d20 RPG Objects Blood and Guts Battlefield Unit Combat System.pdf

blood and guts

battlefield unit combat system v 2.0

charles rice

cover art

jeremy simmons

editing

chris davis

layout

chris davis

play testing

paula rice, edward lennon,

corey hodges, chris davis, charles

baize

www. rpgobjects .com

Requires the use of the d20 Modern Roleplaying Game, published by Wizards of the

Coast, Inc.

d20 Modern and Wizards of the Coast are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. in the

United States and other countries and are used with permission

‘d20 System’ and the ‘d20 System’ logo are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and

are used according to the terms of the d20 System License version 6.0. A copy of this

License can be found at www.wizards.com/d20.

battlefield unit

combat system

small unit combat

raw

Raw units are largely untrained, and represent the bulk

of men and women caught in a combat zone, who grab a

gun (or whatever other implements are handy) and try to

defend themselves. When assisting, these units actually

get in a character’s way, imposing a penalty on die rolls.

These units cannot act alone without Orders , and any

Order given to a raw unit must be repeated every round in

combat. Raw units may not have Unit Specialties (see Unit

Specialties below for more information). All units that do

not have the Infantry Unit Specialty ﬁght as a Raw unit.

The d20 System is an excellent system for handling combat

engagements involving less than twenty people. However,

what does the GM do when a combat situation involves

hundreds of people? There are a number of strategies

that wily GMs have adopted over the years to handle

this, usually involving just a tight focus on the PCs and

their actions during a larger battle. However, with the

Battleﬁeld Unit Combat System (BUCS), the GM now has

the tools to run this size of battle like any other battle.

In BUCS, the Unit is the base size for independent

action. A unit is usually around ten individuals, the size

of a modern military squad. If individual characters wish

to participate in a BUCS battle, they must join a unit (see

Joining a Unit below). Units undertake actions the same

way player characters do: they have a move action and an

attack action each round; they may make skill checks, and

so forth. What actions a unit can undertake and how well it

can undertake them are governed by the unit’s Specialties

(see Unit Specialties below).

green

Green units are fresh out of basic training, but at least have

been given a full course of physical training, weapons

instruction, and some very limited exposure to live ﬁre.

On their own these units operate at –4. When assisting

another character, these units grant a +1 to the character’s

skill check. Green crews may only act alone if ﬁrst given

an Order . Green units may possess one Unit Specialty

(usually the Infantry Unit Specialty).

inexperienced

Inexperienced units have either been extensively trained

or seen limited action in the ﬁeld. When operating alone

(but under Orders ), these units act at –2, but grant a +2

bonus to a character they are assisting. These units may

act without Orders , but act at-4 (the same as a Green unit)

when operating without the support of their superiors.

Inexperienced units may possess one Unit Specialty. It

is possible for certain characters (members of the Special

Forces, and Strategist Prestige Classes)to train a unit up to

this level of ability. Otherwise, this skill level may only be

gained through combat.

unit quality

Unit Quality is rated in two ways: how that unit functions

when assisting more skilled personnel (a PC, named NPC,

or more highly skilled unit), and how that unit functions

when operating alone. To act alone at full effectiveness,

most units must still be given an Order. Orders can only be

given by PCs or “name” NPCs.

Giving a unit an order is an attack action. The unit will

continue to perform that order until they receive a new

order or until performing the old order makes no sense

(in other words a unit ordered to attack will not turn on

friendly units once all enemies have been vanquished).

Unit quality also determines how much damage a

unit can take, since each successful hit on a unit reduces

quality. Thus, a legendary unit can sustain seven hits before

dispersing, while a raw unit can sustain only one.

average

Average crews have either seen extensive action, or

superior training. When operating alone (but under

Orders ), these units act at no penalty, and grant a +3 bonus

to a character they are assisting. These units may act

without Orders , but act at –2 (the same as an Inexperienced

unit). Average units may possess two Unit Specialties. It

is possible for certain characters (members of the Special

Forces, and Strategist Prestige Classes) to train a unit up to

this level of ability. Otherwise, this skill level may only be

gained through combat.

