(A) Heartbreak Enemies in Four Flavours
It won’t be a surprise for you. But I felt the need to put it in words and to do something about the Heartbreak combat system I wonder about lately.
So first flavour of an enemy is… minion? We could call it that. These are all creatures willing to put up a fight DESPITE their lack of luck/plot armour/training. No one, besides mindless, desperate or mad, fights to the death. These are creatures that take their sword, claws or unarmed meaty limbs against someone who will end them up with one successful hit. And that requires certain edge.
Another category are trained combatants. Predatory animals, large herbivores, warriors or just other adventurers. Tough enough to receive a few hits or with one or more hearts. These are creatures that measure their involvement in violence. They can wager getting a hit or two to get what they want – and usually can run away before real danger comes to them. Some don’t have that instinct though.
Next type is as you can expect – something bigger and badder. These creatures are so big, so tough and so “hearty” you cannot take them alone. Or with friends. You’ll need a village of equipped combatants to put that creature down. It’s a boss monster, mammoth, giant, wizard, something reachable by mortal weapon but definitely with enormous effort. Also they like to escape, burrow, fly or charge away through the crowd. You need to find a way to lock them in place, mentally or physically.
And the last one. Monster. Puzzle. Usually you’re just not sure if blade can hit it. Sometimes you are sure it cannot. This creature has to be taken out by combination of wits, knowledge and observation. You can’t force through, you may not defend as well as you think you are. These are ghosts and spirits, monsters turning people to stone, relentless undead, beings in mirrors, innocents possessed by something and invincible dragons.
We end up with Desperate, Trained, Enormous and Puzzles. Every time something intentionally clashes with PCs think which type they are. Why do they fight? When will they flee? What do they want to achieve?
It is not a discovery what I wrote here. But I felt I needed to get it out of my head. Enjoy.