Large Scale Warfare! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Large Scale Warfare! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Fredegar The White
12-04-03, 01:44 PM Have you ever conducted or played in such a battle? A battle with two opposing forces stratigically placed on the battlefield? How did it affect the FR regions you played them in? On which side were the PCs?

--------------------------------------------------------------

For the conclusion of my Howling Winter campaign in the Dalelands i led my PC's through a series of adventures (me thinks it was 10. Some 15 sessions anyway) leading up to a Drow attack on Mistledale the 2nd of Nightall 1372dr. The forces were

1. a) Drow outcasts from Maermyrdra (after the battle we started City Of The Spider Queen).
b) The Bloodfist Orc and Goblin horde.
c) Some stone giants (10 to be exact).

2. a) Mistledale militia and Riders of Ashabenford.
b) 50 Cormyrean cavalry.
c) Approximately 80 adventurers of middle to low level
d) a small elven community of about 40 people
e) the PCs 10th level all

It was about 2/1 in favor of the orcs. The good guys won but the casualties were many. I made a kind of system depending on the creature/character CR to determine the casualties i.e. when goblins fought the Cormyrean guard they lost 10 goblins for one knight or something like that. I have lost my notes and cannot give you the exact system.

After the battle and for a long time i stopped considerable services in Mistledale because of the casualties and my PCs had to leave for Shadowdale and Daggerdale for some time because they couldn't find new weapons or armourers i intend to bring the dale to it's former state in mid Spring 1373dr.

How 'bout it? You done something like that?

Thanks!
Lashan
12-04-03, 06:30 PM I have never done this before, but I have been very interested in it. There are two current sourcebooks about this type of a game.

Cry Havoc! (http://www.montecook.com/mpress_Havoc.html), which is from the great people at Malhavoc Press. It is out now and is getting lots of great reviews. It is heavily based on the d20 rules for it's system. You can read a lot of reviews on it online.

Fields of Blood: The Book of War (https://edenstudios.safeserver.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=ESOS&Product_Code=EDN7005&Category_Code=d20) is available for pre-order. It has long been delayed and I have been waiting for over a year for it. Many have claimed it to be vaporware, but it seems on the verge of public release.

Both of these books have rules on how to have a battle, but they also talk about how a war effects your game world. I look forward to using a war in a game sometime soon.
Fredegar The White
12-05-03, 12:57 AM You see! I didn't know that? I will definately check them out! thanks a bunch man!
Lashan
12-05-03, 04:00 PM If you get Fields of Blood, definatly let me know. I've been really eagerly awaiting that one. If I don't hear something soon, then I might have to get Cry Havoc! without seeing the competition.

I do know that Monte Cook is a great game designer, so his product will be worth the money.
Crust
12-05-03, 11:15 PM I've recently DMed two large-scale battles set in the Dales. One was in Shadowdale involving goblins, orcs, bugbears, ogres, ettins, hill giants, manticores, wyverns, various undead, and a pair of red dragons, all under the thrall of a trio of phaerimm epic sorcerers (who are all working in conjunction with Vlaakith, githyanki lich-queen). The PCs were amongst the human and elven defenders, alongside various Knights of Myth Drannor, Dove Falconhand, Sylune's ghost, and a number of other house NPCs. Shadowdale hippogriff riders defended the skies, and one climactic moment had the party's elven wizard (16th level at the time) trading spells with a phaerimm sorcerer (ultimately leading to that wizard’s death in 2 frantic rounds).

This was the precursor to the initial githyanki invasion that eventually overwhelmed the northern Dales, leaving Dagger Falls overrun by the githyanki, providing the githyanki a formidable foothold on the Dales in the form of Castle Daggerdale. Though the orcs and phaerimm were turned back at the Tower of Ashaba (largely due to the PCs, of course), the githyanki are now a threat to the Heartlands due to their strategic taking of the northern Dales.

The PCs (through stealth and a lightning-quick attack against the entrenched githyanki and cooperating Zhent forces in Dagger Falls) were able to retake Dagger Falls.

That act incited a counter attack by a massive force of orcs, giants, orges, and manticores, followed by magical gates opening, each of which belched forth Astral skiffs and raiders containing several hundred githyanki shock troopers, assassins, necromancers, blackguards, a host of undead (mostly ghasts, wights and mummies), and several stone and iron golems. This force was reinforced with an ancient red dragon. Dagger Falls was (through the intervention of the PCs and their NPC mentors) reinforced with several scores of elven marksmen (bow specialists, arcane archers, etc.), wizards, rangers, and several hundred quaggoth barbarians (including their monstrous chieftain). Hippogriff riders from Shadowdale reinforced the ground troops, while a trio of silver dragons joined against the red dragon. That was a truly epic battle, as the permanently enlarged barbarian PC raged like a mighty berserker, slaying enemies in such numbers that foes actively avoided him. He was like a god-king on the battlefield.

