The Tactician

A Strategic New Class for the world's Greatest Roleplaying Game

1
 The Tactician

T
he alert eyes of a Tiefling woman dart
around. They look up and down the black
dragon searching for something. After a
tense moment, where she narrowly avoids
being slashed to pieces, she finally spots
what she is looking for. She alerts her allies
of the broken scales that no longer protect
their adversary and calls out a new formation for them to
adopt.
An armored dragonborn man smiles and he calls out the
positioning and movements of the band of goblins off in
the distance. He prepares his companions with a detailed
plan of exactly how to protect themselves and easily crush
their enemies. This band of goblins have just fallen into his
expertly laid ambush.
With a shout the human man both distracts the robe-
covered figure, at the end of the hall, and prepares his
allies against the mages' oncoming assault.
These individuals are master tacticians who turn the tide
of battle with their ingenuity and their unyielding intellect.
Unparalleled Mind
Creating a Tactician
As you build your tactician, think about how your formal
and informal education has shaped and honed your mind.
When did you realize your mind was the sharpest weapon
in your arsenal? Were you encouraged to develop your
studies or did you have to overcome odds just to have a
seat at the table? Did you go to an academy or did you
learn on the field of battle? Maybe you are troubled by a
tactical error you made in your past?
Most importantly what drew you to the life of an
adventurer? Are you running away from some duty of
state? Or are you trying to prove just how developed your
tactical skills are as a stepping stone? Perhaps you just
wanted to experience a new form of combat.
Quick Build
You can make a tactician quickly by following these
suggestions. First, make Intelligence your highest ability
score followed by Constitution or Dexterity. Second,
choose the Sage or Soldier background.

A mind is an awesome and terrible thing and a tactician

knows this all too well. They may be born gifted or have
trained extensively but all tacticians have sharpened their
intellect to a razor point. They have turned their mind
upon the world around them and it has become their
greatest weapon and shield.
A tactician uses their intellect to support those around
them. They often find themselves on the sideline of
combat where they are able to directly or subtly influence
the outcome. Tacticians’ incredible intellect also makes
them an immense repository of knowledge which proves
useful in tackling puzzles and other challenges.

Surrounded by Allies
A tactician alone is a dangerous force but a tactician with
the proper allies is unstoppable. Be it combat in the field
or the more esoteric combat of politics, a tactician works
best when they have reliable people to work with. Their
strength is knowing how to best use those around them to
their greatest potential. A tactician generally seeks out
trusted companions to reinforce their abilities.
Be it grand
armies engaged in warfare or a small band of mercenaries
a tactician is most at home in a group.

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The Tactician
Level Proficiency Bonus Features
1st +2 Tactical Mind, Battlefield Expert
2nd +2 Sheer Brilliance,Ceaseless Vigilance
3rd +2 Field Strategy Feature
4th +2 Ability Score Improvement, Expanded Tactics
5th +3 Extra Tactical Mind, Aura Improvement
6th +3 Command of Protection
7th +3 Field Strategy Feature
8th +3 Ability Score Improvement
9th +4 Battlefield Experience
10th +4 Field Strategy Feature
11th +4 Extra Tactical Mind(2), Aura Improvement
12th +4 Ability Score Improvement
13th +5 Lay of the Battlefield
14th +5 Field Strategy Feature
15th +5 Autodidactic
16th +5 Ability Score Improvement
17th +6 Extra Tactical Mind (3), Aura Improvement
18th +6 Hold the Line
19th +6 Ability Score Improvement
20th +6 Perfect Combat Intuition

Equipment
Class Features You start with the following equipment, in addition to the
As a Tactician, you gain the following class features equipment granted by your background:

Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d8 per Tactician level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your
Constitution modifier per Tactician level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: Light armor, Shields
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbow
Tools: Two sets of Artisan's Tools of your choice
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
Skills: Choose three from Deception, History, Insight,
Intimidation, Investigation, Medicine, Perception,
Survival
(a) a simple weapon and a shield or (b) Hand Crossbow
and 20 bolts
(a) explorer's pack or (b) a scholar's pack
a set of leather armor
a set of Artisan's Tools of your choice
Alternatively, you may start with 4d4 × 10 gp to buy your
own equipment.
Multiclassing
Ability Score Minimum: Intelligence 13
When you gain a level in a class other than your first,
you gain only some of that class's starting proficiencies.
Tools: An Artisan's Tools of your choice
Skills: Choose 1 from Deception, History, Insight,
Intimidation, Investigation, Medicine, Perception or
Survival

