Hello Hangries!

🌞🎲 Hello there,

We hope this message finds you well, whether you're enjoying the warmth of summer or finding solace in the coolness of your gaming den. (Who wants to drop their dice in the beach sand or at the park! Stay indoors!) We're excited to share some news that we believe will add a new dimension to your gaming experience. Our next project, The Jester's Court, soon to be launched on Kickstarter, is packed with exciting features: a mystery, combat mechanics to improve combat versus lower-level minions and large-scale combat, and... music?

As a special treat for our newsletter subscribers, we're giving you an exclusive sneak peek into one of the key mechanics of our upcoming adventure - a 'mass combat mechanic'. This feature promises to bring large-scale battles to life, providing a unique challenge for even the most seasoned gamers. So, whether you're a sun-worshipper or a dice-rolling enthusiast, there's something to look forward to in our upcoming Kickstarter. (You can find it here!)

Check out the sneak peak below, visit the kickstarter, and sign up for a reminder!

Happy Gaming, and stay Hangry! 🎲🌞

Battle Group Method

This method of combat is intended for use in cases where larger numbers of low-level NPCs (like royal guards, skeletons, or even waves of wild animals) are used against higher level PCs. Ease of combat management is achieved by having the low-level enemies work in groups, multiplying the HP and damage of the group, and incorporating them into combat as a single entity. This is best achieved by using a group of between 3 and 5 of the creatures in question.

 (The goal should be to get the total CR of a group somewhere that creates the desired level of challenge without making an impossible to track number of combatants.)

For example, in this adventure Guards are treated as a Battle Group in combat. It is suggested to use them in groups of 4 (which creates a CR of approximately 1/2). 

Four guards per group means the HP and damage output of the Guard class is multiplied by 4, and all other stats remain the same. (See chart below: “Converting Single NPCs into Battle Groups.) Note: we only multiply the number of dice, not any modifier. (e.g. If a creature's HP is 1d8+4 a group of four would be calculated as 4d8+4, not 4d4+16!)

As a Battle Group moves into combat, it gets the same number of attacks as a single enemy, but the damage is increased by multiplying the damage die by the number of minions per Group. Similarly, when a PC attacks the Battle Group, damage is done to the collective. In this example below (see chart), a PC making a 16-point damage hit on a Guard Battle Group would leave 22HP remaining in the group. On the Guard Group’s next turn, it would still do the multiplied damage.

This helps replicate the tension of a hero wading through a sea of lower-skilled enemies, and the enemies remaining a true threat. (e.g.: John Wick!) Your adventurers can face off against hordes of enemies with the occasional grunt getting in some good hits. As a DM, you can describe the battle outlined here as:

“You swing your sword into the group, doing 16 damage. Your mighty blow takes out 2 of the 4 guards. The two remaining guards strike, and they manage an impressive hit.” 

Using this method allows you to create some terrific challenges that are easy (for the DM) to manage. Who doesn’t want to see their group of 4 adventurers face off against a group of 20+ skeletons? This method would make that battle as easy to manage as a group of 4 adventurers facing a group of 4 or 5 enemies.

Adjusting the number of enemies, you include in each battle group allows you to scale the threat posed by a group and how long combat may take. Do you face 4 battle groups of 5 minions each? Or two of 10? One of twenty!? Scaling will affect battle plans and how long combat may last. Scaling can also match PC strength. When your level 15 players face off against 2 groups made of 12 skeletons each it won't feel like such a cake walk.

 Until Next Time

We hope you find this method useful, and we hope you'll check out the Kickstarter. We'll see you at The Jester's Court, and talk to you in August.

Don't forget: Like this newsletter? Please share! Need to sign up? Do so here!