Leaders and Actions

During each round of a mass battle, each leader selects an action and leads their cohort in pursuing that action. For the purposes of identification, targeting, and effects, each cohort is defined by its leader.

Determining Cohorts

An army can be organized into any number of cohorts, but it is generally prudent to have enough cohorts in an army for all of the PCs to be able to do important things during the battle.

Note that cohorts usually do not suffer casualties directly; instead, casualties are applied to the overall strength of the army. Given the strategic pace of mass battles, damaged cohorts can usually be reinforced from elsewhere in the army long before they are wiped out.

In mass battles, terrain qualities (see page 267), affect the cohorts that occupy them. When a cohort would suffer damage from a terrain effect, it suffers that much attrition instead.

Army Attributes

Armies have two attributes that reflect their overall state of preparedness and efficacy. Both of these attributes are tracked on a scale from 1 to 100. Like endurance and composure for characters, these attributes reflect the physical and mental losses an army can suffer before collapsing.

Strength

Strength is an abstraction of the army’s ability to absorb casualties without ceasing to function. A large part of an army’s strength is raw numbers, but other factors, such as good infrastructure (to keep soldiers well fed, mended, and free of disease), ready access to supplies and equipment, and sufficient rest can also have a substantial impact on army strength. Strength is measured against casualties, which are the measure of an army’s losses in battle and function like fatigue for a character. Attacks against an army’s forces, positions, and supplies deal attrition to the army (much as Attack actions deal damage to a character), from which the army suffers casualties after applying any increases and reductions to attrition dealt to it.

At the end of each round, if an army’s casualties exceed its strength, the army is routed, and a majority of its constituents are killed. See Resolving a Mass Battle on page 279.

Discipline

Discipline is a reflection of an army’s psychological state and the ability of its troops to remain in the field despite witnessing the horrors of war. Confidence in the army’s leadership or belief in the righteousness of a cause can buoy this attribute, while prolonged conflict, deprivation, and fear can drag it down. Discipline is measured against panic, which is the measure of an army’s current state of disarray, and accumulates much like strife does for an individual character.

At the end of each round, if an army’s panic exceeds its discipline, the army suffers a morale collapse, its warriors scattering, losing cohesion, or turning on their own. See Resolving a Mass Battle on page 279.

Army and Cohort Abilities

Many armies possess one or more abilities, which are listed in their profile. At the GM’s discretion, an individual cohort can also possess an ability.

See page 280 for several sample armies.