Quality

Alone

Assisting

Raw

-6

-2

Green

-4

Inexperienced

-2

Average

Experienced

Elite

Legendary

battlefield unit combat system

experienced

Experienced units have either seen lengthy combat duty,

or have been given the ﬁnest training available (this is the

default skill level of NATO forces). When operating alone

(but under Orders ), these units act at +2, and grant a +4

bonus to a character they are assisting. These units may

act without Orders , but act at no bonus (the same as an

Average unit). Experienced units may possess two Unit

Specialties. It is possible for certain characters (members

of the Special Forces, and Strategist Prestige Classes) to

train a unit up to this level of ability. Otherwise, this skill

level may only be gained through combat.

the table below to the Unit’s cost of Requisition DC (see

Raising a Force below).

Quality

Modiﬁer

Poor

-4

Barely Adequate

-2

Adequate

-0

Good

Excellent

poor

The unit is not well equipped for the task it has been given.

A heavy unit with this equipment rating loses its ability

to take an extra hit. A mechanized or armor unit with this

equipment rating loses its mobility.

Should a unit be pressed into service for a task that is

not included in its specialties, that unit operates as if it is

poorly equipped, no matter what its normal Equipment

rating would be.

elite

Elite units combine extensive combat duty with the best

training available and are some of the ﬁnest soldiers alive.

These units assist another character as well as Experienced

units (granting a +4 bonus), but act just as well alone but

under Orders (+4), and are highly capable of independent

action as well (operating at +4 when working without the

guidance of a superior ofﬁcer). Elite units may possess 3

Unit Specialties. Only combat experience (usually coupled

with tremendous training, to be sure) can make a unit Elite.

barely adequate

The unit is equipped for the task it has been given, just not

very well. A heavy unit with this equipment rating loses

its ability to take an extra hit. A mechanized or armor unit

with this equipment rating loses its mobility.

legendary

Some units consistently rise above and beyond the call

of duty. Units like the Big Red One, whose names have

become synonymous with valor. These units operate at

a +6 bonus, whether assisting another, acting alone with

Orders , or operating without Orders . Also, members of

this unit possess such superior combat experience that,

if the need arises, a Legendary unit can actually take

over other units (those not commanded by PCs or named

NPCs), commanding up to 6 lesser units. Legendary units

may possess 4 Unit Specialties. Only combat experience

(usually coupled with tremendous training, to be sure) can

make a unit Legendary.

adequate

The unit is equipped for the task it has been given. The

unit performs normally in every respect for a unit of its

experience and specialties.

good

The unit is well equipped for the task it has been given.

excellent

The unit has the best equipment money can buy. The unit

is so well equipped that it feels invincible. If the unit

enters into combat with a unit not as well equipped, the

unit may ignore its ﬁrst Morale hit (see combat below).

unit equipment

How well a unit is equipped will also affect its

performance. The modiﬁers in the table below will affect

a unit according to its Specialties (see Unit Specialties

below for more information). So, a unit with the Combat

Engineering Specialty, but not the Infantry specialty, would

gain its equipment bonus to Craft (Structural) checks, but

not to combat.

The Modiﬁers listed on the table below apply to all

attack rolls and skill checks. If the Unit’s Equipment rating

is higher than Poor and a unit is pressed into service in an

area not covered by its specialties, that unit functions as

if it were Poorly Equipped. Characters raising units by

paying them, or Requisitioning them from a larger agency

(including the military) will also apply the modiﬁer on

unit vs. unit

Many times, the actions a unit wishes to take will be

opposed directly by units on the other side. You wish

to ﬁnd your enemy through aerial reconnaissance, while

your opponent seeks to hide valuable targets through

camouﬂage. In these cases, each unit rolls a d20, modiﬁed

by unit quality, and the higher total wins.

unit combat

Often, units will ﬁght one another. This is what all combat

eventually comes down to, man vs. man. This is done like

a skill vs. skill contest, with each unit totaling all modiﬁers

and rolling a d20. The winning unit has the chance to

battlefield unit combat system

inﬂict damage on their opponents, at the rate of 1 hit for

each 5 points it wins the round by. If the round is won by

less than 5, no damage is inﬂicted on either unit.

Unit Damage: Whenever units take damage, half of that

damage (rounded up) is a temporary loss of quality due to

the shock and fear of combat, and half (rounded down) is

due to actual injury and death. These two types of damage,

Morale Hits and Casualty Hits, are explained below.

Morale Hits: Morale hits are temporary losses of unit

quality due to shock and confusion. Morale hits are

“healed” by Medical crew, and by rest. As long as a unit

is under stress, one Morale hit can never be healed (the

last Morale hit may only be healed by R&R). Each day

of R&R (rest and relaxation) a unit receives restores one

Morale hit. Morale hits may also be instantly healed

through the use of certain class abilities.

