How does Combat Flow work in CRAWL!?

Question

Complete rules for Combat Flow in the CRAWL! tabletop RPG system, covering all mechanics and procedures.

Iron Brothers Games · Accepted Answer

Break Up Fair Fights: Never let combat become individual duels  Wolves drag victims away from help  Doors slam shut, separating the party  New enemies arrive from behind Fight Dirty: Focus fire the weakest (three goblins attack the wizard, ignore the warrior)  Use cover and make players come to you  Gang up, grapple, and isolate targets  Flee at half strength to fight another day Managing NPCs vs Monsters: NPCs (roll for init, can defend, roll to hit):  Decide for each: Attack OR save action for defense  If attacked, choose: Parry or take the hit  Track HP, skills, and morale individually  Play them smart - they want to live Monsters: Roll for init, don't defend, but auto hit:  Just decide who they attack  Apply damage automatically (no roll)  Use their special abilities to create problems  Play them as forces of nature Morale Moments: Check enemy Morale when:  First casualty  Leader falls  Half strength  Obvious magic appears  Trapped/surrounded Playing at Maximum Intelligence: Monsters aren't video game enemies. They want to kill, not duel honorably. Round by Round: 1. Choose phases and roll initiative. Every round! 2. Fast Phase - Act in initiative order 3. Slow Phase - Act in initiative order 4. Reset - Pick up your initiative dice, check morale if needed Tactical Combat Considerations: Using Cover: Monsters with ranged attacks should use cover intelligently. This forces players to maneuver rather than trading shots. Remember that shooting from cover exposes the shooter until their next turn. Triggered Actions: Intelligent enemies can set ambushes using triggered actions. "The goblin archer waits for someone to cross the doorway" creates tension and forces tactical thinking. This provides enough structure for tactical play without overcomplicating the system. The cover rules make ranged combat more than just trading shots, and triggered actions enable ambushes and overwatch without slowing combat. Use Everything: When players flip tables for cover, flank around or destroy it  Darkness, difficult terrain, elevation advantages  Environmental hazards (cliff edges, oil, collapsing floors)  Reinforcements and ambush positions

Iron Brothers Games · Answer

Unlike D&D 5e's separate attack roll and damage roll system, or OSE's THAC0-based combat tables, CRAWL! uses the Unified d20 Roll where a single die determines both hit success and damage value. Break Up Fair Fights: Never let combat become individual duels  Wolves drag victims away from help  Doors slam shut, separating the party  New enemies arrive from behind Fight Dirty: Focus fire the weakest (three goblins attack the wizard, ignore the warrior)  Use cover and make players come to you  Gang up, grapple, and isolate targets  Flee at half strength to fight another day Managing NPCs vs Monsters: NPCs (roll for init, can defend, roll to hit):  Decide for each: Attack OR save action for defense  If attacked, choose: Parry or take the hit  Track HP, skills, and morale individually  Play them smart - they want to live Monsters: Roll for init, don't defend, but auto hit:  Just decide who they attack  Apply damage automatically (no roll)  Use their special abilities to create problems  Play them as forces of nature Morale Moments: Check enemy Morale when:  First casualty  Leader falls  Half strength  Obvious magic appears  Trapped/surrounded Playing at Maximum Intelligence: Monsters aren't video game enemies. They want to kill, not duel honorably. Round by Round: 1. Choose phases and roll initiative. Every round! 2. Fast Phase - Act in initiative order 3. Slow Phase - Act in initiative order 4. Reset - Pick up your initiative dice, check morale if needed Tactical Combat Considerations: Using Cover: Monsters with ranged attacks should use cover intelligently. This forces players to maneuver rather than trading shots. Remember that shooting from cover exposes the shooter until their next turn. Triggered Actions: Intelligent enemies can set ambushes using triggered actions. "The goblin archer waits for someone to cross the doorway" creates tension and forces tactical thinking. This provides enough structure for tactical play without overcomplicating the system. The cover rules make ranged combat more than just trading shots, and triggered actions enable ambushes and overwatch without slowing combat. Use Everything: When players flip tables for cover, flank around or destroy it  Darkness, difficult terrain, elevation advantages  Environmental hazards (cliff edges, oil, collapsing floors)  Reinforcements and ambush positions

Combat Flow

Break Up Fair Fights

Fight Dirty

Managing NPCs vs Monsters

Monsters

Morale Moments

Playing at Maximum Intelligence

Round by Round

Tactical Combat Considerations

Use Everything

Experience the Unified d20 Roll