Troop (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

This is a work in progress.

Just as a mob represents a wild and dangerous crowd, a troop represents an organized group acting in unison. Like a mob, a troop is very dangerous, but unlike a mob its actions have direction and purpose.

A troop is treated as a single entity similar to a swarm, except that it is made of larger creatures. A troop can be composed of Small, Medium, or Large creatures, but all the individual creatures must be of the same type. A troop that incorporates a crowd of goblin wolfriders and a crowd of humans is best modeled by two separate troops. You can use the following template to create specific types of troops.

Troop Template

"Troop" is an acquired template that can be added to any Small, Medium, or Large construct, elemental, humanoid, outsider, or undead. A troop can incorporate any riding animals used by such creatures as long as such mounts are Medium or Large. A troop is a creature two sizes larger than its component creatures, composed of twenty creatures of the base type. A troop is deliberately formed and requires a degree of training and organization, as well as at least a few minutes of actually ordering ranks before battle. Creatures with Intelligence 2 or less must be under the direct control of an intelligent creature in order to form troops. A troop uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Type: A troop retains all types and subtypes of the base creature and gains the troop subtype. A mounted troop gains all the mounts' types and subtypes as well.

Size and Reach: A troop is two size categories larger than the largest of its component creatures. Reach is unchanged.

Hit Points: A troop has a single pool of hit points. Troops have ten times total hit points and Hit Dice the component creatures. Add the hit points of any mounts to the base creature's hit points for this calculation. Reducing a troop to 0 hit points or lower causes it to lose cohesion and break up into component creatures. When this happens, each creature that was in the troop is panicked for 1d6 minutes and must make a Constitution check (DC 10). Creatures that fail this check take damage equal to their remaining hit points.

Speed: A troop’s speed is 10 feet slower than that of the base creature (or its mount, if mounted).

Armor Class: As the base creature, with a +8 troop bonus. Ignore the Troop’s new size modifier; AC is based on the size code of component creatures. For mounted troops, use the worst AC of the component creatures.

CMB/CMD: NA. Troops cannot make combat maneuvers and are immune to combat maneuvers.

Attacks: A troop has the attacks of the base creature, with a +8 troop bonus on attack rolls and double damage. A mounted troop gains the attacks of both mount and rider.

Troop Traits (Ex)

A troop cannot be grappled and can maintain a grapple without penalty and still make attacks against other targets . A troop is never considered flat-footed while grappling.

Creatures of the same size and type as the base creature can occupy the same space as the troop and move inside the space of the troop.

Troops take 50% extra damage from area attacks.

Troops are made up of relatively small numbers of individual creatures, so spells or effects that target specific numbers of creatures can have an effect on a troop. Each specific creature that is slain, disabled, or otherwise incapacitated by spells or effects that target specific creatures inflicts damage to the troop equal to the hit points of the base creature. Effects that affect single creatures which do not incapacitate as above have no effect. A troop cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed.

Troop Action (Ex): The troop is considered a single creature for the purpose of actions it can take. Different members of the troop cannot take different actions, they all act in concert. If attacking, all members of the troop must perform the same attack. Troops wield and draw weapons as characters do.

Troop Melee Attack (Ex) When attacking in melee, the troop can make its melee attack against each creature within reach. Each such attack abides by the rules of the type of attack made (standard attack, full attack, or charge) the troop does. These attacks are considered area attacks for the purpose of damaging swarms, troops, and similar creatures vulnerable to area attacks.

Troop Ranged Attack (Ex) When attacking in melee, the troop can make its ranged attack against each creature in a 10 ft. spread. Normal range penalties apply. These attacks are considered area attacks for the purpose of damaging swarms, troops, and similar creatures vulnerable to area attacks.

Saves: A troop makes saving throws as its component creatures, with a +6 troop bonus. Use the worse save bonuses of mount and rider for mounted troops.

Skills: Same as the base creature. Use the mount's skill for Acrobatics, Climb, and Swim checks.

Feats: Same as the base creature; ignore the mount's feats.

Organization: Solitary, platoon (2-4), battalion (5-10), or army (11-2000). Troops are often accompanied by leaders and officers of the same size as the base creature.

Challenge Rating: As base creature +8.

Sample Troops

This is a work in progress.

The following statistics blocks, presented in a new format.

