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Tactician
Standing proudly and fearlessly in front of his foe, a human
dodges out of the way of an oncoming axe and retaliates with
a perfectly placed strike, predicting his opponent's moves
with remarkable accuracy and striking with precision.
An elf stands tall above the battlefield from her carefully-
chosen vantage point. Using the high ground to her
advantage and her surroundings as cover, she lets loose a
single arrow as many more fly towards her, clattering against
the surroundings harmlessly.
Shouting orders to their allies, a dragonborn rushes into
the fray toward the enemy leader. With a signal to their
compatriots, a barrage of attacks find their way toward the
commander, simultaneously striking in an overwhelming
show of coordination.
Tacticians are masters of the battlefield. Their keen minds
and martial training make them a powerful ally and a
fearsome enemy for any troop that finds themselves in the
midst of armed conflict. Far departed from the traditional
soldier, a tactician relies on their brains more than their
brawn when faced with adversity.
Battlefield Strategist
A tactician finds purpose in determining the outcome of
armed conflict. When two armies of equal strength clash, the
victor is often the side with the more experienced tactician.
Different tacticians employ their own strategies, varying
wildly between ferocious assault and carefully planned
ambushes, but all are united by their ability to quickly and
logically decide the best course of action for themselves and
their allies.
Tacticians are not born, they are bred. A tactician must
learn the dynamics of combat in order to be effective, most
often through intense study or rigorous training over many
years. Though most tacticians receive martial training and
can hold their own when thrown into battle, their true
strength lies in their knowledge of warfare and their ability to
analyze and exploit their oppenents weakness while
simultanouesly predicting their actions.
Astute and Analytical
Due to their nature, most tacticians find themselves seeking
battle. Their intellect drives them to seek new challenges and
learn new strategies from friend and foe alike. Whether
employed by an army, travelling the world as an adventurer,
or seeking new knowledge in the military libraries of the
world, true tacticians are few and far between. In order to be
regarded as an accomplished tactician, an individual must
THE TACTICIAN
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 Creating a Tactician
The Tactician As you create a tactician, consider two elements of your
Proficiency
character's background: Where did you study military
Level Bonus Features strategy, and what did those studies teach you about how
battle is won? Do you approach your encounters through
1st +2 Tactician's Strike, Tactician's favorable numbers and overwhelming strength? Do you rely
Expertise on planning and positioning to gain the upper hand? Do you
2nd +2 Fighting Style, Analytical Mind seek strength through your allies, and rely on their unique
3rd +2 Tactician Stratagem
gifts to create optimal strategies? Whatever stratagem you
employ, a tactician always has a logical reason for the choices
4th +2 Ability Score Improvement they make, and this can influence how your character is
5th +3 Tactician's Strike improvement played.
You might have studied under the tutelage of a great
6th +3 Tactician's Expertise general of wars long ended. Maybe you studied in a military
7th +3 Stratagem Feature school, but found yourself drawn to the books rather than the
8th +3 Ability Score Improvement
weaponry. Perhaps you are self-taught, finding that your
intellect has aided you throughout your travels, and that even
9th +4 Tactician's Defense physical conflict is easier won when you rely on that intellect.
10th +4 Stratagem Feature Did you learn to fight out of necessity, or for personal gain?
Perhaps you are part of a long line of proud tacticians, and
11th +4 Informative Strikes are seeking to honor that legacy. Whatever your reason for
12th +4 Ability Score Improvement finding yourself here, you are now a force to be reckoned
13th +5 Tactician's Defense improvement
with, carrying with you strategies for whatever conflict may
find you.
14th +5 Vault of Secrets
15th +5 Stratagem Feature Class Features
16th +5 Ability Score Improvement As a tactician, you gain the following class features.
17th +6 Borrowed Sword
18th +6 Stratagem Feature Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d10 per tactician level
19th +6 Ability Score Improvement Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier
20th +6 Master of Tactics Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your
Constitution modifier per tactician level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields
not only possess extraordinary intellect and knowledge of Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
war, but also be able to hold their own in the heat of battle. Tools: Navigator's tools
Most military strategists can create a plan and order troops
to execute it while remaining safe behind their war rooms, Saving Throws: Intelligence, Constitution
but a true tactician must be able to hold their own on the Skills: Choose three skills from Arcana, Deception, History,
battlefield, survive and fight back while simultenously Insight, Investigation, Perception, Persuasion, and Survival
analyzing the situation and adapting as necessary.
