Open Mass Combat System

Open Game Content

All of the material in this document regarding the Open Mass Combat System is designated as Open Game Content,
as detailed under the Open Gaming License.

NOTE: This Open Mass Combat System (OMCS) is based on Mongoose Publishing's Open Mass Combat System. Special
thanks to the Ishka Campaign website (http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/bleybour/) for the document that served as the
foundation for this one.

The Open Mass Combat System is provided
as a means for the gaming group to handle
large scale combats during the game,
allowing PCs to lead troops and fight grand
battles. This system will also allow the group
to handle Ship-To-Ship fighting between the
crews of large sailing vessels on the High
Seas. In essence, the system treats units (of
like members) as being very similar to
characters - the group as a whole has a
statistics block and fights as a single entity.
Individuals may be attached to a unit, not
only significantly increasing the combat
might of the unit, but also bolstering unit
morale and providing leadership. This guide
will not contain the full rules of the OMCS,
but will contain enough information for the
players to be able to use it.
Contents
 Unit Roster
 Combat
 Melee
 Ranged
 Magic
 Turning Undead
 Morale
 Recovering Casualties
 Unit Types
 War Machines
 Ships
 Player Characters
Unit Roster
The unit roster keeps the vital information of
each unit in the army. A sample roster is
shown below:
Unit Hit Points: 88 (+10%: Con Bonus +1)
Initiative: +4 (Improved Initiative)
Movement: 20'
Attacks: Hand Axe +3 (+1 Strength, +1
BAB, +1 Weapon Focus)
Damage: Hand Axe 1d6+1 (+1 Strength)
AC: 13 (Leather armour + Shield)
Ability Scores: Str 13, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 9,
Wis 11, Cha 8.
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +0, Will +0.
Feats: Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus:
Hand Axe.
Skills: Profession(sailor) +1.
Notes on the Unit Roster format:
Race, Class, Level: Self explanatory
Unit Size: The number of figures in the unit.
Unit Type: Archers, Cavalry, Crew, Infantry
or Skirmishers.
Unit Hit Points: Total hit dice of all members
of the unit (i.e. unit size * hit dice/level).
Modifiers apply for having constitution
bonuses, for cavalry (each man+horse is
treated as a single figure), and so on.
Initiative, Movement, Attacks, Damage, AC,
Ability Scores, Saves: Self explanatory, based
on averages for the unit.
Feats, Skills: Only some skills, feats and
special abilities apply to mass combat. These
will be noted where appropriate.

Race: Dwarven
Class/Level: Warrior 1
Unit Size: 80
Unit Type: Infantry
Combat Ten times or +5 x10 +5
more enemy's
Melee Five times +3 x5 +3
enemy's
Three times +2 x3 +2
Combat works very much like standard enemy's
D&D3E combat, except that the map is on a Double +1 x2 +1
larger scale and the men are more tightly Enemy's
packed that the usual "one man per 5' square"
rule (due to the confusion and close quarters 50% of -1 x1 -1
of combat). All movement rules, such as enemy's
running, charging, double moves etc apply to 33% of -2 x1 -2
each unit. To enter combat with another unit enemy's
on land, a unit must charge however, they 20% of -3 x1 -3
cannot simply walk up to another unit and enemy's
start fighting (the charge grants the usual +2 10% or less of -5 x½ -5
to attack and -2 to AC for one round and enemy's
These bonuses may need to be adjusted during the
allows only as single attack). To enter combat
combat as a unit loses unit hit points - the new
with another unit in ship-to-ship combat, the level of unit hit points should allow you to
attacking ship must make a boarding action determine the new (even if approximate) unit size.
against the target vessel before combat can be
engaged. Once engaged, the only options are Ranged
to Attack (Allows as many attacks per round
as the unit is entitled to), or to attempt to
Unit Ranged attacks are made as per the
Withdraw. Defenders in a boarding action in
standard rules, including the range modifier to
Ship-to-Ship combat may not Withdraw, as
the attack roll. If a hit is scored, damage is
there is no place to retreat. If a unit
rolled as normal and applied directly to the
Withdraws, the opposing unit gets a single
opposing unit hit points score. However, the
free attack on them. This is the only time
damage is modified for particularly large unit
attacks of opportunity are used in unit
sizes of archers, as shown below:
combat.
