War Machine in 3E - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

War Machine in 3E

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Traianus_Decius_Aureus
Sep 05, 2006 13:47:46 As a lingering side project, I have slowly tinkered with updating War Machine (and its sister systems) to 3.5E. While the overall system is not ironed out yet, I will post some items that connect to it. Today are some feats:

Imperator [General]
You have intensely studied the arts of war.
Prerequisites: 1 rank Knowledge (War), Leadership feat
Benefit: You receive a +3 bonus to all Knowledge (War) skill checks.
During a War Machine battle, you may reroll any one dice roll or force your opponent to reroll one of his. This may only be used once per battle.

Master and Commander [General]
You have intensely studied the art of war on the high seas.
Prerequisites: 1 rank Knowledge (War), 1 rank Profession (Sailor)
Benefit: You receive a +2 bonus to all Knowledge (War) and Profession (Sailor) skill checks.
During a Sea Machine battle, you may reroll any one dice roll or force your opponent to reroll one of his. This may only be used once per battle.

Poliorcetes [General]
You have intensely studied fortifications and the tools of war needed to bring them down.
Prerequisites: 1 rank Knowledge (War), 1 rank Knowledge (Siege Engineering)
Benefit: You receive a +2 bonus to all Knowledge (War) and Knowledge (Siege Engineering) skill checks.
During a Siege Machine battle, you may reroll any one dice roll or force your opponent to reroll one of his. This may only be used once per siege.
#2
Traianus_Decius_Aureus
Sep 06, 2006 14:46:55 A character with a strong knowledge of warfare can formulate intricate battle plans to best take advantage of their foes' weaknesses, neutralize their strengths, and use his own forces to their utmost ability.

Check: In a War Machine, Sea Machine or Siege Machine battle, the leaders of the forces may make opposed Knowledge (War) checks. The higher total has crafted a superior battle plan and receives a bonus to their army's BR equal to 5x the difference of the two skill checks. This bonus cannot be greater than the army's BR, and in no case can it be greater than +100 BR.

Check Modifiers:
If you have a good vantage point to view an enemy stronghold, a DC 20 Knowledge (architecture and engineering) check reveals a weak aspect of the defense. For every 5 points by which your check results exceeds the DC, you gain a +1 circumstantial bonus to your Knowledge (War) Siege Machine check. If you have an accurate map of the stronghold, you gain a +5 circumstance bonus on the check.

With a successful DC 15 Knowledge (history) check, you know the basics of how a particular army organizes itself and how it is likely to deploy its forces. This gives you a +1 circumstantial bonus to your Knowledge (War) check.

Failing to devote 8 hours prior to the battle to creating a battle plan: -2 penalty

Plan is made impromptu: -5 penalty

Leader is untrained: -5 penalty

Action: The character must devote at least 8 hours prior to the battle to the creation of a battle plan and passing orders through the chain of command. This is not necessarily mean undisturbed: consulting officers, reviewing reconnaissance and other related activities are part of forming a battle plan.

Try Again: No. This opposed check occurs at the beginning of the battle.

Synergy:
If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (siege engineering), you get a +2 bonus on Knowledge (War) checks made for Siege Machine.

If you have 5 or more ranks in Profession (Sailor), you get a +2 bonus on Knowledge (War) checks made for Sea Machine.

If you have 5 or more ranks in Sense Motive, you get a +2 bonus on Knowledge (War) checks made for War, Sea or Siege Machine.

Untrained: This check may be attempted by an untrained person, but they suffer a -5 penalty to the check and in no case can any BR bonus gained exceed +50 BR.
#3
sbwilson
Sep 08, 2006 0:57:14 I'm not sure how well it relates, but have you taken a look at the 3E book "Heroes of Battle" (I hope that is what it is called...I just had a mindblank...)? It details a lot of large war type stuff. Granted, it deals more with the individual in large wars and less (if at all) on the movement and fighting of actual armies, but it might have a few things in it you could use (such as feats, skills, etc.).
#4
Traianus_Decius_Aureus
Sep 08, 2006 8:33:01
I'm not sure how well it relates, but have you taken a look at the 3E book "Heroes of Battle" (I hope that is what it is called...I just had a mindblank...)? It details a lot of large war type stuff. Granted, it deals more with the individual in large wars and less (if at all) on the movement and fighting of actual armies, but it might have a few things in it you could use (such as feats, skills, etc.).

