Advise for Additional DM deviousness (Ray Silver, don't read! :) )

[Emperor Valerian]

Does anyone out there have any experience or recommendations for running combat from a semi-siege environment?

Right now the party I'm DMing has volunteered to assist a local village in repelling attacks from strange hobgoblins and vermin (cold planar touched hobgoblins and monstrous cold touched vermin). The town comes under attack every 8 days, and the PCs basically arrived on the eve of what likely is going to be the next assault. The town is surrounded by 15 foot palisades which would be the focus of the battle.

The incoming hobgoblin force would be very large (think, 100 or more) but would be attacking the town from all sides, so the PCs would be dealing with a much much much smaller section of the whole force. I was thinking that in order to make their sector a "focal point" I could place several of the big baddies there, such as perhaps a level 2 hobgoblin fighter (the general) on top of his mount ( a huge monstrous ice spider) in that locale. Perhaps he could be trying to use his mount to knock the palisade down as his warriors bring up ladders and attempt to scale it? I dunno...

The party right now has 2 5th level PCs, and a couple NPCs (5th and 3rd levels). I've still got several days to plan, and in the previous adventure, the PCs were very intrigued by the "cold" business regarding hobgoblins and spiders, so I'd like to keep that fearful theme going.

I've still got several days, so any recommendations from some folks that have run into a "siege" type situation before would be appreciated.

 

[Mark]

Can you tell us more about town, please? (Population? Size in Square Miles? Congestion/Location? Ruled in what manner? Race make-up? Type of industry/production? Etc.) All of this can go into making the scenario much more detailed, and consequently much more specific than simply a handful of skirmish encounters that could take place just about anywhere.

For example, if the community has a larger than normal dwarven population or segment thereof, it would be important to work that into the planning of how to defend the town. Likewise, their particular skills/exports might be of use to the defenders in some manner. If they are Potters (Go alsih2o!) they might gather their lamp oil in every available vessel to use as catapult ammunition. There would be big differences in how to defend (and for the evil forces, to attack) a town built on a plain that was spread out with low walls, than one built in the mountains with many tall, multi-storied buildings.

I think you will find these are the specifics that will help make the sceanrio more memorable, so share the ones you have and perhaps we can all (you included) can help flesh out those not yet determined.

Also, bookmark the super-fantastic DMing Advice thread for all of you EN World research needs...

 

[Emperor Valerian]

The town (as described to the PCs as they rode into it) is that its a comparatively small town (the campaign world is Byzantine Empire like, with parts of Holy Roman Empire Germany and Medieval France tossed in as well). Normally the population is around 600 people, mostly farmers of lands surrounding the town and craftsmen who help support them (one major blacksmith, a few inns, etc.). At present, due the situation outside, the town is holding an additional 600-700 people from farmlands further out that are seeking shelter from the hobgoblin armies. Most of the population is decidedly human, though a few elves and one or two of hte druids and rangers watching the local forests have taken refuge as well. These rangers and druids (I'm thinking 4 or 8 at most, all levels one or two maybe) could serve as captains for commoner contingents the PCs might see, but not neccessarily fight with.

There are only a few stone buildings within the town... the local lord's manor house (situated in the northwest corner of the town, and at present holding many of the refugees in the lord's throne room and banquet hall), two of the local temples (which are little larger than a standard cottage, though they are well carved). Most of hte rest of the buildings are wooden with wood or thatched rooves.

The town is situated on a low rise in the middle of a forest clearing, with one road crossing through the town. The only true towers (all wooden) in the twons defenses cover this entrance. The town is otherwise defended by a wooden palisade consisting of 15 foot tall tree stumpts have have been sharpened at the top. A walkway has been constructed on the interior just high enough that it would make the top of the palisade shoulder level for any defenders present.

My idea for the defending force would be the party, in addition to the town watch (the local noble, whose a level 5 fighter roughly, maybe a level 2 fighter as head of the town watch, a couple level ones and maybe 15 warriors) and some commoners who would take up whatever arms they could find (maybe 40 commoners with haphazard weaponry... maybe makeshift spears and those that can use them with shortbows... the blacksmith of course is working overtime to fix and repair whatever metal weaponry he can find).

My only concrete idea for the hobgoblin attack plan was that since they have been converting local vermin for their evil purposes, to perhaps have a few kobolds on giant dragonflies come through before the main assault and drop alchemists fire on the interior parts of the village (idea being that for the attackers, the light from the flames would silhouette defenders on the ramparts at night, making it even easier to hit them). It would also be entertaining for the PCs likely as they could get some practice as anti-aircraft artillery (using longbows and the like).

Other than that, the only things I've thought of are a few possible feints the hobgoblins might make (faking an attack to the west, while sliding most of their guys over to the east and hitting there suddenly). Maybe they drag along some enormous logs to try and batter down the palisades? That could maybe prove interesting for the PCs to stop... in some way I'd like them to threaten a breach. A battering ram would be enough against a wooden wall?

I am also uncertain of the force that would be needed for the hobgoblins to mount a serious attack. As stated above, I was thinking perhaps 100 hobgoblins, all cold planar touched, for the total attack force (this counts the force facing the PCs as well as the forces hitting other parts of the town), not counting their mounts (2-3 huge monstrous spiders, cold touched for the senior commanders... maybe 10 giant soldier ants for lesser folks, once again the total force, not just the force facing the PCs). Maybe a force of kobolds and goblins the hobgolbins have cowed into being "cannon fodder" of some kind? (rushing ahead to put up ladders for the hobgoblin warriors and fighters to climb the walls with?)

And finally, my concept was this would be more like an assault by the baddies on this fortified position, not neccessarily a siege... (the baddies show up, bang heads, can't get through, go home, get more people, come back and bang heads again)

 

[Emperor Valerian]

And thanks for the DM Advice link. I've already got it bookmarked