I am planning to do combat in a culture of nomadic warriors, who are great warriors riding horses and use war wagons. I think the NPCs inside a war wagon have a cover level of 3/4, giving them +5 to their AC. Is this ok? Thanks
If the top of the wagon is closed and armored, yes. Though this provides rather strong incentive for PCs to target the motive system horses over the wagon crew.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
I am planning to do combat in a culture of nomadic warriors, who are great warriors riding horses and use war wagons. I think the NPCs inside a war wagon have a cover level of 3/4, giving them +5 to their AC. Is this ok? Thanks
Rafael
Mostly. It's unlikely at the tech level you're implying that the driver will be behind 3/4 cover. Maybe 1/2 cover (+2), sure. But 3/4 would make it basically impossible to steer or maintain situational awareness.
You can use the ogre howdah as a baseline for this (in that situation, the ogre is both the beast of burden and the driver).
i'd just try to think back to why there was never much 'war wagon' warfare in IRL history.
I'm not even close to a historian, but I would imagine it's at least partly due to the fact that wagons have a lot of issues getting around on any surface that isn't perfectly smooth.
Google the Hussite Wars. There actually WAS some very successful use of war wagons in Europe. And if you consider circling a wagon train to be the same thing, it saw some use in North America and Southern Africa as well.
The important thing to remember is that the wagons don’t skirmish, they create a temporary portable castle you can defend.
Google the Hussite Wars. There actually WAS some very successful use of war wagons in Europe. And if you consider circling a wagon train to be the same thing, it saw some use in North America and Southern Africa as well.
The important thing to remember is that the wagons don’t skirmish, they create a temporary portable castle you can defend.
My bro! I was about to bring them up! That was is effectively where the mortar and howitzer were invented.
Edit: After a brief bit of research it would seem that they did have a few notable appearances in history.
Agree with you, Tim, and Ewok…I should have said ‘select few periods of success when viewed against the history of warfare’ - vs ‘never much’. Even the super-heavy tank had its moment of glory. I’d look at why they were successful when they were and then what drove them to obsolescence for balancing.
I am planning to do combat in a culture of nomadic warriors, who are great warriors riding horses and use war wagons. I think the NPCs inside a war wagon have a cover level of 3/4, giving them +5 to their AC. Is this ok?
Thanks
Rafael
If the top of the wagon is closed and armored, yes. Though this provides rather strong incentive for PCs to target the
motive systemhorses over the wagon crew.Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
i'd just try to think back to why there was never much 'war wagon' warfare in IRL history.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
Mostly. It's unlikely at the tech level you're implying that the driver will be behind 3/4 cover. Maybe 1/2 cover (+2), sure. But 3/4 would make it basically impossible to steer or maintain situational awareness.
You can use the ogre howdah as a baseline for this (in that situation, the ogre is both the beast of burden and the driver).
I'm not even close to a historian, but I would imagine it's at least partly due to the fact that wagons have a lot of issues getting around on any surface that isn't perfectly smooth.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
I would guess that Chariots were just faster and more practical
Edit: After a brief bit of research it would seem that they did have a few notable appearances in history.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Google the Hussite Wars. There actually WAS some very successful use of war wagons in Europe. And if you consider circling a wagon train to be the same thing, it saw some use in North America and Southern Africa as well.
The important thing to remember is that the wagons don’t skirmish, they create a temporary portable castle you can defend.
My bro! I was about to bring them up! That was is effectively where the mortar and howitzer were invented.
Agree with you, Tim, and Ewok…I should have said ‘select few periods of success when viewed against the history of warfare’ - vs ‘never much’. Even the super-heavy tank had its moment of glory. I’d look at why they were successful when they were and then what drove them to obsolescence for balancing.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks