d20 Fifth Element Games Party Synergy.pdf

FEG903

MODULE 3

Party Synergy

Iain Fyffe

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Successful adventuring is a cooperative exercise.

Parties who cannot work together, or do not at least

have complementary skills and abilities, do not often

last. For instance, most successful parties feature a

variety of character types with a range of abilities

and talents. There are fighters for the heavy combat,

rogues for situations requiring stealth or deception,

and clerics and wizards providing varying types of

magical abilities and support. Parties made up of

characters with complementary abilities have a

much better chance of surviving the dangers that

adventure brings. Such diversification of abilities is

common. However, the d20 System provides only a

few rules which actually allow for in-game

modifiers based on cooperative actions.

Another example is the flanking rule in combat,

which allows two or more character to “gang up” on

an opponent, and receive bonuses to attack when

doing so.

Such options are useful and realistic, but they are

too few and lack in colour and excitement. When

aiding another character on a skill check, you can

provide your ally with a +2 bonus to their check.

That's nice, but it's not terribly interesting.

Party Synergy provides rules for many specific

situations in which characters can cooperate (called

synergy maneuvers ), with specific game effects. It

takes the concept of skill synergy to a new level.

With skill synergy, characters can receive a bonus to

a skill check when they have a certain number of

ranks in another, related skill. The whole is greater

than the sum of its parts. Party Synergy moves this

One example of such a rule is the aid another action,

which allows one character to directly aid another in

a skill check or in combat, granting a small bonus.

Requires the use of the Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook, Third Edition, published

by Wizards of the Coast, Inc. ‘d20 System' and the 'd20 System' logo are trademarks of

Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and are used according to the terms of the d20 System License

version 6.0. A copy of this License can be found at www.wizards.com/d20.

THE ARCANE SMITH

concept from the character level to the party level.

When characters perform certain actions in concert,

they receive benefits that exceed the simple sum of

the parts.

modifier and 5 ranks in Share Knowledge, you need

to roll a 10 or higher to succeed, due to your 5 ranks

in Share Knowledge.

If you succeed, the other character receives +2

bonuses on all checks with respect to that skill for a

number of rounds equal to twice his ranks in the

particular skill. In the above example, the other

character would receive a +2 bonus to Balance

checks for 6 rounds, since he has 3 ranks in Balance.

The central mechanic of the party synergy system is

the new Share Knowledge skill. This skill, in

addition to giving access to the various synergy

maneuvers, allows one character to coach and train

another in a particular skill, giving the other

character a bonus that lasts several rounds, or even

allowing the other character to increase his ranks in

the skill – without having to advance a level.

You can Share Knowledge in this way with multiple

characters at the same time. Only one check is made,

which applies to all characters (though the DC for

each other character will be different).

Skill Training : You can use Share Knowledge to help

another character to gain a rank in a particular skill,

without having to advance a level first. You can

only do this for a skill in which you have ranks, and

you must have at least 5 ranks more in the skill than

the other character. The other character does not

need to have any ranks in the skill.

NEW SKILL

Share Knowledge (Cha)

You are able to share your knowledge or training in

an effective way, allowing others to learn from you.

The presentation of this skill follows the standard

PHB format.

The DC of the check is (30 + the other character’s

ranks in the skill – the other character’s Intelligence

modifier – your ranks in the skill). For example, you

have 4 ranks in Share Knowledge, 8 ranks in Bluff

and a +1 Charisma modifier. You wish to train

another character who has 2 ranks in Bluff and a -1

Intelligence modifier. The DC of the check is 30 + 2

– (-1) – 8 = 25. Your 4 ranks in Share Knowledge and

+1 Charisma modifier mean you need to roll a 20 to

succeed.

Share Knowledge is a class skill for all c.lasses

(including prestige classes).

Check : With a successful Share Knowledge check,

you can pass on a small amount of knowledge to

another character. This is similar to the aid another

action, in that it grants a +2 bonus to the other

character when he makes a skill check. However,

using the Share Knowledge skill makes this bonus

available for several rounds, rather than a single

skill check. You must be able to communicate with

the other character in order to use Share Knowledge.

If successful, you spend 50 XP times the character's

new ranks in the skill. This represents you passing

on some of your accumulated knowledge and

wisdom to the other character. For example, if you

use Share Knowledge to increase a character's ranks

from 4 to 5, you must spend 250 XP (50 times 5). If

spending such an amount of XP would reduce your

XP to zero, or to an amount that would reduce your

level, you cannot train another character in this way

until you gain sufficient additional XP.

You can only make a Share Knowledge check in this

way for a skill in which you have ranks. The other

character must also have at least one rank in that

skill, and you must have at least 3 more ranks than

he does. For example, to Share Knowledge of the

Balance skill with a character who has 3 ranks in

Balance, you must have at least 6 ranks in Balance.

