D&D 5E (2014) Tools for Running Larger Battles Efficiently

[aco175]

I made a basic Word Doc to try and use for a large battle based on the comments on @ExploderWizard and @SkidAce mentioned above. On the second page, I have a Strength/Weakness column that I think would be for guessing the army's power and then compare it to the monsters column to see who has the total modifier. It seems a little guessing involved, but then intended to add description based on the PCs helping or giving areas options for the PCs to help based on how the army is doing.

A bit of a timing problem but likely handwavable. The PCs fight in 6 second rounds with specific bad guys, but the army would fight over a longer duration such as 10 minute 'rounds'. Having the rolls for the army the same as the PCs means that these large formations clash over 30 seconds before a whole formation or platoon is destroyed, (they are not really a whole army).

 

[SkidAce]

If it's armies versus armies I use 10 minutes also.

I normally use 1 round like the PCs when things are more "local", like the surrounding fight at the castle gates, so the PCs can interact with them. And the battle for all the area like a city or army clash is 10 minutes.

Running a game today so will look at doc later.

 

[SkidAce]

I made a basic Word Doc to try and use for a large battle based on the comments on @ExploderWizard and @SkidAce mentioned above. On the second page, I have a Strength/Weakness column that I think would be for guessing the army's power and then compare it to the monsters column to see who has the total modifier. It seems a little guessing involved, but then intended to add description based on the PCs helping or giving areas options for the PCs to help based on how the army is doing.

A bit of a timing problem but likely handwavable. The PCs fight in 6 second rounds with specific bad guys, but the army would fight over a longer duration such as 10 minute 'rounds'. Having the rolls for the army the same as the PCs means that these large formations clash over 30 seconds before a whole formation or platoon is destroyed, (they are not really a whole army).

Fantastic and helpful doc. I should have looked at it before we played. would have made tracking easier.

 

[SkidAce]

Worked out great last night. Players used their presence and abilities to hold the "Militia versus Plants" zone from collapsing, reinforced the "Archers on the Wall" zone so they could focus on breakthrough enemies. While the "Dragon versus Beholder" battle played out in the sky.

With good rolls (and modifiers) the Archers cleared their zone, allowing them to reinforce the militia zone which had been in trouble. NPC cavalry came in from the "South" zone and hit the enemy plants and pod people from the flank. Militia rallied, PCs started focusing on the Beholder (which put them in regular combat instead of "zone" combat. Beholder while battling the dragon almost disintegrated or petrified two PCs. Made a request to the dragon to grapple the beholder closer to the ground. Beholder was down to 30 hp from fighting the dragon, PCs finished it off. Town saved.

I might not call it a combat simulator, but its a great framework to involve the PCs in a larger battle.