Most adventuring tacticians find themselves among Equipment
capable allies in need of a decisive leader. Most adventurers You start with the following equipment, in addition to the
are capable of extraordinary feats of martial prowess or raw equipment granted by your background:
power, but the mind of the tactician can focus those elements (a) scale mail or (b) leather armor
into a finely-tuned machine of combat. Due to their (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) two handaxes
upbringing, most tacticians find the adventuring life is well- a martial weapon and a shield
suited to them, not all too different from the life they A diplomat's pack and cartographer's tools
previously led. There are greater risks associated with the life
of the adventurer, but the rewards available, both material
and in the form of further knowledge, make it well worth the
risk for those that choose the adventurer's path.
Tactician Version 1.1
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THE TACTICIAN Artist: christopherculbertson.com, titled "Navigator's Tools"

2
Tactician's Strike
Starting at 1st level, you have a mind for analyzing oppenents
and quickly discerning their weaknesses in the heat of battle.
You can use your action to make a special attack against a
creature that you can see within your weapon's range. You
use your Intelligence modifier for the attack and damage rolls
for this special attack. If you have advantage on the attack
roll, you add your proficiency bonus to the damage dealt.
At 5th level, you can roll one of the weapon's damage dice
one additional time and add it to the damage of the attack,
and the damage bonus granted by your Intelligence modifier
is doubled.
Tactician's Expertise
At 1st level, choose two skills from the Tactician skill list. You
gain proficiency in the chosen skills. If you are already
proficient in the skill, you add double your proficiency bonus
to checks you make with it.
Additionally, you can use the Search action as a bonus
action on your turn.
At 6th level, you can choose two more skills from the list to
gain this benefit.
Fighting Style
At 2nd level, you adopt a style of fighting as your specialty.
Choose one of the following options. You can't take a Fighting
Style option more than once, even if you later get to choose
again.
Defense
While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.
Dueling
When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no
other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that
weapon.
Evasiveness
When you make a weapon attack on your turn, you can use
the Disengage action as a bonus action. When you do so, your
speed increases by 10 feet until the end of the current turn.
Great Weapon Fighting
When you roll a 1 or a 2 on a damage die for an attack you
make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two
hands, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll, even
if the new roll is a 1 or a 2. The weapon must have the two-
handed or versatile property for you to gain this benefit.
Guided Strikes
When you make a weapon attack against a creature and
another enemy of the target is within 5 feet of it and not
incapacitated, you gain a +2 bonus to the attack roll.
Protection
When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you
that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to
impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You must be wielding
a shield.
Analytical Mind
Beginning at 2nd level, you learn to observe behavior in order
to inform your words and actions, and to aid in recollection of
information you've come across throughout your years.
If you spend at least 1 minute observing a creature's
actions, communication patterns, and interactions, you gain
advantage on the next Wisdom, Intelligence, or Charisma
check made to analyze the creature, interact with it, or recall
or discern information about it.
Once you have used this feature, you may not use it again
on the same creature for 24 hours.
Tactician Stratagem
At 3rd level, you choose a stratagem that will guide your
thinking during combat. Choose the Stratagem of
Coordination, the Stratagem of Might, or the Stratagem of
Preparedness, all detailed at the end of the class description.
The archetype you choose grants you features at 3rd level
and again at 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th level.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and
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.
Tactician's Defense
By 9th level, you have learned to predict an opponents
movements in order to better defend yourself. When a
creature you can see makes an attack against you, you can
use your reaction to gain a bonus to AC against the triggering
attack. The bonus is equal to your Intelligence modifier.
At 13th level, you learn to further defend yourself against
threats both physical and mental. When you are targeted by
an effect that causes you to make a Dexterity, Wisdom, or
Charisma saving throw, you can use your reaction to gain a
bonus to that saving throw equal to your Intelligence
modifier.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your
Intelligence modifier (minimum 1). You regain all expended
uses when you finish a short or long rest.
Informative Strikes
Beginning at 11th level, whenever you successfully hit a
creature with your Tactician's Strike, you can learn one of the
creature's stats of choice from the following list: Strength,
Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma,
armor class, current hit points, senses, damage resistances,
damage immunities, damage vulnerabilities.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your
Intelligence modifier (minimum 1). You regain all expended
uses when you finish a short or long rest.
