Creating A War Scene

By Juan Rodriguez

Ever experienced a War during a Dungeons and Dragons game? It is one of the most fascinating experiences to imagine, even to have players work out a strategy to defeat their enemy. You don’t need a big budget to create an awesome war and scenarios. Just follow this template.

1. Use a couple sheets of graph paper and draw the area and environment. You can include buildings, ridges, hills, trees, bushes, lakes, etc. After creating area, feel free to use a photo copy machine and use 11x17 paper, and you can blow up a copy of graph paper - gives the players a big view of the area.

2. Write the story and apply it to the graph paper. The PC's can't see the details, which will make the game exciting for them in defeating the enemy. 

3. Create a list of NPC (Non-Player Characters that will be in the War)

4. Divide the number of Non-Player Characters to the number of PC (Player Characters in the game). If there are 4 PC's, role a D4 for each PC to get the number NPC encounters. If you have 4 PC's, each one can 1 to 4 encounters. You can increase the die, depending on the number of PC's.

5. NPC's should be numbered accordingly, stats should be written up (Level, Fighting Abilities, Hit Points, Weapon and Damage Die, Magic, Size of NPC, and Experience Points. 

6. In each encounter, role  D6 to see how many NPC's will attack a player per encounter. Should the PC's finish off the NPC's, start the next Encounter. The DM (Dungeon Master) should have the Encounters and NPC's written up for each player - that way the PC's experience these Encounters as real, and chaotic as battle should feel. DM's who prepare in advance have a smooth running game and saving you enough time in giving telling story. Keep this in mind - Don't hold back on the combination of NPC's you use for the encounters - you want to give the impression to the PC's that this is WAR, and they can die.  

7. After the Encounters, role Percentage Dice to see if the PC’s will run into a Sargent, Colonel, Leader, Commander, or General. It can be 10% to 30% chance. PC's would love the experience of facing any of these NPC's on the battle field, even defeating them in single combat. There is always a possibility of a glorious death, or a triumphant win! Should there be no NPC Leadership, then allow the PC's to find and aid each other in the battle field. The DM should move on to the next part of the story, even allow the PC's to strategize in defeating the enemy.

Looks like numbers, percentages, and mechanics for the game, but if the DM is a great story teller, he or she will make it a great game for the PC's to talk about for many years. The PC's will love the action, the thrill, and the story even more. Try it!

Tell us one of your memorable War Scenes?