Creature Feature
Gang,
I - for one - would like our dungeons and dragons game to be fairly strategic, with the players confronting problems which require clever plans. Now, we all know that if you don’t have any information you must, by default, just take shots in the dark. So far in this campaign, there has been a pattern of players mostly taking shots in the dark, taking wild chances, and I do think the cause is lack of information.
Two kinds of information are lacking: (1) predictable results of actions and (2) the abilities and statistics of monsters. In order to make the consequences of character actions more predictable, we did an experiment with dice: instead of rolling 1d20, we rolled 3d6 for checks. This meant we were far more likely to have middle numbers (8-13) than high or low numbers (3-7; 14-18). The numbers which were meant to be outliers, meant to be lucky or unlucky, are now actually less probable than mediocre results. Given this information, you are more able to make informed decisions, rather than gambles. (I'm exaggerating toward the truth)
http://www.thedarkfortress.co.uk/tech_reports/3_dice_rolls.htm
However, the dice change provides some but not enough new information. The Cleric with +6 to hit with his mace now knows he is most likely to roll between 14 and 19, but if he has no experience of enemy ACs to draw on when using this “predictive science,” the knowledge of his likely die rolls isn’t all that useful.
To give you a sense of enemy AC’s, and also to supply you the “prior combat experience” you might have had if we’d played against opponents for levels 1-3, I’ll bring two things to the table.
1. A list of Armor Classes for monsters you would have fought or could guess at easily
2. Creature Feature: I’ll give the low down of a creature and some relevant commentary. In your character’s back story, he or she may have encountered these creatures. In any case there might be substantial lore or “cultural memory/knowledge” passed down to your character about these creatures.*
* Of course, I won’t give you knowledge of creatures you’ve never encountered before, so there will be some surprises left in life....and DEATH (sorry)
Table 1: Armor Class and Hp for Familiar, Humanoid Melee Combatants
| Monster | AC | Hp |
| Orc tribesman from the Hordelands | 13 | 5 |
| Hobgoblin marine from the isles near Napaj | 15 | 6 |
| Elven patrolman from the edges of Darkenwood | 15 | 4 |
| Sahuagin infantry raiding coastal towns of the Great Ocean | 16 | 11 |
| Human-size skeleton in a necromancer’s lair | 15 | 6 |
| Lizardfolk spearman from the isle of Catatan (jk) | 15 | 11 |
Let’s see how melee combat ought to run with a character of middling melee ability.
Creature Feature: Feanor vs. an Orc Tribesman from the Hordelands
Were Feanor the Fire Mage in the Hordelands and attacked by an orc tribesman, he would have to defend himself using his melee combat skills, instead of just grilling the punk at range.
Feanor has +2 to attack with his scimitar. Rolling 3d6, Ian is likely to roll between 8 and 13, meaning that when he rolls for his total attack, he will consistently roll 10-15.
The Orc tribesman, being agile and wearing some light armor for an AC of 13, is in danger from Feanor. Feanor is pretty likely to hit him (though he’ll no doubt miss a bunch too!).
Given that Feanor deals 2-12 damage with every hit, the orc might be felled in 1 blow, or it might take 3 blows. Feanor can kill this orc in melee combat. But - can he kill the orc before the orc kills him?
Feanor has 31 hp when he is in perfect health, but he has an AC of 14. Because the Orc rolls between 12 and 17, it is pretty likely to hit Feanor when it attacks, and because its damage is between 6 and 12, Feanor could be killed in 3 to 5 hits.
Though its close, Feanor can - with luck and tenacity - defeat an orc tribesman. It will be a hard and risky fight, so he probably shouldn’t engage in melee, against even this most mediocre of melee combatants. SO: If Feanor is a character motivated by survival and victory, his strategy will not revolve around melee combat. But that is of course up to the player and depends on what he finds fun.
Luckily, Feanor also shoots lasers. Against the Orc at range, Feanor attacks with +4 (between 12 and 17 total) against the Orc AC 11 (his armor doesn't count against laser fire!).
Feanor can expect to hit the orc when he rolls, and when (not if) he hits, the orc takes 4d6+4 damage (between 8 and 30 damage). Given the Orc’s 6 hp, the orc eats it like Porkins in IV. Feanor may appropriately begin cackling like Bobby Flay at this point.
Strategically, Feanor should not be engaging in melee combat unless he can’t help it. Una and Kajit shouldn’t either, unless Kajit is sneak attacking.*
For Motonari, Sigurd, Chase, and Benedict, the appropriate response to an orc tribesman attacking in melee is “bitch, please!” And other such dismissive cuss phrases. This is because their ACs are high, their melee attack bonuses are high, and their melee damage is high - all much higher than the orc’s.
Second Note: Thinking about Ranged Combat
The average humanoid can move 30ft/round, and so can charge 60ft (charge= double movement). A bow or crossbow has range ~100ft and at the very least >60ft.
So, when you can see an enemy at a distance, you can shoot them at least once from close range before they get to you. Even before that, you might hit them at long distance.
Ranged combat is your friend. It is not honorable according to the Iliad, but they weren’t self-interested treasure hunters, or practical servants of the people. Given that bows and crossbows deal 1d6 or 1d8 or 1d10, they can provide a one shot kill against the humanoids listed above, or at the very least the 1 or two damage of even the worst shots will make sure the next hit on the orc will drop it.
More to come -- Hill Giant and Sneak Attack options
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