Vault of Secrets
By 14th level, your mind has become a fortress in which you
hide your strategies from those that would seek to learn
them. You are immune to divination spells, the charmed
condition, and any effect that would read your thoughts.
THE TACTICIAN
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 Stolen Techniques
At 17th level, you have discovered how to use an enemy's
tactics and abilities against them. Choose one class feature
gained at 3rd level or lower from any other class, including
that class's archetypes. You gain the benefits of that feature,
and it counts as a Tactician feature for you. The following
rules apply:
If the feature has dependancies, such as the Barbarian's
Totem Spirit feature from the Path of the Totem Warrior,
which requires the Barbarian's Rage feature to activate,
you do not gain those dependancies.
If the feature uses class levels to determine its effects,
such as the Fighter's Second Wind feature, you use your
Tactician level.
If the feature gains additional effects or uses at higher
levels, you gain the benefits as if you were 3rd level within
that class. For example, Rogue's Sneak Attack feature
would deal 2d6 damage.
If you take the Spellcasting or Pact Magic feature, you
learn three spells of your choice from the class's spell list.
If the class gains access to cantrips, you learn two cantrips
from the class's spell list. You have a number of spell slots
as if you had three levels of the associated class, and you
can cast spells gained from this feature using those spell
slots. You regain all expended spell slots when you
complete a long rest, or a short rest if you chose Warlock's
Pact Magic feature. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability
for these spells.
Master of Tactics
At 20th level, you have become an unrivaled strategist with
countless victories to your name. You gain the following
benefits:
Your Intelligence score increases by 4, and your maximum
for that score is now 24.
When you roll for initiative, and at the beginning of each
round of combat thereafter, you choose your place in the
initiative order.
Your Informative Strikes feature reveals up to three pieces
of information per hit instead of only one.
Tactician Stratagems
A tactician's mind can be born of many circumstances, and
those circumstances lead to differing tactics and maneuvers.
For some, the path to victory is one of careful planning and
positioning, for others, it is in recognizing the weaknesses
opponents may have and exploiting them. Others find
comfort in relying on their allies, protecting and guiding them
toward victory.
Stratagem of Coordination
Your observations about the nature of warfare have revealed
to you a simple truth: small groups that fight well together are
often more powerful than entire armies. Using this
observation to fuel your strategies, you've learned to lead and
coordinate your allies toward victory in a way that makes
most veteran groups look like amateurs.
THE TACTICIAN
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Commander's Strike
Beginning when you choose this stratagem at 3rd level, you
learn to guide your ally's strikes to most effectively dismantle
the enemy. As a bonus action on your turn, you can direct one
of your companions to strike. When you do so, choose a
friendly creature who can see or hear you. That creature can
immediately use its reaction to make one weapon attack.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your
Intelligence modifier (minimum 1). You regain all expended
uses when you complete a long rest.
Watchful Commander
At 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the Medicine skill. If you
are already proficient in the skill, you add double your
proficiency bonus to checks you make with it.
Rally the Troops
Starting at 7th level, you gain the ability to rally your
companions in preparation for whatever lies ahead. During a
short rest or long rest, you discuss the victories of battles past
and plans of future glory in order to lift spirits and recoup
morale. Creatures that can see and hear you throughout the
rest gain advantage on their next ability check, attack roll, or
saving throw made before their next long rest. Initiative rolls
do not benefit from this feature.
Coordinated Movement
By 10th level, you have learned to further manipulate the
battlefield to grant your allies the strategic openings they
require. As a bonus action on your turn, you can choose a
number of friendly creatures who can see or hear you up to
your Intelligence modifier (minimum 1). Those creatures can
use their reactions to move up to 10 feet without provoking
opportunity attacks.
Additionally, you can use the Help action as a bonus action
on your turn.
Coordinated Assault
Starting at 15th level, your Commander's Strike feature
regains all expended uses when you complete a short or long
rest. Additionally, you can forgo your action on the turn that
you use your Commander's Strike to choose two additional
creatures to benefit from the feature.
Commander's Nova
By 18th level, you've spent so much time among allies that
you have learned how to perfectly time and execute a deadly
coordinated strike should it ever be necessary.