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 Tactical Mind
Your advanced understanding of tactics has allowed you
insight into assisting your allies in combat. You may use
the help action as a bonus action and you may use it at a
distance of 30ft, this range extends to 60 ft. at level 4. You
may also use the help action to grant one ally advantage
on their next attack if the target can see or hear you. You
may only use the help action to give advantage to your ally
once each turn.
Battlefield Expert
Your expertise on the battlefield has granted you the
ability to protect your allies. You gain an aura that extends
15 feet in all directions. As an action, you may activate
your aura and grant a number of creatures equal to your
proficiency bonus (including yourself) within your aura
temporary hit points. The amount is equal to half your
Tactician Level rounded up plus your intelligence modifier.
You may do this a number of times equal to one plus your
intelligence modifier before a long rest. This aura expands
15 feet at level 5 (30 ft.), level 11(45 ft.), and level 17 (60 ft.)
Sheer Brilliance
At 2nd level, you have developed your mind to solve
almost any problem you come across, especially under
pressure. You may add your intelligence modifier to any
ability check or saving throw. You can use this feature a
number of times equal to your intelligence modifier
(minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when
If your DM
you finish a long rest.
Ceaseless Vigilance
Starting at 2nd level, your methodical planning and
alertness is unmatched. As long as you are conscious you
can not be surprised and have advantage on initiative.
Field Feature
At 3rd level, you choose a field Strategies from the list
available that categorizes your expertise as a tactician. The
archetype you choose grants you features at 3rd level and
again at 7th, 10th, 14th level.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, you can increase one ability
score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability
scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase
an ability score above 20 using this feature.
If your DM When you reach 11th level the range of your aura
allows the use of feats, you may instead take a feat.
Expanded Tactics
Starting at 4th level your Tactile Mind feature can be used
out to the range of 60 ft.
If your DM
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Extra Tactical Mind
At 5th level, when you use the Tactical Mind feature you
may choose to help up to two creatures as part of the
same help action.
Aura Improvement
When you reach 5th level the range of your aura increases
to 30 feet.
Command of Protection
At 6th level, your quick wits on the battlefield have granted
you the ability to help divert the worst of an attack.
Whenever you or another creature you can see and see or
hear within your aura takes damage, you may use your
reaction to reduce that damage by 2d6.
When you reach certain levels in this class, you can
reduce the damage by more: by 3d6 at 10th level and by
4d6 at 14th level.
Field Feature
At 7th level, you gain a feature granted by your Field
Strategy.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 8th level, you can increase one ability
score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability
scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase
an ability score above 20 using this feature.
allows the use of feats, you may instead take a feat.
Battlefield Experience
Beginning at 9th level you regain all of your expended uses
of Battlefield Expert when you finish a short or long rest.
Field Feature
At 10th level, you gain a feature granted by your Field
Strategies.
Extra Tactical Mind(2)
Starting at 11th level, when you use the Tactical Mind
feature you may choose to help up to three creatures as
part of the same help action.
Aura Improvement
increases to 45 feet.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 12th level, you can increase one ability
score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability
scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase
an ability score above 20 using this feature.
allows the use of feats, you may instead take a feat.
Lay of the Battlefield
Beginning at 13th level, as an action you may tap into your
mind’s eye and sense allies and enemies. You know the
exact location of all creatures within your aura (this
extends through walls), and if they are hostile, neutral or
benevolent. You can use this feature a number of times
equal to 1 + your proficiency bonus. When you finish a
long rest, you regain all expended uses.
Field Feature
At 14th level, you gain a feature granted by your Field
Strategy.
Autodidactic
Starting at 15th level, when using the Tactical Mind feature
you may choose yourself as one of the creatures to help.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 16th level, you can increase one ability
score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability
scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase
an ability score above 20 using this feature.
If your DM
allows the use of feats, you may instead take a feat.
Extra Tactical Mind (3)
At 17th level, when you use the Tactical Mind feature you
may choose to help up to four creatures as part of the
same help action.
Aura Improvement
When you reach 11th level the range of your aura
increases to 60 feet.
Hold the Line
Starting at level 18, when an ally in your aura is reduced to
0 hit points but not killed outright, you can have them
drop to 1 hit point instead. You may do this a number of
times equal to your proficiency bonus before a long rest.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 19th level, you can increase one ability