Casualty Hits: During the heat of battle, crew casualties

are treated like morale hits, except that Strategists (a

prestige class) cannot use their class abilities to restore

quality loss due to casualties. After a battle, medical units

will be able to save some soldiers, restoring quality. Any

casualties that cannot be restored within twenty four hours

after a battle are dead. The unit that suffers deaths is

permanently reduced to its new level of quality, after which

it can begin gaining experience normally (representing

new recruits taking the place of fallen soldiers who are less

experienced).

hit it retreats in poor order and may be recovered after

combat; if a casualty hit inﬂicts the last bit of damage, the

unit is destroyed utterly and is lost.

Dug In: Units that are dug in (using natural cover,

foxholes, sandbags, razor wire, and other constructions

for cover) never suffer penalties for Momentum or Driven

Back. However, these units may not beneﬁt from these

conditions either. Units that are dug in also gain a +2

bonus on all crew combat rolls.

Strength in numbers: When units work together for a

common goal, they gain a +2 bonus on all skill checks

for each unit over the ﬁrst. Only units that have skills in

common may work together.

Outnumbered: Units may work together in combat as

well. When one side outnumbers the other, use the bonus

on the table below.

Surprise: Surprise is a dangerous weapon in unit

combat. Any unit may make a Hide check (modiﬁed by

Unit Quality) to attempt a surprise attack. This check

is opposed by a Spot check (modiﬁed by Unit Quality).

A unit that achieves surprise begins combat with a +2

Momentum bonus (meaning if it wins the ﬁrst round this

bonus will increase to +3 the next round and so forth).

Mobile: A mobile unit is much faster than its opponent.

This usually results from one unit being mechanized while

its opponent is on foot, or a mechanized unit ﬁghting an

Armor unit. For each step of mobility in a unit’s favor

(Foot, Mechanized, Armor), the unit gains a +2 bonus to

combat rolls. Also, a unit with a mobility advantage may

never be Pinned Down due to numbers, unless the unit is

ﬁghting in cramped quarters.

unit combat rules: special cases

Pinned Down: A unit that is under ﬁre from multiple

directions, or is unable to move freely because it is ﬁghting

from a doorway, elevator, or narrow street is pinned down.

If your opponent is pinned down, you gain a +2 on all unit

combat rolls. If your opponent is pinned down because

it is ﬁghting from a doorway, it must only win a round

(ﬁghting its way free from the enclosure) to no longer be

pinned down. A unit that is pinned down because it is

outnumbered must successfully destroy one of the units

and even the odds in order to no longer be considered

pinned down. A unit that is Dug In may only be Pinned

Down if it is being attacked from multiple directions.

Momentum: If a unit wins round after round, it will

seem invincible to its opponent, regardless of the relative

quality of the two units. Each round a unit wins in a row

gives it a cumulative +1 bonus in the next round. So a

unit that wins three rounds, gains a +3 bonus. However,

if that unit loses a single round, it loses this bonus, and its

opponent gains a +1.

Damaging and Destroying Units: Each hit inﬂicted

on a unit degrades its quality by one step. This reﬂects

either that unit’s decreased willingness to ﬁght (in the case

of morale damage), or its dwindling numbers (in the case

of casualty hits). If a unit is reduced below Raw status,

its fate is determined by what type of hit that last bit of

damage was: if a unit is reduced below Raw by a morale

Factor

Modiﬁer

Outnumbered

X4 or more

Healing Unit Damage: There are two different kinds

of damage that may be inﬂicted on a unit: morale and

casualty. Each of these two types of damage are healed in

different ways. Morale damage is healed by leave time,

or facilities that serve to allow the unit to unwind on board

ship, or at a base, such as Gymnasiums, Arboretums,

Arcades and so forth. This damage will recover with

time, but if a unit must ﬁght several battles in a row, it

will continue to feel the effects of fatigue for some time.

A medical crew, augmented by medical facilities, heals

casualty damage. These hits are repaired immediately after

combat. Any casualty hits beyond the ability of a medical

crew to heal are marked off permanently and counted as

unit quality level decrease.

