tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post4918990636277935398..comments2024-03-28T22:00:35.840-07:00Comments on Playing D&D With Porn Stars: Now Taking Odds For The Assault on The Fortress of CrowsZak Sabbathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-58944250389135993152010-04-14T08:23:19.917-07:002010-04-14T08:23:19.917-07:00I'm loving the multi-level fortress and bridge...I'm loving the multi-level fortress and bridges, walkways, etc.<br /><br />I always thought it would be cool to have the undead making their own siege ramps, ladders, bridges, etc., out of their own bodies... so when the army of skeletons come to a ditch, the first 100 throw themselves in and the rest march right over them. When the army has passed, any survivors that were not ground into fertilizer rejoin the rear ranks. To pass over a wall, they could form a ramp of skeletons right up against it and the rest march up. (like 1/2 of a human pyramid against the wall).<br />They also have no fear, don't need food or water, never sleep, etc.Stefan Poaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192911890556534923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-1483943365297144902010-04-14T01:49:36.147-07:002010-04-14T01:49:36.147-07:00Release the WARPIGS!
http://dndwithpornstars.blogs...Release the WARPIGS!<br />http://dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com/2010/02/beasts.htmlNocturnimalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12386315917892252545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-47798029857360096992010-04-13T19:48:46.571-07:002010-04-13T19:48:46.571-07:00I like the idea of making mass combats more abstra...I like the idea of making mass combats more abstract. Really just an interesting backdrop for what the PCs are doing. I like the idea of having a bunch of set combat encounters that depending on what the PCs do affect the overall flow of the combat. Such as with your guard the bridge senario: If the PCs hold the bridge completely, good outcome A. If they hold it for at least X number of turns, neutral outcome B. If the only hold it for less than X number of turns, bad outcome C and so on. <br /><br />A DM of a 2nd edition AD&D campaign I played in off and on for a couple years used a similar system and it worked pretty well. We'd tried a couple of other mixed PC/Mass Combat rules kludges and they generally made it either too deadly for the PCs or over powered them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-89146662661733839932010-04-13T19:31:18.579-07:002010-04-13T19:31:18.579-07:00Do the skeletons have artillery? Or sappers or som...Do the skeletons have artillery? Or sappers or something? If not, I think my money would be on the defenders.<br /><br />However, gambling is against my religion, so not really.Menace 3 Societyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10697437012473847456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-51787898818369264172010-04-13T18:29:01.660-07:002010-04-13T18:29:01.660-07:00Just to focus on the most important part of the wh...Just to focus on the most important part of the whole post:<br /><br />"I'm not sure what the final odds will be (and I don't want to give them away because I'm dictating this to Mandy and she's typing it up for me)..."<br /><br />Dude...you dictate your blog posts to your GF? And she types the shit out for ya? <br /><br />*Bows out of respect*<br /><br />Now, to the meat of it...my take is that the GF/Players will win. Why? Because unlike most groups, you have to go to bed that night just a few feet from where you just killed your GF's character. Now, Mandy seems like a cool woman, but knowing that her side of the bed is gonna feel pretty damn cold to you for some indeifinite period of time would, I suspect, help you out in deciding which way to fudge the rolls.<br /><br />To say nothing of all further dictation services being cut off...Joethelawyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00380090049725742287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-82203373528166635272010-04-13T12:10:57.222-07:002010-04-13T12:10:57.222-07:00Unless there's something I don't know, it ...Unless there's something I don't know, it seems like mass low-level clerics against mass ordinary skeletons should be a big plus for the defenders. On the other hand, presumably the death knights know of turning attempts and have guarded aginst it somehow. Either by taking point themselves or procuring some kind of turning resistance effect.<br /><br />So I guess I don't have a firm prediction. If I were a player, I'd try to plan either for maximizing npc turn undead attempts against groups of skeleons, or for targeting and eliminating death knights one at a time.<br /><br />I'm another fan of the L5R combat system, tho from what I remember it's optimized for armies drawn up on an open field. The tower-centric battle here might require rolling for each tower rather than one whole battle.Dave R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00767476872158176086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-10760719437847292542010-04-13T11:52:07.326-07:002010-04-13T11:52:07.326-07:00@Stuart
They're not the whole horde, they'...@Stuart<br /><br />They're not the whole horde, they're just the part of it that's bothering to attack this particular fortress.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-30658214237793752812010-04-13T10:57:42.682-07:002010-04-13T10:57:42.682-07:00To play this fair, you have to act, as if your kno...<i>To play this fair, you have to act, as if your knowledge of the scene is limited to what the undead knights know.</i><br /><br />Unless, of course, in life, some of the undead came from the city...<br /><br />I will bet on the players winning out, if only because there are more of them, and crazy game-winning ideas come more easily from a collection of minds than they do from a single thinker.