Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 5831233" data-attributes="member: 42582">There are a lot of different ways the army can matter - from augmenting PC-oriented action resolution (eg +2 to negotiate when you have an effective army in the field) to giving benefits in combat (if the "big bad" has the power to generate minions periodically, maybe your army in the field negates this) to being a separate element in action resolution (like a "pet") to being a lot of separate elements in action resolution, maybe using a whole different resolution mechanic (which is the AD&D and B/X approach). Depeding on what sort of approach is adopted, I think it becomes easier or harder to make this an option in PC building as opposed to an autonomous supplement, and the more or less important optionality becomes.For example, if armies give bonuses to appropriate skill checks, then having an army is something like picking a feat in 3E or 4e, or a bit like a 4e magic item. If an army is like a complicated and versatile pet, then having an army might be something like picking a paragon path in 4e. If an army is handled something like it is in AD&D, then I think it has to be optional and orthogonal, becuase it really is quite different from the default action resolution and PC-build mechanics.</blockquote>