Caravan defenses [Archive] - Wizards Community

Caravan defenses [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
PurinaDragonChow
03-05-07, 06:09 PM My group is going to have to rescue a captive from a slaver caravan. I'm trying to design the caravan's defenses. I'd appreciate any thoughts any of you might have.

It's about a CR of 10, could go a little higher.
mike_beavers
03-05-07, 06:30 PM Depends on how big the caravan is too be and how many captives they have. General rule would be a layered defense with scouts riding along the outside, beefier guys as the second line and the main npcs as the final line.

night defenses would include trip wires with some sort of noise makers. alarm spells are good. The slaves chained together with manacles will limit movement.
Templar3378
03-06-07, 10:42 AM Depending on how paranoid your slavers, are you could do something like what happened to our group:

We attacked a caravan in route to its destination, attempting to retrieve an item. Well, first there was an illusion up that masked the actual location of the guards. for example, the illusion had the guards up in front, while they were really back farther disguised as the slaves next to the caravan. This messed us up badly, as we fireballed the guards, only to have them basically miss by a mile.

Invisible scouts or at least very well camoflauged scouts, and if the slavers figure out where they are coming from waiting on them, split the forces. for example, in ours, when they located us, we ended up having to go and chase the second wagon down after dealing with the absurd defenses on the first one.
Lode
03-06-07, 10:51 AM Ranged units on the perimeter, heavies behind them prepared to charge anything that gets too close, and spellcasters nearest the caravan. Use this formation on either side of the caravan and throw in outriders to scout ahead.
Knute
03-11-07, 12:25 AM You big decision I think is... are they defended properly or profitably?

I'd imagine an Ideal defense and then try to do it on the cheap. You have to figure that caravans must turn a profit to continue.

DMs can be way too hard on players when they look for Ideal set ups for something that would have very practical limitations.

You cant spend 1000 gld protecting a caravan with a real expectation of 500 gld profit.

Sigurd
taradusis
03-11-07, 12:57 PM A few horse archers from a nomadic tribe tend to be cost effective.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
PurinaDragonChow 03-05-07, 06:09 PM	My group is going to have to rescue a captive from a slaver caravan. I'm trying to design the caravan's defenses. I'd appreciate any thoughts any of you might have. It's about a CR of 10, could go a little higher.
mike_beavers 03-05-07, 06:30 PM	Depends on how big the caravan is too be and how many captives they have. General rule would be a layered defense with scouts riding along the outside, beefier guys as the second line and the main npcs as the final line. night defenses would include trip wires with some sort of noise makers. alarm spells are good. The slaves chained together with manacles will limit movement.
Templar3378 03-06-07, 10:42 AM	Depending on how paranoid your slavers, are you could do something like what happened to our group: We attacked a caravan in route to its destination, attempting to retrieve an item. Well, first there was an illusion up that masked the actual location of the guards. for example, the illusion had the guards up in front, while they were really back farther disguised as the slaves next to the caravan. This messed us up badly, as we fireballed the guards, only to have them basically miss by a mile. Invisible scouts or at least very well camoflauged scouts, and if the slavers figure out where they are coming from waiting on them, split the forces. for example, in ours, when they located us, we ended up having to go and chase the second wagon down after dealing with the absurd defenses on the first one.
Lode 03-06-07, 10:51 AM	Ranged units on the perimeter, heavies behind them prepared to charge anything that gets too close, and spellcasters nearest the caravan. Use this formation on either side of the caravan and throw in outriders to scout ahead.
Knute 03-11-07, 12:25 AM	You big decision I think is... are they defended properly or profitably? I'd imagine an Ideal defense and then try to do it on the cheap. You have to figure that caravans must turn a profit to continue. DMs can be way too hard on players when they look for Ideal set ups for something that would have very practical limitations. You cant spend 1000 gld protecting a caravan with a real expectation of 500 gld profit. Sigurd
taradusis 03-11-07, 12:57 PM	A few horse archers from a nomadic tribe tend to be cost effective.