arnon's page

So my players opted out of Mass Combat and i'm down to creating some missions for them to play out instead.

Note: There are probably mistakes in the stats and i usually give the enemies higher if not full hp, and even then the party wipes the floor with them...

This is what i came up for the Fort Drelev attack (which will occur next week):

Fort Drelev Battle
The attacking armies will be the same as in the module. I've seen recommendation, i think in the GM thread for the below, and added one idea of mine:

• Trolls at the gate! - A troop (as in the subtype) of trolls lead by a troll fighter 7 will attack the gate with a battering ram.
  
  Enemies:

  
  TROLL HORD CR 13
  NE Medium humanoid (troll, troop)
  Init+2; Senses Perception +10
  DEFENSE
  AC 26, touch 12, flat-footed 22 (+6 armor, +2 Dex, +4 natural, +2 shield)
  hp 300(19d8+171=256), regeneration 5 (acid or fire)
  Fort+16, Ref+8, Will+7
  Defensive Abilities troop traits
  OFFENSE
  Speed 20 ft.
  Melee troop (4d6+11)
  Space 20 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
  STATISTICS
  Str 32, Dex 14, Con 28, Int 6, Wis 9, Cha 6
  Base Atk +19; CMB +30; CMD 32
  Feats Intimidating Prowess, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Perception)

  Troll Fighter
  Male troll fighter 7
  CE Large Humanoid (Giant)
  Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +21
  DEFENSE
  AC 26, touch 13, flat-footed 22 (+8 armor, +3 Dex, +1 dodge, +5 natural, -1 size)
  hp 171 (6d8+7d10+7 favored class +100); Regeneration 5 (fire or acid)
  Fort +18, Ref +7, Will +6; +1 vs. fear
  Defensive Abilities Bravery +2, Fire Immunity 60
  OFFENSE
  Speed 30 ft.
  Melee +2 ranseur +22/+17/+12 (2d6+17) and bite +16 (1d6+4) or bite +18 (1d6+8) and 2 claws +18 (1d6+8)
  Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft. (15 ft. with +2 ranseur)
  Special Attacks rend (2 claws, 1d6+8), weapon training +1 (pole arms)
  STATISTICS
  Str 26, Dex 14, Con 23, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 6
  Base Atk +11; CMB +21; CMD 33 (34 vs. disarm and sunder)
  Feats Combat Reflex, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Multiattack, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Perception), Vital Strike, Weapon Focus (ranseur), Weapon Specialization (ranseur)
  Skills Climb +10, Perception +19
  Languages Giant
  SQ Armor Training 2
  Gear +2 breastplate, +2 ranseur, Potion of protection from energy (1)
  

  
  
• Destroy the catapults - as the title says, but while being harassed by several troops of soldiers. After several rounds some Wyverns will sweep down on them
  
  Enemies:

  
  Catapults hardness 5, 50hp, 100 ft. apart
  Wyverns I think 4 will swoop down after 1d4+2 rounds, and 4 more some 2 rounds later
  INFANTRY TROOP CR 10
  LN Medium humanoid (human, troop)
  Init+6; Senses Perception +14
  DEFENSE
  AC 23, touch 12, flat-footed 22 (+6 armor, +2 Dex, +4 natural, +2 shield)
  hp 147 (14d8+70)
  Fort+13, Ref+8, Will+7
  Defensive Abilities troop traits
  OFFENSE
  Speed 20 ft.
  Melee troop (4d6+7)
  Space 20 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
  Special Attacks crossbow volley (DC 21)
  STATISTICS
  Str 24, Dex 15, Con 18, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 9
  Base Atk +10; CMB +7; CMD 29
  Feats Ability Focus (crossbow volley), Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness
  SPECIAL ABILITIES
  Crossbow Volley (Ex) The infantry troop can fire a volley of crossbow bolts as a standard action. This attack strikes a 20-foot radius within 800 feet of the center of the troop’s space. All creatures in the radius take 5d8 points of piercing damage (Reflex DC 21 for half). The save DC is reduced by 1 for each 80-foot range increment beyond the first. The save DC is Dexterity-based and includes the bonus from the troop’s Ability Focus feat.
  
  
  
• Hydra from the lake - Since my players did not deal with the Hydra from KM4 (nor did they deal with almost anything in that area, having lost interest in exploration) they'll face her here. It was drawn to the city by another Pitaxian force which did not survive being the bait.
  The hydra will be the 13 headed one from the 6 player conversion thread
  
• They might try to go after the general of the armies, Avinash(?), at some point. They can, but if he start to look like loosing he'll teleport away or something... I want him there at the end.
  

I also think all these encounters will be timed. Take too long and you might loose the fight.

I'd appreciate ideas and thoughts :)

Cheers,
-arnon
-

I agree with DM_aka_Dudemeister

This was the case in my game as well.

Tatzlford was walled and had an army in reserve (small i think) with bows and swords. Once they got word of the impending attack they rushed to Tatzlford along with 2 more units of high-level (6ish) Rangers and Paladins.

Needless to say we were using Mass Combat for this.

I decided to give Aemon a slightly larger force from the start due to the fortification and army in Tatzlford; but Aemon did not expect there to be 2 more crack units in twon, so i left him with what he had and the attack went poorly for him.

Hi Dudemeister, wanted to say thanks for this.

I've run it several month ago and my players really enjoyed the whole monstrous kingdom theme.

But, my players handled it differently in the end:

I haven't gotten around to reading this adventure yet, but ...

Another possibility is to have a session or two before the start of the AP during which the PCs get to know the city and people, and then end the session with them gathered for the ceremony... then start the next session as per the adventure, skipping over the ceremony.

You can even say: "then everything went to Hell..." :)