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Old 10-17-2018, 03:10 PM   #21
Gnome
 
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Default Re: [DF] defending a fortress from fliers

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Originally Posted by Anthony View Post
Because the kill zone is the entrance? You put your defenses where your opponents need to go.

As far as scouting with worthless creations, I assume there's something more to it that just create animal? Creations do not inherently reveal what they see to their caster, and created animals have animal intelligence. Also, the usual solution to scouts is killing them.
Ok, for some reason the barrier part made me think it has to be a dead end. Seems obvious to me now that it could be a temporary barrier of some kind. See, this is why I need you smart people to help me with the thinkies.

Yes the Druid/Wizard can use rider or beast possession, the latter being the nastiest version as it allows the animal to cast spells...
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Old 10-17-2018, 03:14 PM   #22
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Default Re: [DF] defending a fortress from fliers

GURPS Fantasy suggests being roofed, having slit windows or having it barred, and/or being underground. I'll point out that most iron-age forts and later castles were build on hills. So having a fortress dungeon can be very viable.
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Old 10-17-2018, 03:16 PM   #23
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Default Re: [DF] defending a fortress from fliers

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One thing to think about is: Of all the available countermeasures and defenses, which ones should PCs be able to find out about or expect because they're standard practice in the setting, and which ones should be nasty surprises?

"Like most fortresses, Stalag-23 is ringed with anti-air and anti-magic defenses. They have the gold to fund some good stuff, so we should expect to encounter at least one null-magic field above the fortress and meteoric mortar to slow stone shaping. Thanks to Ranald's scouting efforts, we know that they have watchposts circling the fortress; these posts are manned by regular soldiers and a few animal control specialists, so we should assume that any crows or squirrels in the surroundings could be enemy eyes.

The gate is enchanted heavily to resist practically anything. We suspect that an earth elemental is bound to western tower, but we're not sure. If so, it'll be like that place out in East Adria. There should be a postern gate or underground entrance, but we haven't found it on our initial scouting. It's probably disguised; maybe with magic, maybe not.

On the walls, they have the usual complement of ballistae and catapults, plus a few of those dwarven multi-bolt crossbow... things. Deflect Missile should make those a non-issue; we don't think they have enough gold to equip it all with meteoric projectiles."

And so on.

Does the garrison expect the PCs in particular to be an enemy? If so, they should have worked out some specific countermeasures to what they know about the PCs, especially if the PCs have a particular flashy schtick or something that would be known to observers.

If you really want to mix things up, have a third party act under the confusion caused by the PCs assault, or clue the PCs in that a third party will be assaulting and they can use that for cover or as a distraction.

Also, very few fortresses are expected to stand alone. Where will a relief force come from, and how long will it take to get there? Knowing about this will give the PCs some time pressure.
Lots of fantastic ideas here, thanks! Yes the PCs will be given some general info about the fortress ahead of time. The defenders don’t know specifics about the PCs. And there is a bigger bad that can provide the relief force, but not in combat time! If past battles are any indication the PCs will have murdered or put to flight everyone in less than a minute...
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Old 10-17-2018, 03:52 PM   #24
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Default Re: [DF] defending a fortress from fliers

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Incidentally, large scale mystic mist spells are pretty hilarious for defense.
Mystic Mist is an amazingly good spell. Having to check every second or get disoriented means that sooner or later even a massively high save won't help you. The same goes for the Fright Check, though it takes longer. And even if you makes those saves, there's the minor matter of being unable to see the defenders while they shoot arrows at you that you can't dodge because you can't see them coming. It's wonderful, and I fully expect my players to be in a killing mood after they run into it.
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Old 10-17-2018, 03:53 PM   #25
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Default Re: [DF] defending a fortress from fliers

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Mystic Mist is an amazingly good spell. Having to check every second or get disoriented means that sooner or later even a massively high save won't help you. The same goes for the Fright Check, though it takes longer. And even if you makes those saves, there's the minor matter of being unable to see the defenders while they shoot arrows at you that you can't dodge because you can't see them coming. It's wonderful, and I fully expect my players to be in a killing mood after they run into it.
Yes, I love that one too. I try not to overuse it...
In the past the PCs have dispelled it bit by bit to expunge the enemy.
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Old 10-17-2018, 04:00 PM   #26
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Default Re: [DF] defending a fortress from fliers

Incidentally, pentagram spells are very useful for static defenses, as they're permanent once cast and inexpensive on small areas (no need for a single huge one, just liberally tile the place with small pentagrams).
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Old 10-17-2018, 04:23 PM   #27
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Default Re: [DF] defending a fortress from fliers

Invisible floating traps, to give a rogue something to do. Poison spore bulbs, strangling vines, explosives... all that.

Incidentally, does missile shield defend against sprayer breath weapons? Could try some liquid projectors with debuff effects.
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Old 10-17-2018, 04:34 PM   #28
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Default Re: [DF] defending a fortress from fliers

Consider no Mana zones in your defences combined with architecture that hampers mobility and traps which debuff as well as damage. You want to ambush your PCs in killing zones designed for opponents with serious offensives magic and monstrous combat ability.
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Old 10-17-2018, 05:09 PM   #29
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Default Re: [DF] defending a fortress from fliers

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Incidentally, pentagram spells are very useful for static defenses, as they're permanent once cast and inexpensive on small areas (no need for a single huge one, just liberally tile the place with small pentagrams).
I don’t actually get how that spell is supposed to work. How high up does the effect reach?
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Old 10-17-2018, 05:11 PM   #30
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Default Re: [DF] defending a fortress from fliers

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I don’t actually get how that spell is supposed to work. How high up does the effect reach?
Since it doesn't say, I would assume normal for an area spell. Still plenty to, say, protect an archer behind an arrow slit, or put in a doorway to prevent constructs from passing through.
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Last edited by Anthony; 10-17-2018 at 05:15 PM.
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