Elven Armies and Dwarves-At-Arms
Troop tables for demi-human lords
by James A. Yates
-
Summary of modifiers Demi-human leaders Using the troop tables - -
Troop Table X: Hill Dwarf Troop Table XI: Gray Elf Troop Table XII: High Elf Troop Table XIII: Valley Elf Troop Table XIV: Wild Elf
Troop Table XV: Wood Elf Troop Table XVI: Gnome Troop Table XVII: Troop Table XVIII: Hobbit
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons - Dragon #115 - Dragon magazine

Unearthed Arcana CHANGES many aspects 
of the AD&D game, all for the 
better.  One of the most dramatic CHANGES 
is to allow many demi-human fighters with 
the proper statistics to become Lords.  Since 
there is virtually nothing in the Dungeon Masters Guide 
covering troops for demi-human 
Lords, and very little about it in my 
previous article "Tables and tables of 
troops" (DRAGON Magazine, issue #99), 
this article has a go at designing troop 
tables for most of the demi-humans that 
may Now become Lords.. This article concerns 
itself only with those demi-humans 
who dwell primarily above ground, because 
the deep-dwelling demi-humans 
operate under greatly different circumstances, 
and they don't really fit into this 
article. 

When a demi-human fighter reaches the 
9th level of experience, he or she may opt 
to establish a freehold.  This is accomplished 
by constructing a stronghold of 
some sort and then clearing out any hostile 
creatures in a radius of 20-25 miles.   
Having fulfilled these requirements, the 
Lord automatically attracts a body of 
troops of the same race and gains the right 
to collect taxes from every being residing 
within the territory of the freehold.  

As with human lords, many factors 
affect the number and types of troops a 
demi-human Lord receives.  The size of the 
AREA cleared for the freehold, the Lords 
alignment, and other personal factors all 
play a part.  One notable exception is terrain; 
demi-humans are strongly associated 
with certain types of terrain, and you may 
never find an elven Lord setting up house 
in a desert.  In short, terrain is already 
factored into any demi-human troop table 
by the race of the demi-human Lord in 
question.  Racial prejudice affects only half-elves, 
who are looked upon with a little 
suspicion by both elves and humans.  High 
CHA in a half-elf certainly overcomes 
this slight prejudice. 

All demi-human Lords draw their troops 
from their clans, tribes, bands, etc., which 
reside in their freehold, and they TAKE 
primary responsibility for the defense of 
all.  These Lords have fewer troops than 
most of their human counterparts because 
demi-humans are rarer and found in 
fewer numbers than humans.  Despite this, 
most of these tables are quite powerful, as 
they contain many fighters of 1st level or 
higher and some multi-classed individuals. 

Summary of modifiers

Territorial modifiers:  These approximate 
the size of the freehold the Lord has established.  
The figures in square miles have 
been rounded off to the nearest 50, and 
are used for those Lords who weren't 
obliging enough to clear a perfect circle 
around their castles.  

AREA cleared has a radius greater than 
45 miles or is more than 6,350 square 
miles = +5%. 

AREA cleared has a radius greater than 
40 miles or is more than 5,000 square 
miles = +2%

AREA cleared has a radius less than 40 
miles or is less than 5,000 square miles = 
0%

AREA cleared has a radius less than 35 
miles or is less than 3,850 square miles = 
-2%

AREA cleared has a radius less than 30 
miles or is less than 2,800 square miles = 
-5%

AREA cleared has a radius of less than 25 
miles or is less than 1,950 square miles = 
-8%
 

Alignment modifiers
    LG = +3%
    LN = +2%
    LE = +1%
    NG = 0%
    N = 0%
    CG = -1%
    CN = -2%
    NE = -3%
    CE = -4%
 

Characteristic modifiers
    Each level above 9th = +2%
    Each point of CHA above 13 = +1%
    Each point of CHA below 9 = -2%
    Half-elf = -5% on any appropriate
        human or elf table (but not both)
    Half-elf = -35% on both any appropriate 
        human and elf tables (the half-elven 
        Lord must have a STR of 18+ and 
        CHA of 17+ in order to roll on both 
        tables); humans and elves do not always 
        get along well within a group
 

All modifiers are cumulative, although 
some-may only apply to NPCs (a CE 
dwarf, for instance).  Any modified 
score of less than 01 is treated as 01, and 
any modified score greater than 00 (100) is 
treated as 00.

