Keep your wits about you

[saltmarsh]

Hi all a combat question is there any bonuses to having several characters attacking the same target (other than the chance of multiple hits of course)
Or does the target receive any minuses?

[Rich H]

There's nothing explicit in the rules as far as I can remember but you could apply the Complications modifiers with respect to being Moderately and/or Severely hindered. EDIT: If you subscribe to a gritty game then combat against multiple opponents *should* be deadly.

[Falenthal]

No, no bonuses or minuses. Being the target of several attackers is bad enough, I think.

[Angelalex242]

Considering how well Tolkien heroes do in mass combat, I'd almost say they get bonuses when surrounded.

[Rich H]

Considering how well Tolkien heroes do in mass combat, I'd almost say they get bonuses when surrounded.

I really don't get that impression, from the source material. Characters were heroic but combat was dangerous. And mass combat is not the same as being surrounded.

[Angelalex242]

Well, I'm mostly referring to Legolas and Gimli racking up killcounts in the 40s. They must've had some kind of anti surrounded plan to kill that many orcs without getting hacked down.

Can't blame terrible dice rolls for all of it.

[Deadmanwalking]

Well, I'm mostly referring to Legolas and Gimli racking up killcounts in the 40s. They must've had some kind of anti surrounded plan to kill that many orcs without getting hacked down.

Can't blame terrible dice rolls for all of it.

They had fortifications and an army of their own in that fight. Those are good anti-surrounding measures.

[Mytholder]

Considering how well Tolkien heroes do in mass combat, I'd almost say they get bonuses when surrounded.

Boromir at Amon Hen: ...that's... debatable... (*dies*)

[Rich H]

Well, I'm mostly referring to Legolas and Gimli racking up killcounts in the 40s. They must've had some kind of anti surrounded plan to kill that many orcs without getting hacked down.

40 kills each over how many hours of fighting. Would seem like they weren't constantly in battle. Also, heavy advantages in terrain and fortifications. And Legolas spent much of the time cheating - ie, attacking from range. I really doubt they were ever surrounded in the way the OP is discussing things. I certainly wouldn't want to apply a mechanic that has characters "get bonuses when surrounded".

Can't blame terrible dice rolls for all of it.

Except you, I don't think anyone else has mentioned them!

[Rich H]

Considering how well Tolkien heroes do in mass combat, I'd almost say they get bonuses when surrounded.

Boromir at Amon Hen: ...that's... debatable... (*dies*)

... And as it occurs 'off camera' we don't know how surrounded he was. Boromir was certainly outnumbered but it's likely he used the terrain to minimise the number of assailants he faced at any one time - eg, positioning himself to create bottle necks, fighting with his back to trees, etc. I see no evidence in the source material that being surrounded should give PCs a mechanical bonus, which is what Angelalex242 was stating.