DMG II: Bring on the Mobs!

[ptolemy18]

Hello everybody,

I hear that there are rules for "mobs" in the DMG II. Could anyone explain a little bit what this is like?

I've been seeking ways to challenge my mid-to-high-level PCs with large groups of low-level folks, and "mobs" could be a good way to do it. (What I had previously been planning was, in "mob situations", to increase the flanking attack bonus from +2 to +4, so being surrounded by a horde of 1st-level folks is more of a genuine threat.)

Thanks,

Jason

 

[Sammael]

A mob is, basically, a swarm of small, medium, or large creatures. It has a single HD pool, single save bonus, and deals automatic damage to creatures that end up inside the mob. Unlike a swarm, individual mob members can be targeted with spells.

That's as far as I can go without breaking the copyright. I really like the mob as written, but I have yet to test it.

 

[Whimsical]

Any effect that neutralizes a certain number of individuals simply lower the hit die of the mob.

 

[clark411]

And they're good at grappling. So.. Mobs of very good grapplers can be a serious problem for whatever cannot escape.

Mobs also move slowly in comparison to their base creature.

Mobs take more damage from area effect spells than normal.

 

[S'mon]

That's as far as I can go without breaking the copyright.

Copyright does not protect rules mechanics, so you can tell us what they are. Really.

 

[Sammael]

Copyright does not protect rules mechanics, so you can tell us what they are. Really.

Riiiight. That's why I've seen threads locked here on ENWorld and hostile moderator reactions to even hints of non-OGL material being posted.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Riiiight. That's why I've seen threads locked here on ENWorld and hostile moderator reactions to even hints of non-OGL material being posted.

Well, if you don't append the OGL license page to the end of your post of OGL material, you're operating exactly as illegally as if you posted non-OGL material. So what you describe is a double standard, given that I have never once seen the OGL tacked onto any posts.

 

[S'mon]

Riiiight. That's why I've seen threads locked here on ENWorld and hostile moderator reactions to even hints of non-OGL material being posted.

You said you didn't want to infringe copyright. I'm telling you that rules are not copyright protected. Maybe ENW mods don't let you post non-OGC rules but that has nothing to do with copyright law.

 

[Sammael]

Well, if you don't append the OGL license page to the end of your post of OGL material, you're operating exactly as illegally as if you posted non-OGL material. So what you describe is a double standard, given that I have never once seen the OGL tacked onto any posts.

I am not sure I understand this; presuming there is an OGL page posted somewhere on ENWorld (I can't imagine how its section 15 look like, but I digress), why would another have to be attached to every post containing OGL material? Isn't that similar to how I may use OGL material throughout a book, but I don't have to attach the OGL to every page?

@S'Mon: You are possibly right, but IANAL. I've heard that rules can't be copyrighted before, but I've seen posts and links to court cases stating otherwise.

 

[S'mon]

I@S'Mon: You are possibly right, but IANAL. I've heard that rules can't be copyrighted before, but I've seen posts and links to court cases stating otherwise.

I don't think you have. The actual text is copyright protected, the rules as such aren't.