Editing User:HarveyPekar/Differences between Tactician and Balanced

'''Tactician difficulty,''' as a harder [[difficulty]] option, carries with it many differences gameplay. Chief among these are enhanced statistics and abilities for [[creatures]]. These can be increased [[ability scores]], new [[Passive feature|passives]], permanently applied [[conditions]], or even new or improved [[actions]]. This is a list of all such noted differences.

== Flat bonuses ==
These are clearly defined changes that are implemented across races of creatures, subsets within those races, or upon individual creatures. For any entity that gains a new or modified action, the game must be on Tactician difficulty before combat is initiated in order for the change to take effect.

=== Racial bonuses ===
These are bonuses implemented to every member of a specific playable or [[:Category:Non-playable races|non-playable race]]. Some specific creatures or characters encountered within those races may gain additional bonuses, as detailed later.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Racial Bonuses on Tactician
!Race
!Bonuses
|-
|[[Intellect Devourer|Intellect Devourers]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Synaptic Discharge}}}}
|-
|[[Phase spiders]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{Ability|Strength|24}} '''+1'''
* {{Ability|Dexterity|24}} '''+1'''}}
|-
|[[Goblins]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Fury of the Small}}}}
|-
|[[Ogres]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{Ability|Strength|24}} '''+1'''}}
|-
|[[Bugbear|Bugbears]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Savage Attacker}}}}
|-
|[[Githyanki]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Psionic Empowerment}}{{Note|Gith that already had this ability on Balanced or Explorer, such as [[Kith'rak Voss]], retain the ability. Playable gith such as [[Lae'zel]] do not gain this ability.}}}}
|-
|[[Minotaur|Minotaurs]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Savage Attacker}}
* {{SAI|Brutal Critical}}}}
|-
|[[Kobolds]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{Ability|Dexterity|24}} '''+2'''
* {{SAI|Evasion}}}}
|-
|[[Merregon]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Sentinel: Vengeance}}
* {{SAI|Sentinel: Opportunity Advantage}}
* {{SAI|Sentinel: Snare}}}}
|-
|[[Meenlocks]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{Ability|Dexterity|24}} '''+1'''
* {{Ability|Constitution|24}} '''+4'''}}
|-
|[[Death Shepherd|Death Shepherds]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|No Rest for the Wicked}} revives targets with full HP}}
|-
|[[Dark Justiciar|Dark Justiciars]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{Cond|Radiant Retort}}}}
|}
=== Creature and archetype bonuses ===
Some bonuses are applied to subsets of creatures within a race. This can include named NPC's, as long as the group they belong to can be easily generalized. For example, githyanki NPC's who wield a crossbow and have the "Raider" title {{-}} even if their name is Hi'so'ka or Ki'llua {{-}} in [[Act One]] can expect to get the same Tactician bonuses. These apply in addition to any other racial or individual bonuses.
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Group Bonuses on Tactician
|-
!Group
!Bonuses
|-
|[[Githyanki raider|Githyanki Raider]] (Level 5)
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Archery}}}}
|-
|[[Githyanki gish]] (Level 5)
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|War Caster: Concentration}}
* {{SAI|War Caster: Opportunity Spell}}}}
|-
|[[Githyanki warrior]] (Level 5)
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Great Weapon Fighting}}}}
|-
|[[Githyanki ardent]] (Level 5)
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Potent Cantrip}}}}
|-
|[[Redcap Blood Sage]]{{Note|Including [[BOOOAL]]}}
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{Ability|Wisdom}} '''+3'''
* {{SAI|War Caster: Concentration}}}}
|-
|[[Agile Guardian]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Colossus Slayer}}}}
|-
|[[Robust Guardian]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Improved Critical Hit}}}}
|-
|[[Mimic]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{Resistance|Bludgeoning|resistant}}{{Resistance|Piercing|resistant}}{{Resistance|Slashing|resistant}}}}
|-
|[[Shadow-Cursed Vine Blight]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Tanglevine Form}}}}
|-
|[[Shadow-Cursed Shambling Mound]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Tanglevine Form}}
* {{SAI|Magic Resistance}}}}
|-
|[[Shadow-Cursed Raven]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Pack Tactics}}
* {{SAI|Evasion}}
* {{SAI|Dazzling Blows}}}}
|-
|Zealot of the Absolute
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Relentless Avenger}}}}
|-
|[[Adept|Adept of the Absolute]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|War God's Blessing}}}}
|-
|[[Undead Nurse]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Permanently Armed}}}}
|-
|[[Cursed Kuo-Toa]] (and [[Cursed Kuo-Toa Chief|Chief]])
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Rend With White Lightning}}}}
|}
=== Unique individual bonuses ===
For any uniquely-occurring creature or NPC that gets their own bonuses. If a named NPC doesn't neatly fit into a generic group, as described above, they'll be included here.

