Intro

This is meant to serve as a dynamic and growing list of standard procedures for dealing with common situations we're likely to come into.

Ranged battles

When violent encounters take place at 60 ft. or more distance, then we will

Face the cart away from the danger.

Use the Cart for cover.

Person with the highest initiative will call out a primary target. The group will then focus missile file on one opponent at a time until that opponent is eliminated then the person next up in order will select (and call out) a new common target.

Melee battles

When engaged in melee combat we should:

Gang up on single opponents

Protect our spell casters

Avoid choke points were only one or two of us can attack at a time

Use choke points to limit the number of opponents that can attack at a time.

Use height to advantage.

Put our backs to cover to prevent flanking

Use Rogues as snipers when possible

Searches

When searching encounter (or possible encounter) areas, we should

Use detect magic on all encounter areas (when possible).

Spend time sorting/digging through rubble (admittedly time consuming but potentially profitable).

Search EVERY body.

Take 20 as appropriate.

Reconnaissance

Any time we come upon a possible encounter area (destinations such as camp sites, but also unexpected encounters bridges/farms/etc) we should

Take 10-30 minutes to VERY carefully case the area with rogues on foot in a 300 ft. radius around the point.

Use flying familiars to get an aerial view of the area.

Use familiars to relay messages silently over distances

Use hand signals to communicate silently in the immediate area

Conducting ambushes

When conducting ambushes, we should

Make liberal use of caltrops to channel and slow movement

Use spells (as possible) to immobilize larger groups of opponents

Use scrolls and potions as necessary

Use height advantage

Use cover and concealment

Responding to ambushes

When being ambushed, we should all charge a single weak point in the ambusher's lines to get out of the killing area.

Undead encounters

Fighters should provide bodily cover (in a circle or half-circle) to the cleric so that cleric can concentrate on his efforts to turn the undead. We should be able to provide nearly 100% cover to the cleric in this way.

Spell-caster encounters

When combating a spell caster:

The character with the highest ranged attack will ready an action to attack that spell caster when they begin to cast a spell.

The rest of the group will focus on a single target in melee or ranged as appropriate.

Maximize use of cover and concealment

Maximize use of potions and scrolls.

Use the following rules to pick targets

headed by a single power creature (i.e., Ogre Mage and several Hobgoblins)

take out the powerful creature first

all equal and relatively weak (i.e., six goblins)

take out individual targets all at the same time

all equal and relatively tough (i.e., three Ogres)

pick one target at a time and focus all attacks on that creature until it is taken out. Then move on to the next target.

Rally points

If we're chased to the four winds, the group should try to regroup approximately one mile back down the road. Or, in the case where there is a friendly nearby town, at the town common.