Pathfinder does not have a great way of handling large groups of enemies. For this reason, I have created Squads (which replace 4 creatures) and Scores (which replace 20 creatures). These are templates that can be applied directly to any creature in the game.
Now you have a way to run your PC's taking on a zombie horde, invading army, or entire city.
Squads
Squads represent 4 base creatures.Add 2 to the CR.
Squads are one size larger, but do not need to take up a perfect square. They can squeeze.
Their health is doubled, but all other defenses, such as AC and saves, remain the same.
Squads cannot be flanked.
Area attacks deal double damage against them.
The maximum damage of any single target attack on a squad is the full HP of one of their members. Criticals can overcome this max damage.
Squads gain +5 attack (and +5 CMB) and double damage. Thus, if the base creature attacks at +7/+2 for 10 damage, the squad of 4 would attack at +12/+7 for 20 damage.
If the Squad inflicts something that requires a save (such as a spell, poison, or gaze attack), the DC for that save is at +5.
Moving through Squads uses the standard tumble rules, but the tumbler gains a +10 bonus.
Any time a squad provokes, it provokes twice.
Squads count as two enemies for the purposes of cleave.
Any regeneration or fast healing is doubled.
Squads are immune to single target debuffs such as Hold Person or combat maneuvers.
Score
Scores represent 20 base creatures.Add 6 to the CR.
Score are four sizes larger, but do not need to take up a perfect square. They can squeeze.
The HP of a score is multiplied by 10 but all other defenses, such as AC and saves, remain the same.
Scores cannot be flanked.
Area attacks deal quadruple damage against them.
The maximum damage of any single target attack on a score is the two times the HP of one of their members. Criticals can overcome this maximum damage.
Melee Attacks: Scores may attack all adjacent and engulfed enemies using their normal attack routine at +5 attack (and +5 CMB) and double damage. This means as a full round action they get their full (potentially iterative) attack against all adjacent enemies.
Engulfed Melee: If any enemy is surrounded on all sides by a score, the Score instead gains +10 attack (and +10 CMB) and quadruple damage against them. This engulfed attack happens simultaneously to the adjacent melee attacks. Note that two enemies may stand next to each other within a score and not suffer this additional damage.
Ranged Attacks: Choose an area equal to the size of the score. All creatures in that area, enemies and allies alike, are attacked with the Score's ranged attack at +5 attack and double damage. When attacking other scores or squads, this counts as an area attack.
If the Squad inflicts something that requires a save (such as a spell, poison, or gaze attack), the DC for that save is at +10.
Moving through Scores uses the standard tumble rules, but the tumbler gains a +10 bonus.
Any time a score provokes, it provokes five times.
Scores count as five enemies for the purposes of cleave.
Any regeneration or fast healing is multiplied by 5.
Squads are immune to single target debuffs such as Hold Person or combat maneuvers.
Examples
Excillent rules. Looking forward to trying them.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Some examples will be posted in the coming days.
DeleteSo, if a score moved away from a PC with combat reflexes, they could get 5 attacks of opportunity? (assuming the PC has a sufficiently high dex modifier)
ReplyDeleteExactly correct. Scores are supposed to approximate a group of individual enemies as much as possible. If 20 enemies moved away from a PC with combat reflexes, there would be a lot of attacks of opportunity! A chance for that martial, who doesn't usually excel against groups, to feel like a badass.
DeleteIf you had a score of spellcasters all casting fireball, for instance, would it do additional damage? Would the area be the same size as for a normal fireball, or would it be larger, like a ranged attack? Or is the higher save the only difference?
DeleteYou could actually do it either way. As written, the save would be higher, but doing +5 to the save, double damage and larger area would work as well.
DeleteI've done the math, and all your modifiers are accurate. This is just great, I love this.
ReplyDeleteI considered from group of 4 creatures only about ~2,5 would attack at the same time. We already doubled damage, so we need to increase chance of hitting for 2.5/2 = 1.25, or 25%. Which is exactly +5 on attack.
Probability math approves this logic. Curve looks just great.
It's time for on-table testing.
Have fun! It's a way easier than running a ton of different creatures.
DeleteWould you make squads of larger creatures 2 size categories larger? It seems a bit silly to squeeze, say, 4 trolls (16 squares) into a size huge space(9 squares).
ReplyDeleteSure! That makes sense.
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