<br /><br />Interesting system, by the way, and I agree with the idea of doing something different each time. <a href="http://brightonandhoveroleplayers.blogspot.com/2010/02/rogue-trader-session-03-god-is-dead.html" rel="nofollow">A few weeks ago in my game</a>, the players got themselves into a large-scale combat, and for that I came up with <a href="http://brightonandhoveroleplayers.blogspot.com/2010/02/war-made-easy.html" rel="nofollow">this system</a>. It worked well enough, but I'm going to do something a bit different for the next big fight.<br /><br />For what it's worth, the first edition of <i>Legend of the Five Rings</i> had a very neat mass combat system, one that I've converted for use in other games with much success. It emphasised individual player actions, with these actions influencing the wider combat, but without having to worry about the statistics of the involved armies.thekelvingreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01928260185408072124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-59813850030619105332010-04-13T10:28:09.507-07:002010-04-13T10:28:09.507-07:00Psst! Over to the right! Siege rules at the RPG Co...Psst! Over to the right! Siege rules at the RPG Corner! (Ok, for the Pendragon system, but doesn't look that hard to convert.)Roger G-Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594440701279968693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-59638713292434526772010-04-13T10:24:18.402-07:002010-04-13T10:24:18.402-07:00I would agree with Stuart, to successfully seize a...I would agree with Stuart, to successfully seize a fortress you need about 10:1 historically. Typically sieges didn't work because they'd have to break when the army besieging starved or had to go home (for various reasons). The undead have no pressure to end this quickly (unless there's something in the fort that's time sensitive).<br /><br />If the players do want to fight with the undead, they'd probably have to sally out into the horde (which, if intelligently commanded, has built its own earthworks and fortifications). Obviously a fight in the city would be cooler, but if that's the case the odds would seem with the PCs.Rhinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08073420538184050604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-45981355197418023192010-04-13T10:03:09.352-07:002010-04-13T10:03:09.352-07:00So, wait, what do the skeletons want?So, wait, what do the skeletons want?huthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502682297320819595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-73955593323029747612010-04-13T08:51:03.491-07:002010-04-13T08:51:03.491-07:00I think you'll want to factor in defender mora...I think you'll want to factor in defender morale into your equations somehow - especially as casualties start to mount and towers fall. The huge advantage that undead have here is that they don't panic, don't retreat, don't get tired.<br /><br />They also aren't effected by wounds and don't get thirst or hungry - all things that make a huge difference to the morale of an army.<br /><br />On the flipside - they're pretty stupid, don't really know when to retreat, and can't take advantage of sudden opportunities or think laterally. All in all, it's a really cool match-up of ingenuity versus inevitability.<br /><br />The way I'd run it is that the undead start by applying roughly equal pressure everywhere - they have the numbers. Once they start to make headway somewhere, they'll draw off pressure elsewhere and increase pressure there. <br /><br />Since they are undead, they'll keep some pressure up everywhere, to prevent the defenders from shifting too many men around - they don't really care about casualties taken, only inflicted. Once they take a tower, the split all their forces around the remaining ones, or head everyone to another place they are making headway.Jeremy Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17072164588443858336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-73602141918988095802010-04-13T08:17:58.328-07:002010-04-13T08:17:58.328-07:00Sounds like a great system - i'm very curious ...Sounds like a great system - i'm very curious to find out how it goes. i'd bet on the pc's, because i like to believe that a bunch of crazy people can defeat one smart one.<br /><br />Also, "the strength of 10,000 bats"?!? Awesome, simply awesome.brink.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11853174644865187939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-64302926597179917682010-04-13T08:10:40.170-07:002010-04-13T08:10:40.170-07:002 to 1 odds for the attackers isn't enough. 3 ...2 to 1 odds for the attackers isn't enough. 3 to 1 is the rule of thumb for normal attacks. Put the defenders in a castle/fort and 10 to 1 is much more likely to be even. Medieval history is full of examples of castles being defended by a ridiculously small number of soldiers.<br /><br />That's why sieges were the preferred method of taking strongholds. Letting all those refugees, useless women (I'm going to hear from Mandy, aren't I?) and children eat all food was way better than trying to take it.<br /><br />So you need more undead. Besides 1000 skeletons doesn't really constitute a "Horde".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-39225392868417586332010-04-13T07:48:34.550-07:002010-04-13T07:48:34.550-07:00The odds do look pretty much even. The best way to...The odds do look pretty much even. The best way to conquer a fortress is having someone open the gates from inside, but since the enemy army consists of skeletons... uh huh... I somehow doubt that'll work. <br />Besides, they're the PCs, they can do anything! As proved by the epic story of Joe the Gorth-Slayer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-36697522065400870122010-04-13T07:18:51.476-07:002010-04-13T07:18:51.476-07:00This sounds like fun. Cool artwork for the castle...This sounds like fun. Cool artwork for the castle and I particularly like the vertical text block label.<br /><br />My prognostications are that some of the PCs and some of the NPCs will escape via the dungeon, but the castle will ultimately fall.PatrickWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02083947433803227063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-82312073926485005802010-04-13T06:33:38.365-07:002010-04-13T06:33:38.365-07:00Always bet on the PCs!
Anyhow, a fun "mass c...Always bet on the PCs!<br /><br />Anyhow, a fun "mass combat" system that you might consider sometime is just to use higher number dice for "tougher" opponents & roll one die of that type per unit-- so many skeletons roll d4 but there are 10 of them, maybe paladins roll d8 but there are 5 of them. Then just sort of get a feel from the numbers that turn up.mordicaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05713766652793265867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-12513064379075658432010-04-13T06:09:40.128-07:002010-04-13T06:09:40.128-07:00While I am a FIRM believer in, and vocal advocate ...While I am a FIRM believer in, and vocal advocate of, the concept of "a pool of imaginative minds," if I read it right, the skellingtons has to win. Looks like the setup is they win, they advance one, they lose, no penalty. By definition, given enough rolls, they win. Now, if the command points can be taken back...<br /><br />BTW, the force multiplyer for any castle is a lot more than 2.AGCIAShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00555314975157295572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-82091442464099445832010-04-13T05:06:19.537-07:002010-04-13T05:06:19.537-07:00I bet on the players. They have a fortress, an arm...I bet on the players. They have a fortress, an army of paladins and clerics and even if they loose, they can escape and keep all the xp and loot they want. <br /><br />The only objection to this whole thing is - you are both the designer of the fortress and the leader of the undead army. To play this fair, you have to act, as if your knowledge of the scene is limited to what the undead knights know. And that is very difficult.squidmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486198900111225929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-4875821069108623372010-04-13T03:26:05.064-07:002010-04-13T03:26:05.064-07:00Naturally, its main export is plot hooks:
[...]
KK...<i>Naturally, its main export is plot hooks:<br />[...]<br />KK accidentally drinking a kleptomania potion thinking it'd give her the strength of 10,000 bats</i><br /><br />All the good sense imparted in this post aside, these made me laugh.<br /><br />I'm placing my money on the relentless tide of Harryhausen homages, simply because they don't feel fear, pain or tiredness in the way the living do. And coz I'm a <a href="http://mythicmktg.fileburst.com/war/us/home/images/newsletter/2009_03/Tomb-King.jpg" rel="nofollow">Tomb Kings</a> fanboy.<br /><br />The living will enjoy local successes, but unless an army of dogs appears on the horizon, they'll end up beating a hasty retreat after a hard-fought battle (mainly because comebacks from behind are inherently cooler as a fight format).<br /><br />I'm presuming the styrofoam city blocks will be getting another workout, and you'll eventually have pics for us?Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04072272223837426211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-81439503449876514342010-04-13T02:22:42.154-07:002010-04-13T02:22:42.154-07:00Some questions:
-What siege engines do the attack...Some questions: <br />-What siege engines do the attackers/defenders have?<br />- What are the numbers of the attackers/defenders?<br />- Do the attackers/defenders have "special forces"(supernatural stuff or specialty troops that would give a severe advantage) at their disposal?<br />- Can the attackers use magic to waste/spoil/plague the supplies and/or the inhabitants of the fortress? (Is it a fortress or a true walled city? I didn't get that clearly tbh...)<br /><br />The question is: Do you rather want to narrate the siege? Or is there a possibility for the PCs to end the session with a well-executed TPK?<br /><br />Best regards<br />p.s.: 40k skills is not an indicator to good wargaming as 40k is more a game of "who spends the most money wins always" instead of who has the best strategy that counts. Even if you've read Napoleon, von Clausewitz (He was Freiherr, mind you!) and Sun Tzu you could still be a lousy tactician after all or just botch all your rolls.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-17616642880700115832010-04-13T02:14:33.267-07:002010-04-13T02:14:33.267-07:00players win. why?
you might know more about milit...players win. why?<br /><br />you might know more about military strategy. so what?<br /><br />your opponents have a pool of imaginative minds at their disposal. they will think of some exciting/hilarious/dumb things to do that will make you want them to succeed.(cause the outcome of their actions will be much more fun than you outsmarting them on a battlefield)<br /><br />daring suicide-charges or setting zombiepants on fire... beats sun tzu every time! ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-13127227682557422812010-04-13T01:30:02.520-07:002010-04-13T01:30:02.520-07:00Firstly, props to you for reading Clausewitz!
I&...Firstly, props to you for reading Clausewitz! <br /><br />I'd bet on the PCs. Skeletons with a 2:1 advantage over soldiers (or 5:2, depending on your decisions), but assaulting a large fortified city, sounds like an even matchup. <br /><br />So the forces themselves are a wash. So comparing the commands - while you've got more experience, I have learned to never underestimate player cunning, except when you're rooting for them to win because that's the time that they muck it all up. Since you're not doing that...my money's on the players.<br /><br />Eager to see how this turns out.Allandaroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01046079318999891967noreply@blogger.com