Combat

Combat

At its core, combat is about narrating a cinematic and tactical encounter where characters and their adversaries engage in a struggle for supremacy. Whether it’s a clash of swords against a dragon’s scales, a stealthy arrow loosed in the dead of night, or a wizard’s spell crackling through the air, each moment in combat is a story in itself.

The mechanics of combat are designed to be intuitive and fair. They encompass everything from the simplest of skirmishes to the grandest of battles. Through a blend of imagination and rules, combat unfolds in a series of rounds and turns. Each round, every participant takes a turn to act, reflecting the simultaneous chaos of battle in a manageable and orderly fashion.

Key elements such as initiative, movement, actions, and environment play crucial roles. Initiative determines the order of turns, movement dictates how you navigate the battlefield, actions are what you can do on your turn, and the environment itself can be both a challenge and an asset.

Understanding these components is crucial, but mastering combat goes beyond just knowing the rules. It’s about strategy, creativity, and teamwork. How will you outmaneuver your foe? What clever use of your abilities can turn the tide of battle? How will your party synergize their talents to overcome overwhelming odds? Excitement and adventure await.

Actions in Combat

Actions in Combat

When you take your action on your turn, you can take one of the actions presented here, an action you gained from your class or a... read on
Cover

Cover

Walls, trees, creatures, and other obstacles can provide cover during combat, making a target more difficult to harm. A target can benefit from cover only when... read on
Damage and Healing

Damage and Healing

Injury and the risk of death are constant companions of those who explore fantasy gaming worlds. The thrust of a sword, a well-placed arrow, or a... read on
Making an Attack

Making an Attack

Whether you're striking with a melee weapon, firing a weapon at range, or making an attack roll as part of a spell, an attack has a... read on
Mounted Combat

Mounted Combat

A knight charging into battle on a warhorse, a wizard casting spells from the back of a griffon, or a cleric soaring through the sky on... read on
Movement and Position

Movement and Position

In combat, characters and monsters are in constant motion, often using movement and position to gain the upper hand. On your turn, you can move a... read on
The Order of Combat

The Order of Combat

A typical combat encounter is a clash between two sides, a flurry of weapon swings, feints, parries, footwork, and spellcasting. The game organizes the chaos of... read on
Underwater Combat

Underwater Combat

When adventurers pursue sahuagin back to their undersea homes, fight off sharks in an ancient shipwreck, or find themselves in a flooded dungeon room, they must... read on

Credits: Game Squire