score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability
scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase
an ability score above 20 using this feature.
If your DM attack that creature makes scores a critical hit on a roll of
allows the use of feats, you may instead take a feat.
Perfect Combat Intuition
At 20th level before rolling for initiative you may instead
choose the initiative of all allies within your aura. You may
use this feature once per long rest.
Field Strategy
All tacticians have refined their minds to an incredible
degree but there are multiple outlets for accomplishing
this process. These different outlets are called a Field
Strategy. The following Field Strategies are available:
Warlord, Spymaster, Grand Strategist, Spellfoil, and
Battlefield Medic. Your Field Strategy grants you features
at 3rd, 7th, 10th, and 14th levels.
Warlord
A tactician works best on the frontline. That is what a
Warlord would say. Unlike other tacticians, you have
refined your skills on the frontline of combat. You have
learned the best place to be is in the front leading. Going
down this path you learned a strong defensive line is
invaluable. This has also granted you a more nuanced
understanding of the gaps in your opponents armors.
Martial Training
Your extensive martial training has paid off. Starting at 3rd
level, you gain proficiency in medium armor, and all
martial weapons that lack the heavy property. In addition,
you can use Intelligence, in place of Dexterity, when
calculating your armor class.
Shielding Assistance
Your assistance is not just limited to offensive capabilities.
At 3rd level, when you use the Tactical Mind feature,
choose one of the creatures you help. That creature gains
additional AC equal to half your proficiency bonus
rounded up until the end of your next turn.
Defensive Expert
Starting at 7th level, when you activate your Battlefield
Expert feature you may enter a defensive stance that lasts
until you move. While in your defensive stance, you can
make opportunity attacks without using your reaction, and
you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against
a creature that moves more than 5 feet while within your
reach.
Courage of War
At 7th level your nerves have been tempered to steel, you
gain advantage on saves against being frightened.
Critical Assistance
Starting at 10th level, when you use the Tactical Mind
feature, choose one of the creatures you help. The first
19 or 20
Resilient Expert
At 14th level, when you activate your Battlefield Expert
feature you may expend an additional activation of the
ability. If you do you and all allies within the aura gain
resistance to your choice of bludgeoning, piercing, or
slashing damage. This lasts for one minute or ends early if
you go unconscious.
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 Spymaster
A tactician works best when they use deceit. That is what a
Spymaster would say. You attempt to confuse and surprise
your enemies with all the tools at your disposal.
Subterfuge is your friend. With talents for both gathering
information and spreading false information you control
the battlefield subtly and effectively.
Surprise Assistance
You know where and how to strike enemies weak points
and can share that knowledge with allies. Starting at 3rd
level, when you use the Tactical Mind feature, choose one
of the creatures you help. The first time that creature
attacks a creature other than you they may add an
additional 1d6 damage if they hit. This damage increases
by a d6 at level 7(2d6), Level 11(3d6) and Level 14 (4d6)
Master of Deceit
At 3rd level, whenever you make a Wisdom (Insight) check
to determine whether a creature is lying or when you
make a Charisma(Deception) check, treat a roll of 7 or
lower on the d20 as an 8.
Discerning Expert
Starting at 7th level, when you activate your Battlefield
Expert feature you may choose one creature within your
aura. You immediately learn whether the creature has any
damage immunities, resistances, or vulnerabilities and
what they are. You also learn if they are below half or a
quarter of their maximum hit points.
Agent of Espionage
When you reach 7th level, you gain proficiency and
expertise in Stealth. If you already have proficiency in
stealth you may gain proficiency in any Tactician skill you
are not proficient in.
Concealing Assistance
At 10th level, when you use the Tactical Mind feature,
choose one of the creatures you help. That creature may
take the hide action as a reaction or as a bonus action on
their next turn.
Secrecy Expert
Starting at 14th level, when you use your Battlefield Expert
feature you may expend an extra use of it to grant a +10 to
stealth rolls to yourself and all allies within the aura for the
next hour.
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Grand Strategist
A tactician works best when focusing on prediction. That is
what a Grand Strategist would say. As a tactician you have
dedicated your time to understanding the inner workings
of your enemies behavior. Your lens is one of focusing on
deeper understanding of strategies. Your predictive
powers are unmatched as you can often see your
opponents moves before they have even thought of them.
Your world has become a chess board with you moving
pieces with precise movements while your enemies
fumble about.
Maneuvering Assistance
Starting at 3rd level, when you use the Tactical Mind
feature, choose one of the creatures you help. That
creature may use their reaction to immediately move up
to half their movement, this movement does not provoke
attacks of opportunity. If they do not, they gain an
advantage on all dexterity saving throws and their
movements do not provoke attacks of opportunity until
the end of their next turn.
Identifying Gaze
