Draw Steel skill
Lead
Lead is a skill in Draw Steel: Rallying and directing people so a crowd, crew, or squad acts together under pressure.
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Key facts
- Characteristic
- Presence
Overview
Lead is command in the moment: getting panicked villagers to form a bucket line, holding a militia in position while the party flanks, giving a broken crew one clear order they will follow. It is a Presence skill because people obey conviction before they obey rank. It comes up in evacuations, sieges, mutinies, and any scene where the party has allies who need to be organized rather than convinced.
How it works
Characteristic: Presence. Skill group: Presence skills. Test: 2d10 + Presence; 11 or lower is tier 1, 12 to 16 tier 2, 17 or higher tier 3. Training grants a benefit and unlocks attempts untrained heroes cannot make. How it is used: Tier 3 gets willing, coordinated action that holds. Tier 2 gets partial compliance or obedience that fades under strain. Tier 1 fails, and hesitation or open argument costs the party time. Edges and banes: Real authority, a shared goal, or a visible act of courage grants an edge (+2). Commanding strangers, giving an order that risks their lives for your gain, or speaking after a public failure imposes a bane (-2).
Tips and playstyle
Best for: Tacticians and any hero who wants the party's allies to be an asset rather than scenery. Character concepts: Aristocrat career officer, Gladiator captain of a fighting troupe, martial upbringing. Synergies: Tactics for the plan the order carries out, Persuade when people need reasons first, Brag to build the reputation that makes orders land.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Lead on other heroes?
No. Other players decide what their heroes do. Lead directs NPCs and groups the Director controls.
Does Lead help in combat?
It organizes allied NPCs and can set up a scene, but it does not replace class abilities that grant bonuses to heroes.