Making repeative actions more interesting aka spoiled by 4E

[TigerStripedDog]

Haha, I love it IL. Thats great.

And remember, you don't have to get that detailed... but you can mix it up.

Player: I dive towards my foe, striking low! (attack), (rolls a 4)

DM: The Orc parries your blow, he's a crafty sunuva...

Player: I'll roll to the side, jump up and try to hit above his shield (attack) (rolls a 14)

DM: The Orc never sees it coming, his shield still low to block where you were, you slice at his shoulder!

Player: I'll hold this spot and push my advantage: (attack) (rolls a 10)

DM: The Orc staggers, you slash again and he falls to the ground, eyes glazed over....


-----

The point is that what I just talked about is simple... very simple. And takes almost no time. And it allows a character to express his style of combat. Maybe he's a Drizz'tesque dexterity fighter... something like the above might work. If you're a strength fighter maybe its something like "I raise my weapon overhead, heedless of danger and SMASH down on my opponent!"... every fighting style can be emphasized, even to a small degree that greatly enhances the flavor... AND it can lead to ideas on custom proficiencies that enhance your combat ability as well.

Maybe I had the benefit of playing an aspiring swordmaster with my first character. That character was prone to this sort of stuff, because his mastery of the blade was a core concept. Still though, all the fighters did it... heck ALL the characters did it.

Another thing to mix it up is to have your character TALK.

"DIE monster!" (good fighter)

"I hope your pouch is full of gold Hobgoblin, because the rent in hell is paid in advance!" (CN fighter)

"Ha, so you think you can face my blade? That will be your final mistake!" (swordmaster)

"For HONOR!" (Lawful Fighter)

'FOR GLORY!" (Chaotic Fighter)

"In Andrick's name!" (lawful good god in Arborris). (Paladin)

"HHHUUUUURRRRRRRRRRR!" (Barbarian leap attack sound from Diablo 2)

"Prepare to face the power of the COSMOS!!!!" (Mage)

"Cower before the glory of my Goddess!" (Priest)

"..." STAB! "hahahaha, suck on that" (Thief)

"Whatchoo got Orc?" *stab* *slices gold pouch* "Not this gold, thats for d*** sure!" (Fighter Theif)

"Grace favor this arrow!" (Elf)

"Och Laddie, ya did make a big mistake today barin' blade to me!" (Dwarf, maybe a pirate?)

...

You get the idea.

All of those are short, sweet, and too the point. And they make it fun. If yon DON'T do that, all you're doing is rolling dice. And yeah, it gets you done faster but if I wanted to just roll dice and see who gets better rolls I could play Yahtzee... because its pretty fast too. Or hell, go play craps and at least make some money.



Tiger

[Ismaels-Legacy]

Now THAT is more like what my group sounds like. They know that I'm willing to throw in little bonuses/penalties for targeting certain areas and using certain maneuvers.

You're right, too, that is could certainly lend to custom proficiencies. In fact, they would make great "branches" for the basic Fighter class "Master" tree. Choose a weapon, master it, and get a chance at some shiny new skills!

[nogoodscallywag]

i DM 2ed. DnD which has tons of combat options. Any options not listed are still available, however, as I as the DM would then have to think of what the PC needed to roll in order to complete whatever maneuver he had in mind.