Scouting: Idiots Splitting Up or Valid Tactic?

[Thunderfoot]

I would be very interested to hear how people with special forces training handle this. Obviously modern forces attempt to have as much intel as possible before going on a mission. However, when going through a deep jungle or a city (which is somewhat close approximation of the dungeon setting) do they use scouts or do teams stick together?

Both - See my answer - the situation ALWAYS dictates the tactics. If the risk is too severe, ease up on the bravado - if you can spare the manpower, spread em far and wide.

The thing to remember is an adventuring party is very much the size of a scouting mission in the military - you never put a single man out on any mission. (regardless of what the movies tell you)

Snipers (teams of two), Spec Ops Team A (SOTA)(teams of eight), SEALs Usually 8 - 12 but they can change it up depending on the mission, Team Delta (2 - 200). LRRPs and Pathfinders go in with number based on the operation SOP. Those numbers are too variable to be summed up. Even regular units are broken down once you hit the field.

For instance a Brigade of Infantry has 3 - 6 operational companies (1 ops/HQ, 3 rifle, 1 hvy wpns and one artillery (ususally but these vary according to mission specs)) When these companies are assigned missions one of the squads (usually numbering between 4 - 7 in each company) is assigned scouting and that can be broken down even further into fire teams and buddy pairs. So even in this regard the answer is it depends upon the situation.

8 Years US ARMY Intel Corps -- HOOAH!

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

Ime a lot of this comes down to the dm's skill.

I've seen poor dming where the players would get punished whatever their characters did. Needless to say this is basically a pitfall for the improving dm to avoid.

A better skilled dm will allow the players to have their characters succeed or fail as their characters are able.

On the flip side, there is also player skill.

I've seen gloryhounding players get their character's slaughtered needlessly while nearby friends were still waiting out of sight for the signal to advance. The scouts decided to engage an unknown enemy whose power they sorely misjudged.

The player of the scout is actually a leader type, and they need to be a good judge of when to rock back and let their companions shine.

 

[Sitara]

Wizards with improvedf invisibility and druids with wildshapewmakefor the best scouts

 

[Jack99]

Wizards with improvedf invisibility and druids with wildshapewmakefor the best scouts

At 1 round per level, that is some really short scouting..