I've come to the realization that I am better at running combat with battle maps than without them. So unless there's like only one or two enemies that are low level, most battles will have maps. That being said, I'm going to try a new way of doing maps rather than the ASCII maps I had been doing.
You travel a bit further than usual while searching for monsters to slay. You soon come to clearing in the forest. This part is located in a place where the ground is on a lower elevation that most of the other forest. This natural pit is 10ft deep. There are slanting grounds on the edges of the natural pit so getting in and out of it is not a problem. The sky has gone a bit dark with grey clouds. It looks like it might rain soon. The ground is mostly covered in tall grass. There is a scattering of trees and bushes across the pit. There are patches of deep mud on the ground as well, unsurprising since all water from surrounding areas would pour into this pit thanks to its lower elevation. A bit further into the pit, closer to the east edge, you hear the sounds of something heavy rolling across the ground. Getting closer, you notice a small war band consisting of two Gnolls with lances, a hobgoblin and a lizardfolk. The band is being led by a Gold Dragon Wyrmling.
They seem to be very well equipped. The Gnolls are wearing half-plate armor and their lances seem to be of very high quality, even magical in nature. The Hobgoblin is clad in plate mail and holding a long sword with an ornate red hilt. The Lizardfolk is also clad in Plate Mail. He is holding a holy symbol in one hand and mace in another one.
While the Gold Dragon walks with them from behind, the other 4 push a large cart. The cart doesn't have any traditional equipment inside it but it does have a War Weapon, a Dual Bolter, attached to it. Other than the Dual Bolter, there are many crossbow bolts in the cart, no doubt to serve as ammo for the War Weapon. On the side of the cart is the symbol of Ultemor's Military. Clearly this cart was stolen from the city guard. The banner that is attached to the side of the cart is proof that it is stolen. The banner depicts the head of a trident pointing down. The middle spike of the trident has skewered the head of a eyeless human from the top.
You approach stealthily, knowing you are well hidden. As you get into attack range however, the dragon turns around swiftly followed by all the other monsters. The dragon says, "Did you truly believe you were well hidden from us? Now that you have come within our reach, the ground shall run red with blood for the glory of Korcaxal. Blood for the Blood God!"
Lucia mentions, "Chief! That war machine is going to become a big problem for us. Do you think you can get on it or keep them from using it?"
To mount the weapon, you need to be in L16, L17, N16 or N17 and use an action to mount it.
From your current position, to do that, you need to dash as an action to reach L16 an then Action surge to get a 2nd action with which to mount the weapon. This will allow you to mount on this turn and attack in your next turn. The Hobgoblin will likely try to pull you out of the weapon though (Grapple). You will also be taking AoO from the Gold Dragon should you do this.
On the other hand, if you ignore the weapon, the hobgoblin will mount it and that would be a problem. The weapon let's you attack 3 times for 1d10+DEX damage per attack. It must reload after every volley. It is reloaded using an attack.
Also can you see the map clearly? Re-reading the map, you might be able to get to the weapon by triggering AoO from the Hobgoblin and Gnoll1 instead of the Gold Dragon.
You can shoot it if you want but it has 120 HP AC 12.
As for shooting the gunner, the weapon does not have a gunner yet. Your side won initiative so you are going before the monsters. This is why you can mount it if you Action Surge and risk AoO from the Gold Wyrmling. It is also why Lucia wanted you to mount it before the enemy can do it.
Mystery can't cast Bless. She does not know that spell. You gave her Mage Armor and Shield (And Protection from Good and Evil but I think that's a feature from Divine Soul subclass)
Which bush on the map are you moving to?
Please note that the Trees offer cover (Type of cover depends on which angle the target is attacking from). Bushes offer no cover but you can become Obscured (considered invisible) If you go prone in the bushes. Which bush are you moving to on the map?
In a surge of action (Action Surge), Tomoe rushes forward. She weaves between her enemies and climbs on to the cart. The Gold Dragon tries to bite her but she is too fast for him. She sits herself in the gunner's seat of the Dual Bolter, determined to use the war machine against her enemies.
(DM: The Dual Bolter is considered a Heavy Crossbow for the purpose of proficiency.)
If I'm reading the map right It looks like mystery is in a decent spot. She will hold a toll the dead to cast on the first enemy that one of her allies hits and damages.
