Great 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Dungeons & Dragons campaigns take inspiration from history, films, video games, fantasy novels, and more places. Many of these sources of inspiration feature large armies that set out for conquest or glory during campaigning season. The War of the Roses, The Lord of the Rings, and 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Dragon Age all feature invasions prominently.

Invasion by ground troops is a common theme running through medieval history, fantasy literature, and classic video games for a reason. The threat of a looming army can be a great way to maintain narrative tension and keep players and readers on their toes. Invasion can make for an excellent late♚-game challenge. It ups the stakes and forces your players to make important, time-sensitive decisions.

Invasions make natural bookends for campaigns or seasons. They can be a great way for the "big bad guy" to finally show his full strength. An invasion can work for the climactic end of an entire campaign or the last episode before the party moves on to a new location.

DM Tips For Using Invasions In Dungeons & Dragons

The last thing you want as Dungeon Master is for your campaign to turn into a dull, never-ending series of battles. At first glance, invasions seem to promote this type of gameplay scenario. But with some skillful storytelling and foreshadowing, invasions can help set your adventure's pace.

Invasion sessions don't need to feature endless battles. Enemy camps can be a great place for rogues and magic users to infiltrate, gather intelligence, and sabotage. The adventuring party can attack supply lines to disrupt the invasion, gather allies, fortify defenses, a💧nd more. Here are some tips for DMs running invasions:

Employ Skirmishes, Scouts, Spies, And Raiders

Before pitched battles commence, armies usually send out scouts, raiders, and sorties. These events can form some of the most memorable parts 🅺of a campaign.

Consider night raids against the invaders' camp to weaken them. Rooting out spies and double a💮gents i♛nside a besieged fortress could even make a fun side quest.

Use Cinematic Battles Over Realism

You and your gaming buddies are making an action movie, not a historical documentary. You don't have to stick to realism.

Real sieges and invasions involved starvation, dysentery, and disease. Battles were often long and desperate. If it does come to a siege, use waves of enemies rather than a single massive force. Films use this♎ technique for dramatic reasons. Borrow this aspect liberally.

Use The Proper Scale For Battles

Some DMs prefer to keep the game focused on small-scale skirmishes that suit D&D's base rules. In this scenario, the DM can roll to determine events on a larger scale while considering the players' actions.

But there are many rꦗesources for DMs an🌜d players who like to zoom out for larger battles.

Swarm rules work well for medium-sized groups, and resources like Matthew Colville's Kingdoms and Warfare exist for those 🍷who want to simulate full armies.

Have The Party Gather Allies

Dragon Age Origins features a climactic invasion that plays out differently, depending on player action. Recruit allies by impressing factions. It's a great setup for showing the players all the key NPCs, t🌌heir needs, and motivations.

Consider having the players choose who to recruit by including some time restrictions. Their choices will feel more m🦩eaningful if limited.

Consider The Passage Of Time Seasons And Crops

While taking time i🍸nto account and time restrictions, consider what time of yea🐻r it is, and how that can influence how you set up your invasion scenario.

Historically, the campaigning season coincided with the warmest months when crops were plentifu🌜l. Cold, poorly-fed troops should suffer some pena🦩lty to their movement and combat.

Have The Party Hold The Line

Heroic last stands at narrow choke points define many invasions. (Look at the film 300 for arguably the most iconic example.) Perhaps the party must hold a gate for several turns before reinforcements arrive.

Maybe they must defend a bridge until the retreat is completed behind them. Only then can their magic user teleport them 🧸to safety.

Implement Siege Weapons

The Dungeon Masters Guide includes a list of siege weapons on page 2𝐆55. These weapons can be used by the players or the DM's factions but take ꦯtime and resources to create.

Siege weapons are heavy and difficult to transport, too. Generals don't deploy these valuable tools u💮ntil they've cleared their lines. Sabotaging siege weapons is the kind of adventure D&D's scale is perfect for.

Use The Element Of Surprise

Successful invasions often involve feints, misdirection, and tricks. Whether this means splitting forces to confuse defenders or taking a castle through a strategically opened door, subtlety and surprise often work best.

Use a variety of techniques and tricks to keep your players guessing. There's n𒅌ot a lot of tension if tღhey know exactly when and where the sword will fall.