==== Act One ====
For any entity first encountered in Act One:
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Individual Bonuses on Tactician
|-
!NPC
!Bonuses
|-
|[[Commander Zhalk]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Extra Attack}}
* {{SAI|Opportunity Attack}}}}
|-
|[[Gandrel]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Scar of the Dunes}}}}
|-
|[[Hyena]]{{Note|Found on [[The Risen Road]] at {{coords|9|522}}}}
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Alert}} and additional '''+4 initiative''', for a total '''+9 Initiative bonus'''}}
|-
|[[Dror Ragzlin]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Extra Attack}}}}
|-
|[[Buthir]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Buthir's Wrath}} provides {{Resistance|Bludgeoning|resistant}}{{Resistance|Piercing|resistant}}{{Resistance|Slashing|resistant}}}}
|-
|[[Sarth Baretha]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Great Weapon Master: All In}}
* {{SAI|Great Weapon Master: Bonus Attack}}
* {{SAI|Great Weapon Fighting}}}}
|-
|[[Kith'rak Voss]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
*{{Ability|Strength|24}} '''+2'''
* {{Ability|Dexterity|24}} '''+1'''}}
|-
|[[Bulette]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{Resistance|Bludgeoning|resistant}}{{Resistance|Piercing|resistant}}{{Resistance|Slashing|resistant}}{{Resistance|Acid|double}}}}
|-
|[[Bernard]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{Ability|Strength|24}} '''+2'''
* {{SAI|Alert}}
* {{SAI|Magical Plate (-1)|Magical Plate}}
* Supported by two additional [[Animated Armour|Animated Armours]]}}
|-
|[[Ancient Giant Eagle]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{Ability|Strength|24}} '''+2'''
* {{Ability|Wisdom|24}} '''+2'''
* {{SAI|Signalling Cry}} summons 5 [[Giant Eagle|Giant Eagles]], instead of 3}}
|-
|[[Kith'rak Therezzyn]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|War Caster: Concentration}}
* {{SAI|War Caster: Opportunity Spell}}}}
|-
|[[Ur'uth]] and [[D'hak]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Extra Attack}}}}
|-
|[[Varsh Ko'kuu]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* Affected by {{SAI|Mage Armour}}
* {{SAI|Crossbow Expert: Point-Blank}}
* {{SAI|Crossbow Expert: Wounding}}}}
|-
|[[Sa'varsh Kethk]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Archery}}}}
|-
|[[Ghustil Stornugoss]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* Affected by {{SAI|Mage Armour}}}}
|}

==== Act Two ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Individual Bonuses on Tactician
|-
!NPC
!Bonuses
|-
|
[[The Warden]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Colossus Slayer}}
* {{SAI|Escape the Horde}}}}
|-
|[[Kar'niss]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Cull the Weak (Drider)|Cull the Weak}}}}
|-
|[[Gerringothe Thorm]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{Cond|Legendary Resistance: Incapacitation}}}}
|-
|[[Giant Shadow Creeper]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Needlestorm}}}}
|-
|[[Intelligent Sentinel]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Grim Harvest}}
* {{SAI|Potent Cantrip}}}}
|-
|[[Charismatic Sentinel]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Divine Health}}
* {{SAI|Relentless Avenger}}}}
|-
|[[Malus Thorm]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{Cond|Legendary Resistance: Incapacitation}}}}
|-
|[[Balthazar]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{Cond|Legendary Resistance}}
* {{SAI|Magic Resistance}}}}
|-
|[[Yurgir]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Alert}}
* {{SAI|Extra Attack}}}}
|-
|[[Lyrthindor]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{Ability|Wisdom|24}} '''+2'''
* {{Cond|Legendary Resistance}}
* {{Cond|Freedom of Movement}}}}
|}

==== Act Three ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Individual Bonuses on Tactician
|-
!NPC
!Bonuses
|-
|[[Viconia DeVir]]
|{{Unbulleted list|
* {{SAI|Sentinel: Vengeance}}
* {{SAI|Sentinel: Opportunity Advantage}}
* {{SAI|Sentinel: Snare}}
* {{SAI|Protection}}
* {{SAI|Tenacity (passive feature)|Tenacity}}}}
|-
|
|
|}

* Houndmaster Pol, Zina, Rocky, and Gordis: Hunter's Camouflage. The dogs also get Evasion.

=== Exception(s) ===
The enemies in one specific encounter, the goblin raiding party at the [[Druid Grove]] gate, are exempt from buffs. The goblins, led by [[Za'Krug]], and the [[bugbear]] are missing the passive bonuses that are found elsewhere on otherwise identical creatures on Tactician. They retain the Tactician HP bonus.

== Variable increases ==
These are changes that are implemented to varying degrees across creatures in the game.

=== Health ===
NPC hit points are generally increased by 30%, or close to 30%, with some exceptions. These exceptions include but are not limited to:

* Creatures with >30% hit point difference, i.e. [[Grym]] and [[Oathbreaker Knight]].
* Creatures with unchanged hit points, i.e. [[Marcus]].

== Footnotes ==
{{notebegin}}
<references group="note" />
{{noteend}}{{Noteend}}