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Generally for larger-scale combat I would only roll the stuff the player's actually experience themselves - everyone else fighting in the background I decide the outcome myself.

If you want to roll the battle for the characters-as-commanders scenario, I'd recommend rolling for units of soldiers as one, like squads or platoons. X number of guys get 1 roll versus the same number on the opposing side; it'll speed things up.

Or setup battles for the PC's and how quickly they win or loss could had plus or minus to the whole.

I assign MDC/SDC/HP (depending on the system) to units. And an AR if needed. I then assign them damage capabilities.

EX: CS Grunt Platoon = 1,000 MDC protection and 5d20 MDC damage. VS> Rebel Company = 500 MDC protection and 3d20 MDC damage.

There isn't any roll to hit, just damage as below.

Roll 1d20 for initative. Each unit gets 4 attacks per melee. If one unit gets a "surprise" attack, roll that attack prior to initative. Each unit takes turns attacking until one withdraws or is reduced to "0" MDC. For each of the d20's that rolls a nat 20 add another +20 to the damage. If a nat 1 is rolled, subtract 20 from the damage total.

These are arbitraury numbers I just make up as I see the situation. This one, a rag tag mixed Rebel Company is taking on the full CS Grunt Platoon.

Hope this helps, Big Bob.............................................

one of the rifters has a cool set of mass combat rules i just can remember which one off hand.

alas, I'm a wargamer mostly now,
so when i hear "mass combat" i think "take it to the field"...

i've been workin on-and-off on an attempt at a "beer and prezles" level of wargaming (simple rules, simple models) for emulating the magnificent clashes of Rifts... but never got off the design phase (no one to test it with...)


IMO, someone really does need to sit down and make a Rifts Brickwar/whatever rule set...


(Heck, RIFTS legos would rock in themselves)

I simply keep things in a narrative fashion and make sure that whatever the characters' role in the battle that they are the lynchpin to success or failure in the battle...no pressure, ya know.

finn69 wrote:one of the rifters has a cool set of mass combat rules i just can remember which one off hand.

Rifter #23