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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 Overview

Source Battlecry! pg. 158
Skirmish encounters place the PCs as leaders of squads represented by troop stat blocks. Typically, each PC leads one troop of their own, and their side clashes with enemy troops, often led by NPCs or monstrous leaders. The PC is placed within the troop and moves along with it, similar to mounted combat.

A troop led by a PC acts on that PC’s turn. The PC and troop get a total of 5 actions divided into one set of 2 actions and one set of 3 actions. The PC gets to choose whether they or their troop takes more actions. As troops get reduced in size (typically by losing HP), they become more likely to disperse and retreat—to be routed and chased from the battlefield. The PCs win a skirmish if they successfully complete their objectives, which could range from capturing specific locations to keeping enemies from passing through an area, or even to routing enough foes to make the enemy forces retreat.