Yes I have. There are a number of things in it (mainly feats) that could have alternate War Machine versions, but conceptually Heroes of Battle, as you noted, is more about an individual in a battlefield environment rather than about creating a mass combat system. That, to me, is the book's biggest flaw. The book's focus though can be useful if you use the War Machine battle as a backdrop to a mini-adventure dealing with the build-up to the battle and the battle itself.
It also gave me some ideas for a Mystaran Warlord prestige class that would focus a character on mass combat, but they are still just ideas floating around right now.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Traianus_Decius_Aureus Sep 05, 2006 13:47:46	As a lingering side project, I have slowly tinkered with updating War Machine (and its sister systems) to 3.5E. While the overall system is not ironed out yet, I will post some items that connect to it. Today are some feats: Imperator [General] You have intensely studied the arts of war. Prerequisites: 1 rank Knowledge (War), Leadership feat Benefit: You receive a +3 bonus to all Knowledge (War) skill checks. During a War Machine battle, you may reroll any one dice roll or force your opponent to reroll one of his. This may only be used once per battle. Master and Commander [General] You have intensely studied the art of war on the high seas. Prerequisites: 1 rank Knowledge (War), 1 rank Profession (Sailor) Benefit: You receive a +2 bonus to all Knowledge (War) and Profession (Sailor) skill checks. During a Sea Machine battle, you may reroll any one dice roll or force your opponent to reroll one of his. This may only be used once per battle. Poliorcetes [General] You have intensely studied fortifications and the tools of war needed to bring them down. Prerequisites: 1 rank Knowledge (War), 1 rank Knowledge (Siege Engineering) Benefit: You receive a +2 bonus to all Knowledge (War) and Knowledge (Siege Engineering) skill checks. During a Siege Machine battle, you may reroll any one dice roll or force your opponent to reroll one of his. This may only be used once per siege.
#2 Traianus_Decius_Aureus Sep 06, 2006 14:46:55	A character with a strong knowledge of warfare can formulate intricate battle plans to best take advantage of their foes' weaknesses, neutralize their strengths, and use his own forces to their utmost ability. Check: In a War Machine, Sea Machine or Siege Machine battle, the leaders of the forces may make opposed Knowledge (War) checks. The higher total has crafted a superior battle plan and receives a bonus to their army's BR equal to 5x the difference of the two skill checks. This bonus cannot be greater than the army's BR, and in no case can it be greater than +100 BR. Check Modifiers: If you have a good vantage point to view an enemy stronghold, a DC 20 Knowledge (architecture and engineering) check reveals a weak aspect of the defense. For every 5 points by which your check results exceeds the DC, you gain a +1 circumstantial bonus to your Knowledge (War) Siege Machine check. If you have an accurate map of the stronghold, you gain a +5 circumstance bonus on the check. With a successful DC 15 Knowledge (history) check, you know the basics of how a particular army organizes itself and how it is likely to deploy its forces. This gives you a +1 circumstantial bonus to your Knowledge (War) check. Failing to devote 8 hours prior to the battle to creating a battle plan: -2 penalty Plan is made impromptu: -5 penalty Leader is untrained: -5 penalty Action: The character must devote at least 8 hours prior to the battle to the creation of a battle plan and passing orders through the chain of command. This is not necessarily mean undisturbed: consulting officers, reviewing reconnaissance and other related activities are part of forming a battle plan. Try Again: No. This opposed check occurs at the beginning of the battle. Synergy: If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (siege engineering), you get a +2 bonus on Knowledge (War) checks made for Siege Machine. If you have 5 or more ranks in Profession (Sailor), you get a +2 bonus on Knowledge (War) checks made for Sea Machine. If you have 5 or more ranks in Sense Motive, you get a +2 bonus on Knowledge (War) checks made for War, Sea or Siege Machine. Untrained: This check may be attempted by an untrained person, but they suffer a -5 penalty to the check and in no case can any BR bonus gained exceed +50 BR.
#3 sbwilson Sep 08, 2006 0:57:14	I'm not sure how well it relates, but have you taken a look at the 3E book "Heroes of Battle" (I hope that is what it is called...I just had a mindblank...)? It details a lot of large war type stuff. Granted, it deals more with the individual in large wars and less (if at all) on the movement and fighting of actual armies, but it might have a few things in it you could use (such as feats, skills, etc.).
#4 Traianus_Decius_Aureus Sep 08, 2006 8:33:01	I'm not sure how well it relates, but have you taken a look at the 3E book "Heroes of Battle" (I hope that is what it is called...I just had a mindblank...)? It details a lot of large war type stuff. Granted, it deals more with the individual in large wars and less (if at all) on the movement and fighting of actual armies, but it might have a few things in it you could use (such as feats, skills, etc.). Yes I have. There are a number of things in it (mainly feats) that could have alternate War Machine versions, but conceptually Heroes of Battle, as you noted, is more about an individual in a battlefield environment rather than about creating a mass combat system. That, to me, is the book's biggest flaw. The book's focus though can be useful if you use the War Machine battle as a backdrop to a mini-adventure dealing with the build-up to the battle and the battle itself. It also gave me some ideas for a Mystaran Warlord prestige class that would focus a character on mass combat, but they are still just ideas floating around right now.