Greenfield
Adventurer
Regarding sea deities: The Persians didn't actually have one. They followed Zoroastrianism, which was the philosophical foundation for much of Judaism, and hence Christianity. To find an appropriate deific power I had to go Sumerian.
And when Persia was subjugated by Rome their deities lost a lot of followers.
The Greeks were also subjugated by Rome, but their religions weren't suppressed. Instead their gods were copied, lock, stock and thunderbolt.
But the point of the battle at sea isn't who wins. The mere fact that the battle continues gives Poseidon an excuse to create storms. They're a byproduct of the conflict.
As I mentioned i another thread, our game group's view of the gods and their mortal interactions is that to them the world is a great game board, and we're the pawns (and knights, bishops, kings and queens). Directly interfering in mortal affairs is against the rules, and licenses your opponent to do the same.
So, while the storms provide the coincidental side effect of keeping the Persian fleet from taking to the sea, they can only be maintained as a byproduct of the deific conflict. If the Persian/Sumerian deity were to yield the field, there would be no excuse for the storms, and his people could triumph.
But the gods of legend were prideful and petty, and the idea of accepting defeat at the hands of the other deity just isn't palatable, so... Poseidon wins not only tactically, but strategically as well.
Regarding epic battles: I'm running one. Over five thousand Persians attacking a little over one thousand Greeks. Dragons with riders are in the sky, as are giant harpy-eagles, and are being opposed by, well, not much. Athens sent some troops, accompanied by giant owls with riders from the temple of Athena. Good scouts and couriers, but no match for either the sand drakes or the eagles in airborn combat.
Strangely, they'd beat the dragons on sheer areal maneuverability using flyby attacks. They can move beyond breath weapon range after the strike, and maneuver so the dragon has to turn around each time to try and strike at them. The dragons just don't have the maneuverability. "Poor" fliers, by the book, and unless they have the Wingover feat they simply can't close with them. They also don't have the option of a Ready Action to wait for the strike. They have to take a move action every round to stay in the air, and if they're taking move actions they can't Ready one. So, while they have a great top speed, they get torn to shreds by the more nimble opponents.
Giant eagles, on the other hand, will rip the owls a new one, fast.
No, we're running a full scale conflict, but I'm not going to drag it out for weeks of in-game time.
Note: All but one of the Dragons are "Juvenile", which means no fear aura. And that one? She's in Anopaea, facing the PCs.
Otherwise she could do a low fly over on the Greeks and route the army in a single pass. Not much of a battle, eh?
The rationale for not using her that way is simple: They don't want to lose her. The spellcasters in the Greek forces would let loose with everything they had if she made herself that singular a target. She could make every saving throw there is and she still wouldn't make it. The bulk of the army would be routed, briefly, but enough would remain to plug the pass while the commanders gathered up and regrouped their forces.
No, a maneuver like that has to be held for just the right moment.
And when Persia was subjugated by Rome their deities lost a lot of followers.
The Greeks were also subjugated by Rome, but their religions weren't suppressed. Instead their gods were copied, lock, stock and thunderbolt.
But the point of the battle at sea isn't who wins. The mere fact that the battle continues gives Poseidon an excuse to create storms. They're a byproduct of the conflict.
As I mentioned i another thread, our game group's view of the gods and their mortal interactions is that to them the world is a great game board, and we're the pawns (and knights, bishops, kings and queens). Directly interfering in mortal affairs is against the rules, and licenses your opponent to do the same.
So, while the storms provide the coincidental side effect of keeping the Persian fleet from taking to the sea, they can only be maintained as a byproduct of the deific conflict. If the Persian/Sumerian deity were to yield the field, there would be no excuse for the storms, and his people could triumph.
But the gods of legend were prideful and petty, and the idea of accepting defeat at the hands of the other deity just isn't palatable, so... Poseidon wins not only tactically, but strategically as well.
Regarding epic battles: I'm running one. Over five thousand Persians attacking a little over one thousand Greeks. Dragons with riders are in the sky, as are giant harpy-eagles, and are being opposed by, well, not much. Athens sent some troops, accompanied by giant owls with riders from the temple of Athena. Good scouts and couriers, but no match for either the sand drakes or the eagles in airborn combat.
Strangely, they'd beat the dragons on sheer areal maneuverability using flyby attacks. They can move beyond breath weapon range after the strike, and maneuver so the dragon has to turn around each time to try and strike at them. The dragons just don't have the maneuverability. "Poor" fliers, by the book, and unless they have the Wingover feat they simply can't close with them. They also don't have the option of a Ready Action to wait for the strike. They have to take a move action every round to stay in the air, and if they're taking move actions they can't Ready one. So, while they have a great top speed, they get torn to shreds by the more nimble opponents.
Giant eagles, on the other hand, will rip the owls a new one, fast.
No, we're running a full scale conflict, but I'm not going to drag it out for weeks of in-game time.
Note: All but one of the Dragons are "Juvenile", which means no fear aura. And that one? She's in Anopaea, facing the PCs.
Otherwise she could do a low fly over on the Greeks and route the army in a single pass. Not much of a battle, eh?
The rationale for not using her that way is simple: They don't want to lose her. The spellcasters in the Greek forces would let loose with everything they had if she made herself that singular a target. She could make every saving throw there is and she still wouldn't make it. The bulk of the army would be routed, briefly, but enough would remain to plug the pass while the commanders gathered up and regrouped their forces.
No, a maneuver like that has to be held for just the right moment.