battles [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

battles [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mr. Master
04-28-06, 06:36 PM Even if I play with 3rd edition,I've appreciated Heroes of Battle and its way to handle battles.As a DM,I think that the adventure flowchart (such as those at page 25 or 26)it's very useful.Moreover,I agree with the manual and its deep core: players shouldn't focus on all the battle,but just on small and important missions.

However,I'd like very much to have my players do more than simple missions.
I've created some house rules with which my players can move regiments of heavy cavalry,longbowmen and spearmen in a way pretty similar to that of Warhammer.

Is there any official or demi-official d20 rule to handle battles in this way?
Seeker95
04-29-06, 12:02 PM From Google, use keywords "mass combat" d20 (with the quotes).
Plenty of resources. A free one can be found at Farland's Mass Combat (http://www.farlandcampaign.homestead.com/battle.html).
Novacat
04-29-06, 03:53 PM I had a rudimentary mass-combat system thought out, which I posted in a previous thread some time ago. I think it got eaten by Wizard's maintenance system, and I don't care to type it all out again.
The Colonel
04-29-06, 08:22 PM Alternatively, play it like a medieval battle and make sure that whoever is in command has only the most rudimentary control after they make their initial dispositions ... even if a medieval general lead from the rear there was usually little he could do but decide where and when to commit his reserves. Custom tended to dictate that he lead from the front - even to the extent that at Crecy the King of Bohemia lead a convoi into battle despite being almost completely blind.
Amaril
04-29-06, 10:11 PM Cry Havoc (http://www.montecook.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?mpress_Havoc) from Malhavoc Press is an entire book dedicated to mass combat rules.
Mr. Master
05-01-06, 08:56 AM Thanks a lot.

x Seeker95:
The Farland's Mass Combat System is very interesting. I've also read the Battle of King's Field and I've realized that is possible to use the Heroes of Battle's rules alongside the Farland's MCS very easily.

I'm now looking for the Cry Havoc manual.
Mr. Master
05-03-06, 05:48 PM I have got a good look at Cry Havoc and I find it quite interesting.

Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 are very good because,unless someone is already aware of what does war means for those who suffer from it,it gives a deep look into the war world.
Chapter 3 is very good,but those rules would make even the fastest DM go slow as a turtle.Uhm,well,probably it's just a matter of practice...
Chapter 4 is good.
Chapter 5 is good,apart from the War Spell feat (which is a good way to avoid taking the Cormyrian War Mage prestige class:who wants to have a 40ft radius fireball if you can have a 200ft radius one?And what does it matter if the casting time is 10times higher?In a battle,one minute is a good price to pay for such a poweful spell).
Chapter 6 is perhaps the best one,because it gives those rules that every DM wishes to have to handle battles in a quick and smart way.Moreover (I'm talking about Tactical Army Combat),this kind of mass combat system can be easily used alongside Heroes of Battle.
Chapter 7 is not so good as the Heroes of Battle one,but it offers other 3 prestige classes.
Chapter 8 is not so useful,if someone has Heroes of Battle.

In the end...I really don't know if I'm going to use Cry Havoc or the Farland's Mass Combat System! :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mr. Master 04-28-06, 06:36 PM	Even if I play with 3rd edition,I've appreciated Heroes of Battle and its way to handle battles.As a DM,I think that the adventure flowchart (such as those at page 25 or 26)it's very useful.Moreover,I agree with the manual and its deep core: players shouldn't focus on all the battle,but just on small and important missions. However,I'd like very much to have my players do more than simple missions. I've created some house rules with which my players can move regiments of heavy cavalry,longbowmen and spearmen in a way pretty similar to that of Warhammer. Is there any official or demi-official d20 rule to handle battles in this way?
Seeker95 04-29-06, 12:02 PM	From Google, use keywords "mass combat" d20 (with the quotes). Plenty of resources. A free one can be found at Farland's Mass Combat (http://www.farlandcampaign.homestead.com/battle.html).
Novacat 04-29-06, 03:53 PM	I had a rudimentary mass-combat system thought out, which I posted in a previous thread some time ago. I think it got eaten by Wizard's maintenance system, and I don't care to type it all out again.
The Colonel 04-29-06, 08:22 PM	Alternatively, play it like a medieval battle and make sure that whoever is in command has only the most rudimentary control after they make their initial dispositions ... even if a medieval general lead from the rear there was usually little he could do but decide where and when to commit his reserves. Custom tended to dictate that he lead from the front - even to the extent that at Crecy the King of Bohemia lead a convoi into battle despite being almost completely blind.
Amaril 04-29-06, 10:11 PM	Cry Havoc (http://www.montecook.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?mpress_Havoc) from Malhavoc Press is an entire book dedicated to mass combat rules.
Mr. Master 05-01-06, 08:56 AM	Thanks a lot. x Seeker95: The Farland's Mass Combat System is very interesting. I've also read the Battle of King's Field and I've realized that is possible to use the Heroes of Battle's rules alongside the Farland's MCS very easily. I'm now looking for the Cry Havoc manual.
Mr. Master 05-03-06, 05:48 PM	I have got a good look at Cry Havoc and I find it quite interesting. Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 are very good because,unless someone is already aware of what does war means for those who suffer from it,it gives a deep look into the war world. Chapter 3 is very good,but those rules would make even the fastest DM go slow as a turtle.Uhm,well,probably it's just a matter of practice... Chapter 4 is good. Chapter 5 is good,apart from the War Spell feat (which is a good way to avoid taking the Cormyrian War Mage prestige class:who wants to have a 40ft radius fireball if you can have a 200ft radius one?And what does it matter if the casting time is 10times higher?In a battle,one minute is a good price to pay for such a poweful spell). Chapter 6 is perhaps the best one,because it gives those rules that every DM wishes to have to handle battles in a quick and smart way.Moreover (I'm talking about Tactical Army Combat),this kind of mass combat system can be easily used alongside Heroes of Battle. Chapter 7 is not so good as the Heroes of Battle one,but it offers other 3 prestige classes. Chapter 8 is not so useful,if someone has Heroes of Battle. In the end...I really don't know if I'm going to use Cry Havoc or the Farland's Mass Combat System! :)