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The Dresden Files => DFRPG => Topic started by: Discipol on August 27, 2011, 11:47:29 AM

Title: Swarms
Post by: Discipol on August 27, 2011, 11:47:29 AM
Hello, how do you define a swarm? Comparing it to D&D mechanics or common sense.

We fought a swarm of Toot-toot-like creatures and there were about 24 of them. Each of us has 4 on our heads and each attacked with poison claws aka poison tipped toothpicks.

But this is not satisfactory, as a swarm has several properties than just x identical members each on his own turn.

One way would be to just consider the swarm a monstrous sized creature, perhaps with physical immunity of catch being spray attacks and aoes. But how would these two forms of attack work? nr of creature * shifts/creature?

How do you roll defense for each member? Supposed you have 1000 bees in a swarm and you fireball them. If the "creature" rolls over your attack, it takes NO stress? Each bee dodged it and lived?

A swarm is not that uncommon, especially in the Nevernever, where we will spend some time, chances of pixie swarms is high and we would like some sort of a system to have a fair combat instead of overwhelming odds against us.
Title: Re: Swarms
Post by: The Mighty Buzzard on August 27, 2011, 12:38:14 PM
It's most accurate to roll them each individually but it does take a lot longer.  Bear in mind though that a swarm of pixies with box knives can kill a queen in basically one exchange with surprise.  They're not something to play with lightly if you want your players to survive.
Title: Re: Swarms
Post by: ways and means on August 27, 2011, 07:43:32 PM
It's most accurate to roll them each individually but it does take a lot longer.  Bear in mind though that a swarm of pixies with box knives can kill a queen in basically one exchange with surprise.  They're not something to play with lightly if you want your players to survive.

Can kill a Lady not a Queen there are degrees of difference.
Title: Re: Swarms
Post by: EldritchFire on August 27, 2011, 07:57:07 PM
Here's how it's handled in Bulldogs! Well, these are the minion rules, but minions can be a good framework for swarms. Just be sure to throw on some toughness powers with a catch of AoE/spread attacks.

(http://galileogames.com/images/Minions.jpg)

-EF
Title: Re: Swarms
Post by: The Mighty Buzzard on August 28, 2011, 09:02:52 AM
Can kill a Lady not a Queen there are degrees of difference.

Ladies are queens, they're just the least of the three types.  Hence the lack of capitalization.
Title: Re: Swarms
Post by: computerking on August 29, 2011, 06:04:38 AM
You might also want to check this thread for an idea or two:
http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/topic,27281.0.html (http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/topic,27281.0.html)
Title: Re: Swarms
Post by: Rubycon on August 29, 2011, 07:25:13 AM
While keeping the fight on an individual basis might be more precise, it's also more complicated. 24 pixies might work, but not 240 rats...
Therefore, I would give the swarm an attack and a damage value for each opponent thea can reach and a number of stress boxes. For a certain number of stress boxes deleted, the attack and the damage lessens.
For defense, I would reverse this. A huge swarm is vulnerable. Strike somewhere and you will hit something. With lesser members of the swarm, they can act more individal and defend themselves. So huge swarm = low defense, small swarm = better defense.