Unit size of Damage
Units attack as a single entity, making a single attacker Modifier
attack roll against the opposing unit's AC. If 5-10 -5
the hit is successful, standard damage is 11-20 -3
rolled, and applied directly to the opposing 21-50 -
units Unit Hit Points. This simulates many 51-100 x2
men striking and possibly killing many men 101-200 x3
at once. A unit reduced to 0 unit hit points is 200+ x4
considered beaten, either killed off or forced
to scatter and flee, either way it's out of the The following rules are not used in Open
combat, but not necessarily slaughtered to a Mass Combat between units (they still apply
man, see the rules for determining surviving in individual combat against a backdrop of
numbers. Open Mass Combat): Flat-footed Opponents,
Magic Actions, Miscellaneous Actions, Injury
When a unit outmatches another, either in and Death, Flanking, Aid Another, Bull Rush,
terms of number or ability, they find they are Disarm, Grapple, Mounted Combat, Overrun,
able to inflict severe damage on their Trip.
opponents while receiving little in return. The
table below grants attack, damage and morale Magic
modifiers to units who heavily outmatch or
are outmatched by their opponents: Magical attacks can be devastating on the
battlefield, particularly area effect spells,
Unit size is... Attack Damage Morale which deal hideous amounts of damage on
modifier modifier Modifier
2
tightly packed men. Any offensive spell that Morale Modifier* +/- morale modifier
targets one subject will cause damage to a Unit Leader with + Leader's character
unit's hit points equal to one quarter the Leadership feat level
damage inflicted by the spell, rounded down. Player Character See PC section
Any offensive spell that targets more than one actions
subject will cause damage to a unit's hit Unit already fleeing -4
Enslaved Unit ** -4
points equal to the damage of the spell, due to
the close density of fighting men. Spells that
have effects other than damage (such as Bless * Morale modifiers can come from any source.
For example, the Bless spell grants a +1 morale
or Bane) only provide their bonus or penalty
attack bonus, but in this case would also give +1
if a majority of the members of the unit can to morale checks.
be affected. Other aspects of spellcasting in
Open Mass Combat will be adjudicated on a ** Includes any unit whose members have been
case-by-case basis. forced into combat against their will and/or
without pay or rewards. For ship-to-ship combat,
Turning Undead this includes pressganged crew or crew that have
force rowed in the last 24 hours.
Clerics may attempt to turn or rebuke undead,
despite the far greater numbers than might If a morale check is failed, a unit will
normally be faced. The rules for turning are automatically attempt to Withdraw during its
used to determine how many hit dice of next action, and then will continue and leave
undead are affected as normal, and as long as the battlefield as soon as possible (double
the undead in question are able to be affected movement each round). Note that, in Ship-to-
by the clerics turning attempt, this is deducted Ship combat, the defenders of a boarding
directly from the Units Hit Points. action can't withdraw, because they have
nowhere else to go. In these cases, the unit
Morale will surrender (though there is no gaurantee
the attackers won't continue to attack the
Morale checks must be made for units in surrendered unit.) A unit can rally by making
combat when various circumstances come a Morale check against a DC of 20, which is
about. A morale check is a Will save. rolled at the start of each of its turns. PC's do
not have to flee with units they are attached
Morale Circumstance Save DC to. It is quite possible to charge an already
Unit hit points reduced to half 15 fleeing unit again (and again and again
original score and...). Attacking routed units in this manner
Unit Hit Points reduced to 20 gives a +2 circumstance bonus to the attack
quarter original score roll and of course they will not retaliate
Unit suffers more damage 10 unless they rally.
than enemy in one round of
melee combat
Unit is hit by enemy of three 15
times (or greater) Unit Hit
Points.
Recovering Casualties
Unit sees friendly unit fleeing 15
nearby Unit Hit Points do not track actual deaths in a
Unit sees friendly unit wiped 20 unit. They are more a measure of its ability to
out nearby keep fighting through individual death, injury
Unit attempting to rally 20 and surrender. At the end of each combat, a
percentage of the lost hit points may be
The following modifiers apply to morale automatically recovered as those injured are
checks: helped, those who ran come out of hiding and
the death toll is finally tallied.
Morale Source Modifier
Unit Leader + Leaders Charisma Ranged Combat: At the end of any combat
modifier involving only ranged weapons, 50%
3
(rounded down) of lost Unit Hit Points can be
recovered.
Winning Melee Combat: At the end of any
melee, the victor may recover 50% (rounded
down) of lost Unit Hit Points.
Losing Melee Combat: At the end of any
melee, the defeated side may recover 25%
(rounded down) of lost Unit Hit Points.
These percentages are modified as follows:
Cleric with healing spells present: +2% per
level per cleric (max +10%)
Character with Heal skill rank 4 or greater
present: +1% per character (max +10%)
Unit withdrew from combat: -20%
Unit Types
Archers: Any unit armed with a missile
weapon with a range increment of at least 50'
is an archery unit.