Once Randal Morn is rescued from the mines of the Tethyamir (sp?), the PCs will lead an assault on Castle Daggerdale. That scenario will likely be played after I've seen Return of the King, and I imagine inspiration will flow like a river during that magnificent siege. I can't wait.
Ranger REG
12-06-03, 01:39 AM Originally posted by Lashan

If you get Fields of Blood, definatly let me know. I've been really eagerly awaiting that one. If I don't hear something soon, then I might have to get Cry Havoc! without seeing the competition.

I do know that Monte Cook is a great game designer, so his product will be worth the money.
If you are referring to Cry Havoc! the author is Skip "The Sage" Williams. The book is printed under Monte Cook's Malhavoc Press label.
ender
12-13-03, 07:09 PM Recently my party innocently tried to go through Thunder Pass, having no idea that the pass is now a fortress occupied by hundreds of ogres and orcs ruled by the Storm King. Naturally they sallied forth with fireballs blazing until the orcs streamed out of their caverns and started pounding on the ground with their spears (Helm's Deep style), at which point they wisely ran away like King Arthur on speed.

Soon they will be returning to their home base, Highmoon, to find that the Storm King blames the entire dale for the incident and is marching on the city in full force. I have not played this yet but am very excited about it.

The forces consist of 600 orcs (archers, pikemen, infantry, and worg riders), 50 ogres, 10 hill giants, the Storm King himself, and the troubled young dragon Thraxata from the Bloodhorn. The pcs will control the Highmoon Muster, consisting of 140 elven archers, 70 elven spearmen, the 30 Swords of Deepingdale, a handful of sorcerers, some clerics from the Leaves of Learning and Corellon's Grove, and a few scouts and Harpers. The numbers are clearly lopsided, although the defenders are all better trained, better equipped, and have the advantage of defense.
Lashan
12-14-03, 12:41 PM That does sound pretty cool! Have fun with it!

