Goblin Wave
A Goblin Wave attack is where a large number of smaller sized creatures try to overwhelm a target creature that is larger than them. It is not quite the opposite of a Heroic Fray in that a Goblin Wave does not directly do damage at first.
Some associated links:
Potentially Martial Arts could be involved depending on what section of the campaign world the adventure is in.
As a reminder during a round a character can:
- Move their full movement (or more such as running or sprinting)
- Move up to half their Movement and then take another half action
- If a half move is taken then full melee attacks
- If a half move is taken then half of a character's Missile Weapons attack
- Cast a spell or use a magic item if no move is taken
A Goblin Wave attack typically involves at least half a dozen or more small creatures that swarm over and try to drag down a larger opponent. This type of attack does not do immediate damage to the opponent but is designed to incapacitate them. Small sized creatures attacking a Man sized creature get a -4 to the attack roll but get a +1 for every additional attacker over 1. These same concepts apply for larger sized to smaller sized creatures as detailed in overbearing.
The number of attackers that can reach and assist in normal attack is limited by the size of the target. A man sized creature can only be reached by 6 man sized attackers at one time in a typical melee initiative. Those numbers scale up and down so a Large sized creature could attacked by 8 man sized opponents while a Small sized creature can only be attacked by 4 Man sized creatures. 8 Small sized creatures can attack a Man sized creature.
Those limits are for when each attacker is trying to do damage to their opponent. During a Goblin Wave the point is to just overwhelm the target rather than do damage so the number of attackers can be doubled. This gives more weight to the wave in the attempt to overwhelm the target.
The target of a Goblin Wave attack gets to make a Saving Throw versus Paralyzation to attempt to get an Action during the initiative phase. If they fail this save they are overwhelmed (knocked down) by the wave of attackers and are pinned down. If they succeed in their save then they are overwhelmed but not pinned. The character can stand up by forfeiting a half-move or an attack. If they have already completed their actions for the round, they have to wait until next round to stand up.
Attacks against a swarm of opponents by the target of a Goblin Wave are limited to medium sized weapons and smaller or natural weapons if not pinned. If pinned only natural attacks or small sized weapons already in hand are able to be used. Those that are part of the Goblin Wave cannot attack for damage unless the target is pinned. After the target is pinned then the standard number of creatures can attack for damage, again using only natural attacks or a small sized weapon.
So how this all works out in a typical combat.
Goblins are small and move faster than man sized creatures. They launch a wave of 6-16 attackers at a character to overwhelm them. Typically they move first and the character will get a save versus paralyzation to try to avoid being pinned down. If they are pinned when it comes their turn to go in the round they are limited in what they can do. If they are down but not pinned when it comes to their turn in the round they can attempt to stand up using a half action.
Remember also that in these sorts of combats fatigue can come into play as the target of the Goblin Wave are continually fighting off wave after wave of creatures.
