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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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

Rules Index | GM Screen | Player's Guide
Battlecry! / Skirmish Units

Customizing Troops

Source Battlecry! pg. 169
Choosing the right troops for your group can be challenging since the number of troops in the game is limited compared to the number of creatures overall. The Troops trait troops options and can be especially useful as a reference.

When choosing troops, first remember that you can stretch a level up or down fairly easily. Second, you can use the elite and weak adjustments for a quick and dirty adjustment to statistics. Third, you can freely “reskin” troops to change their theme, such as making a boggard scouting party human rogues who use grappling hooks instead of tongues to pull in enemies. Fourth, you can mix and match abilities from different troops of similar levels—if one has an emanation offensive ability you like and another's ranged ability works for the theme you like, swap them in as needed!

Recurring Troops

Your campaign’s story might revolve around the same troops appearing in several skirmish encounters over the course of multiple levels. The GM might choose to lean into recurring troops and reinforce their experience with a PC leader.

Additional Skirmish Bonds

A leader can typically share one skirmish bond with a troop. To give an advantage for the growing bond with a recurring troop, the GM can allow the leader to select a second skirmish bond. They need to take a day of downtime with their troop to prepare them with the new skirmish bond the first time they use it, as usual. The GM determines when the second bond gets unlocked. Usually, it occurs with the troop’s second appearance, though typically this doesn’t happen if the troop reappears very soon after its first appearance. A good basic rule is to give the additional bond if the leader is at least 9th level and has gained at least 2 levels since their first skirmish with the troop.

The GM can grant a third skirmish bond if the troop continues to appear. Usually this happens after the leader has reached 13th level and has gained at least 2 more levels since the troop’s second appearance.

Leveling Up Troops

If the GM wants to increase a troop’s level, they can use the troop creation guidelines to generate its new statistics. They might also want to add new abilities, such as a fly Speed, for higher-level troops. These improvements can often be themed as the troop being outfitted with additional magic items or magical abilities.