Morale?

[Supplement Four]

What about morale? I don't see any sort of NPC morale check in the 2E book.

Is this covered in a supplement? Maybe Free Companies?

 

[Krushnak]

Free Companies has a morale mechanic in it as did the alternative mass combat rules which used to be up on the site but i dont think they still are. Both are intended for large scale battles in mind really. i know you are running Kovag Re for your intro adventure and with such small forces used i would go on gut instinct for a ruling on morale. look at the average will save, whether they are highly trained soldiers, fanatics or just filled with good old bloodlust? then look at their equipment is it good, average or of low quality? compare that with how many of their comrades have bitten the dust and go from there.

 

[Supplement Four]

Free Companies has a morale mechanic in it as did the alternative mass combat rules which used to be up on the site but i dont think they still are. Both are intended for large scale battles in mind really. i know you are running Kovag Re for your intro adventure and with such small forces used i would go on gut instinct for a ruling on morale. look at the average will save, whether they are highly trained soldiers, fanatics or just filled with good old bloodlust? then look at their equipment is it good, average or of low quality? compare that with how many of their comrades have bitten the dust and go from there.

Thanks for the info. I normally run things that way, but with d20 being so rules heavy, I was sure there was some morale mechanic somewhere. Man, it's been ages, but I seem to remember old D&D using a 1-20 morale system, rolling the ML or less on a d20. It's been years, and my memory is hazy. Plus I don't have any of those old D&D books anymore, having sold them years ago.

I was thinking that 3E must have had a morale mechanic...and I was kinda surprised to see one wasn't in 2E Conan (like the rules for intoxication missing).

I've got no problem at all using my gut and the circumstance of the encounter to roll morale...just curious if there was a rule somewhere.

Any idea how 3E or 3.5E handled morale?

 

[VincentDarlage]

I never roll for morale. If I think the NPCs should lose morale, then they do. If I think they don't, then they don't. I let the story needs and the appropriateness of the situation drive it.

 

[Supplement Four]

I never roll for morale. If I think the NPCs should lose morale, then they do. If I think they don't, then they don't. I let the story needs and the appropriateness of the situation drive it.

Not a bad way of running things.

Historically, I've done both. Sometimes, I don't have a feeling either way. So, I let the dice decide.

And, sometimes, I do it just as you describe above.

 

[Hervé]

I also do as Vincent, trying to make my NPCs react according to the situation.

 

[kintire]

I'm not aware of any rules for morale, except that certain enemies may have specific comments in their stats about fleeing when outnumbered or some such. but there's no general principle.

 

[maladaar]

Here is a suggestion.

Morale Check

Morale Check DC = (N)PC Wis - 20 (Will Save)

Morale Check Modifiers
Current HP--------Modifier
76% or higher------+0
51%-75%-------------2
26%-50%-------------4
25% or less-----------6

Out Numbered by Enemies Modifier
1 to 5------------------------------2
6 to 10----------------------------4
11 to 15 --------------------------6
16 or more ----------------------8

Out Number the Enemies Modifier
1 to 5-----------------------------+2
6 to 10---------------------------+4
11 to 15 -------------------------+6
16 or more ---------------------+8


Example:

NPC with a Wisdom of 12

NPC's Morale Check DC = 8 (Will Save)

If the same NPC has 25% or less of max HP the check becomes DC 14 (Will Save).

Again...just a quick suggestion. This obviously could be tweaked.