Kate charges out from a Bush, being the only one to have successfully hid from the enemy war band. Kate immediately lets her aura flare around her as she burns the Gnolls and the War Priest. With a loud battle cry, she slams her sword down on the War priest twice, connecting both times with devastating results. Mystery is quick to follow up on Kate's assault to decay the War Priest's life force further.Lucia quickly gets behind the Hobgoblin with her superior speed. She taps the Hobgoblin on the shoulder and as he turns around, she gets him twice with two powerful swings to the jaw, breaking it. She tries to finish her combo with an uppercut but the hobgoblin dodges the finisher.
Then, Ingrid, with a grim determination in his eyes, charges straight for the dragon but she doesn't attack conventionally. Suddenly the whole battlefield can feel a morbid presence; a presence as if death itself is looming over the battlefield. Without any explanation, all the enemies begin vomiting blood, the War Priest and the Hobgoblin both drop dead. The dragon, seemingly knowing what's going on speaks to Ingrid in Draconic. Meanwhile Kate and Lucia both look at Ingrid with faces of bewilderment. They have never seen her or anyone do anything like this before. What kind of spell was that?
For anyone who understands Draconic (Kate and Lucia don't):
You... you are no ordinary paladin. You are an agent of The Eternal Presence. I can sensed the elder god's presence right now. Tell me? Why are you attacking us, followers of the Blood-mad Warlord?
Regardless the dragon flies away swats Ingrid's sword away with his tail. He lands away and chants a deafening Battle Cry. Tomoe and Kate find it very hard to concentrate and feel like they are losing strength. Meanwhile, the remaining Gnolls cry out, energized by the chanting. One of them try to pull Tomoe out of the weapon but the samurai holds on. However this leaves her unable to move out of the way as the second gnoll jams his Lance+1 into the girl's belly. (Unequipped Shield because you can't have that and man the War Machine).
Tomoe and Mystery's turn.
DM: While using the Warmachine, a single attack lets you fire it 3 times at 3 targets. It can't fire on targets within 5ft of you. It takes another attack to reload the weapon after firing. So with your normally two attacks, you can fire 3 times with the weapon, each using DEX and 1d10+DEX for damage. You are free to attack with your rapier as an attack action (not part of the 3 shot volley)
Your first attack hits. The second nat1 causes the weapon to jam (this is actually good since now the enemies can't use it either). You don't need/can't reload. You may now attack normally with a heavy crossbow for your 2nd attack.
Rolling Initiative:
Tomoe: 11
Kate: 7
Lucia: 11
Ingrid: 3
Mystery: 16
Gold dragon Wyrmling Korcaxal Acolyte: 21
Gnoll Korcaxal Lancer 1: 9
Gnoll Korcaxal Lancer 2: 17
Lizardfolk Korcaxal War priest: 19
Hobgoblin Korcaxal Warrior: 5
I've come to the realization that I am better at running combat with battle maps than without them. So unless there's like only one or two enemies that are low level, most battles will have maps. That being said, I'm going to try a new way of doing maps rather than the ASCII maps I had been doing.
Map link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OdAKmlWMHNB7sFqHGlAQUB84H2Ik3Ad7y1FE_fNPUYg/edit?usp=sharing
This is the map link. Let me know if you can access it and if the numbers and letters are visible. Also each grid is 5ft.
Enemy HP:
Ingrid: 37/37
Gold Dragon: 77/77
Gnoll1: 40/40
Gnoll2: 40/40
War Priest: 40/40
Hobgoblin: 25/25
Tomoe, Ingrid, Kate and Lucia are in a bush.
Battle Music:
You travel a bit further than usual while searching for monsters to slay. You soon come to clearing in the forest. This part is located in a place where the ground is on a lower elevation that most of the other forest. This natural pit is 10ft deep. There are slanting grounds on the edges of the natural pit so getting in and out of it is not a problem. The sky has gone a bit dark with grey clouds. It looks like it might rain soon. The ground is mostly covered in tall grass. There is a scattering of trees and bushes across the pit. There are patches of deep mud on the ground as well, unsurprising since all water from surrounding areas would pour into this pit thanks to its lower elevation. A bit further into the pit, closer to the east edge, you hear the sounds of something heavy rolling across the ground. Getting closer, you notice a small war band consisting of two Gnolls with lances, a hobgoblin and a lizardfolk. The band is being led by a Gold Dragon Wyrmling.
