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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
ingenious devices for killing large numbers of people at once
- Thread starter efreet
- Start date
Sanackranib
First Post
goblin horde
there is a module in one of the old dungeon mags. called Tallows Deep that should give you a good feel for what they can do.
there is a module in one of the old dungeon mags. called Tallows Deep that should give you a good feel for what they can do.
NoOneofConsequence
First Post
Mary Gentle's book "Ash: A Secret History" has all manner of nasty and magical machines of war, including armoured war wagons and golems with flamethrowers. If you've got a few weeks give it a read (it is a BIG book.)
Another source for war machines would be any of the books looking at WWII research into unusual weapons - there was a tv documentary many years ago called "The Secret War".
How about:
The Goblin Pinwheel Juggernaut
A huge cart wheel, over ten feet in height. The wheel's rim is made of two inch thick iron plates and is two - three foot wide. Mounted along the edges of the rim are a series of alchemical rockets. The entire device weighs over a tonne.
The goblin operators point the Juggernaut in roughly the direction which they wish it to go - using beasts of burden usually. They then ignite the rockets, which burn for 1 minute (ten combat rounds). The Juggernaut moves forward at the rate of 80' per round. It deals 10d6 damage as an area effect attack, plus a strength 35 Bull Rush effect to everything in the five feet squares through which it passes; Reflex save DC17 for half damage. Armour is no protection against this attack but evasion and improved evasion can apply. The Juggernaut's path cannot be stopped by anything of less than Huge size. If a Huge or larger creature (or object) successfully opposes the Bull Rush effect, then the Juggernaught is stopped for that round. (see below for next round)
Being of goblin manufacture, the rockets do not all burn at the same rate. Consequently, some burn out early or late, causing the weapon to behave erratically. At the end of each round of movement roll on the grenade scatter diagram to determine the new direction of the Juggernaught. In the next round the device will travel on the line of the new direction. If the Juggernaught was stopped in this round, but the rockets have not yet burnt out, roll the scatter and the pinwheel resumes its course. If the ten rounds are up, then the Juggernaught continues to move for one more round then rolls to a halt under its own weight.
The Juggernaught can be attacked during its course, using prepared actions or attacks of opportunity. It has an AC of 12 (10, -2 for size[Huge], +4 natural [erratic motion]), a hardness of 10 and 150 HP. A character who rolls a natural 1 when attacking the Juggernaught has accidentally struck one of the rockets, suffering the effects of a 5d6 fireball as it explodes (DC 15).
Anyhoo, how's that for an idea? More as and if they come to me.
Another source for war machines would be any of the books looking at WWII research into unusual weapons - there was a tv documentary many years ago called "The Secret War".
How about:
The Goblin Pinwheel Juggernaut
A huge cart wheel, over ten feet in height. The wheel's rim is made of two inch thick iron plates and is two - three foot wide. Mounted along the edges of the rim are a series of alchemical rockets. The entire device weighs over a tonne.
The goblin operators point the Juggernaut in roughly the direction which they wish it to go - using beasts of burden usually. They then ignite the rockets, which burn for 1 minute (ten combat rounds). The Juggernaut moves forward at the rate of 80' per round. It deals 10d6 damage as an area effect attack, plus a strength 35 Bull Rush effect to everything in the five feet squares through which it passes; Reflex save DC17 for half damage. Armour is no protection against this attack but evasion and improved evasion can apply. The Juggernaut's path cannot be stopped by anything of less than Huge size. If a Huge or larger creature (or object) successfully opposes the Bull Rush effect, then the Juggernaught is stopped for that round. (see below for next round)
Being of goblin manufacture, the rockets do not all burn at the same rate. Consequently, some burn out early or late, causing the weapon to behave erratically. At the end of each round of movement roll on the grenade scatter diagram to determine the new direction of the Juggernaught. In the next round the device will travel on the line of the new direction. If the Juggernaught was stopped in this round, but the rockets have not yet burnt out, roll the scatter and the pinwheel resumes its course. If the ten rounds are up, then the Juggernaught continues to move for one more round then rolls to a halt under its own weight.
The Juggernaught can be attacked during its course, using prepared actions or attacks of opportunity. It has an AC of 12 (10, -2 for size[Huge], +4 natural [erratic motion]), a hardness of 10 and 150 HP. A character who rolls a natural 1 when attacking the Juggernaught has accidentally struck one of the rockets, suffering the effects of a 5d6 fireball as it explodes (DC 15).
Anyhoo, how's that for an idea? More as and if they come to me.
Warmaster_Horus
First Post
How about the goblins launching plague ridden corpses and such from their catapults against the defenders of the castle that they are besieging.
Wormwood
Adventurer
Goblins: Dark Side Gnomes
Goblins in this case being an evil twist on the TinkerGnome comcept. I like it.
1. Perhaps the Goblin Kingdom is the sole source for what passes for Gunpowder in your world (Goblin Powder?)
2. Exotic weapons that require two trained Goblin operators to function. Rube Goldberg devices that hurl six javelins at once? Hand cranked triple-flail whirligigs. Shoulder-mounted catapults?
3. Take a look at the Gnome Artificer from Magic of Faerun---with a little work you could devise the Goblin Boomsmith.
Goblins in this case being an evil twist on the TinkerGnome comcept. I like it.
1. Perhaps the Goblin Kingdom is the sole source for what passes for Gunpowder in your world (Goblin Powder?)
2. Exotic weapons that require two trained Goblin operators to function. Rube Goldberg devices that hurl six javelins at once? Hand cranked triple-flail whirligigs. Shoulder-mounted catapults?
3. Take a look at the Gnome Artificer from Magic of Faerun---with a little work you could devise the Goblin Boomsmith.
Exploding grappling hooks!
Goblins toss grapling hooks up over enemy wall. Enemies slash ropes, they don't want to have goblins swarm over the wall. The end segments of the rope, where the hook is attatched, is filled with an alchemical powder that bursts for a 2d6 explosion in a 5' radius.
Incendiary Rain Baloons!
These hot-air balloons are launched durring battle, and manuevered over the enemy forces. Then, a corkscrew at the bottom of the balloon begins to rotate. Above the screw is a stash of alchemical firepowder, that ignites upon contact with air. Corkscrew spews said fire all over the battlefield. All within a 150' radius centered on the balloon must make a Reflex save (DC 10) each round or suffer 1d6 Fire damage.
Goblins toss grapling hooks up over enemy wall. Enemies slash ropes, they don't want to have goblins swarm over the wall. The end segments of the rope, where the hook is attatched, is filled with an alchemical powder that bursts for a 2d6 explosion in a 5' radius.
Incendiary Rain Baloons!
These hot-air balloons are launched durring battle, and manuevered over the enemy forces. Then, a corkscrew at the bottom of the balloon begins to rotate. Above the screw is a stash of alchemical firepowder, that ignites upon contact with air. Corkscrew spews said fire all over the battlefield. All within a 150' radius centered on the balloon must make a Reflex save (DC 10) each round or suffer 1d6 Fire damage.
