This step is really fun and where this system shines. Next, you want to write down each main “player” on each side of the battlefield. Even army size can be a factor! Be as robust or as simple as you prefer, but you don’t need to over complicate yourself. If one army has more magic they might get a +2 if another has better-trained soldiers… add +2 to that general’s score. Finally, determine general army advantages and simply increase the generals’ leadership score by a flat amount based on them.

In D&D you might use their charisma modifiers while in Vampire: The Masquerade you might simply use their leadership score. Give each general an arbitrary leadership score based on your game system and gut feeling. The generals could be a council of wizards on one side versus a single war veteran on the other and let’s say they each have an army size of 100,000. Your first step is to write down the two “generals” and their army size. So here’s a quick way to run mass combat between armies that are system agnostic. Some game systems (like Legend of the Five Rings or D&D) have books and chapters dedicated to running large combats, but it is easy to get lost in the mechanics. This works very well if the outcome of the battle is already predetermined, or you have multiple tables that can each hit some major objectives. Typically, storytellers will simply make the rest of the battle a cinematic backdrop and let the players do small scale or goal-orientated missions on the field. Long term spell effects or other crazy class features that can be used endlessly spark fun conversations, but make running mass battles hard. Most game systems are designed around 3-to-6 second combat round and this mechanically falls apart once you get into big armies. It certainly makes for ran an epic backdrop to highlight the player’s actions, but once the characters get involved as generals it often falls apart.

Two (or more) armies waging a lethal battle with all the magic at their disposal. Mass combat has always been a tantalizing idea for storytellers, but difficult in execution. The GM Quick Tips are single hacks discovered in the minds of storytellers everywhere. GM Tips is our series to help Storytellers and Game Masters improve their craft and create memorable roleplaying experiences.

Epic war 5 guide