They seem to be very well equipped. The Gnolls are wearing half-plate armor and their lances seem to be of very high quality, even magical in nature. The Hobgoblin is clad in plate mail and holding a long sword with an ornate red hilt. The Lizardfolk is also clad in Plate Mail. He is holding a holy symbol in one hand and mace in another one.
While the Gold Dragon walks with them from behind, the other 4 push a large cart. The cart doesn't have any traditional equipment inside it but it does have a War Weapon, a Dual Bolter, attached to it. Other than the Dual Bolter, there are many crossbow bolts in the cart, no doubt to serve as ammo for the War Weapon. On the side of the cart is the symbol of Ultemor's Military. Clearly this cart was stolen from the city guard. The banner that is attached to the side of the cart is proof that it is stolen. The banner depicts the head of a trident pointing down. The middle spike of the trident has skewered the head of a eyeless human from the top.
You approach stealthily, knowing you are well hidden. As you get into attack range however, the dragon turns around swiftly followed by all the other monsters. The dragon says, "Did you truly believe you were well hidden from us? Now that you have come within our reach, the ground shall run red with blood for the glory of Korcaxal. Blood for the Blood God!"
Lucia mentions, "Chief! That war machine is going to become a big problem for us. Do you think you can get on it or keep them from using it?"
Tomoe and Mystery's Turn.
Sure thing love. Tomoe replies. Mystery, stay back and only assist if you are safe to do so.
So Lucia wants me to mount the weapon and use it? Am I close enough to do so?
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 12 (8W-4L)- - Coliseum of Conquest: Master of Faerie Fire. Just don't ask her to spell it.
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 6 (2W-1L)- - Coliseum Reborn : Master of a Myriad of forms.
Runt, the Stormchosen: Half-Orc barbarian level 5 -- The Guild
Tomoe Gozen: Human Fighter Samurai level 5 -- Cronero (Solo Campaign)
Well, yes and no.
To mount the weapon, you need to be in L16, L17, N16 or N17 and use an action to mount it.
From your current position, to do that, you need to dash as an action to reach L16 an then Action surge to get a 2nd action with which to mount the weapon. This will allow you to mount on this turn and attack in your next turn. The Hobgoblin will likely try to pull you out of the weapon though (Grapple). You will also be taking AoO from the Gold Dragon should you do this.
On the other hand, if you ignore the weapon, the hobgoblin will mount it and that would be a problem. The weapon let's you attack 3 times for 1d10+DEX damage per attack. It must reload after every volley. It is reloaded using an attack.
It is your choice what you want to do.
Also can you see the map clearly? Re-reading the map, you might be able to get to the weapon by triggering AoO from the Hobgoblin and Gnoll1 instead of the Gold Dragon.
I think ill reading the map right. Can I shoot and disable the weapon? If not I may have to take out the gunner.
Mystery will cast bless on Tomoe, Kate and Lucia and hide behind a Bush to break line of sight and create distance.
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 12 (8W-4L)- - Coliseum of Conquest: Master of Faerie Fire. Just don't ask her to spell it.
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 6 (2W-1L)- - Coliseum Reborn : Master of a Myriad of forms.
Runt, the Stormchosen: Half-Orc barbarian level 5 -- The Guild
Tomoe Gozen: Human Fighter Samurai level 5 -- Cronero (Solo Campaign)
You can shoot it if you want but it has 120 HP AC 12.
As for shooting the gunner, the weapon does not have a gunner yet. Your side won initiative so you are going before the monsters. This is why you can mount it if you Action Surge and risk AoO from the Gold Wyrmling. It is also why Lucia wanted you to mount it before the enemy can do it.
Mystery can't cast Bless. She does not know that spell. You gave her Mage Armor and Shield (And Protection from Good and Evil but I think that's a feature from Divine Soul subclass)
Which bush on the map are you moving to?
Please note that the Trees offer cover (Type of cover depends on which angle the target is attacking from). Bushes offer no cover but you can become Obscured (considered invisible) If you go prone in the bushes. Which bush are you moving to on the map?
Ok, so I'm going to Risk it. Tomoe will make a mad dash for and mount the gun.
I guess mystery wont cast bless then. Lemme rethink her movie while you roll the AoO against Tomoe.
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 12 (8W-4L)- - Coliseum of Conquest: Master of Faerie Fire. Just don't ask her to spell it.