Cavalry: Any unit riding any kind of mount
into battle is a cavalry unit. Any ride checks
are made by the unit as a whole.
Crew: Standard shipboard crew. Any unit
onboard a vessel is a crew unit.
Infantry: Standard foot soldiers. Any unit
that is not an archer, cavalry or skirmisher
unit is an infantry unit.
Skirmishers: Any unit wearing light or no
armour may be designated skirmishers.
Skirmishers are more spread out than other
units, and as such only receive normal
damage from ranged attacks, regardless of the
size of the attacking unit. Skirmishers also
gain a +2 competance bonus to initiative
checks. Skirmisher units may never number
more than 20 members however. Cavalry
units with light horses or war horses with no
barding may be designated skirmishers and
gain these bonuses and penalties.
War Machines
4
War Machines are treated as if each were a
unit in its own right in the OMCS. They have
their own profile, eg:
Medium Catapult
Structure Dice: 1d10 (5sp)
Hardness: 5
Size: Large
AC: 12 (-1 size, +3 natural)
Attacks: 1 catapult shot
Damage: Catapult shot 4d6/2d6
Rate of Fire: 6
Crew: 3
Special Qualities: none
Notes on the War Machine Profile:
Structure Dice: War machines use SP
(Structure Points) instead of Hit Points. An
attack by a single character or creature must
do 10 full hit points of damage to do one
structure point of damage to a war machine.
Some war machines do actual structure
damage, and this damage is therefore applied
directly to another war machines structure
points. Hardness never applies in this case.
Attacks by units in the OMCS automatically
cause structural damage to war machines
because of the large numbers of men fighting
together.
Hardness: Only applies when attacked by
single characters, not when attacked by units
or other war machines.
Size, AC: Self explanatory.
Damage: Some war machines can cause
structural damage to other war machines (or
to walls etc). If a war machine has two
damages separated by a slash, the first
damage rating is versus units and single
characters, while the second is for structural
damage to other war machines or
strongholds.
Rate of Fire: How many full round actions
the crew must spend to reload and fire the
machine.
Crew: The number needed for peak
efficiency. A war machine crew can lose 25%
of its number without any loss of rate of fire.
After this, the ROF is doubled for each
additional crewman lost.
Special Qualities: Self explanatory.
Notes
• All war machines have an initiative
of -4 (minimum 1)
• War machines are usually assumed to
be ready to fire at the start of combat,
unless there has not been time to
prepare (e.g. in the case of a surprise
attack).
• Ballistae attack all units as if they had
an AC of 10, and damage is deducted
directly from the Unit Hit Points,
however, other war machines are
attacked by a Ballistae as if it were a
single character, needing to do 10 full
points of damage to do one Structure
Point, unless, of course, the war
machine lists structural damage under
the Damage entry of its profile.
• Catapults and Trebuchets hit all
targets as if they had an AC of 10.
• War machines do not make attacks of
opportunity.
Ships
Ships are treated as their own units in the
OMCS. They have described by their own
Ship Profile, eg:
Orca Trading Ship
Medium Merchantman (Sailed)
Structure Dice: 4d8 (18sp)
Hardness: 5
Manueverability: -2 (-2 Merchantman)
Speed: 20 ft/48 miles
Turn Rate: 80 ft
AC: 8 (-2 Merchantman)
Weapons Fore: None
Weapons Aft: None
Weapons Broadside: None
Damage: None
Special Qualities: None
Crew: 30
Passengers: 10
Cargo: 150 tonnes
5
Building Time: 4 months
Cost: 16,000 gp
Notes on the Ship Profile:
Ship Name: Name of the vessel, either the
actual name or the class of vessel.
Size: Self-explanatory. Ship sizes correspond
to creatures size categories three levels
larger. Thus, a Medium ship is the same size
as a Gargantuan creature.
Ship Type: Defines the ship's function in the
game, which further defines its relative
durability, seaworthiness and agility in the
water.
• Auxillary: Catch-all term covering
many smaller vessels found in rivers,
in harbours, or on board larger
vessels as lifeboats, etc. Structure
Dice: d4, AC -2.
• Coastal: Vessels designed only for
shallow waters near the coastline.
Structure Dice: d6, Manueverability
-1, AC -1.
• Merchantman: Vessels designed to
ply the High Seas conducting trade.
Structure Dice: d8, Manueverability
-2, AC -2.
• Warship: Vessels designed to
conduct war on the High Seas.