The DC of the check is (20 + the other character’s

ranks in the skill – the other character’s Intelligence

modifier – your ranks in the skill). Continuing the

above example, if the other character has an

Intelligence modifier of +2, the DC of the check

would be 20 + 3 – 2 – 6 = 15. If you have no Charisma

Share Knowledge cannot be used to increase a

character’s ranks in a skill beyond the maximum

number of ranks as determined by character level.

You can only train one character in a skill at a time.

THE ARCANE SMITH

There are two types of synergy maneuvers: trained

and untrained. Untrained maneuvers apply

automatically in any given situation. They are

essentially extensions of the aid another rule that

apply only to certain skills. These skills are

particularly appropriate to have greater bonuses

from teamwork; the aid another rules do not

adequately reflect the bonuses that should apply in

these situations.

Synergy Maneuver Training : You can also use Share

Knowledge to train other party members in the use

of certain synergy maneuvers. The prerequisites

and check DC for this type of training depend on the

particular maneuver, and are detailed in the synergy

maneuver section.

You make one check for each party member you are

training. You can train your party all at the same

time.

You can take 10 or 20 on checks for any of the uses of

the Share Knowledge skill, using the standard rules.

When using an untrained maneuver, each party

member (other than the team leader) is considered

to be using the aid another action. That is, each

party member must make a standard action.

However, the benefits apply automatically, and the

party members do not need to make skill checks.

Action : Using Share Knowledge to grant a bonus to

another character takes 2 uninterrupted rounds. For

each additional character, add 1 round to the time

required.

Training another character in a skill takes one full

week of uninterrupted work.

To gain the benefit of an untrained maneuver, there

is no need for any party member to have ranks in the

Share Knowledge skill. So long as the leader

prerequisites and member prerequisites are met, the

party gains the benefit of an untrained maneuver.

Training your party (two or more characters) in a

synergy maneuver takes one full week of

uninterrupted work. Training one individual takes

only four days.

Trained maneuvers are those that require the Share

Knowledge skill to learn. These are discussed in the

following section.

Try Again : You can attempt to grant a bonus as often

as you like. Multiple successes do not stack.

You can only attempt to train another character in a

particular skill once per level. Once you make an

attempt, you must wait until the other character has

gained a level before making another attempt.

TRAINED MANEUVERS

Only a character who meets the requirements to be

a team leader can train the rest of the party for a

trained maneuver. A character can be a team leader

for a maximum number of trained maneuvers equal

to 1 plus his Intelligence modifier. For example, a

character with a 14 Intelligence can be team leader

for up to 3 trained maneuvers (1 + 2 for his

Intelligence modifier).

You can attempt to train another character in a

synergy maneuver as many times as you like. The

only requirement is time.

SYNERGY MANEUVERS

All synergy maneuvers require a team leader . This

character must have certain prerequisites in order

for the maneuver to succeed. All other characters

that take part in the maneuver (the team members )

also have certain prerequisites. When executing a

synergy maneuver, the team leader takes charge of

the party. If the team leader is incapacitated, the

team cannot execute the maneuver unless another

team member meets the team leader requirements,

in which case he can step into that role.

A team leader has the option of dropping a

previously-trained maneuver in order to become a

team leader for a new maneuver. All characters

trained in a dropped maneuver no longer receive

any benefits from it, unless there is another

character in the party with the prerequisites to be

team leader. If this character agrees to become the

team leader for the dropped maneuver, no

additional training is necessary but it does count

THE ARCANE SMITH

against the new leader's maximum number of

trained maneuvers.

Member Prerequisite : Bluff 1 rank

Climbing Team (Trained)

MANEUVER DESCRIPTIONS

The party is skilled at climbing in concert, and

aiding each other while scaling a cliff, wall or other

surface. The team leader must be the first to climb;

he works out optimal routes and gives verbal and

physical aid to the other members as necessary.

The remainder of Party Synergy describes trained

and untrained synergy maneuvers in alphabetical

order. The format for these descriptions is as follows:

Maneuver Name

Benefit : As long as the team leader is above the

other members, each member other than the leader

receives a +2 synergy bonus to Climb checks. The

leader must be able to communicate with the

members.

The maneuver name line includes a parenthetical

notation that indicates whether the maneuver is

trained or untrained. The maneuver name is

followed by a brief description of the maneuver.

After the description is the following information:

Training DC : 15 - team member's Strength modifier

Benefit : This indicates what the maneuver does, in

game terms. For certain combat-oriented feats, party

members are required to act one after the other to

execute a maneuver, by delaying their initiative.

This is noted here.