At 3rd level, if you spend at least 1 minute observing or
interacting with another creature outside combat, you can
learn certain information about its capabilities compared
to your own. The DM tells you if the creature is your equal,
superior, or inferior in regard to two of the following
characteristics of your choice:
Strength score
Dexterity score
Constitution score
Intelligence score
Wisdom score
Charisma score
Armor Class
Class levels (if any)
At the DM's option, you might also realize you know a
piece of the creature's history or one of its personality
traits, if it has any.
Tactical Vision
Starting at 7th level, when you activate your Battlefield
Expert feature you may expend an additional usage of it to
enter a state of preternatural intuition and are subtly able
to influence events before they unfold for 1 minute. Until
the state ends, when you or another creature you can see
within 60 feet of you makes an attack roll, a saving throw,
or an ability check, you can use your reaction to cause the
roll to have advantage or disadvantage.
Glamor Safeguard
When you reach 7th level, you gain advantage on saves
against being charmed
Gambit Expert
At 10th level, when you activate your Battlefield Expert
feature you may choose one creature inside of the aura.
That creature has vulnerability to the next attack that hits.
This overrides resistance and immunities for that attack.
Guiding Assistance
Starting at level 14th level, when you use the Tactical Mind
feature, choose one of the creatures you help. That
creature gets a 1d4 on their next ability check or saving
throw until your next turn.
Spellfoil
A tactician works best when combating magic. This is what
a Spellfoil would say. You have turned your advanced
mind to one of the most enigmatic forces: Magic. You have
travelled down this path to understand magic and its inner
working but unlike wizards you have not done this to use
such a force. Instead, you have dedicated your abilities to
protect yourself and others from magic.
Arcane Assistance
Starting at 3rd level, when you use the Tactical Mind
feature, choose one of the creatures you help. That
creature has advantage on saving throws against spells
and other magical effects until the start of your next turn
Magical Awareness
When you reach 3rd level, you gain proficiency in Arcana.
Also when you see a spell being cast you may make an
Intelligence (Arcana) check DC equal to 10 + spell level. If
you succeed you know the name, school, and description
of the spell.
Spellbreaker Expert
Starting at 7th level, when you use your Battlefield Expert
feature you may expend an extra use of it. If you do,
friendly creatures who can see or hear you within your
aura have resistance to damage from spells for 1 minute.
Scroll Master
When you reach 7th level, your countless hours pouring
over ways to negate and deal with magics have taught you
how to read spell scrolls of all varieties. You ignore all class
and level requirements on the use of spell scrolls.
Spellanchor Expert
Starting at 10th level, when you use your Battlefield Expert
feature you may choose one creature with it. When you
do, that creature has disadvantage on all spell attacks and
saving throws against spells until the end of your next
turn.
Warding Assistance
At 14th level, when you use the Tactical Mind feature,
choose one of the creatures you help. That creature can
immediately make a saving throw against any spells
currently affecting them. If they do, they have advantage
on that roll.
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Battlefield Medic
A tactician works best when they utilize their knowledge of
medicine. That is what a Battlefield Medic would say. You
have turned your advanced mind to understanding the
physiology of your allies and enemies. Your dedication to
understand mundane medicine has granted you the ability
to treat your allies injuries and make the injuries of your
enemies significantly worse.
Protective Assistance
Starting at 3rd level, when you use the Tactical Mind
feature, choose one of the creatures you help. That
creature may take the dodge action as a bonus action on
their next turn.
Medic’s Intervention
When you reach 3rd level, you gain proficiency and
expertise in Medicine checks. if you already have
proficiency in Medicine you may gain proficiency in any
Tactician skill you are not proficient in. Also when you
stabilize an ally you or that ally can expend one of their hit
dice. If either of you do, that ally gains hit points equal to
your tactician level plus your intelligence modifier. A
creature can only benefit from this once per long rest.
Therapeutic Expert
At 7th level, when you use your Battlefield Expert feature
you may expend an extra use of it. If you do, each creature
who can hear or see you within the aura can immediately
repeat a saving throw to end one of the following
conditions; blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, or
poisoned.
Prescribed Repose
Starting at 7th level, when finishing a short rest you may
choose up to 6 creatures. Each of those creatures lose any
temporary hit points they have and regain that many hit
points up to their maximum.
Wounding Assistance
At 10th level, when you use the Tactical Mind feature,
choose one of the creatures you help. Until the end of that
creature turn whenever that creature deals damage they
may add an additional dice of damage of each type they
would do.
Anatomy Expert
Starting at 14th level, when you use your Battlefield Expert
feature you may choose any number of creatures within it.
For the next hour if that creature makes against the
following conditions; blinded, charmed, deafened,
frightened, or poisoned, are they do so at disadvantage.
 
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