A 9th-level chaotic-neutral grugach (wild
elf) lord with a charisma of 12 who has
cleared a mere 2,500 square miles of territory
would have a negative die roll modifier
of -7% on the grugach troops table.
A 10th-level lawful-good hill-dwarven lord
with a charisma of 15 who has cleared
5,100 square miles of territory would have
a modifier of +9% on the hill-dwarven
troop table. An extraordinary chaotic-good
12th-level half-elven lord with a strength
of 20 and charisma of 18 who has cleared
over 7,000 square miles of territory would
have a negative modifier of only -20% on
both any appropriate human and elf tables.
 

Demi-human leaders
Most demi-human lords do not usually
roll for leaders; instead, they receive officers
according to the number of troops
they receive. The number and level of
these officers varies by race as follows:

Hill dwarves receive an additional 3rd-level
dwarven fighter to serve as a sergeant
for every 20 dwarves received. For
every 40 dwarves received, there is an
additional 4th-level fighter to serve as a
lieutenant. If the lord has 60 or fewer
dwarves, he or she receives an additional
5th-level fighter to serve as captain; if 75-
90 dwarves are commanded, a 6th-level
fighter; and, if 105 or more dwarves, a
7th-level fighter. In addition, no matter
how many dwarves the lord receives,
there is also a 3rd-level dwarven cleric/
fighter to serve as chaplain.

Elves receive an additional 2nd-level
elven fighter to serve as a sergeant for
every 15 elves received. For every 30 elves
received, there is an additional 3rd-level
fighter to serve as a lieutenant. If the lord
has 55 or fewer elves, he or she receives a
4th-level fighter/5th-level magic-user to
serve as captain or, in the case of a grugach
lord, a 4th-level druid/fighter. If 60-75
elves are commanded, a 5th-level fighter/
6th-level magic-user or 5th-level druid/
fighter. And, if 80 or more elves, a 6thlevel
fighter/7th-level magic-user or 6thlevel
druid/fighter. In addition, no matter
how many elves the lord receives, there is
also a 3rd-level elven cleric/fighter/magicuser
to serve as chaplain. Grugach lords
do not receive this bonus.

Gnomes receive an additional 2nd-level
gnomish fighter to serve as a sergeant for
every 25 gnomes received. For every 35
gnomes received, there is an additional
3rd-level fighter to serve as a lieutenant. If
the lord has 60 or fewer gnomes, he or
she receives an additional 4th-level fighter
to serve as captain; if 75-90 gnomes are
commanded, a 5th-level fighter; and if 105
or more gnomes, a 6th-level fighter. In
addition, no matter how many gnomes the
lord receives, there is also a 3rd-level
gnomish cleric/fighter to serve as chaplain.

Half-elves roll for leaders (and all modifiers
apply) as in per "Tables and tables of
troops" in DRAGON issue #99, if they roll
on a human table. If the half-elf rolls on an
elf table, he or she receives officers as
does any other elven lord. Some half-elves
may roll on both tables, and would then
use both methods.

Halflings receive an additional 1st-level
halfling fighter to serve as a sergeant for
every 10 halflings received. For every 25
halflings received, there is an additional
2nd-level fighter to serve as a lieutenant. If
the lord has 55 or fewer halflings, he or
she receives an additional 3rd-level fighter
as captain; if 65-75 halflings are commanded,
a 4th-level fighter; and if 90 or
more halflings, a 5th-level fighter. In addition,
no matter how many halflings the
lord receives, there is also a 2nd-level
halfling cleric/fighter to serve as chaplain.