Elven Warband (Troop of Elven warrior 1) CR 6

CG Gargantuan humanoid (troop of Medium elves)
Init +1; Senses Nightvision, Listen +2, Spot +2
Languages Common, Elven
AC 20 (+2 Dex, +3 studded leather, +1 light shield, +4 troop) touch 15, flat-footed 18
Hp 45 (10 HD)
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +2
Speed 20 ft. (4 squares)
Melee 6 Longsword +6 (1d8+1/19-20)
Ranged 12 longbow +7 (1d8/×3)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +5; Grp +6
Atk Options expert grappler, multiple opportunities
Abilities Str 13, Dex 13, Con 0, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8
SQ elf traits, troop anatomy
Feats Weapon Focus (longbow)
Skills Hide -11, Listen +2, Search +3, Spot +2

Goblin Regular Wolfriders (Troop of goblins on wolves) CR 8

NE Gargantuan humanoid (troop of small goblins and medium wolves)
Init +1; Senses Darkvision, Listen +2, Spot +2
Languages Common, Goblin
AC 19 (+1 size, +1 Dex, +2 leather armor, +1 light shield, +4 troop) touch 15, flat-footed 18
Hp 175 (30 HD)
Fort +18, Ref +11, Will +9
Speed 40 ft. (8 squares)
Melee 6 Morningstar +6 (1d6) and 6 bite +7 (d6+1)
Ranged 9 javelin +7 (1d6)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +5; Grp +6
Atk Options expert grappler, multiple opportunities, trip
Abilities Str 11, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 6
SQ goblin traits, troop anatomy
Feats Alertness, Track (B), Weapon Focus (Bite)
Skills Hide -10, Listen +3, Move Silently +3, Ride 5, Spot +3, Survival +1 (+5 when tracking by scent).

Veteran Cohort (Troop of human warrior 3) CR 8

LN Gargantuan humanoid (troop of Medium humans)
Init +4; Senses Listen -1, Spot -1
Languages Common
AC 22 (+4 chain shirt, +4 wall shield, +4 troop) touch 14, flat-footed 22
Hp 166 (30 HD)
Fort +18, Ref +10, Will +10
Speed 20 ft. (4 squares)
Melee 9 Shortsword +7 (1d6+1/19-20)
Ranged 9 Javelin +6 (1d6+1)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +7; Grp +8
Atk Options expert grappler, multiple opportunities
Abilities Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 9
SQ troop anatomy, wall shield
Feats Weapon Focus (short sword), Weapon Focus (javelin), Improved Initiative
Skills Climb -5, Jump -9

Dwarf Elite Axemen (Troop of dwarf warrior 4) CR 9

LG Gargantuan humanoid (troop of Medium dwarfs)
Init +0; Senses Darkvision, Listen 0, Spot +3
Languages Common
AC 27 (+8 masterwork full plate, +2 masterwork heavy shield, +4 troop, +3 phalanx) touch 17, flat-footed 27
Hp 300 (40 HD)
Fort +24, Ref +15, Will +14
Speed 10 ft. (2 squares)
Melee 6 Masterwork warven war axe +11 (1d10+1/x3)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +8; Grp +10
Atk Options expert grappler, pounce, multiple opportunities
Abilities Str 12, Dex 11, Con 14, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 8
SQ troop anatomy, darkvision (60 ft), dwarf traits
Feats Weapon Focus (dwarven war axe), Phalanx Fighting, Hold the Line
Skills Climb +3, Spot +3

Air Elemental Horde (Troop of medium air elementals) CR 9

N Gargantuan elemental (troop of Medium air elementals)
Init +9; Senses Darkvision, Listen +3, Spot +4
Languages Auran
AC 22 (+5 Dex, +3 natural, +4 troop), touch 19, flat-footed 17
Hp 260 (40 HD)
Fort +15, Ref +27, Will +14
Speed Fly 90 ft. (perfect) (18 squares)
Melee 6 Slam +12 (1d6+1)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +7; Grp +8
Atk Options expert grappler, pounce, multiple opportunities, air mastery, whirlwind
Abilities Str 12, Dex 11, Con 14, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 8
SQ Troop anatomy, darkvision 60 ft., elemental traits
Feats Dodge, Flyby Attack, Improved Initiative (B), Weapon Finesse (B)
Skills Listen +3, Spot +4

See Also

• Troop for 3.5

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