Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Drausktanchache 03-16-07, 09:21 PM	I've been writing a campaign up north, in the northern part of the island its temperature hits about -30 F, and the the south, as warm as, 10 F, I am planning to have a battle spark in this island, but I was wondering on what other DnD players/DMs think of the invasion forces, sizing and such. So far I'm not sure exactly what I shall use but so far it stands: (take note the forces are mixed races, trolls, dwarves, elves, humans, orcs...) Orc Army = 19 million Troll Army = 21 million Allied (everything other than trolls/orcs) = 12 million The allied forces are in control of this island, and the orcs and trolls both want it for their own uses, (it has a mith mine in the middle), so do you think I should weaken the forces, or leave them, or otherwise change them?
Lindwyrm 03-16-07, 09:33 PM	That's going to take some work to stop either, let alone both of the orc and troll armies stomping the allies flat. Also, with that description the island will be very heavily snowbound in the south, but ironically, it may be too cold to get much snow in the north... Personally, unless you expect the party to be able to play the orcs and trolls against each other, I'd weaken them to a little bit bigger than the allies, possibly to get a kind of three way stand off.
Drausktanchache 03-16-07, 09:36 PM	ultimately it is a 3-way standoff, the trolls are coming from the north, orcs from south, and allies not moving, orrs-trolls both want the land seperatley..i should have made that a little clearer...
Johnny_Angel 03-17-07, 01:28 AM	Well, the way I see it, the trolls and orcs are going to need a lot of supplies due to fighting in the cold. Since it's on an island, I imagine the supplies need to come via boat. Well, are the orcs and trolls naturally on the island or did they come from somewhere else?
taradusis 03-17-07, 08:30 AM	The problem with trolls and orcs is that they need a lot of fresh meat.Are there herds of caribou?Trolls also tend to form small matriarchal bands.The first major set back and you no longer have an army,more of an infestion that requires a class of troll hunting rangers to keep in check.The orcs will want to establish freeholds based around their tribes.Did the orcs bring their women and children?Consider what sort of seige weapons and spellcasters both sides might possess?RANDOM THOUGHTS
bloodtalon 03-17-07, 05:05 PM	here is one thing i saw on the discovery channel i think in 3 way duels the weakestr are like 90 % of the time the winner the 2 strongest take each other out and it makes sense why worry about an flee on your back when there is a wolf acroos the yard so the orc and trolls will batter themselves agaianst each other and then the human and thier allies mop up and int he typical world of D&D that is what happens evil beats evil or weakens it to a point where good can pervail
taradusis 03-17-07, 05:35 PM	Didn't I see this posted on another board?I thought that was a COC violation?
Drausktanchache 03-17-07, 08:23 PM	I might of posted it, didn't mean to though...but heres some more on it, some updates. 500k allied 750k orcs 500k trolls Trolls so far have come from the far noth, they actually have icebreakers. Trolls/orcs both have like 6 supply shipping lines. Allies have (8) Ten'kal Gate guards 45d6 HD +34 Base Attack Dispel Magic Immunity to Psionics These will be implimented in the final battle, which is about 300k allied, 275k orcs, and 200k trolls, as well as 11k troll+orc warships, to allied's 5k
taradusis 03-18-07, 08:49 AM	Concentrate on smaller military campaigns.Lets say the trolls march in groups of about 20.That would be 10,000 lbs of carnivore needing 400lbs of meat daily,maybe twice that if their fighting and marching.Troll tactics are simplistic smash and eat missions.I would think of things similar to warcraft missions,the trolls want to dig trollholes, the pcs want to rescue livestock and people.By concentrate on the smaller battles it will be managable.Pcs tend to make commando style raids anyhow.
Johnny_Angel 03-18-07, 06:00 PM	Personally, if I were one of the generals or leaders of the allied forces, these are the things I would consider: 1) Guerilla warfare - use hit and run tactics, harass and annoy the enemy; try to destroy the morale of the invading force. Historical examples of this would be the American Revolution, Vietnam, and Ninja clans in Japan. 2) Turn the invading forces against each other - have some of my troops paint their faces green/grey to look like orcs and attack the supply lines of the trolls. Deception and illusion aren't limited to rogues and wizards. I'm sure there are more, but those are the two that jump out at me right away.
Yakman 03-19-07, 04:01 PM	If it's cold, the numbers reduce dramatically--there's no local food, and everything needs to be imported. Soldiers eat a lot. Drop the numbers of all sides significantly. You also have to tweak the balance a lot--trolls are much more powerful than orcs and people, and will take them to town in open combat. Make fewer trolls and more orcs. Fewer allies as well--this is supposed to be really dramatic, so both the baddies should have at least three times as much firepower as the goodies. Also, get rid of the mega powerful guardians for the allies. Make this a real frontier battle--a few hundred guys deciding the fate of the world.
Drausktanchache 03-20-07, 12:28 AM	Those gate guards only defend a single city, and do not move more than 50ft from the gates... Thanks for the ideas.
Yakman 03-20-07, 11:09 AM	Still, they are super powerful--what are the PCs to do? You should really look at some of the crazy imperial action that occurred around the world and use that for a model--Black Hole of Calcutta, or Siege of Lucknow stuff. Yeah, there's a fort--but it was built poorly, and half of the defenses don't work. The weapons are rusted. There's only a few real defenders, and the fort is full of refugees from the mine. The trolls outside outnumber you 4 to 1. There are orcs out there who might land on the trolls at any time--and that's the only thing keeping the trolls from attacking. Thing is, there's even more orcs than trolls, so even if the orcs wipe the floor with the trolls, the defenders are still screwed. It's more epic if it's small--a few defenders, the PCs, lots of hungry mouths, a wooden stockade, hungry trolls at the gates, and what are you gonna do?