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 6 (2W-1L)- - Coliseum Reborn : Master of a Myriad of forms.
Runt, the Stormchosen: Half-Orc barbarian level 5 -- The Guild
Tomoe Gozen: Human Fighter Samurai level 5 -- Cronero (Solo Campaign)
Map Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OdAKmlWMHNB7sFqHGlAQUB84H2Ik3Ad7y1FE_fNPUYg/edit?usp=sharing
Enemy HP:
Ingrid: 37/37
Gold Dragon: 77/77
Gnoll1: 40/40
Gnoll2: 40/40
War Priest: 40/40
Hobgoblin: 25/25
Gold Wyrm AoO Vs Tomoe: 17 Dmg: 8
In a surge of action (Action Surge), Tomoe rushes forward. She weaves between her enemies and climbs on to the cart. The Gold Dragon tries to bite her but she is too fast for him. She sits herself in the gunner's seat of the Dual Bolter, determined to use the war machine against her enemies.
(DM: The Dual Bolter is considered a Heavy Crossbow for the purpose of proficiency.)
Mystery's turn.
If I'm reading the map right It looks like mystery is in a decent spot. She will hold a toll the dead to cast on the first enemy that one of her allies hits and damages.
Tomoe can fire the gun next turn?
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 12 (8W-4L)- - Coliseum of Conquest: Master of Faerie Fire. Just don't ask her to spell it.
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 6 (2W-1L)- - Coliseum Reborn : Master of a Myriad of forms.
Runt, the Stormchosen: Half-Orc barbarian level 5 -- The Guild
Tomoe Gozen: Human Fighter Samurai level 5 -- Cronero (Solo Campaign)
(Oh! Nice use of the Held Action there)
Map: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OdAKmlWMHNB7sFqHGlAQUB84H2Ik3Ad7y1FE_fNPUYg/edit?usp=sharing
HP:
Ingrid: 37/37 (Temp: 1)
Gold Dragon: 59/77
Gnoll1: 29/40
Gnoll2: 29/40
War Priest: DED/40
Hobgoblin: DED/25
Kate moves and activates aura. Burn Gnolls and war priest for 3. Moving to 18K
Attack1 Vs War Priest: 19 (Adv from Stealth: 20) Dmg: 14
Attack2 Vs War Priest: 22 Dmg: 15
Mystery Toll the Dead Vs War Priest: 5 Necrotic. Priest Save (WIS 14) : 17
Lucia moves behind Hobgoblin and attacks. Moving to 14L
Attack1: 7 Dmg: 7
FoB1: 17 Dmg: 6
FoB2: 15 Dmg: 8
Sneak Attack damage: 2
Crit: 6 (Punch + Sneak Attack)
Crit check: 5 - No crit-
Ingrid moves to H17 and attacks Gold Dragon. She releases a strange attack that you can't quite understand.
All enemies take: 18 Necrotic (29 for less than max HP). WIS13 for half
Gold Dragon: 5
Gnoll 1: 3
Gnoll 2: 20
War priest: 11
Hobgoblin: 12
Gold Dragon risks AoO from Ingrid to move to 17E
Ingrid AoO: 22 Dmg: 8
Fumble: 10 -No fumble-
Gold Dragon releases a War Cry. WIS15 or be subjected to Bane effect. Allies of the Dragon in the War Cry one gets Bless effect.
Tomoe: 15
Ingrid: 20
Lucia: 8
Kate: 18
Kate and Tomoe may repeat the save at the end of their turns.
Gnoll 1 Tries to Pull Tomoe out of the weapon (Grapple): 21 Vs 19 (Grapple Failed)
Gnoll 2 attacks Tomoe:
Lance+1: 16 Dmg: 6 (GWF: Reroll on 1s or 2s: 13)
EDIT: Forgot Bless: 1
Kate charges out from a Bush, being the only one to have successfully hid from the enemy war band. Kate immediately lets her aura flare around her as she burns the Gnolls and the War Priest. With a loud battle cry, she slams her sword down on the War priest twice, connecting both times with devastating results. Mystery is quick to follow up on Kate's assault to decay the War Priest's life force further.Lucia quickly gets behind the Hobgoblin with her superior speed. She taps the Hobgoblin on the shoulder and as he turns around, she gets him twice with two powerful swings to the jaw, breaking it. She tries to finish her combo with an uppercut but the hobgoblin dodges the finisher.
