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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition) Starfinder RPG

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Battlecry! / Skirmish Units / Troops in Skirmishes

Routing Troops

Source Battlecry! pg. 160
A troop is held together by strong leadership and confidence in their battle skill. A troop must attempt a rout check each time something happens that could massively damage their morale. This happens in two situations:
  • The troop is reduced from one HP threshold to another.
  • The troop has a leader, and that leader is knocked unconscious.
If both happen at the same time, the troop rolls only one rout check. To attempt its rout check, the troop rolls a Will save against the standard DC for the level of the enemy that damaged it. This is an emotion, fear, and mental effect.
Critical Success The troop is unaffected.
Success The troop is frightened 1.
Failure The troop is frightened 2.
Critical Failure The members of the troop break formation and run away, removing the troop from the battle.

The result of a rout check applies only to the troop, not its leader. If the troop is led by a PC or NPC, the degree of success increases by one step, as noted in Boosted Morale.

Unroutable Troops

Because of the traits on a rout check, some troops are entirely immune to them, in particular mindless hordes like zombies or clockwork constructs. NPCs often use these kinds of troops due to this advantage, but PCs might also be able to raise skeleton infantry or build a similar fearless army.