How to make combat more exciting?

trechriron · 06-09-2015, 12:58 PM

1. Create a "battle mat" in your mind or on paper with a list. Jot down some skills that can be used on the terrain then place it on the mat before combat. Something like;

a. Large outcropping of bolders, sharp inclines, climb difficulty -3. Once on top, archers or spear users get higher ground advantage.
b. Pooling stagnant water/thick mud, jump over at no difficulty, slows movement by 1" if walked in, make Hiking skill check to not get stuck for 1 - 3 seconds.
etc.

2. Martial Arts has piles of great maneuvers in it. PCs should be feinting and using deceptive attack. PCs should gang up on formidable foes, surrounding them is effective (bonuses for flanking or rear attacks). The maneuver cards you can get on W23 are nifty and could work as great reminders to the PCs of their options. Someone around here made a complete set including the MA maneuvers.

3. When getting hammered, people (monsters?) are not likely to just sit there and take a beating. People will retreat. I also use fighting retreats where monsters cover each other as they start backing away looking for a better strategic position. Humanoid monsters skilled in banditry, thuggery and combat should use more advanced tactics. There's a reason they've survived to meet your PCs. :-) Movement can make a combat WAY more dynamic.

4 Prep! a quick handful of various opponents with 1/2 HP and move, 0 HP pre-calculated can speed up combat. Just look at your notes and you know ahead of time what affects injury is having on them.

06-09-2015, 12:58 PM	#1
trechriron Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Yelm, WA	Re: How to make combat more exciting? 1. Create a "battle mat" in your mind or on paper with a list. Jot down some skills that can be used on the terrain then place it on the mat before combat. Something like; a. Large outcropping of bolders, sharp inclines, climb difficulty -3. Once on top, archers or spear users get higher ground advantage. b. Pooling stagnant water/thick mud, jump over at no difficulty, slows movement by 1" if walked in, make Hiking skill check to not get stuck for 1 - 3 seconds. etc. 2. Martial Arts has piles of great maneuvers in it. PCs should be feinting and using deceptive attack. PCs should gang up on formidable foes, surrounding them is effective (bonuses for flanking or rear attacks). The maneuver cards you can get on W23 are nifty and could work as great reminders to the PCs of their options. Someone around here made a complete set including the MA maneuvers. 3. When getting hammered, people (monsters?) are not likely to just sit there and take a beating. People will retreat. I also use fighting retreats where monsters cover each other as they start backing away looking for a better strategic position. Humanoid monsters skilled in banditry, thuggery and combat should use more advanced tactics. There's a reason they've survived to meet your PCs. :-) Movement can make a combat WAY more dynamic. 4 Prep! a quick handful of various opponents with 1/2 HP and move, 0 HP pre-calculated can speed up combat. Just look at your notes and you know ahead of time what affects injury is having on them. __________________ Trentin C Bergeron (trechriron)