A question has crept up in my gaming group regarding the rule stating that only one character may have a Rearward stance for every two characters in Forward/Open/Defensive. Does it apply when the characters outnumber the foes?

Let's say there are five heroes in the party, fighting a single Troll.

According to the rules, only one character may stand in Rearward. At the same time, a maximum of three characters may actually engage the Troll in melee. That leaves one character, who is forced to stand in Forward/Open/Defensive, but who can't actually engage the Troll in melee because there's just no room.

Wouldn't it make more sense to let everyone who isn't forced into melee choose to fall back to Rearward, if the heroes outnumber the enemies?

On page 44 of the LM it states:

A particular situation, like fighting on a narrow ledge, a mountain path or another condition enabling fighters to make ranged attacks at greater ease might lead the Loremaster to allow more characters to assume a rearward position.

For example, if the company severely outnumbers the opposition — at least three companions are engaging every enemy involved in the fight, the Loremaster may allow his players to assume a rearward stance without the need of having two characters in close combat for every hero in rearward.


So yes, you can have that other character in Rearward.

I'd also consider the size and mobility of the creature(s) in question. Even though a troll could be outnumbered by the PCs it can ''get around" the battlefield so it could be that you apply some kind of futher ruling that so many PCs must engage it in melee for the other PCs to attack from Rearward. I'd also allow more PC's to attack a larger creature in melee as there's literally more to hit! For instance, I'd let 4 PCs attack a troll in Melee rather than limit it to 3. Perhaps anything with the Great Size trait can be engaged in melee by 4 rather than just 3 opponents?

In the situation you describe though (with 5 PCs) the rules already work as written - ie, allowing 3 to engage it in melee while 2 strike from Rearward. And that seems fine... Poor old troll!

As a general approach to these kind of issues I'd agree with what Evening and Rich H have suggested.

In terms of the troll example, it does actually say on page 46 of the Loremaster's Book that: "Usually, up to a maximum of three companions may engage a human-sized opponent at the same time, while up to five companions can engage an enemy greater than human-sized (such as a Troll)."

Nice spot, Fictionaut.

Thanks for the answers, everyone! Who needs an index when you have TOR Forum wizards?

Having PDFs of the two rulebooks helps no end when searching for information/rulings/etc.