Making a Difference: Mass Battle for small Groups
Making a Difference: Mass Battle for Small Groups
Introduction
Samurai are above all other things, warriors, and the truest test of the warrior is in battle. Mass Battles, where armies face off against each other, has been an important part of Legend of the Five Rings since first edition. Battle in Legend of the Five Rings has centered around three different combat 'Games'. The first, Skirmishes, involve small groups of characters, typically a group of PCs, conflicting in a direct fight with another small group of characters. This kind of mass combat follows normal combat rules for the L5R system.
The second type of mass battle, found in First through Fourth Editions of the game, involves the PC characters scattering across a battlefield as each assumes a position in the fray appropriate to their abilities (Reserves, Engaged, Heavily Engaged, etc). Then each character, individually, takes damage from the general battle and wins heroic opportunities, based on their tactical battle skills, moving in and out of position on the battlefield as they need to in order to survive the battle to the best of their ability.
The third type of mass battle, found to its most complex extent in Fifth Edition of the game, involves the PC taking command of a unit of military, and strategically moving that unit on the battle field to win battle momentum and eventually the battle. This third type of mass battle can also be found in First through Fourth editions, but there it is a more simple contested battle roll between the commanders of the armies, which then determines how well the army is doing in the conflict to come.
These kinds of mass combat work for many, and this supplement does not attempt to replace them in any way. However, in our play groups, we have found we would prefer not to split up our Adventuring party to scatter across the battlefield. We wish to stay together and fight side by side as we do during normal play. In addition, we are rarely in a position as low ranked samurai of taking command of legions or large groups, and certainly if we do, not all of the PCs are suited for commanding armies. Finally, as the PCs, we want our contribution to the outcome of the mass battle to count...if they succeed or they fail, we want to know that our characters made the difference.
The Small Group Mass Battle system here is intended to fit into that niche: To create and move through Mass Battles as an adventuring party that is not necessarily in command of the mass battle, and have our actions make a difference in the final outcome.
Mass Battle for Small Groups
Credit for the ideas used here goes to Shannon Kalvar, who developed them for L5R for our own Homebrew version in this PDF. This system has been converted to 5th Edition with 4th Edition Notes:
Introduction
Samurai are above all other things, warriors, and the truest test of the warrior is in battle. Mass Battles, where armies face off against each other, has been an important part of Legend of the Five Rings since first edition. Battle in Legend of the Five Rings has centered around three different combat 'Games'. The first, Skirmishes, involve small groups of characters, typically a group of PCs, conflicting in a direct fight with another small group of characters. This kind of mass combat follows normal combat rules for the L5R system.
The second type of mass battle, found in First through Fourth Editions of the game, involves the PC characters scattering across a battlefield as each assumes a position in the fray appropriate to their abilities (Reserves, Engaged, Heavily Engaged, etc). Then each character, individually, takes damage from the general battle and wins heroic opportunities, based on their tactical battle skills, moving in and out of position on the battlefield as they need to in order to survive the battle to the best of their ability.
The third type of mass battle, found to its most complex extent in Fifth Edition of the game, involves the PC taking command of a unit of military, and strategically moving that unit on the battle field to win battle momentum and eventually the battle. This third type of mass battle can also be found in First through Fourth editions, but there it is a more simple contested battle roll between the commanders of the armies, which then determines how well the army is doing in the conflict to come.
These kinds of mass combat work for many, and this supplement does not attempt to replace them in any way. However, in our play groups, we have found we would prefer not to split up our Adventuring party to scatter across the battlefield. We wish to stay together and fight side by side as we do during normal play. In addition, we are rarely in a position as low ranked samurai of taking command of legions or large groups, and certainly if we do, not all of the PCs are suited for commanding armies. Finally, as the PCs, we want our contribution to the outcome of the mass battle to count...if they succeed or they fail, we want to know that our characters made the difference.
The Small Group Mass Battle system here is intended to fit into that niche: To create and move through Mass Battles as an adventuring party that is not necessarily in command of the mass battle, and have our actions make a difference in the final outcome.
Mass Battle for Small Groups
Credit for the ideas used here goes to Shannon Kalvar, who developed them for L5R for our own Homebrew version in this PDF. This system has been converted to 5th Edition with 4th Edition Notes:
- Armies in Conflict
- Battlefields
- Goals and Advantage
- Squads
Command Squads
Combat Squads
Ritual Squads - Skirmishes in Battle
- Order of Battle
- Rewards of Battle
| l5r_-_limitless_battle_system.pdf |