As an action on your turn, choose a number of friendly
creatures who can see or hear you up to your Intelligence
modifier (minimum 1). Each of those creatures can use their
reactions to immediately make one weapon attack or cast one
cantrip against a single creature of your choice. If the target
is out of range of any of your allies, they may move up to their
speed without provoking opportunity attacks as part of the
same reaction, but only if it would put them in range of the
target.
You can choose yourself as one of the friendly creatures,
using your Tactician's Strike as part of the same action.
Once you have used this ability, you may not do so again
until you finish a short or long rest.
Stratagem of Might
Your time on the front lines of many hard-won fights has led
you toward one simple conclusion: the stronger party wins.
Be it strength in numbers or strength through superior
training, the strongest always survive. Your idea of a battle
well fought is one in which you're on the front lines cutting
through the enemy yourself and showing them your strength.
Improved Critical
Beginning when you choose this stratagem at 3rd level, your
Tactician's Strike scores a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20.
Intelligent Solutions
When you reach 7th level, you learn how to accomplish
certain tasks with creative intellect rather than brawn or
finesse. When making a Strength (Athletics) check to climb
or swim, a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check to conceal an
action, or a Dexterity (Stealth) check to hide, you gain a
bonus to that check equal to your Intelligence modifier
(minimum 1) as long as you have at least 1 minute to
consider the action beforehand.
Keen Awareness
By 10th level, you are always prepared for combat, keeping an
eye out for situations that may lead to conflict.
You have advantage on initiative rolls, and creatures do not
gain advantage on attacks against you as a result of being
hidden from you.
Exposed Weakness
By 15th level, you have learned to analyze a combatant's
movements in a matter of seconds, determining the optimal
time and place to strike them.
If you miss with your Tactician's Strike, the target of the
attack takes half damage from the attack instead of none.
Precision Strike
At 18th level, you have reached the pinnacle of might, able to
make a single strike that can devastate an exposed enemy.
Your Tactician's Strike changes to the following:
You can use your action to make an attack against a
creature within your weapon's range. You can roll one of
the weapon's damage dice two additional times and add it
to the damage of the attack. You use your Intelligence
modifier for the attack and damage rolls for this attack,
and the damage bonus granted by your Intelligence
modifier is tripled. If you have advantage on the attack roll
for this attack, you add your proficiency bonus to the
damage dealt.
Stratagem of Preparedness
Your study of military tactics and the battlefield has taught
you that superior positioning and well-timed, well-placed
strikes can overcome even the most disadvantageous of
situations. You've learned to carefully make use of whatever
resources you have available to you during a battle.
Advantageous Positioning
Beginning when you choose this stratagem at 3rd level, you
can use a bonus action to deploy or retract a barrier of your
own invention to act as cover. The barrier is made of wood
and metal, is 5 feet wide and 4 feet tall when deployed, and
grants half cover to anyone positioned behind it. The barrier
has AC 15, 20 hit points, and resistance to non-magical
piercing and slashing damage. The barrier weighs 10 pounds
and folds into a cube 1 foot on each side. You can repair up to
five barriers during a long rest. It costs you 10gp and an hour
to create a new barrier if one you are carrying is destroyed.
Additionally, you gain a +2 bonus to the attack roll of your
Tactician's Strike if you make that attack from cover.
Situational Awareness
When you reach 7th level, you learn to identify where other
creatures may position themselves for a strike. You gain
advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks made to detect
hidden creatures, and you cannot be surprised as long as you
are conscious.
Terrain Specialist
Starting at 10th level, moving through nonmagical difficult
terrain costs you no extra movement. You can also take a
bonus action on each of your turns in combat. This action can
be used only to that the Dash or Hide action.
In addition, you have advantage on saving throws caused
by environmental hazards or lair actions.
Take Cover
Starting at 15th level, when you are subjected to an effect that
allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half
damage and you are benefitting from cover, you instead take
no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half
damage if you fail.
Allies within 5 feet of you also gain this benefit if you are
benefitting from cover.
Master of Preparation
At 18th level, you have achieved a new level of readiness,
seemingly prepared for any physical or mental assault that
may cross your path. You gain the following benefits:
You gain resistance to psychic damage.
You have advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and
Charisma saving throws.
While behind cover, you have advantage on Strength and
Dexterity saving throws, and attack rolls against you are
made at disadvantage.
THE TACTICIAN
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