sure Honourable is a great fit for Rallying Comrades; I reckon Energetic would be more fitting.

[Woodclaw]

Our tall guy has used his Tall trait to aid his Awe when using Intimidate Foe, another one (he hasnt used yet but I have pointed this out to him) would be to use his Honourable to help his Inspire when Rallying Comrades.

Yep, have had similar get invoked in my game - that's exactly what Traits are for, although not sure Honourable is a great fit for Rallying Comrades; I reckon Energetic would be more fitting.

I had a similar situation once and I think it's in the spirit of the rule to allow this kind of use.
As for the Rallying Comrade trait of choice, I think that Lordly might be a good alternative.