War as a backdrop is very common in fantasy literature. D&D even began its life as a wargame variant. Why is it, then, that it seems D&D does not do War very well at all?
Even after 30 years, the best War rules for D&D are the Companion set War Machine rules: strategic in nature with abstract tactics that can be employed at the table without completely overwhelming the more zoomed in personal heroics of play. But aside from that, it seems D&D has always reached for miniatures battle systems that did not mesh with regular play, or ultra-simple mass battle systems that are unsatisfying and under developed.
Note: I never got into Birthright, so maybe there are war and domain rules comparable in design quality to the Companion rules?
Also, I do not own the new Dragonlance book or board game. How is war handled in those?
Do you like war as a back drop to a D&D campaign, either as an ongoing problem or an imminent threat? how do you feel about incorporating war, mechanically, into your campaign? Do mass battles and other aspects of war come up in play? If so, do you determine outcomes through actual play or use some proxy or just narrate the results?
Even after 30 years, the best War rules for D&D are the Companion set War Machine rules: strategic in nature with abstract tactics that can be employed at the table without completely overwhelming the more zoomed in personal heroics of play. But aside from that, it seems D&D has always reached for miniatures battle systems that did not mesh with regular play, or ultra-simple mass battle systems that are unsatisfying and under developed.
Note: I never got into Birthright, so maybe there are war and domain rules comparable in design quality to the Companion rules?
Also, I do not own the new Dragonlance book or board game. How is war handled in those?
Do you like war as a back drop to a D&D campaign, either as an ongoing problem or an imminent threat? how do you feel about incorporating war, mechanically, into your campaign? Do mass battles and other aspects of war come up in play? If so, do you determine outcomes through actual play or use some proxy or just narrate the results?