Combat lessons from The Art of War
The following article was written by friend of the blog, Ali. In the article, Ali takes lessons from the ancient book, The Art of War, and uses them to give us his view on what D&D combat is all about. It’s not just about rolling the most damage. It’s about knowing your party, being creative, and having a combat-ready mindset.
Dice and Character Optimization
“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”
– Sun Tzu
Within the fantasy realms of Dungeons & Dragons, the battlefield is a place of chaos. Strewn with unpredictability, the course of events that materialize into reality are dependent on the randomness of dice. The outcome of combat seems hinged on how well the party rolls.
Bringing a measure of control to the apparent chaos, theory-crafting guides optimize combat strategies around dice output—an approach more commonly referred to as “min-maxing”. If the fall of an enemy, or the triumphant victory of a character seems hinged on how well the party rolls, then it’s only natural that spells, attacks and choices are ranked based on that variable. The realm of combat, is seen as a realm of numbers, the cold light of numerical efficiency the arbiter of the best course of action.
In this mindset, the sacred flame spell seems weak, eldritch blast fantastic, and the urge to fireball everything in sight, well, rather strong. With this framing, character action choices are based on how to get the highest dice output. The spell that inflicts the most damage, the weapon with the highest accuracy, the action that statistically favors the desired outcome – these become the standards for decision-making.
And yet, this framing misses the most important point: What combat is all about.
The goal of combat
There is only one goal for any combat situation, D&D or otherwise. The goal of combat is to win.
Amidst the tumbling dice and numeric calculations, we sometimes lose sight that the numbers game in D&D combat is a means to an end. D&D is not (just) about dealing the most damage; it’s about victory. More so, it’s about achieving this victory with the least strain on your character’s resources. Each decision, each action should be oriented not toward maximizing damage but toward a singular, strategic objective: winning.
Victory in D&D requires luck, but also adaptability, and a deeper understanding of your character’s role within the party. It requires embracing dice output as the starting point to consider other critical elements in defining impact. This is the opportunity we explore – a chance to transcend the numbers and delve deeper into the tactical richness of D&D combat. A chance to not just participate in the chaos, but to orchestrate it, molding it to our advantage.
Party synergies
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles…if you neither know the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb every battle.”
– Sun Tzu
If victory is the endgame, then understanding your team and how your capabilities interlock should be your first move. Your character does not exist in isolation; they are part of an ensemble cast. Focusing on party synergies and how your abilities can complement those of your allies opens the path to maximum impact.
Take the spell bless, for instance. It’s a staple cleric and paladin spell with great utility in the early to mid-stages of the game. However, if your party consists mainly of damage dealers forcing saving throws, bless becomes less effective. Would bane be a better choice in this scenario? Or maybe a direct damage spell like inflict wounds? Optimizing your choices based on party synergies can give you the edge in achieving victory while preserving valuable resources.
Embracing this wisdom, we can recognize that understanding our party’s capabilities and how they can synchronize to optimize combat outcomes is key.
Creativity is your unfair advantage
“There are not more than five primary colors, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever be seen….
…In battle, there are not more than 2 methods of attack – direct, and indirect; yet these two in combination can give rise to an endless series of maneuvers”
– Sun Tzu
Creativity is an ingredient that often goes unnoticed when we’re focusing on damage output and min-maxing, yet it can significantly turn the tide of battle in your favor. Look beyond the conventional. Explore your surroundings. Are there barrels of combustible oil nearby? A shaky bridge perhaps, or loose rocks on a hill? Think beyond your role, with the endgame always in mind. Sure, you could stick to healing as the party cleric, or you could channel your inner tempest and hit your stone golem foes with a shatter spell. Creativity encourages you to be unorthodox, and in the world of D&D, that is an unfair advantage indeed.
The world of D&D is a “theater of the mind”, and imagination is your most powerful asset.
Combat is a mindset
Combat is a constant undercurrent in D&D, it’s always present, even in moments of peace. In every conversation with a non-player character, every negotiation, every bit of lore that unfolds from the Dungeon Master’s narrative, there’s always an opportunity to gather vital intelligence. This could help you anticipate future combat encounters or even prevent them altogether. Every moment in DnD becomes an opportunity to gain an edge, a chance to strategize and prepare for the battles that lie ahead.
“Excellence in war is not in fighting a 100 battles and winning all 100 of them. Excellence in war is defeating your enemy without having to fight” – Sun Tzu
– Sun Tzu
Adventurers in D&D don’t just fight battles, they engage in a continuous process of strategic planning, situational awareness, and problem-solving. They, in a chaotic and ever-changing world, extend their focus beyond the battleground and integrate combat strategy into every aspect of their gameplay.
Summing it up
In conclusion, winning in D&D combat goes far beyond perfect dice rolls and maximum damage output. It’s a fine blend of understanding and leveraging party dynamics, creative exploitation of in-game elements, and maintaining a combat-ready mindset at all times.
So the next time you step into the world of D&D, remember, you are not just a player tossing dice in a chaotic skirmish, but a master strategist commanding the flow of the game, orchestrating the chaos, and seizing the opportunities within.
The battlefield is your stage, and you are the conductor of the symphony of war.
