Oh I forgot one; scatter caltrops behind the party!
Which works just great until the party have to retreat...Oh I forgot one; scatter caltrops behind the party!
"FORWARD, EVERYONE! Trust me."Oh I forgot one; scatter caltrops behind the party!
Yes, now I remember what it was actually like. It’s all about expectations. I still dislike unlimited cantrips.Stand back, keep watch in all directions, direct traffic, be ready to catch anyone who flees in fear, be ready to drag anyone downed on our side out of the combat, support the line where I can, and otherwise just do my best to stay out of harm's way. If I have to fight, my dagger or staff is at hand.
Or, if staff is my weapon I do have reach, meaning I can poke it through the front line or swing it over a short party member's head to reach a foe. I've done this numerous times.
Just need to work out a pattern for dropping caltrops with your party in advance. Of course, being player characters, they will likely forget what that pattern is in a mad rush.Which works just great until the party have to retreat...
Best one I ever saw was when two front-liners were fighting some foes on a narrow log bridge and the back-liners decided to oil up the logs - behind the fighters! - to stop the enemies getting across.Just need to work out a pattern for dropping caltrops with your party in advance. Of course, being player characters, they will likely forget what that pattern is in a mad rush.
I didn't use caltrops myself of course, but I did have quite the collection of marbles and ball bearings.
See you really need to share plans with everyone. But on the other hand, a lot of my memories of 1e play include moments of "screw your buddies over for funsies" because apparently some people thought that was hilarious.Best one I ever saw was when two front-liners were fighting some foes on a narrow log bridge and the back-liners decided to oil up the logs - behind the fighters! - to stop the enemies getting across.
Both warriors died when they tried to retreat, slipped on the logs, fell in the water, and were then messily eaten by the very deadly denizens of said water...