I think I will have to create some sort of problem in my home game.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Fredegar The White 12-04-03, 01:44 PM	Have you ever conducted or played in such a battle? A battle with two opposing forces stratigically placed on the battlefield? How did it affect the FR regions you played them in? On which side were the PCs? -------------------------------------------------------------- For the conclusion of my Howling Winter campaign in the Dalelands i led my PC's through a series of adventures (me thinks it was 10. Some 15 sessions anyway) leading up to a Drow attack on Mistledale the 2nd of Nightall 1372dr. The forces were 1. a) Drow outcasts from Maermyrdra (after the battle we started City Of The Spider Queen). b) The Bloodfist Orc and Goblin horde. c) Some stone giants (10 to be exact). 2. a) Mistledale militia and Riders of Ashabenford. b) 50 Cormyrean cavalry. c) Approximately 80 adventurers of middle to low level d) a small elven community of about 40 people e) the PCs 10th level all It was about 2/1 in favor of the orcs. The good guys won but the casualties were many. I made a kind of system depending on the creature/character CR to determine the casualties i.e. when goblins fought the Cormyrean guard they lost 10 goblins for one knight or something like that. I have lost my notes and cannot give you the exact system. After the battle and for a long time i stopped considerable services in Mistledale because of the casualties and my PCs had to leave for Shadowdale and Daggerdale for some time because they couldn't find new weapons or armourers i intend to bring the dale to it's former state in mid Spring 1373dr. How 'bout it? You done something like that? Thanks!
Lashan 12-04-03, 06:30 PM	I have never done this before, but I have been very interested in it. There are two current sourcebooks about this type of a game. Cry Havoc! (http://www.montecook.com/mpress_Havoc.html), which is from the great people at Malhavoc Press. It is out now and is getting lots of great reviews. It is heavily based on the d20 rules for it's system. You can read a lot of reviews on it online. Fields of Blood: The Book of War (https://edenstudios.safeserver.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=ESOS&Product_Code=EDN7005&Category_Code=d20) is available for pre-order. It has long been delayed and I have been waiting for over a year for it. Many have claimed it to be vaporware, but it seems on the verge of public release. Both of these books have rules on how to have a battle, but they also talk about how a war effects your game world. I look forward to using a war in a game sometime soon.
Fredegar The White 12-05-03, 12:57 AM	You see! I didn't know that? I will definately check them out! thanks a bunch man!
Lashan 12-05-03, 04:00 PM	If you get Fields of Blood, definatly let me know. I've been really eagerly awaiting that one. If I don't hear something soon, then I might have to get Cry Havoc! without seeing the competition. I do know that Monte Cook is a great game designer, so his product will be worth the money.
Crust 12-05-03, 11:15 PM	I've recently DMed two large-scale battles set in the Dales. One was in Shadowdale involving goblins, orcs, bugbears, ogres, ettins, hill giants, manticores, wyverns, various undead, and a pair of red dragons, all under the thrall of a trio of phaerimm epic sorcerers (who are all working in conjunction with Vlaakith, githyanki lich-queen). The PCs were amongst the human and elven defenders, alongside various Knights of Myth Drannor, Dove Falconhand, Sylune's ghost, and a number of other house NPCs. Shadowdale hippogriff riders defended the skies, and one climactic moment had the party's elven wizard (16th level at the time) trading spells with a phaerimm sorcerer (ultimately leading to that wizard’s death in 2 frantic rounds). This was the precursor to the initial githyanki invasion that eventually overwhelmed the northern Dales, leaving Dagger Falls overrun by the githyanki, providing the githyanki a formidable foothold on the Dales in the form of Castle Daggerdale. Though the orcs and phaerimm were turned back at the Tower of Ashaba (largely due to the PCs, of course), the githyanki are now a threat to the Heartlands due to their strategic taking of the northern Dales. The PCs (through stealth and a lightning-quick attack against the entrenched githyanki and cooperating Zhent forces in Dagger Falls) were able to retake Dagger Falls. That act incited a counter attack by a massive force of orcs, giants, orges, and manticores, followed by magical gates opening, each of which belched forth Astral skiffs and raiders containing several hundred githyanki shock troopers, assassins, necromancers, blackguards, a host of undead (mostly ghasts, wights and mummies), and several stone and iron golems. This force was reinforced with an ancient red dragon. Dagger Falls was (through the intervention of the PCs and their NPC mentors) reinforced with several scores of elven marksmen (bow specialists, arcane archers, etc.), wizards, rangers, and several hundred quaggoth barbarians (including their monstrous chieftain). Hippogriff riders from Shadowdale reinforced the ground troops, while a trio of silver dragons joined against the red dragon. That was a truly epic battle, as the permanently enlarged barbarian PC raged like a mighty berserker, slaying enemies in such numbers that foes actively avoided him. He was like a god-king on the battlefield. Once Randal Morn is rescued from the mines of the Tethyamir (sp?), the PCs will lead an assault on Castle Daggerdale. That scenario will likely be played after I've seen Return of the King, and I imagine inspiration will flow like a river during that magnificent siege. I can't wait.
Ranger REG 12-06-03, 01:39 AM	Originally posted by Lashan If you get Fields of Blood, definatly let me know. I've been really eagerly awaiting that one. If I don't hear something soon, then I might have to get Cry Havoc! without seeing the competition. I do know that Monte Cook is a great game designer, so his product will be worth the money. If you are referring to Cry Havoc! the author is Skip "The Sage" Williams. The book is printed under Monte Cook's Malhavoc Press label.
ender 12-13-03, 07:09 PM	Recently my party innocently tried to go through Thunder Pass, having no idea that the pass is now a fortress occupied by hundreds of ogres and orcs ruled by the Storm King. Naturally they sallied forth with fireballs blazing until the orcs streamed out of their caverns and started pounding on the ground with their spears (Helm's Deep style), at which point they wisely ran away like King Arthur on speed. Soon they will be returning to their home base, Highmoon, to find that the Storm King blames the entire dale for the incident and is marching on the city in full force. I have not played this yet but am very excited about it. The forces consist of 600 orcs (archers, pikemen, infantry, and worg riders), 50 ogres, 10 hill giants, the Storm King himself, and the troubled young dragon Thraxata from the Bloodhorn. The pcs will control the Highmoon Muster, consisting of 140 elven archers, 70 elven spearmen, the 30 Swords of Deepingdale, a handful of sorcerers, some clerics from the Leaves of Learning and Corellon's Grove, and a few scouts and Harpers. The numbers are clearly lopsided, although the defenders are all better trained, better equipped, and have the advantage of defense.
Lashan 12-14-03, 12:41 PM	That does sound pretty cool! Have fun with it! I think I will have to create some sort of problem in my home game.