Leader Prerequisite : Climb 4 ranks

Member Prerequisite: Climb 1 rank, and at least 3

ranks less than team leader

Training DC : This is the check DC for the team

leader's Share Knowledge check to train the party in

the maneuver.

Concentrated Fire (Trained)

The party is skilled at firing missiles in concert, at

the same target or group of targets, in order to

maximize the damage potential of the missile volley.

By concentrating their fire on one target, they reduce

the target's ability to dodge incoming missiles.

Leader prerequisite(s) : These are the prerequisites

for a character to be a team leader for the maneuver.

Member prerequisite(s) : These are the prerequisites

for a character to be a team member for the maneuver.

Benefit : When aiming their fire at any opponent

within a particular 10 x 10 area, each party member

receives a synergy bonus to attack equal to the

number of party members (other than themselves)

who are firing missiles that round. For example, if 4

party members are firing, each receives a +3 bonus

to attack.

Befuddle (Untrained)

The party is skilled at organized bluffing. They play

off each other, or provide distraction or misdirection,

as the situation requires.

Party members must delay their initiative in order to

use this maneuver, firing one right after the other.

They must be able to communicate with each other

in order to execute this maneuver.

Benefit : The team leader gains a synergy bonus to

Bluff as follows: +3 for the first team member (other

than himself), and +2 for each additional team

member, up to a maximum of four members. This

cannot be used with the “feinting in combat” option,

and if it used for the “creating a diversion to hide”

option, the bonus only applies to one character who

attempts to Hide (which does not need to be the

team leader).

Training DC : 20 - member's Dexterity modifier

Leader Prerequisites : Base Attack Bonus +3,

Weapon Focus (any missile weapon)

Member Prerequisites : Base Attack Bonus +1,

proficiency with any missile weapon

Leader Prerequisite : Bluff 4 ranks

THE ARCANE SMITH

Cover Fire (Trained)

Party members must delay their initiative in order to

use this maneuver, attacking one right after the other.

The party is skilled in providing missile fire for

cover while some members charge an opponent. By

firing on the charging character's target, the party

makes the target less ready to defend himself against

the charge.

Training DC : 20 - member's Dexterity modifier

Leader Prerequisites : Base attack bonus +5, Combat

Reflexes

Member Prerequisite : Base attack bonus +2

Benefit : By having at least two missiles fired at the

target of the charge, the charging character does not

suffer a -2 AC penalty after his charge. If one or

more of the missiles deals damage to the target, the

charging character receives an additional +2 bonus

to any attack made at the end of the charge. The

team leader does not have to fire a missile or charge,

but must be within earshot of all team members at

the beginning of the maneuver.

Intimidating Presence (Untrained)

The party is skilled at appearing intimidating, in

support of the party leader. This may be silent

support, by being threatening in the background, or

more overt.

Benefit : The team leader gains a synergy bonus to

Intimidate as follows: +3 for the first team member

(other than himself), and +2 for each additional team

member, up to a maximum of four members.

Party members must delay their initiative in order to

use this maneuver. Those firing missiles must act

immediately before those charging.

Leader prerequisite : Intimidate 4 ranks

The Cover Fire maneuver may be used in

conjunction with the Phalanx maneuver.

Member prerequisite : Intimidate 1 rank

Training DC : 15

Leader Prerequisite : Precise Shot, proficiency with

one missile weapon

Investigation (Untrained)

The party is skilled at splitting up to talk to people,

thereby maximizing their Gather Information

results. They can compare notes, or divide the area

to be covered, or even work in teams when

attempting to gather information.

Member Prerequisite : Proficiency with one missile

weapon (if firing a missile) or Run (if charging)

Harry (Trained)

Benefit : The team leader gains a synergy bonus to

Gather Information as follows: +3 for the first team

member (other than himself), and +2 for each

additional team member, up to a maximum of four

members.

The party is skilled at setting up opponents to be

vulnerable to teammates’ attacks. Each character's

attack is not necessarily meant to cause damage; it

may instead be intended to force the target in

position to be better attacked by an ally.

Leader prerequisite : Gather Information 4 ranks

Benefit : When teammates attack the same opponent

on consecutive actions, bonuses to attack rolls result.

The first teammate to attack suffers a -2 penalty to

damage on his attacks. The second teammate to

attack gains a +2 synergy bonus to one attack, and

the third and any subsequent teammate receives a +4

synergy bonus to one attack. The attackers cannot

move before attacking other than to take a 5-foot

step. This bonus stacks with a flanking bonus.

Member prerequisite : Gather Information 1 rank

Phalanx (Trained)

The party is skilled at charging at enemies in

formation with weapons drawn, and are difficult to

stop. With a fierce war cry, they bear down on their

enemies with terrible force.

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