All demi-human officers have the following
chance per level of having magical
arms and armor (typically +1 in power):

    Shield: 16%
    Leather armor: 16%
    Chain mail: 15%
    Banded mail: 12%
    Plate mail: 10%
    Dagger: 5%
    Edged weapon (select type): 15%
    Blunt weapon (select type): 7%
    Pole arm (select type): 9%
    Missile weapon (select type): 6%
    Miscellaneous magic item: 4% (10% for
        any magic-user, rolling until a useful item
        is obtained)

All officers, captains, lieutenants, sergeants,
chaplains, and any special scouts
above 1st level are allowed separate rolls
to see if they possess the various sorts of
magical accoutrements: a shield, one type
of armor (of the DM?s choice), a dagger,
and one miscellaneous magic item. Captains
roll for two types of weapons (both
of the DM?s choice); all others roll for only
one type of weapon (again of the DM?s
choice). Multi-classed officers use their
highest level to determine any magic items
obtained. Racial restrictions apply, and no
halfling, gnome, or dwarf should have a
long bow, two-handed sword, or similarly
large weapon.

Multiply the level of the officer in question
by the percentage chance to possess a
particuiar item, then roll the percentage
dice. If the score rolled is equal to or less
than the percentage, the officer has the
item. If any officer has a percentage
chance greater than 100% of having an
item, the percentage above 100% is the
chance of the item being +2 in power.
Only demi-human captains of 7th level
have any chance of receiving a +2 item,
typically a shield, a suit of leather or chain
mail armor, or an edged weapon. If no
magic armor or weapons are received by
an officer, the DM may outfit that officer
with any armor and weapons appropriate
to his or her race. However, an elven
officer in this situation should be given at
least a 50% chance of having a suit of
normal elfin chain mail.

No specific weapons were listed so as to
assure the maximum variety of weapon
types amongst the various officers. This is
even more important when dealing with
demi-humans than with humans because
many of them have racially associated
weapons which tend to dominate their
militaries. By giving the DM a free reign to
select the specific weapons, it guarantees
that dwarves can fight with battle axes
and elves with bows, although no DM has
to equip any demi-human with their
?standard? weapons.

Using the troop tables
First, the player or DM (if creating a
freehold for an NPC) finds the appropriate
troop table. Roll the percentile dice and
apply any relevant modifiers. The final
result shows the number of troops of
various types which form the nucleus of
the lords fledgling army. The higher the
result, the more and better equipped the
troops will be. A very high score gains a
bonus of troops who improve the quality
of the lords forces. These special scouts
are optional; if the DM feels they should
not be given, then they are not. Also, DMs
should feel free to alter these tables in any
way they see fit.
 

Troop Table X: Hill Dwarf
This table is very similar to Troop Table
VIII in "Tables and tables of troops," but
that table was for mountain dwarves. The
table for hill dwarves is slightly inferior to
that for mountain dwarves because hill
dwarves can not become as powerful as
mountain dwarves and do not have as
many hit points as their stronger cousins.
Even so, it is a very powerful table, having
plenty of troops who are at each least 1st
level (having 5-8 hp).
 
Dice Result
01-40 45 infantry -- 30 with chain mail,
shield, battle axe, and hammer; 15
with ring mail, shield, sword, and
spear
41-65 60 infantry ? 30 with chain mail,
shield, battle axe, and hammer; 15
with ring mail, shield, sword, and
spear; 15 with ring mail, light crossbow,
and sword
66-85 75 infantry ? 35 with chain mail,
shield, battle axe, and hammer; 20
with ring mail, shield, sword, and
spear; 20 with ring mail, light crossbow,
and sword
86-95 90 infantry ? 45 with chain mail,
shield, battle axe, and hammer; 20
with ring mail, shield, sword, and
spear; 25 with ring mail, light crossbow,
and sword
96-00 105 infantry ? 50 with chain mail,
shield, battle axe, and hammer; 25
with ring mail, shield, sword, and
spear; 30 with ring mail, light crossbow,
and sword; and, five ponymounted
infantry*

* These pony-mounted infantry are all
2nd-level dwarven fighters with chain
mail, shield, battle axe, and mace. They
use their ponies only for transport and do
not fight as cavalry. These troops are
considered special scouts and may roll for
magic equipment. They can be used as
scouts or as a special bodyguard for the
hill dwarven lord.
 

