GURPS Combat Example: Phandelver Goblin Ambush

[@govniashka13]

If you're running out of ideas, then make more combat example videos! They help me a lot to prepare for combat encounters in my campaign. Maybe you can show a combat example in which the vertical component will play a very important role? I don't fully understand how you can do a vertical fight that doesn't come down to an endless series of shoving and pushing to death. Love your videos!

[@dungeonsandgurps]

Thanks! I'll see what I can do

[@Antitheist]

I enjoy these combats too. But if you’re disappointed in a particular result (like the weak bolt damage to the shield), change it! There’s nothing wrong with fudging the rolls in an instructional video. In fact, I would say just pick the roll results you want to use to illustrate the various rules. We will all be the better for it. :-)

[@llescarini]

I have been following your content on your channel for a long time, I like it very much especially way combat example. I don't know if you need ideas for future publications but anyway I would like to suggest you this: have users send you builds of monsters or characters of any kind and then choose a few to fight each other, it could be a great way to experiment with new unexpected mechanics and to showcase the real strength of GURPS: the ability to bring different worlds together and always remain compatible and consistent. Thank you for what you do!

[@dungeonsandgurps]

Thank you for your support! I like your idea, even though I still would have to do some vetoing and reviewing the combatants. I do have some ideas for future combat examples, but they will have to wait until I actually have enough free time to play them out and record them.

[@a_wild_Kirillian]

This is a well made video! I've watched it twice =)

[@llescarini]

beautiful, thanks! (Tip: call the goblins as G1, G2, G3, G4 or Gm1 Gm2, Ga1, Ga2, this way you can avoid saying west, east, etc etc)

[@et3rn4l]

Nice combat example. I'm planning a modern campaign and would like to see how a 3 minute round of MMA would play out.

[@dungeonsandgurps]

I suggest taking a look at the rules on page 134 of GURPS Martial Arts that talk about "flurries and lulls" that would work better for such a prolonged fight, so you don't have to resolve 180 combat rounds second by second.

[@robrau8795]

Thanks for the example, very cool. My only issue is, as mentioned in the video, the goblins would have logically attacked in a time of darkness. It would have been nice to see how things would have played out that way.

[@jrduncan13]

That would assume that the party is traveling on the road at night. Per the adventure, I believe the attack occurs during the day as that is when the party is traveling (no penalties for darkness). Every KZbin video I've seen on running this under 5E always has it happeniing during the day. This is from the Lost Mine of Phandelver which is a D&D adventure which I believe is from the starter set published back in 2014. Really nice hightly detailed write up of this combat example. Thanks much DungeonsandGURPS!

[@robrau8795]

@@jrduncan13 : Good points. I had no idea about the greater context of the specific adventure.

[@Fuzzyplatypus]

great video! I'm a little confused as the why the goblin is getting -5 to block @8:48 in the video. would you be able to clarify?

[@dungeonsandgurps]

That's the repeated block penalty. He blocked on the previous turn, and that was potentially the second block before the start of the goblin's new turn.

[@Fuzzyplatypus]

@@dungeonsandgurps ahh, thank you. I wasn't aware of that rule from MA, I just thought you could only block once as per the Basic Set

[@powerlichina3924]

19:05 Shouldn't he have dropped the kukri from his hand when he was knocked down (B420) due arrow in the vitals?

[@dungeonsandgurps]

You're right.

[@saschafeld5528]

So it took you 22 minutes to handle a fight of 17 seconds? That is a timeparadox that would made Einsteins head explode. ;)

[@Quillyik]

Love it. I've seen multiple variations of magic missile i gurps floating around, is this a homebrew one or is it from a book I don't have?

[@dungeonsandgurps]

It's a homebrewed one.

[@Quillyik]

@@dungeonsandgurps So I'm guessing innate attack (missile) with 1 missile per fp, counting as a single roll with rapid fire rules, and the -1 per die cr justifying the homing? Any prereqs you recommend? Also thank you. I've been trying to implement more dnd esque spells into my campaigns and your videos have been a great help.

[@dungeonsandgurps]

Here's the build: enragedeggplant.blogspot.com/2023/10/wizardry-force-spells-ii.html

[@tonyh8166]

In second ten of the fight you have the fighter cutting the goblin but his damage being converted to crushing due to cutting vs DR issues. What is the source for that ruling please? The text says p LT102 but I have no idea which book that refers to.

[@dungeonsandgurps]

GURPS Low-Tech, page 102

[@tonyh8166]

@@dungeonsandgurps Ah, Thanks. Naturally thats one of the few books I dont have. :P Oh well, currently playing a 4E game and they've rearranged things a bit on that front I think.

[@King.Leonidas]

where is the rules for stepping into C and being able to block? i've heard conflicting things about these in different GMS

[@dungeonsandgurps]

www.sjgames.com/gurps/faq/FAQ4-3.html?_gl=1*1tlb8r4*_ga*MzkzMzcyMTUzLjE3MDA3OTc4NzU.*_ga_BZNY1LRRWR*MTcxNDI2ODgzMi4zNjIuMS4xNzE0MjY4ODcxLjAuMC4w#SS3.4.3.6

[@King.Leonidas]

@dungeonsandgurps Thanks! a lot

[@jameswalton2080]

Do you suggest someone to use a bow or a crossbow I’m stuck on the option

[@dungeonsandgurps]

It depends on the character/setting/game. Generally speaking, Bows require more points to be good at due to being an Average skill, and allow for higher rate of fire (which usually also requires more point investment). Crossbows, on the other hand, require fewer points, but you are likely to only get a single powerful shot in the span of a combat.

[@jameswalton2080]

@@dungeonsandgurps I want to make a TL3 dungeon fantasy character that is good with ranged weapons but I don’t know if I want to do bows, crossbows, or throwing weapons

[@dungeonsandgurps]

If you want to shoot more than once per combat, then bows is a better option.

[@jrduncan13]

@@dungeonsandgurps Honestly I'd go with Ranger (GURPS Dungeon Fantasy/Dungeon Fantasy RPG Scout). Not sure what point cost used for the builds. Best use human or halfing Ranger (i.e. Scout). Also invest in Heroic Archer (expensive at 20 points, but WELL worth it). Also Heroic Archer is a cinematic skill but D&D tends to lean heavily in cinematic territory. Skill in Bow should be as high as you can reasonably manage. Builds for DRPG are at 250 points, but as this is more a starting adventure it is more reasonable to have a starting point cost at somewhere between 50 points and 150 points. As GURPS advancement is much slower than D&D I'd recommend 125 points (GURPS Delivers to Grow from Gaming Ballistic has this as "Journeyman" level PC for GURPS Dungeon Fantasy RPG). for greater limitation and far higher challenge similar to old school D&D (non-5E) 62 points is "Novice" level (pretty hard to afford Heroic Archer at that point level).

[@jinxtheunluckypony]

I’ve never seen a GURPS spellcaster in action before. Luck was definitely a factor but that was really unimpressive.

[@a_wild_Kirillian]

They're almost entry level adventurers. And wizards take time to become powerful. D&D 5e is unbalanced to the casters' benefit. Moreover, people say that Pathfinder 2e's casters feel weak. Even though some of them can obliterate a couple of enemies with subsequent Magic Missiles (now called Force Barrage) and then dish out some direct easy damage with cantrips from Level 1. GURPS' low-tier combat performance does feel underwhelming sometimes because there are a lot of things that factor into.

[@ibgh0549]

Good.