[5e] Hobgoblin vs level 1 PC

dragoner · July 09, 2014, 07:17:19 PM

Quote from: CRKrueger;766623Nope 5e rogues don't backstab, they can stand right in full view of an opponent in the frontal arc, and get extra damage as long as there is an ally within 5ft of the opponent. Zero stealth required.

Us old people and our antiquated thoughts about D&D, what are you going to do?

Omega · July 09, 2014, 07:52:20 PM

Quote from: jibbajibba;766280I have an issue with it and liek others I find it a little gamist.

If Hobgoblins get a benefit from fighing in a formation then the system should give benefits for fighting in formation and these should be improved AC, improved to hit or additional attacks or similar.
These benefits should be avialabel to anyone that fights in formation.

Hobgoblins are regimented and orderly. Soldiers are regimented and orderly (usually) (Or at least used to be...)

Adventurers are a mobile anarchist convention.

jibbajibba · July 09, 2014, 09:24:32 PM

Quote from: Omega;766925Hobgoblins are regimented and orderly. Soldiers are regimented and orderly (usually) (Or at least used to be...)

Adventurers are a mobile anarchist convention.

but what if my 3rd level solider PC hires 6 hirelings and gives them all spear and shield and trains them to fight in formation?

What if my party is all made up of Soldier PCS who are part of an elite mercenary unit?

etc

Gronan of Simmerya · July 09, 2014, 11:17:11 PM

Quote from: Sacrosanct;763894Special: Once per turn, deals extra 2d6 damage to creature if target is within 5ft of hobgoblin's ally

.... so there's a bonus for fighting in formation?

This is the first thing I've heard that actually makes me interested in that version.

Gronan of Simmerya · July 09, 2014, 11:19:42 PM

Quote from: dragoner;766594Aren't Rogues back stabbing? That doesn't sound like what the hobgoblins are doing.

Rogues haven't been backstabbing since they turned from Thieves to Rogues. Rogues are Cuisinarts of Death.

Gronan of Simmerya · July 09, 2014, 11:22:30 PM

Quote from: Sacrosanct;764025"Show me on the doll where the hobgoblin touched your danger zone."

Your journey to the Dark Side is complete, my young apprentice.

Sacrosanct · July 09, 2014, 11:23:18 PM

Quote from: Old Geezer;767023.... so there's a bonus for fighting in formation?

This is the first thing I've heard that actually makes me interested in that version.

not typically, but there are some abilities like that. The hobgoblin one above is one. Fighters also can get an ability to impose a penalty to an attacker attacking an ally if ally is within 5ft and fighter has a shield, so sort of a shield wall deal.

but hobgoblin in formation with a second row with polearms are a lot deadlier than their level suggests

dragoner · July 09, 2014, 11:26:48 PM

Quote from: Old Geezer;767024Rogues haven't been backstabbing since they turned from Thieves to Rogues. Rogues are Cuisinarts of Death.

I liked thieves, I mean it's no "Rogue's World".

One time playing Traveller, years ago, someone commented: "What class do you think we'd be?" A friend answered, we're all thieves, thieves like us. "Thieves like us" became the motto for that campaign.

Omega · July 09, 2014, 11:33:30 PM

Quote from: jibbajibba;766988but what if my 3rd level solider PC hires 6 hirelings and gives them all spear and shield and trains them to fight in formation?

What if my party is all made up of Soldier PCS who are part of an elite mercenary unit?

etc

Then you have a very organized mobile anarchist convention... :confused:

Gronan of Simmerya · July 09, 2014, 11:51:02 PM

Quote from: Omega;767029Then you have a very organized mobile anarchist convention... :confused:

Or he's playing OD&D.

Gronan of Simmerya · July 09, 2014, 11:51:45 PM

Quote from: Sacrosanct;767026not typically, but there are some abilities like that. The hobgoblin one above is one. Fighters also can get an ability to impose a penalty to an attacker attacking an ally if ally is within 5ft and fighter has a shield, so sort of a shield wall deal.

but hobgoblin in formation with a second row with polearms are a lot deadlier than their level suggests

....damn, you sweet talker you....

jadrax · July 10, 2014, 01:21:02 AM

Quote from: JonWake;766894They're the soccer hooligans of the goblin world. Big and mean, love to cloak themselves in the appearance of martial expertise, but they're really all about the sucker punch.

That's pretty much my reading of it.

Opaopajr · July 10, 2014, 02:49:24 AM

Quote from: Old Geezer;767024Rogues haven't been backstabbing since they turned from Thieves to Rogues. Rogues are Cuisinarts of Death.

Captain Pedantic to the rescue! Thieves turned into a subtype of the Rogue archetype by 2e, and retained backstabbing while not being Cuisinarts of Death. The lack of fighter percentile strength, weapon specialization, and multiple attacks made two-weapon fighting close combat a foolishly dangerous early game. However adjustable Thief Skills made potential backstab kiting an option.

Do I get to tongue your peehole now?

Gronan of Simmerya · July 10, 2014, 10:44:58 PM

Quote from: Opaopajr;767101Captain Pedantic to the rescue! Thieves turned into a subtype of the Rogue archetype by 2e, and retained backstabbing while not being Cuisinarts of Death. The lack of fighter percentile strength, weapon specialization, and multiple attacks made two-weapon fighting close combat a foolishly dangerous early game. However adjustable Thief Skills made potential backstab kiting an option.

Do I get to tongue your peehole now?

"You can't TAKE my peehole!"

David Johansen · July 10, 2014, 10:52:10 PM

I'll stick to rogues as fighter / thieves. Love me some Rolemaster.

Actually that was my solution to multiclassing for my Dark Passages neo-clone. I made bridge classes: Rogue (Fighter / Thief), Hierophant (Priest / Wizard), Cleric (Priest / Fighter), Bard (Fighter / Wizard). Archers, Rangers Barbarians, Knights, and Paladins are really just flavors of fighters but as I like to have lots of different classes I made them unique.

I'm not sure what I'd do with it now that fifth edition is here. I had been toying with a highly iconographic version for kids where bad-guys are defeated and slip off screen in embarrassment rather than dying.