Woodwight!

[Winterwolf]

My players are about to be attacked by a woodwight within Mirkwood - first time against one of these or any kind of supernatural opponent. So far they have only fought Men and goblins.
It's an interesting change of opponent - it has some different Special Abilities, including Strike Fear, Denizen of the Dark and Horror of the Wood (p137 DoM).
I am hoping that it won't be a bit of an anti-climax with 1 creature against 6 in the Company (5 characters plus an NPC), since I've read that single opponents can get easily mugged. However I see that, since the Woodwight is only a normal size creature, only three characters can engage it in Close combat. The rest will have to content themselves with using missiles. Also, all but one of the characters have Valour of 1, so Strike Fear should be quite effective.

Now the rules don't state when Special Abilities can be used - so I wonder if the Woodwight can only use Strike Fear when it gets to act (in Close Quarters) or can it be used during Opening Volleys?

Denizen of the Dark doubles the Attribute level of the Adversary for all rolls whilst Horror of the Wood adds the Attribute level of the Adversary faced to the TN when attempting Battle rolls to gain Combat Advantages.
I am assuming that the doubled Attribute level of the Woodwight (5 x 2 = 10) should be added to the TN (which will make the TN 24!)
Is that how others read this?
I assume that "all rolls" means all rolls where Attribute level is involved, not just those made by the Adversary.

[zedturtle]

Take a look here for some official clarifications on Denizen of the Dark.

I would probably allow Strike Fear to be used during Opening Volleys, to represent the heroes' realization that they are facing an unnatural foe.

[Winterwolf]

Aha - thanks Zed, I hadn't come across that thread before.
I think I'll take your advice and allow it after the Opening Volley but before Close Quarter combat.

Cheers!

[Indur Dawndeath]

I'll recommend 2 players pr Woodwight.
I had a scene where 2 players faced one and it was still defeated in 2 rounds.

[Winterwolf]

Well, the 5 characters (plus a LM guide) took on the Woodwight last night (and a second).
It didn't help that a female Woodman had a Hound of Mirkwood with Harass Enemy.... although she was the only one who made their Fear test. However she got a Gandalf on her first roll and the woodwight failed his protection roll. (I couldn't find in the rules whether a Wound defeats an Adversary although I thought I had read some time ago that either a Wound or dropping to 0 Endurance does so.)
I kept rolling Gandalf's and 6's for the LM guide character shooting with his bow but at least the woodwight's armour kept out the Piercing Blows.
The Woodwight's attacks were pitiful, partly due to bad rolls but also because of the Hound.
The Company whittled the Endurance of the woodwight down quite quickly so a second Woodwight shambled up as the first fell. However it too didn't last long, as it took multiple hits and only made one successful attack back for limited damage.
Strike Fear worked fairly well in stopping the use of Hope but maybe next time if a character rolls an Eye on a Fear test I might House Rule that they will cannot face the object of their fear in Close Combat or even retreat from battle or something....

[Glorelendil]

I kept rolling Gandalf's and 6's for the LM guide character shooting with his bow...

In TOR (unlike D&D) I avoid rolling dice for LM characters. I would either narrate the LMC's actions in whatever way you think adds the most to the story, or find some narrative trick to remove him from the fight. E.g. Gandalf being absent when Bilbo and the Dwarves encountered the Trolls. That also leaves you with a potential "rescue" if the fight goes badly.

[bluejay]

I would tend to consider using the Wight in a different way. They can be tough foes but large teams can be exceptionally effective.

So I would maybe start with a mist or something similar. After all you're in the Narrows of the Forest fairly close to Dol Guldur. Have the characters make Orientation rolls. Split the group. Have the Wight then Strike Fear and start preying on the group. Sure, after a couple of rounds the group should be back together and then kicking ass but at least initially it will have a terrifying impact. They are Woodwights and know how to use the forest to their advantage. Heck you might even have characters run into webs and be trapped for a round or two.

Just to clarify here, this isn't about being mean to the players, just about the dramatic impact and the sense of making the Woodwight a meaningful threat. It felt like the scene was an anticlimax as it played out.

[bluejay]

Also the way I would have run it the players wouldn't have been aware of how many woodwights they were facing so it would help mitigate a lucky opening roll spoiling the moment.