Class record
Strategist
Support
- Tier
- 3
- Difficulty
- 3 / 5
- Main role
- Support
- Secondary role
- —
Rules reference
Class mechanics
Entry requirements and the complete level-by-level advancement path.
Entry
Requirements
Tactician mastered
Advancement
Progression
- UnlockKey ability
- Level 2Ability 1
- Level 3SkillsYou gain +5 skill points in Deception, Stealth, Appraise, History, Magic, Perception, Intimidation, Negotiation or Common Knowledge. You can exchange any skill point for 2 expertise points, but must spend them in these skills.
- Level 4Ability 2
- Level 5HeartYou gain +1 to Reason, Awareness or Cunning.
- Level 6Ability 3
- Level 7SoulYou gain +1 to Focus or Agility.
- Level 8Ultimate ability
Identity & lore
Class overview
Shannon studied the field as she idly leaned to avoid a bolt of magical fire. Kane and Mara were making a fighting retreat not too far away, the burly guardian ensuring the much smaller demon woman was safe while providing her the openings to harass the three enemies pressuring them. Behind the line of melee, Kaede was darting around a frustrated pyromancer, most of her attacks deflecting off hasty arcane barriers as she disrupted his attempts to bring his firepower to bear. Shannon’s own pistol weighed heavily in her hand but the enemy mage was out of range and she didn’t want to risk hitting her team by firing into the melee. And besides, her best contribution wasn’t necessarily to provide ranged fire support, but to be slightly removed from the battle to help guide it.
And suddenly, a moment. The enemy team’s highlander was screened by his teammates and was making an all or nothing push against Mara.
“Fall back!” she commanded, mana surging through her voice and the air to lend it that much more punch. Her fan snapped open and closed in a triple rhythm, carrying an equal amount of meaning to her order. Not a full retreat but a bait to break their ranks and counter attack.
“Kaede, you too!” The aggressive catgirl blinked and then darted away from the pyromancer she’d been hassling, ending up slightly behind the enemy front line. That confused them even more as they struggled to decide if breaking Shannon’s defensive formation was the play or to punish the now seemingly vulnerable Kaede. But before they could make up their mind, Kane and Mara suddenly planted their feet and turned, taking the chasing highlander by surprise as they re-engaged him.
“Now swing the hammer! Anvil formation!”
Kaede seemed to glide right through the staggered enemy frontline formation and slammed into the back of the highlander. The man went tumbling from her axe strike and didn’t get back up. Suddenly, the battlefield had reversed itself and the pressure had instantly shifted. The enemy confusedly reformed their battered front line and a fireball crashed into Kane’s shield to no seeming effect.
But that breath of a moment had allowed her team to recover their footing and bearings. It was time to end it.
“Secret Art: Shock and Awe!”
Energy swirled around Shannon as she snapped her fan shut and pointed it directly at the reeling enemy. “Take them!”
It was over seconds later and she barely heard the judge announce Team Shannon as the winners over the cheering crowd.
Tactical guidance
Playing Strategist
The strategist is a continuation of the tactician class and like it focuses on supporting their team.
Sound the retreat is limited in its use, but very useful if you do have to run away from an enemy you can't beat. Feigned retreat on the other hand is used for a temporary retreat, functioning like Order: Retreat but working on more than 1 ally. The free attack of opportunity is also nice and your allies can choose whether they want to make a light attack, or spend the 1 RP for a heavy one.
Anvil tactics is another ability that lets an ally make an attack of opportunity. If they can spare the RP, getting a heavy attack with lock on can be pretty valuable. Even without it, the low cost on anvil tactics still makes it worthwhile to use as long as you can guarantee the attack.
Wall Formation is for when you need to stand your ground, giving all allies next to eachother a noticeable increase to guard and block. Do be wary that this type of positioning may make you more vulnerable to AoE attacks.
Finally, your secret art: Shock & Awe is best used as soon as possible as long as your allies can use all the AP it gives to gain momentum.
