mass combat

[bolen]

Let's let wizards know that there is interest out there in them publishing a battlesystem for 3rd ed. If the poll is positive then it might influence them to do it

 

[Carnifex]

Isn't that what Chainmail's about?

(if not, sorry, because I really don't know much about Chainmail).

 

[BiggusGeekus]

The problem with a lot of RPG mass combat systems is that it doesn't feel like the characters get to do much.

IMHO.

 

[Ysgarran]

There are three different mass combat systems, one that has already been published (The Quintessintial Fighter) (sp?) by Mongoose.

One that should be available this month AEG: http://www.alderac.com/indexf.html?/corporate/produpdates.html

Another by Eden Studios: Fields of Blood.
(Sorry don't have the link at my fingertips for this one).

 

[Tsyr]

People might be interested in seeing an offical one though. I know I would.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Isn't that what Chainmail's about?

(if not, sorry, because I really don't know much about Chainmail).

Chainmail is more of a 'squad level' combat system rather than an army level one. I don't own it (yet) but have read up on it. Each side consists of about 10-20 creatures.

In all honesty in the rare cases where I have needed a mass combat system (never yet for 3E) I have use the rules from the D&D Companion Set (and old box set that went with the Basic & Expert Rules and also reprinted in the Rules Cyclopedia). I think its called the War Machine and it has a simpel yet elegant way of figureing combat results & casulaties. Every army if given a Battle Rating based on numbers, morale, equipment and leaders - comabt involves comparing the BR and adding in random die rolls to get a result. Not terribly detailed but it also had some rules for terrain and weather that could be added in.

 

[WSmith]

Not being a rules lawyer, (and not having needed this method in a while), when there is a massive military conflict, I run the battle in a very abstract, narrative fashon. The PCs get the actions as a normal D&D combat against a handful of assigned "skirmish" foes. For the companies of other troops, I roll d% for the enemy, and the players do also for their allies. The higher roll and difference bewteen the two determines the sway of the battle. Then I describe what is happening on the field between each players turn. I use the PCs skirmish results to determine the outcome of the whole battle. If they defeat their assigned skirmish foes, say 20 of them, and the rolls are all going in their favor, when the 20 are felled, their allies are also triumphant. If the rolls were in the favor of the opponent, then the PCs get assigned more "skirmish" foes. If the rolls have been consistantly in favor of the enemy, and the PCs are getting beat, so are their allies. Rinse and repeat until one side retreats or is slaughtered!

Like I said it is very abstract, and leaves a lot to the DMing to adjudicate. But, the positive is that there are no rules to memorize.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

"War Machine," the mass combat system from the D&D Rules Cyclopedia, is an interesting system. It needs a few tweaks to bring it into 3e - including, say, provisions for the use of existing feats (like Leadership, perhaps?) and some new ones, and for Prestige Classes like the War Master. Overall, though, a pretty good system.

 

[Maerdwyn]

I'd need to see a system before buying it. I done work on one myself while waiting for tQF and Fields of Blood to come out, and once Quintessential fighter came out, I found that the system I made worked better for me because of the way it handled magic (and some other, more minor reasons). It's FAR, FAR from perfect, though, so I will probably get one of the to-be-released books, as long as I get to peruse it first, and make sure it does what I want.

Whether it's a d20 company's book vs a WotC book doesn't make much difference to me.

What I want in a system:
Characters able to take meaning ful actions in the battle, while still maintaining a sense that it's a really large combat.

Smooth integration of fantasy/magic, complete with strategies for how armies might make use of certain spells or creatures in battle. At the same time, the system shouldn't radically alter how spells behave simply because it's a mass combat rather than a regular D&D fight (the Open Mass Combat System's biggest stumbling block for me)

Adaptablity to different tech levels would also be a plus.

If anyone wants to see it (and especially if anyone would liketo comment - I'd really like some feedback), the system I've been working on is in the House Rules forum:
http://www.enworld.org/messageboards/showthread.php?s=&postid=7991#post7991

 

[dagger]

Chainmail is also a minatures game.