Joining a Unit: Characters have many options open to

them to become skilled commanders in these rules. Squad/

Squadron Tactics, the Leadership Feat, and several Prestige

Classes (Special Forces, Strategist) all allow the PCs to

battlefield unit combat system

amphibious

Amphibious landings are a vital element in modern

warfare. Combat must always be won on the ground, and

amphibious landings are one way to get troops into enemy

territory. Units with this ability gain a +2 on all rolls in

amphibious or beach terrain. Units with this ability gain

double Momentum bonuses when ﬁghting units without

this ability in Amphibious environments.

Units without this ability begin any combat begun from

landing craft Pinned Down, and must win two rounds of

combat to act without penalty (see Unit Combat Rules:

Special Cases for more information).

Establish Beachhead: This allows a unit to own a piece

of contested real estate, making amphibious landings

there easier. Units that have established a beachhead are

effectively dug in. This allows one unit per round without

the amphibious ability to be put ashore and not begin

combat pinned down. Time: 1 hour.

lead troops into battle. What this does is allow a PC or

“named” NPC to join a unit, risking his life with them, but

greatly enhancing its effectiveness. Each of those feats or

prestige classes mentioned above gives details for its effect

on Unit vs. Unit contests. If a Crew Unit commanded by

a PC or named NPC suffers damage, the character does as

well. For each hit of actual (Casualty) damage suffered

by the unit (PCs are immune to morale hits), the character

suffers 3d6 damage. If the character is killed before his

unit (an unlikely scenario), that unit immediately suffers 2

Morale Hits, which will likely cause it to disperse.

orders

While units can function perfectly well as assistants to their

superiors, there is a lot to do in combat, and sometimes the

PCs will need their unit to operate independently. In the

description of each Unit Specialty are a number of Orders .

Giving an Order to a unit is a move-equivalent action,

which will be performed by that unit either for a speciﬁed

amount of time (listed in the Order’s description), until the

Order is cancelled by another Order (if no time limit is

given), or until the Order is completed.

Orders are listed with a time, in hours, that it takes to

perform the Order . Units always subtract half their quality

from this time, but the minimum time to perform an Order

is always 1 hour (so a legendary Combat Engineering unit

could bridge a river in 1 Hour, while a Raw unit would

take 10 hours to perform the same Order ).

arctic

Arctic units have special equipment and training for sub-

zero movement and combat. These units never suffer

movement penalties due to cold weather. Units with this

ability gain a +2 on all rolls when in arctic terrain or sub-

zero conditions.

Units with this ability gain double Momentum

bonuses when ﬁghting units without this ability in Arctic

environments.

armor

Requires Mechanized specialty

An Armored unit is comprised of heavy armored

vehicles (such as Tanks). Armor units have two steps

of Mobility (gaining a +2 bonus against a Mechanized

unit or a +4 bonus against an Infantry unit, but no bonus

against another Armor unit). Armor units ignore the ﬁrst

two Casualty hits they suffer, and can never be Pinned

Down by Infantry or Mechanized units unless ﬁghting in

cramped quarters. Armor units cannot go into Amphibious,

Arctic, Jungle, or Swamp terrain. Armor units with the

Amphibious ability may go into Amphibious terrain.

unit specialties

Units without a given specialty may sometimes be called

upon to perform an Order they are not suited for. If the

Order can be performed at all (GM’s discretion on whether

the unit has the equipment to even attempt the Order ), the

unit performs as if it were a Raw unit, regardless of its

quality under normal circumstances. Units without the

Infantry Specialty always ﬁght as a Raw unit.

Common Orders: Although many units have

specialized Orders only they can execute, there are some

Orders that may be performed by any unit.

Use Skill : Orders a unit to use one of its skills at unit

quality effectiveness.

Attack: The unit attacks other enemy units.

aviation

Aviation units comprise support personnel for friendly air

power. These units will man airports and repair and refuel

aircraft between sorties.

Skills: Air Trafﬁc Control, Communication Operations,

Repair.

airborne

Airborne units give a commander great ﬂexibility, because

they may be placed anywhere on the battleﬁeld, using

their ability to Paradrop to bypass enemy strongholds and

allowing a commander to surround his opponent almost at

will.

Skills: Tumble

combat engineering

Units with this specialty aid other units by building

facilities to house and protect them. Due to the specialized

equipment used by these units, such as earthmovers,

backhoes and Bridgelayers, they may perform work in

much less time than units without this specialty.

battlefield unit combat system

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: