Duergar mob (DMG2)

[Shin Okada]

I am thinking about using mob rule (in DMG2, P.59) for representing army units in med-teen level campaign.

Anyway, DMG2 says a mob is composed of 48 small/medium creatures or 12 large creatures.

Well, what should happen when a mob of Duergar warriors use their Enlarge Person ability?

Should I let them split into 4 mobs? Should I let them expand into a colossal mob? Any idea?

 

[Ranes]

I'd have the mob split into four. It seems the easiest and most appropriate course of action. That said, if you wanted to create a giant mob (a crowd, a horde), you could. I'd recommend looking at the differences between the characteristics of a swarm and those of a mob. Then extrapolate from there.

 

[frankthedm]

I'd say the mob should just bigger. Letting it split into four mobs would be tantamount to letting it quadruple it's HP with the way mobs work. But I'm no fan of the mob template since it negates the abilities high level characters have earned to fight lesser foes.

Treating the mob as once creature negates cleave, greatcleave and whirlwind. Area attacks that should obliterate those grouping of creatures now do only semi noticeable damage against buckets of HD worth of hit points. It is like the angry mob became an angry blob.

One thing I don't understand is how the fighter is going to survive round one in combat with an ordinary human mob. The mob has a grapple check of +32.

Round one: grapple. Win. Move into space.
Round two: win opposed grapple to damage opponent. Do 5d6 damage.

Is there any way for a spell-less melee combatant to counter this?

Running away.

 

[Shin Okada]

Quote Originally Posted by roguerouge
One thing I don't understand is how the fighter is going to survive round one in combat with an ordinary human mob. The mob has a grapple check of +32.

Round one: grapple. Win. Move into space.
Round two: win opposed grapple to damage opponent. Do 5d6 damage.

Is there any way for a spell-less melee combatant to counter this?.

Shouldn't the fighter be allowed to make an AoO for preventing grab? In most cases, a mob does not have Improved Grapple nor Improved Grab.

Edit: Also, a mob can only grab a foe only when the mob has already moved over the opponent's space. A mob's reach is 0 ft.