Zardnaar
Legend
In D&D formation fighting doesn't tend to work to well due to the dungeon scenario and AoE spells such as fireballs.
The encounter rules also don't help. In order to have a balanced encounter you tend to have a handful of beings instead a formation.
However this doesn't mean you can't do it it's just a bit harder. AD&D had extensive rules for polearms and 2Es Combat and Tactics had rules on shield walls. I may have used these rules in conjunction with buff spells.
3E also had rules but generally locked them behind feats. 3E added something important however- counterspells. Counterspelling tends to be a big pain for PCs as the DM theoretically can have unlimited spell slots.
Anyway here's how I do it and I'll provide examples.
P=Pikemen
M= melee
A= Archers
S=Spellcasters
Now the class pike formation simplified might look something like this.
PPPP
PPPP
Using reach weapons the 2nd rank can attack over the front rank while the front rank has a reach of 10'.
A variation would incorporate a shield wall.
MMM
PPPP
The front line using shields has a higher AC while the second rank still gets to use pikes.
The Tercios IRL were a Spanish formation that added swordsmen and muskets to the traditional like formations made famous by the Swiss. In D&D terms you might make something like this.
MMMM
PPPP
AAAA
Basically you put some archers behind the shield wall. In a 10' corridor this is
MM
PP
AA
This works well enough except when the PCs use a fireball. What about if you add a warmage with counterspells to the equation?
MM
PP
AA
S
Note the Spellcasters can double as an Archer via cantrip spam. NPCs that gain level 3 spells start at CR2 and 3.
Putting a D&D spin in things. Use group initiative rolls.
These are the basic D&D formations you can use in a dungeon. What about if you get clever? What happens if you make the infantry Dragonborn with resistance to fire on top of the counterspells Spellcasters?
Or they are hobgoblins?
Custom Monsters
The other route you can go us give existing critters abilities duplicating feats and fighting styles. A line of hobgoblin heavy infantry with shields and the protection fighting style with Spellcaster support. How about Pikemen with half of the polearm master feat granting opportunity attacks or combining with the sentinel feat?
The NPC veteren at CR 3 is fun to use for this. Change the equipment and reduce the attacks to 2 add in the abilities and 4d6 hobgoblin ability.
This makes a bit more sense in games with feats. Feats power up PCs a lot so small tweaks to NPCs can counter this.
Landsknect in D&D terms are similar but they use pikes, bows, and greatswords.
You can do something similar with fantasy hoplites and legions. Hoplites would use spears and shields with 10' reach and breastplate while legions use chainmail or chainmail refluffed to resemble lorica segmenta. Hobgoblin landsknect with warmages using counterspells should be fun.
The encounter rules also don't help. In order to have a balanced encounter you tend to have a handful of beings instead a formation.
However this doesn't mean you can't do it it's just a bit harder. AD&D had extensive rules for polearms and 2Es Combat and Tactics had rules on shield walls. I may have used these rules in conjunction with buff spells.
3E also had rules but generally locked them behind feats. 3E added something important however- counterspells. Counterspelling tends to be a big pain for PCs as the DM theoretically can have unlimited spell slots.
Anyway here's how I do it and I'll provide examples.
P=Pikemen
M= melee
A= Archers
S=Spellcasters
Now the class pike formation simplified might look something like this.
PPPP
PPPP
Using reach weapons the 2nd rank can attack over the front rank while the front rank has a reach of 10'.
A variation would incorporate a shield wall.
MMM
PPPP
The front line using shields has a higher AC while the second rank still gets to use pikes.
The Tercios IRL were a Spanish formation that added swordsmen and muskets to the traditional like formations made famous by the Swiss. In D&D terms you might make something like this.
MMMM
PPPP
AAAA
Basically you put some archers behind the shield wall. In a 10' corridor this is
MM
PP
AA
This works well enough except when the PCs use a fireball. What about if you add a warmage with counterspells to the equation?
MM
PP
AA
S
Note the Spellcasters can double as an Archer via cantrip spam. NPCs that gain level 3 spells start at CR2 and 3.
Putting a D&D spin in things. Use group initiative rolls.
These are the basic D&D formations you can use in a dungeon. What about if you get clever? What happens if you make the infantry Dragonborn with resistance to fire on top of the counterspells Spellcasters?
Or they are hobgoblins?
Custom Monsters
The other route you can go us give existing critters abilities duplicating feats and fighting styles. A line of hobgoblin heavy infantry with shields and the protection fighting style with Spellcaster support. How about Pikemen with half of the polearm master feat granting opportunity attacks or combining with the sentinel feat?
The NPC veteren at CR 3 is fun to use for this. Change the equipment and reduce the attacks to 2 add in the abilities and 4d6 hobgoblin ability.
This makes a bit more sense in games with feats. Feats power up PCs a lot so small tweaks to NPCs can counter this.
Landsknect in D&D terms are similar but they use pikes, bows, and greatswords.
You can do something similar with fantasy hoplites and legions. Hoplites would use spears and shields with 10' reach and breastplate while legions use chainmail or chainmail refluffed to resemble lorica segmenta. Hobgoblin landsknect with warmages using counterspells should be fun.
