"Original D&D War Machine System?" Topic
8 Posts
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| Inquisitor Thaken | 09 Aug 2009 8:22 p.m. PST |
Not the modern game, but the large battle system for D&D. Curious as to any websites, variant rules, etc., for this that might exist on the web. Regards |
 Saber6   | 09 Aug 2009 8:56 p.m. PST |
How far back? Chainmail? Swords and Spells? BattleSytem? |
| Inquisitor Thaken | 09 Aug 2009 9:46 p.m. PST |
Specifically, the "War Machine" from the D&D Companion rules, or Rules Cyclopedia. |
| richarDISNEY | 10 Aug 2009 8:05 a.m. PST |
Hummm… I don't seem to remember a "War Machine", but I do remember the BattleSystem… 
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 Parzival | 10 Aug 2009 8:28 a.m. PST |
"War Machine" isn't a table-top battle game. It's merely a system for calculating the results of full-scale battles with hundreds or thousands of participants, in which player characters are present as heroes or leaders, or which may have influence on the course of a campaign. It's a way to incorporate warfare into the role-playing campaign without actually having to spend the time to fight out the battles. Basically, each side calculates the value of their troops based on various factors (magic use, special abilities, troop experience levels, etc.) and then dices for victory. No tactics involved. |
| Saber6 | 10 Aug 2009 9:18 a.m. PST |
Oh, that might be why I never heard of it. |
| Lion in the Stars | 13 Aug 2009 8:17 a.m. PST |
Basically, each side calculates the value of their troops based on various factors (magic use, special abilities, troop experience levels, etc.) and then dices for victory. No tactics involved. What's the fun in that? Give me a system like Mail and Steel (the Exalted Mass Combat rules), or the Mass Combat from the Black Company RPG setting, and I'll either fight out the battle, or I'll just make a ruling if I'm the DM ("Your forces, galvanized by your leadership overrun the hordes of umpty-frack. Inspired by your example …"). |
| Parzival | 14 Aug 2009 8:18 a.m. PST |
What's the fun in that? Oh, I'm with you on that. But for those who prefer the "role playing" aspect, it's a way to have a sweeping epic campaign involving full scale war with the outcome in doubt, yet complete the battles in an single gaming session. The PCs are either heroes involved in the battles (with any gamed combat focussing on their tiny-but-significant-part— such as Eowyn and Merry at Pelennor), or the generals/nobleman who engaged in the strategic development of the armies (Denethor, Elrond, Saruman), or are engaged in political intrigue which underlies the war (Wormtongue), or are on important quests which are separate from the battles but are tied together in the overall war effort (Frodo and Sam). In these cases, the DM and players will naturally want to focus on the individual adventures/actions of the PCs, while still knowing how the overall battles progress. War Machine serves that purpose. |
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