HYPERBOREA / Multiple Opponents

**Posted by MicahJA** 8/02/2021 5:17 am

Hello all,
Another combat question, we play mostly 'theater of the mind' with friends online.
Our first adventure ended with our party disturbing gloom-eater zombies at a Mausoleum so our next adventure will start with multiple zombies attacking the group.

I just wanted to ensure I handle this combat correctly as referee, I will ask them to indicate on the map, which I put up as a share screen, where their characters are and to pick targets.

How many opponents can attack a PC?
I assumed one per exposed side (of the square they occupy on the map)? Apologies if a very straight forward question and thanks again for your help!
Regards
Micah

**Posted by gizmomathboy** 8/02/2021 6:54 am

Up to 8. Three from the front, three from the rear, 1 from each flank.

On a hex map, only 6!

Such are the vagaries of geometry.

Hopefully the group is making some tactical decisions to minimize such things.

**Posted by MicahJA** 8/02/2021 2:49 pm

Thanks for the reply gizmomathboy thats a big help.
One character down after biting off more than they can chew...haha welcome to Hyperborea.

**Posted by gizmomathboy** 8/03/2021 12:19 pm

You're welcome.

I don't recall if the Hyperborea text goes into that or not.

It's really 1e DMG memories/knowledge. Part of the "assumed knowledge" back in the day that Gygax had note. Not everyone was a wargamer, Gary. ;-)

**Posted by BlackKnight** 8/03/2021 4:00 pm

gizmomathboy wrote:
Up to 8. Three from the front, three from the rear, 1 from each flank.

On a hex map, only 6!

You are forgetting weapon reach, you could have spears and polearms behind others that could still attack at a second rank.

**Posted by Blackadder23** 8/03/2021 7:11 pm

However many the referee says can attack in a given situation.

**Posted by MicahJA** 8/04/2021 3:39 am

Thank you all, that helps a lot!
My group really enjoys the hack and slash of combat so I want to get as comfortable as possible with the rules so that they have as many options available to them as possible without it just becoming a back and forth dice rolling exercise. (Although that is a factor.)
The phases and combat options definitely add a role playing element to the combat to which I would like to encourage in my group.
Thanks again for the answers everyone.

**Posted by gizmomathboy** 8/04/2021 7:29 am

Yeah, although by the time 8 opponents can get to a PC I might just move to the unarmed combat stuff and just knocked them down and tie them up :-)

Never mind if the monsters are organized enough to have weapons with reach to really muck things up.

**Posted by MicahJA** 8/04/2021 8:22 am

Thanks for the tip gizmomathboy.
Would you use that as a general 'house rule' with regards to a big enough group of opponents?
I have a situation in Xambaala where the group I referee have been involved in the assassination of a cleric from the Temple of Helios and I was going to have them arrested and tried and possibly thrown into the arena in Xambaala for some gladiatorial action!
I was wondering how to 'arrest' them as the party tank, a Kimmerian Beserker usually tries to fight everything!

**Posted by Jimm.Iblis** 8/04/2021 8:54 am

I would examine the rules on overbearing on page 248 of the big 2e book. Once you have a lot of guys dragging you down, it takes superhuman effort to resist.
Edit: And once restrained (prone) by a couple of guys, another guy can disarm your berserker (page 255).
Then it's off to the pokey!

Last edited by Jimm.Iblis (8/04/2021 8:57 am)

**Posted by MicahJA** 8/04/2021 12:28 pm

Thank you Jimm.Iblis I will do.
Actually just managed to get a copy of the big 2e book so will have a look.
We had the Players Handbook as they were available here in the UK through Leisure Games. We are very new to Hyperborea (only 2 sessions into Anthropophagi Of Xambaala).

**Posted by gizmomathboy** 8/04/2021 1:10 pm

Overbearing is a great tactic when you have a bunch of mooks taking on a party, even high level.

As Jimm points out, a big enough group can do wonders against them.

I really do like the unarmed combat rules for Hyperborea. Mostly straightforward compared to what 1e tried (in various forms).

I generally try to ease various tactics into play so players will get a taste for how deadly they are.

Like have a small group of mooks try to overbear one party member just so they can see how horrible it can be. Then they will be on notice about it later.

Now, I don't do this for more experienced folks I know. They should already be sneaky bastards and on the look out for sneaky bastardry.

**Posted by Jimm.Iblis** 8/05/2021 7:26 pm

Most animals will try to overbear as well. Especially packs of canines.

**Posted by Jimm.Iblis** 8/06/2021 12:02 am

MicahJA wrote:
Thank you Jimm.Iblis I will do.
Actually just managed to get a copy of the big 2e book so will have a look.
We had the Players Handbook

Just to clarify, the overbearing and disarm rules are in the ASSH-PHB as well, even on the same page numbers!