Bill Lumberg wrote:
Imagine a boxer's trainer giving him instructions between rounds. Some trainers simply tell him to keep using his jab because he had gotten away from utilizing it in the last round. Other trainers are incredibly animated and their instructions almost qualify as theatrical performances.
Once the next round starts, most trainers continue to yell instructions and encouragement. Often, their positions outside the ring give them the vantage point to see some things more readily that their fighters can. As a result, they shout out instructions that can get the fighter to change his approach and fight more effectively.
This is easily translated to a combat situation in a game. The bard several yards over from the rogue and can see an opportunity for the rogue to get into a flanking position and yells for him to do so. The rogue complies and now gets +2 on his attacks and sneak attack damage. Perhaps the bard also saw that the armor the rogue's foe wore was damaged on one side and that left him vulnerable to certain attacks.
The bard then yells encouragement to the wizard, reminding him that he has set entire villages aflame with his mere will. This inspires greater performance from the wizard. Conversely, this demoralizes the good guys who realize they are doomed and they flee the field. Evil wins!
Evil wins?