Troop Table XI: Gray Elf
This is undoubtedly the most powerful
of all the elven troop tables. It doesn?t have
as many troops as some others, but if the
special scouts are used, they are more
than ample compensation. All soldiers are
at least 1st level (having 6-9 hp).
 
 
Dice Result
01-40 35 infantry -- 25 with chain mail,
shield, sword, and spear; 10 with
chain mail, sword, and bow
41-65 45 infantry ? 30 with chain mail,
shield, sword, and spear; 15 with
chain mail, sword, and bow
66-85 10 hippogriff-mounted cavalry with
chain mail, shield, lance, and sword;
40 infantry ? 25 with chain mail,
and shield, sword, and spear; 15
with chain mail, sword, and bow
86-95 15 hippogriff-mounted cavalry with
chain mail, shield, lance, and sword;
45 infantry ? 30 with chain mail,
and shield, sword, and spear; 15
with chain mail, sword, and bow
96-00 15 hippogriff-mounted cavalry with
chain mail, shield, lance, and sword;
55 infantry ? 35 with chain mail,
shield, sword, and spear; 20 with
chain mail, sword, and bow; and,
special scouts*

* The special scouts are 4 1st-level fighter/
magic-users led by a 3rd-level fighter/
magic-user. All are mounted on griffons
and have elfin chain mail, shield, lance,
sword, and bow. It is assumed that these
elves have enough sense to keep these
griffons well-fed, so they won?t go munching
on the hippogriffs.
 

Troop Table XII: High Elf
High elves are not as rare as gray elves
and are found in slightly larger numbers.
All troops are at least 1st-level fighters
(having 6-9 hp).
 
Dice Result
01-40 45 infantry -- 30 with scale mail,
shield, sword, and spear; 15 with
ring mail, bow, and dagger
41-65 10 light cavalry with chain mail,
shield, lance, and sword; 45 infantry
? 30 with scale mail, shield, sword,
and spear; 15 with ring mail, bow,
and dagger
66-85 15 light cavalry with chain mail,
shield, lance, and sword; 50 infantry
? 35 with scale mail, shield, sword,
and spear; 15 with ring mail, bow,
and dagger
86-95 20 light cavalry with chain mail,
shield, lance, and sword; 55 infantry
? 35 with scale mail, shield, sword,
and spear; 20 with ring mail, bow,
and dagger
96-00 25 light cavalry with chain mail,
shield, lance, and sword; 60 infantry
? 40 with scale mail, shield, sword,
and spear; 20 with ring mail, bow,
and dagger; and, special scouts*

*90% of the time, the special scouts are
four 2nd-level fighters led by a 3rd-level
ranger. All are mounted on medium war
horses and have elfin chain mail, shield,
sword, and bow. The other 10% of the
time, they are four 1st-level female elf
fighters led by a 2nd-level female elf
fighter/magic-user. All are mounted on
unicorns and have elfin chain mail, shield,
sword, and bow.
 

Troop Table XIII: Valley Elf
Numerically, this is the weakest of all
troop tables, but it is also the strongest
table, fighter for fighter. All troops are at
least 1st-level (having 7-10 hp). The table
also includes cooshee dogs as guards.
 
Dice Result
01-55 25 infantry -- 15 with chain mail,
shield, sword, and spear; 10 with
chain mail, sword, and bow; 2
cooshee
56-90 35 infantry -- 20 with chain mail,
shield, sword, and spear; 15 with
chain mail, sword, and bow; 3
cooshee
91-00 10 light cavalry with chain mail,
shield, lance, and sword; 30 infantry
? 20 with chain mail, shield, sword,
and spear; 10 with chain mail,
sword, and bow; 4 cooshee; and,
special scouts*

* The special scouts are five 1st-level
gnome fighters led by a 2nd-level fighter/
illusionist. All have ring mail, shield, short
sword, and spear.
 