Then, Ingrid, with a grim determination in his eyes, charges straight for the dragon but she doesn't attack conventionally. Suddenly the whole battlefield can feel a morbid presence; a presence as if death itself is looming over the battlefield. Without any explanation, all the enemies begin vomiting blood, the War Priest and the Hobgoblin both drop dead. The dragon, seemingly knowing what's going on speaks to Ingrid in Draconic. Meanwhile Kate and Lucia both look at Ingrid with faces of bewilderment. They have never seen her or anyone do anything like this before. What kind of spell was that?
For anyone who understands Draconic (Kate and Lucia don't):
You... you are no ordinary paladin. You are an agent of The Eternal Presence. I can sensed the elder god's presence right now. Tell me? Why are you attacking us, followers of the Blood-mad Warlord?
Regardless the dragon flies away swats Ingrid's sword away with his tail. He lands away and chants a deafening Battle Cry. Tomoe and Kate find it very hard to concentrate and feel like they are losing strength. Meanwhile, the remaining Gnolls cry out, energized by the chanting. One of them try to pull Tomoe out of the weapon but the samurai holds on. However this leaves her unable to move out of the way as the second gnoll jams his Lance+1 into the girl's belly. (Unequipped Shield because you can't have that and man the War Machine).
Tomoe and Mystery's turn.
DM: While using the Warmachine, a single attack lets you fire it 3 times at 3 targets. It can't fire on targets within 5ft of you. It takes another attack to reload the weapon after firing. So with your normally two attacks, you can fire 3 times with the weapon, each using DEX and 1d10+DEX for damage. You are free to attack with your rapier as an attack action (not part of the 3 shot volley)
Well, neither Tomoe nor Mystery speaks draconic so they dont know what the dragon said. is the map up to date ?
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 12 (8W-4L)- - Coliseum of Conquest: Master of Faerie Fire. Just don't ask her to spell it.
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 6 (2W-1L)- - Coliseum Reborn : Master of a Myriad of forms.
Runt, the Stormchosen: Half-Orc barbarian level 5 -- The Guild
Tomoe Gozen: Human Fighter Samurai level 5 -- Cronero (Solo Campaign)
Yes. Map is up to date.
Which letter is everything on the map? did you say it somewhere already ?
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 12 (8W-4L)- - Coliseum of Conquest: Master of Faerie Fire. Just don't ask her to spell it.
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 6 (2W-1L)- - Coliseum Reborn : Master of a Myriad of forms.
Runt, the Stormchosen: Half-Orc barbarian level 5 -- The Guild
Tomoe Gozen: Human Fighter Samurai level 5 -- Cronero (Solo Campaign)
Yeah. Scroll to the right. You will see all the letters and what they mean on the right side of the map.
OK so Tomoe is going to turn the weapon on the dragon guy sense he is the leader and not in melee range \
.1st Attack: 24 Damage: 12
2nd Attack: 25 Damage: 5
3rd Attack: 26 Damage: 8
Reload
...ffs
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 12 (8W-4L)- - Coliseum of Conquest: Master of Faerie Fire. Just don't ask her to spell it.
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 6 (2W-1L)- - Coliseum Reborn : Master of a Myriad of forms.
Runt, the Stormchosen: Half-Orc barbarian level 5 -- The Guild
Tomoe Gozen: Human Fighter Samurai level 5 -- Cronero (Solo Campaign)
Your first attack hits. The second nat1 causes the weapon to jam (this is actually good since now the enemies can't use it either). You don't need/can't reload. You may now attack normally with a heavy crossbow for your 2nd attack.
Mystery's turn. Tomoe's 2nd attack left.
Mystery Aims her toll the dead at her previous target then breaks line of sight from the dragon guy.
Tomoe pulls out her heavy crossbow and shoots at her target as the big weapon jams.
Attack: 9 Damage: 13
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 12 (8W-4L)- - Coliseum of Conquest: Master of Faerie Fire. Just don't ask her to spell it.
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 6 (2W-1L)- - Coliseum Reborn : Master of a Myriad of forms.
Runt, the Stormchosen: Half-Orc barbarian level 5 -- The Guild
Tomoe Gozen: Human Fighter Samurai level 5 -- Cronero (Solo Campaign)