Hi everybody!
Altough I like the D&D v3.5 rules very much i still miss something:
The +2 flanking bonus seems to be all that happens when PCs are outnumbered. So no matter how many orcs you send against let's say a 6th level party, the chance of losing the encounter is always close to zero.
Because I'd like to keep my players respectfull towards let's say a squad of 20 orcs I'd personally like to implement a rule that increases the flanking bonus by one for every additional flanking encounter or something similar. But this would immediately mess up the CR-rules, XP and everything.
What do you think? Any propositions?
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Because I'd like to keep my players respectfull towards let's say a squad of 20 orcs I'd personally like to implement a rule that increases the flanking bonus by one for every additional flanking encounter or something similar. But this would immediately mess up the CR-rules, XP and everything.
Be careful with this. If you use it against the PCs, they should be able to use it against NPCs. Do you want them to be able to surround a dragon and get a huge bonus to hit? There was a thread here a little while ago that talked about flanking you should take a look at.
Take a look at the teamwork benefits from the DMGII and PHBII. There might be something there that you could use.
It may be better to simply increase some of the orcs' stats. Give them a higher Str and Con to increase their ability to hit and stay in the fight a little longer. Having one leveled wizard and/or cleric with the orcs could really change the group's abilities.
There are also times when the PCs enjoy the "We Rock" mentality after going through a battle virtually unscathed. There is nothing wrong with this and often times it is good for "morale".
Hope that this helps.
Two words...
Aid Another!
In melee combat, you can help a friend attack or defend by distracting or interfering with an opponent. If you’re in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is engaging a friend in melee combat, you can attempt to aid your friend as a standard action. You make an attack roll against AC 10. If you succeed, your friend gains either a +2 bonus on his next attack roll against that opponent or a +2 bonus to AC against that opponent’s next attack (your choice), as long as that attack comes before the beginning of your next turn. Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and similar bonuses stack.
You can also use this standard action to help a friend in other ways, such as when he is affected by a spell, or to assist another character’s skill check.
Miph (not Melf)
So no matter how many orcs you send against let's say a 6th level party, the chance of losing the encounter is always close to zero.
Frankly, that's by design. Few D&D players find it much fun to have their ass handed to them by a bunch of mooks, particularly once they've advanced beyond the first few character levels.
That having been said, there are a number of tactics that can be used to overcome higher-level opponents. Are you taking advantage of combat tactics that use opposed Strength checks (Trip, Bull Rush, etc.) rather than BAB? Grappling is another tactic that can equalize things; a Power Attacking fighter-type who doesn't have Combat Reflexes can be fairly easily swarmed and reduced to using light weapons (if any at all).
Others have already mentioned Aid Another and class levels, but they're worth repeating.
If you want to make the orcs more fearsome, consider giving them a few character levels. Probably shouldn't do this all the time. However, if at one point the characters run into a fairly powerful orcish barbarian then they may think twice before attacking a group of orcs, wondering if one of them may be more of a handfull than his fellows.
Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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There was an old knights of the dinner table strip where the PC's took to hiring mobs of beggars once they realized the overbearing rules were broken. Beware the leadership feat should you choose to fiddle with outnumbering.
Of course, in the comic, the PCs decided not to pay the beggars, and were promptly overborn themselves.
Frankly, that's by design. Few D&D players find it much fun to have their ass handed to them by a bunch of mooks, particularly once they've advanced beyond the first few character levels.
Yeah of course it is. They're heroes after all. And most of the time it suits me (and the party) very well. There's just some moments in game (like the orc army camping the valley the party's got to cross the next session) where I think that some ridiculously unfair fights should be lost and not end with "great cleave, great cleave great cleave, great cleave great cleave, great cleave, great cleave, great cleave ..."
Of course that's exagerated but you get the picture.
But thanks for the input everyone, with these ideas i will be able to cook up a nice little soup.