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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BlackMoria" data-source="post: 2784460" data-attributes="member: 424">Take the fight to them.  The loggers and the protecting troops need to get to the forest.  That means a good road for the logging equipment and for the wagons to haul the logs.  The Thayans must get said equipment and troops into the area first.  So hit them before they reach the forest.If the route has a few chokepoints (bridges, ravines, tight terrain), these become logical ambush points.Besides the soldiers, wizards and loggers ( the logical first targets most people consider), the following will have a impact should it be destroyed.The animals hauling the wagons:  Vulnerable to being killed or being controlled by a druid.The wagons: Vulnerable to being destroyed or disabled in a variety of fashions or being animated.The logging equipment:  Vulnerable to being stolen, destroyed or being animated.The road:  Bridges can be destroyed, the road can be cratered, roadblocked or made into a hopeless mire of mud.Here is how I would do it, as a example.  For this example, I will use a bridge as a chokepoint.   Prior to the ambush, the bridge supports would be weaked or destroyed so that the first wagon load will collapse it or it can be rigged to collapse at the critical moment by the ambushers.  The areas around the bridge but off the road is liberally seeded with caltrops, concealed spike pits and tanglefoot wire to impede movement.The ambushers should consist of good mix of warriors and spellcasters.  The ambushers are divided into two 'tasking' groups.  Group A has the task of neutralizing the enemy spellcasters (first priority) and killing the soldiers (second priority).  Group B has the task of destroying the logging convoy.Now that the preparations are done, illusions or illusionary terrain can be cast to hide the prepping of the battlefield and conceal the ambushers.  Once the early warning system (a druid in bird form or whatever) detects the logging convoy coming, earth elementals can be summoned and concealed beneath the road, and a water elemental or two in the water under the bridge.The logging convoy will most likely have a vanguard of troops proceeding the wagons and a rear guard following the wagons.  The bridge is a good point for the ambush because any flank scouts will have to pull into the convoy for the river crossing.The vanguard troops are allowed to pass over the bridge.  The first wagon crossing the bridge is the trigger for the ambush.ACTION!  The bridge collapses or is made to collapse, taking the first wagon and its crew down.  The water elementals finish the survivors off.  The collapse of the bridge has now isolated the vanguard from the rest of the convoy,  AS the ambush party opens up (surprise round) with a hail of arrows and spells.  The arrows are directed at any spellcasters and obvious leader types.  Group A spell casters target the casters with spells (usually area spells to catch the spellcasters' body guards in the AoE) as well.  Group B hits the convoy along the its length with fireballs - a good choice of spell because it will most likely kill the animals hauling the wagons, will kill the drovers and accompanying low level troops, and it will set the wagons on fire (wagons are hauling supplies like canvas for tenting, lamp oil, and other easy flammable objects).  After the fireballs go off, the earth elementals rise out of ground and lay into anyone and everything.Now initiative is rolled.  If you have done your job well, you go into the first initiative round with the enemy force already significantly attrited (most of the low level mooks should be dead) most of the enemy spellcasters dead or heavily damaged, the vanguard and rear guard have been cut off from supporting each other, and the wagons are immoblized and on fire.The first round is more of the same - continue pounding on the surviving spellcasters with spells and arrows.  The elementals engage the surviving ground troops.  The caltrops and concealed pit traps will impede the enemy forces from effectively sallying out to decisively engage your ambushers.After the initial round is done, do an assessment.  If the enemy force is severely damaged and your forces are lightly damaged, then continue and try to wipe them out.  If the enemy force still has significant numbers, then get the hell out of Dodge and disengage.  Your job is done....the logging equipment and wagons are destroyed and the bridge is going to have to be rebuilt to allow logging operations to continue. The caltrops, pit traps and tangle wire will inhibit a organized pursuit while you make a clean break.... and besides, the enemy still has to deal with the enraged elementals in their midst first.If the Thayans try again, lather, rinse and repeat - always at a different location and time.  At some point, they are going to have to decide if the logs is worth the cost in men and equipment.Sidebar:  This very scenario was played out by my group a few years back.  They had the party members and allied rangers and druids and a contingent of elf archers for a total of 50 ambushers.  The loggin convoy numbered 250, with over half of the enemy being soldiers.Long story short - the ambushers totally destroyed the convoy and soldiers.</blockquote>

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