Structure Dice: d10.
Ship Subtype: Further defines the ship's
function in the game.
• Cumbersome: These vessels aren't
designed for fast and agile movement
at sea, such as a barge or raft.
Manueverability -2.
• Light: Vessels intentionally built
without many of the structural
reinforcements, in order to create a
faster, more agile ship. Structure
Points: -1 per SD, Manueverability
+1.
• Oared: Vessels that use oars to
provide motion, thus not being reliant
on the wind for propulsion.
 • Sailed: Vessels that use sails to
provide motion, thus not reliant on
manpower for propulsion.
• Submersible: Very rare vessels that
can travel underwater through
magical or mechanical means.
Structure Dice: Ships use SP (Structure
Points) instead of Hit Points. An attack by a
single character or creature must do 10 full
hit points of damage to do one structure point
of damage to a ship. Some ships have
weapons that do actual structure damage,
and this damage is applied directly to another
ship's structure points. Hardness never
applies in this case. Attacks by units in the
OMCS automatically cause structural
damage to ships because of the large
numbers of men working together.
Hardness: Only applies when attacked by
single characters, not when attacked by units
or other sources of structural damage.
Manueverability: Works the same way as
Initiative does for creatures.
Speed: Lists the maximum speed the ship may
reach under normal conditions. The first rate
is the base speed per round, and the second
rate is the amount of miles per day.
Turn Rate: Indicates how far a ship must
travel in a straight line before it can make a
single 45 degree turn. A ship voluntarily
moving at less than half its speed may halve
its turn rate.
AC: Self explanatory.
Weapons fore, aft and broadside: Lists all of
the ship's attacks by location/firing arc. It
should be noted that all ship's weapons are
considered primary weapons, no matter how
many are used in a round.
Damage: Lists the damage for each weapon.
If a shipboard weapon has two damages
separated by a slash, the first damage rating
is versus units and single characters, while
the second is for structural damage to other
ships and strongholds.
6
Special Qualities: Self explanatory.
Crew: The number of crewmen required to
operate the ship under optimum conditions.
Any ship may set sail with a skeleton crew
numbering no less than 25% of this figure
(rounded up), but there are inherent dangers.
Passengers: Lists how many passengers
(including troops) that a ship may carry in
relative comfort in addition to its crew. For
every two passenger spaces not taken up, an
additional tonne of cargo may be carried.
Cargo: Lists how much cargo the vessel may
normally carry. For every tonne of cargo not
taken up, two additional passengers may be
carried.
Building Time, Cost: Self explanatory.
Player Characters
Characters may join units in the OMCS to
provide leadership to the unit and assist it in
combat. They may also range out on their
own. This system is designed to allow the
PC's to be heroes, and as such does not
feature instant death situations that many
large scale battle rules force on individual
characters. That said, an individual character
charged by an entire unit of men is going to
have a hard time, so it should be avoided at
all costs.
PC's are never considered "part of the unit"
when attached to a unit. This allows them to
act independently if they wish. When two
units are in combat, PC's may choose to help
one side or the other. To do so, they may enter
in combat with one or members of the other
side. Because everyone acts in initiative
order, the PC may well have the chance to act
before the units involved (he may need to
delay his action to move with the unit, of
course) and any he kills will not be involved
in the combat.
e.g.: While leading his heroic unit to attack a
mercenary ogre unit, Durgoran the dwarf
(who has the highest initiative) attacks a big
ogre as his men engage the rest of the
enemies. The unit hit points of the Ogres is
87. Durgoran dispatches his foe in one round
of combat - a normal ogre has 4HD and thus
the mercenaries lose 4 Unit Hit Points
immediately, bringing them down to 83. Now
the units can fight, in remaining initiative
order.
PCs may also affect unit morale through their
actions, as shown on the following table:
PC Action Morale Bonus
to Unit
Slaying enemy unit leader +2
Slaying enemy +1
officer/spellcaster
Seen destroying enemy war +1
machine/shipboard weapon
Fleeing battle/going -4
down/diving overboard
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Slaying 10% or more of +1
enemy unit in one attack
Cutting down one of the +1
enemy's sails
PCs earn experience point awards in Open
Mass Combat scenarios by two means:
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that they themselves defeated in combat, and
through story awards given based on
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NOTE: Important NPCs, whether allies or
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can influence the direction of open mass
combat in much the same ways as PCs.
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Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the
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Open Mass Combat System (OMCS) Copyright 2003,
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the Open Game License v. 1.0
OMCS modifications Copyright 2002-2003, Jason D. Kemp