Hey there. I run a ROTRL game for my students as an afterschool activity. As they are new to the game, I use alot of miniatures and maps so the game is viseral and easier for them to grasp and get into.
Lately I decided that it was time to add some more cerebral touches to our game. I just issued some plot twist cards and the kids seem excited about that. Also, I told them that we would be using new skills to enhance the variety of their tactics.
Metamagic skill is not new on this forum, but I though I would share what I was planning to do. There are so many neat MM feats and so few feat slots that few if any gamers that I know have ever really used them. If they didn't cost anything we would use them more often. Here's what I have decided to try:
Use the spellcraft skill + the metamagic cost + double the level of the spell. The base DC is 15 for 0 level spells. So to Still spell a MM would have a DC of 18 ( base 15+1+2) and a Maximized Meteor Swarm would have a DC of 36 (Base 15+3+18). Failure to meet the DC would result in loss of the spell. A spectacular failure may result in a magical backlash or wild magic roll ( really haven't decided on that yet). This metamagic skill is usable a number of times per day equal to the con modifier of the magic user in question (minimum of 1 use per day). The limit of Meta magic on any one particular spell is equal to the caster's relevant ability score (e.g. INT for wizards.)
Now For the martial classes I plan to use Battle Sense, which is modified by the character's intelligence score(very similiar to the skill found in Star Wars D20 -not sure of the edition). This skill would be useable as a free action once per round (unless they use their free actiont to do something else) to improve some aspect of their combat ability.The Base DC is 15, which yeilds a +1 competence bonus which could be put towards any one of the following: BAB,Damage, AC, initiative,CMD or CMB. For every DC increase of +5, the bonus granted would increase by 1. So trying for a bonus of +5 would yeild a Battle Sense DC of 35. Failure indicates a -2 to the chosen battle attribute to represent various miscalculations.
I see Battle sense as a class skill for all martial characters.
Mult-class characters could end up with both skills, but could only put points into one or the other per level (though I am sure someone will point out exceptions).
Character classes which are a little magic and a little martial (you know who you are) would chose upon character creation which of these skills you would specialize in. ( I am sure someone will complain about not being able to take both).
I also see SOME monsters being able to do these things, but not all. No unintelligent or non martial undead would have battle sense, but spectres of warriors or grave knights could have it. Likewise, every Lich worth his phylactery will use Metamagic at least once a day (should the ability be based off of Charisma for these... well what do you think?). Other races or creatures would use them on a case by case basis depending on the creature. Some Balors may prefer magic, others battle sense, spell weavers would most definately use metamagic even though they have low Con scores. We could easily develop a feat that increases their bonus by 1 or maybe races steeped in magic could use it based on another stat (again, let me know what you think).
So, like it or hate it, that is pretty much what we are going to use for the campaign. I'll let you know how it plays out.