Mass combat rules for small battles

[johnsemlak]

It's possible that hte PCs in my campaign will become involved in a small battle.

The numbers would be less than 100 per side, closer to 50 per side.

I'd like to present the option of resolving the battle using some mass-combat rules if the players want to.

What system would you recommend:

I have access to the following:

1. Empire by AEG
2. The Miniatures Handbook
3. Cry Havoc by Malhavoc.

I'm leaning towards the Miniatures Handbook. Since its battles are on a 1:1 scale it seems to be suitable for smaller battles, which this is.

I've heard a few posters say that Cry Havoc's system isn't very good. I do plan to have CH's quick resolution system on hand if I need it.

I have Empire but haven't read its mass combat rules.

Any advice?

 

[Calico_Jack73]

Both the Seafarer's Handbook (FFG) and Skull & Bones (GR) offer good ship to ship combat systems that can be adapted to large scale combat since oftentimes the battle becomes crew vs crew in a boarding action. As a brief breakdown of one of the systems (I can't remember which) you treat each group as a single entity and basically the number of people in each unit become the hit points. Since most units are armed with the same weapon you use that weapon's damage. Each round they attack each other just like in personal combat but each point of damage done reduces the number of men by the damage result. Depending on how much one side outnumbers another the more numerous side gets bonuses to their attack and damage rolls. Character intervention is handled separately but obviously each kill is going to reduce the enemy's numbers. Each attack has a percentage chance of dealing damage to a PC. If a Fireball takes out 20 mooks then that is going to seriously weaken the opposing side. It is a good system if you don't want to break out the minis but want to resolve a large battle fairly quickly.

 

[Emiricol]

Cry Havoc is a good system, but recheck their math on all the creatures. I understand that many of them are incorrect. Their extended and quick mass combat resolution is also pretty cool, but aimed at army-level battles, not a ship-to-ship sized engagement.

Seas of Blood has a small version of mass combat system aimed just at ship to ship actions, but the rest of the book is a bit wonky in my opinion. Empire, on the other hand, isn't well suited to this sort of action. You could probably make it work though.

My own inclination would be to pit the PCs against the enemy leaders, in the middle of the fight, and have the round-by-round results dictate how the rest of the fight is going.


YMMV, etc.

 

[johnsemlak]

My own inclination would be to pit the PCs against the enemy leaders, in the middle of the fight, and have the round-by-round results dictate how the rest of the fight is going.


YMMV, etc.

\

I thought of that. I think the players may enjoy the change of pace of the mass combat rules. Or maybe not.

 

[MarauderX]

It's a bit small for Fields of Blood, so I would go with the minis rulebook. Cry Havoc is ok, but I haven't found a use for any of it yet.
I would second what Emiricol said - have the PCs fight the BBEG in the middle of the battle, and pre-determine how the rest of the battle to go. Have the fight last a certain number of rounds, and if the PCs beat the BBEG, have them join the rest of the fray to save others' lives in proportion to how long it took them to kill the BBEG.

 

[MerricB]

It's possible that hte PCs in my campaign will become involved in a small battle.

The numbers would be less than 100 per side, closer to 50 per side.

I only know Cry Havoc and the Miniatures Handbook - I think the MHb rules would be superior in this case. With Cry Havoc, you need to learn an additional layer of rules - the MHb simplifies things as much as possible, Cry Havoc complicates them.

Cheers!

 

[Macbeth]

Well, for my two bits, I prefer Cry Havoc. Yes, it is a whole new system, but it does give mass combat a different feel. If mas combat is just like normal combat, why use it? The system does a good job of making rules that still feel like d20 combat, but are distinctly different from 1 on 1 combat.