Large Scale Combat Help! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Large Scale Combat Help!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Guiltl3ss
Feb 16, 2009 14:06:09 I want to run a section of my Campaign as a large scale combat. I remember being run through one once in Savage Worlds, so I thought it would be fun, but I have yet to find source material on the subject. I want a large scale conflict to be happening, but each Player is in command of a small band of troops, or a regiment, or something. Like a captain. And through some dice rolls relating to their classes/skills and what theyre trying to accomplish, I want them to influence the battle itself. Is there such rules or would this better be suited to the Homebrew rules?

Thanks!
#2
Rhineglade_
Feb 16, 2009 19:36:41 I'm pretty sure that TSR (Wizards of the Coast predecessor) had some massive battle rules.

However you can also look at the OOP "Birthright" box set which dealt with major battles.

Even better yet are the concepts in the "Warhammer" line by Games Workshop. They assign "points" values to every figure in the army from Common Units to Special Units to Rare Units including Lords and Heroes. Each "side" of the war is allow to "spend" a specific number of points which certain limitations on the number of Rares, Lords, Heroes and Special units.

Lots of fun actually though the exceptionally HIGH cost is generally prohibitive to the average person. You could perhaps take their rule book though and incorporate ideas into a battle of your own design.
#3
Guiltl3ss
Feb 16, 2009 19:56:49 Thanks! Ill look into that. I found a copy of the DnD Rules Cyclopedia and it has SO much information it's ridiculous! Warhammer, will have to.
#4
senorocho
Feb 18, 2009 6:07:10 You could also try statting up each unit/regiment as if it were a single D&D monster. Still requires some fiddling with the rules, but it seems like it would work rather well.
#5
DragonsWrath
Feb 19, 2009 21:29:36 One idea I've heard (that I personally like) is to treat a group of enemies as a single unit, but give them bonuses for working together.

For example, a group of archers collectively fire an AoE shot.
A group of 9 archers fire a 3x3 area of effect shot as their turn. They get +1 to hit and +1 damage for each archer in the group. This way, the players can tactically damage units to weaken them, and other units can re-group to get more bonuses.

I'd do this with minions, or perhaps 2-hit minions for best results.

For truly epic battles, treat each platoon (group, whatever; I'm horrible at military terms) as a single unit. Base their damage on how healthy they are (perhaps on a 10-point scale. A half-dead unit only deals +5 damage).

Again, this lets tactics get involved by damaging a force to the point of futility, without actually requiring you to take out the unit entirely. The weakened units can still regroup and recover their strength.
#6
Guiltl3ss
Feb 28, 2009 19:23:38 Hm, thats a good idea. I could use that when scaling down the combat to the PC level for sure. Thanks!
#7
Authw8
Mar 01, 2009 15:44:45 The 3.5 source book Heroes of Battle has some nice stuff in it, much of which applies easily to 4e. This book focuses more on having the PCs act as a unit in a battlefield, though, so it might not be what you're looking for.

The HoB approach to mass combat is to treat the battlefield as a series of potential encounters. For beating encounters, PCs earn Victory Points. The success of the army is determined in part by how many VP the PCs rack up.
#8
Guiltl3ss
Mar 03, 2009 13:31:57 Most exellent! Thank you very much.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Guiltl3ss Feb 16, 2009 14:06:09	I want to run a section of my Campaign as a large scale combat. I remember being run through one once in Savage Worlds, so I thought it would be fun, but I have yet to find source material on the subject. I want a large scale conflict to be happening, but each Player is in command of a small band of troops, or a regiment, or something. Like a captain. And through some dice rolls relating to their classes/skills and what theyre trying to accomplish, I want them to influence the battle itself. Is there such rules or would this better be suited to the Homebrew rules? Thanks!
#2 Rhineglade_ Feb 16, 2009 19:36:41	I'm pretty sure that TSR (Wizards of the Coast predecessor) had some massive battle rules. However you can also look at the OOP "Birthright" box set which dealt with major battles. Even better yet are the concepts in the "Warhammer" line by Games Workshop. They assign "points" values to every figure in the army from Common Units to Special Units to Rare Units including Lords and Heroes. Each "side" of the war is allow to "spend" a specific number of points which certain limitations on the number of Rares, Lords, Heroes and Special units. Lots of fun actually though the exceptionally HIGH cost is generally prohibitive to the average person. You could perhaps take their rule book though and incorporate ideas into a battle of your own design.
#3 Guiltl3ss Feb 16, 2009 19:56:49	Thanks! Ill look into that. I found a copy of the DnD Rules Cyclopedia and it has SO much information it's ridiculous! Warhammer, will have to.
#4 senorocho Feb 18, 2009 6:07:10	You could also try statting up each unit/regiment as if it were a single D&D monster. Still requires some fiddling with the rules, but it seems like it would work rather well.
#5 DragonsWrath Feb 19, 2009 21:29:36	One idea I've heard (that I personally like) is to treat a group of enemies as a single unit, but give them bonuses for working together. For example, a group of archers collectively fire an AoE shot. A group of 9 archers fire a 3x3 area of effect shot as their turn. They get +1 to hit and +1 damage for each archer in the group. This way, the players can tactically damage units to weaken them, and other units can re-group to get more bonuses. I'd do this with minions, or perhaps 2-hit minions for best results. For truly epic battles, treat each platoon (group, whatever; I'm horrible at military terms) as a single unit. Base their damage on how healthy they are (perhaps on a 10-point scale. A half-dead unit only deals +5 damage). Again, this lets tactics get involved by damaging a force to the point of futility, without actually requiring you to take out the unit entirely. The weakened units can still regroup and recover their strength.
#6 Guiltl3ss Feb 28, 2009 19:23:38	Hm, thats a good idea. I could use that when scaling down the combat to the PC level for sure. Thanks!
#7 Authw8 Mar 01, 2009 15:44:45	The 3.5 source book Heroes of Battle has some nice stuff in it, much of which applies easily to 4e. This book focuses more on having the PCs act as a unit in a battlefield, though, so it might not be what you're looking for. The HoB approach to mass combat is to treat the battlefield as a series of potential encounters. For beating encounters, PCs earn Victory Points. The success of the army is determined in part by how many VP the PCs rack up.
#8 Guiltl3ss Mar 03, 2009 13:31:57	Most exellent! Thank you very much.