Hey guys. I have a question about groups and hordes. When a monster in the book says it fights in a group (3-6) and then lists hp and damage is that hp and damage for the entire group or just one monster in that group? If it’s just one do you stack hp and damage or just add +1 for each monster?
Hey guys.
Hey guys.
.
I sort of divide the group into threats. Like maybe 2 going this way towards the wizard and another 3 up on some crates, while the final one comes down the center of the alley, club in hand.
Then the damage is just +0, 1, or 2 depending on which threat is facing which player.
Per monster. Don’t worry. 3 health might not seem like much. But since parties can only attack 1 creature at a time (normally) they are bound to get some damage dealt to them. Unless they’re unlucky, then your 3 health enemy will completely roll them over by himself.
Aaron Griffin do you use the hp for each monster?
Chalice In Chains yup, but I lump it into one group. So in my example, if each creature had 6hp, and the fighter hit the group of three for 13 damage, I’d kill 2 off and leave one hurting.
I like this because Hack and Slash is not modeling a single attack against a single enemy, but is modeling an entire exchange between an expert swordsman and 3 sewer goblins.
Aaron Griffin thanks. That’s what I was thinking- thanks.
parties can only attack 1 creature at a time (normally)
Wait, what?
Noah Doyle so I’m new to running dungeon world but hell no! I am not going to run it like that. However, if they attack multiple enemies I am going to let them know it’s going to be dangerous.
Well one of the dangers of a horde is because you can only attack some enemies at a time and the rest will swarm you. Being able to hit all of them in one swing will take the challange away.
Pretty much the rule of thumb I use is if it makes fictional sense based on the character’s description of the attack and the story (“You are being swarmed by a horde of goblins, what do you do?” “I thust my rapier at the one in front vs I swing my greatsword in a mighty sweep” they can attack more than one at a time, though that then opens them up to counter attacks on their Hack and Slash roll to more than one (though sometimes it makes fictional sense that they suffer multiple attacks anyway)
The rules for Hack & Slash explicitly say that it can be applied against more than one enemy, although Volley seems to be against one enemy only (given that Blot Out the Sky gives the Ranger the ability to Volley against multiple targets).
I agree with that, but that’s why I specified the fiction will impact it
Oh yeah, wasn’t intending to disagree with you there.
james day Keep in mind that Hack & Slash isn’t a single swing, it’s a short moment of hand to hand fighting, often involving more than one swing, blocks, dodge, or hit.
Yes, That is what I was thinking. I describe it to the players as a short action sequence such as a scene involving a single character (or characters if they are co-operating) where they do many different things, then bounces to another character’s point of view where they are near by in combat too. This explains the narritive style of bouncing from player to player going, “What do you do?” and switching up all the time. (instead of going around in a circle of the players at the table, round-robin style)