Mercs - the Dogs of War

Grizzeld veterans of countless conflicts. Experienced members of an Adventurer’s Guild. Rival Adventurers who face off against the PCs. Skilled mercs who will get the job done if you can afford their price. The Mercs - Dogs of War supplement includes bespoke statblocks, tactics, encounters, and a discussion of how to utilize these statblocks as Rival Adventurers in your 5e game.

Merc Captain

The Merc Captain plays the role of a front-line commander. Early in combat, he identifies the biggest threat to the company and targets them with Kill Command. He uses Cunning Action to disengage and avoid being surrounded, or to dash to close the gap between himself and the target of Kill Command, or to dash in order to position himself near his troops. He uses Roar of Encouragement to boost failed attacks against vital targets.

Dogs of War don’t become grizzled veterans by taking foolish risks. The Captain will fight bravely but will command an ordered retreat if the group looks outmatched. He also shows no mercy to his foes, and will prioritize downing enemy healers, ranged combatants, or spellcasters. His troops always confirm the kill and strike unconscious targets to prevent them from being healed unless it would mean their own death. They have fought countless battles and can quickly determine which of the PCs are healers, spellcasters, front-liners, etc. unless the PCs have taken steps to disguise or hide these facts.

The Merc Captain is best utilized in a group with several other mercenaries, and at least one other heavy-hitting ally, such as a Spellsword or Bounty Hunter.

Merc Captain Sayings

Bounty Hunter

The Bounty Hunter is a fast-moving, high-damage, lower-HP, skirmisher that is designed to hunt down and capture its bounties - dead or alive. When hunnting its target, it uses its high Survival and Stealth skills to find an opportune moment to strike. It does not attack targets head-on but instead waits for a moment of weakness to strike. Perhaps by creating an ambush or by striking when the target is otherwise preoccupied. If the Bounty Hunter fails to establish advantageous combat, it will attempt to retreat to fight another day.

When engaging in combat, the bounty hunter uses Bounty’s Bane in order to attempt to capture and restrain one or more of its targets. It has the combat experience to quickly assess which enemies appear physically weak (typically spellcasters and ranged attackers) and will prioritize entangling those targets, unless it has another specific target it is assigned to capture.

The Bounty Hunter uses Cunning Action to disengage out of unfavorable situations, to hide as part of an attempted escape, or to dash and close the distance in order to use Bounty’s Bane or close the gap to a target that has been restrained. Hitting a restrained target with its Poisoned Blade also has a chance to Poison that target which makes it that much harder for the target to escape the Grapple.

When operating in a group, such as part of a Rival Adventuring Group then the Bounty Hunter will attempt to stay hidden and flank the enemy combatants while the front-liners advance.

Bounty Hunter Sayings

Spellsword

The Spellsword is a fast-moving, aggressive spellcaster that likes to get in the fray. The Spellsword can quickly dash into position to attack vulnerable enemies, such as spellcasters and ranged combatants, but also has a variety of magical tricks up their sleeve. The Spellsword prefers to initiate combat from an advantageous position such as an ambush. It can use Major Image, Invisibility and/or its high stealth score to accomplish this.

When dealing with enemies, the Spellsword divides them into two categories - Targets and Threats. Threats are enemies that it is unlikely to be able to hit and stun with its Numbing Rapier. It will attempt to stay away from these threats with Cunning Action or to control them with a Hold Person, Enemies Abound, or Major Image. Defensively, it uses Reactionary Charm against incoming attacks from dangerous threats.

Targets are enemies that look like they would be easy prey for the Numbing Rapier. It attempts to focus its attacks against these targets, using Cunning Action to close the distance. If the target is a ranged attacker and not a spellcaster then the Spellsword may attempt to first land a Hold Person on the target in order to follow up with a guaranteed critical hit on the Numbing Rapier.

When operating in a group, the Spellsword may prefer to initiate combat while already under the effects of Invisibility, allowing it to flank the enemy. The Spellsword uses Dispel Magic defensively to protect its companions from devastating crowd-control magic or to remove a particularly troublesome spell that its opponents have cast.

Spellsword Sayings

Merc Medic

The Merc Medic is primarily a support unit with some control capabilities. It has low defenses and HP and has limited damage-dealing abilities, but it can provide some powerful boosts to its companions.

The medic absolutely does not want to be engaged in combat. It will prioritize its Cunning Action to protect itself by disengaging from melee combatants, dashing to cover, or hiding behind cover. It can also use the dash to get itself close to friendly units that it wants to heal with First Aid.

The Adrenaline Booster is a very powerful ability if the medic uses it correctly. The ideal target is a friendly ally with a high damage output that is likely to die soon. Applying the Adrenaline Booster to this ally will allow that ally to act immediately, before it can be killed, and get in a big burst of damage. In this scenario, the downside of losing the Haste buff is mitigated if the ally is killed as the debuff is no longer relevant at this point.

The medic can use its Poison Dart to attempt to control any enemy that appears intent on attacking it. If there is no immediate threat to the medic, then the Poison Dart should be fired at an enemy that is currently engaged with one of the medic’s allies, on the chance that the paralysis kicks in. If the medic is not threatened by anyone, it can use the Cunning Action dash to get close enough to fire the dart, which has a short range.

Merc Medic Sayings

Using Mercenaries as Rivals

This section presents a variety of Adventure Hooks that you can use to integrate a rival adventuring party into your campaign. Rivals don’t have to necessarily be enemies that have to be fought directly. They can lead to interesting social encounters or even present opportunities to work together.

Challenge

The rival group challenges the PCs to a contest of skill. The winning group gets some sort of prize or wins the wager.

Competing Mission

The rival group has been hired to accomplish the same task as the PCs. This could be because the questgiver is hedging their bets, or a rival to the questgiver is after the same goal and has hired the rivals to perform the task. Will the PCs beat their rivals to the punch, or will they instead let the rivals do the dirty work and steal their lunch?

Team Up

The rivals approach the PCs and offer to team up to take down a powerful enemy or complete a difficult objective. However, the rival group may have their own ulterior motives or try to betray the PCs once the objective is completed.

Trapped Together

The two groups end up trapped in a dungeon or other dangerous location together, and must work together to escape or survive. How will they split the valuable loot discovered on the way out?

Work Together

The two groups have been hired by the same questgiver to work together on an important mission. However, tensions may still run high between the groups even as they work together. Perhaps one group is getting paid more?

Shared Information

The rivals have information, expertise, or connections that the PCs need to progress in their quest, but they are unwilling to part with it without some sort of compensation or exchange.

Credits

• Written Content u/cordialgerm
• Art: Midjourney
• Inspiration: Dungeons of Drakkenheim published by GhostFire gaming and written by The Dungeon Dudes

Other Drakkenheim Homebrew

• Falling Fire Expanded
• Hooded Lanterns Expanded
• Silver Order Expanded