I was thinking about using Pavises in D&D, and thinking of two different ways to make them work.
1st was a cinematic way, using the idea of a NPC covering another NPC with a giant shield. I thought it has some nice iconicness to help make 2 antagonists more recognizable.
2nd was more for mooks carrying them, so like NPC ranged character can have mobile cover.
Basic Rules:
Pavis:
Heavy, Two Handed, grants 3/4ths (+5 cover)
Action: Can be deployed in a square and grants 3/4ths cover to anyone behind it.
Basically being a 2 handed and heavy item you can't do anything else with it in combat.
My other thought was to have 2 NPCs like Ajax and Teucer from the Illiad. One as a melee specialist (Ajax) with a pavis and the other an archer. The melee person uses the pavis to cover the archer/wizard (Teucer) until the PCs close into combat.
I was thinking for this the "Ajax" would use his Action to "Ready to Cover" an attack. Granting "Teucer" 3/4th cover for 1 attack, otherwise just the 1/2 cover.
I was thinking about having a "regimented" unit of monsters as NPCs. To create a tough enemy, especially if they can ambush.
I was thinking how how to model the Pavis in D&D 5e.
I was thinking it wouldn't work "as" a shield.
It would be an Action to deploy, at which point it would make cover for anyone directly behind it. It would be an Action to undeploy. Then ranged character can stand behind it and gain the benefits of cover (I'm wondering if 3/4ths is too much). Now this can be easily defeated by going around the Pavis, but that's the trick to it obviously.
Just stumbled on this, I have a player (artificer) who is currently designing a crossbow shield combo, the character is a warforged so has the ability to carry heavier items, am waiting for the player to show me their designs and then work out the mechanics of that :).
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I was thinking about using Pavises in D&D, and thinking of two different ways to make them work.
1st was a cinematic way, using the idea of a NPC covering another NPC with a giant shield. I thought it has some nice iconicness to help make 2 antagonists more recognizable.
2nd was more for mooks carrying them, so like NPC ranged character can have mobile cover.
Basic Rules:
Pavis:
Heavy, Two Handed, grants 3/4ths (+5 cover)
Action: Can be deployed in a square and grants 3/4ths cover to anyone behind it.
Basically being a 2 handed and heavy item you can't do anything else with it in combat.
My other thought was to have 2 NPCs like Ajax and Teucer from the Illiad. One as a melee specialist (Ajax) with a pavis and the other an archer. The melee person uses the pavis to cover the archer/wizard (Teucer) until the PCs close into combat.
I was thinking for this the "Ajax" would use his Action to "Ready to Cover" an attack. Granting "Teucer" 3/4th cover for 1 attack, otherwise just the 1/2 cover.
I was thinking about having a "regimented" unit of monsters as NPCs. To create a tough enemy, especially if they can ambush.
I was thinking how how to model the Pavis in D&D 5e.
I was thinking it wouldn't work "as" a shield.
It would be an Action to deploy, at which point it would make cover for anyone directly behind it. It would be an Action to undeploy. Then ranged character can stand behind it and gain the benefits of cover (I'm wondering if 3/4ths is too much). Now this can be easily defeated by going around the Pavis, but that's the trick to it obviously.
Just stumbled on this, I have a player (artificer) who is currently designing a crossbow shield combo, the character is a warforged so has the ability to carry heavier items, am waiting for the player to show me their designs and then work out the mechanics of that :).