Troop Table XIV: Wild Elf
This is another relatively weak table
because grugach are found in fewer numbers
than most other elves, but it has a
couple of twists in it. All grugach are at
least 1st level (having 6-9 hp).
 
Dice Result
01-40 30 infantry -- 15 with ring mail,
shield, sword, and spear; 15 with
studded leather armor, bow, and
dagger
41-65 35 infantry -- 10 with ring mail,
shield, sword, and spear; 10 with
chain mail, shield, spear, and dagger;
15 with studded leather armor, bow,
and dagger
66-85 10 stag-mounted cavalry with ring
mail, shield, sword, and spear; 35
infantry -- 15 with chain mail,
shield, spear, and dagger; 20 with
studded leather armor, bow, and
dagger
86-95 10 stag-mounted cavalry with ring
mail, shield, sword, and spear; 40
infantry -- 20 with chain mail 
shield, spear, and dagger; 20 with
studded leather armor, bow, and
dagger
96-00 15 stag-mounted cavalry with ring
mail, shield, sword, and spear; 45
infantry ? 20 with chain mail,
shield, spear, and dagger; 25 with
studded leather, bow, and dagger;
and, special scouts *

* Special scouts are three 2nd-level fighters
led by a 3rd-level fighter/druid. All
have ring mail, shield, sword, and bow.
 

Troop Table XV: Wood Elf
Wood elves will be found in larger numbers
than gray elves, yet in slightly less
number than high elves. All are at least 1st
level (having 6-9 hp).
 
Dice Result
01-40 40 infantry ? 10 with ring mail,
shield, sword, and spear; 10 with
ring mail, shield, spear, and dagger;
20 with studded leather, bow, and
dagger
41-65 50 infantry ? 10 with ring mail,
shield, sword, and spear; 15 with
ring mail, shield, spear, and dagger;
25 with studded leather armor, bow,
and dagger
66-85 10 light cavalry with ring mail,
shield, lance, and sword; 45 infantry
? 20 with ring mail, shield, spear,
and dagger; 25 with studded leather
armor, bow, and dagger
86-95 15 light cavalry with ring mail,
shield, lance, and sword; 50 infantry
? 20 with ring mail, shield, spear,
and dagger; 30 with studded leather
armor, bow, and dagger
96-00 15 light cavalry with ring mail,
shield, lance, and sword; 60 infantry
? 25 with ring mail, shield, spear,
and dagger; 35 with studded leather
armor, bow, and dagger; and, special
scouts*

* The special scouts are three 2nd-level
fighters led by a 3rd-level fighter/magicuser.
All are mounted on light war horses
and have ring mail, shield, sword, and
bow. Additionally, the fighter/magic-user is
accompanied by an elven cat.
 

Troop Table XVI: Gnome
This is another fairly powerful table, as
all gnomes are at least 1st level (having 5-8
hp).
 
Dice Result
01-40 50 infantry -- 20 with ring mail,
shield, short sword, and spear; 20
with ring mail, shield, spear, and
hammer; 10 with studded leather
armor, buckler, sling, and dagger
41-65 60 infantry ? 25 with ring mail,
shield, short sword, and spear; 25
with ring mail, shield, spear, and
hammer; 10 with studded leather
armor, short bow, and dagger
66-85 75 infantry ? 30 with ring mail,
shield, short sword, and spear; 30
with ring mail, shield, spear, and
hammer; 15 with studded leather
armor, buckler, sling, and dagger
86-95 90 infantry ? 35 with ring mail,
shield, short sword, and spear; 35
with ring mail, shield, spear, and
hammer; 20 with studded leather
armor, short bow, and dagger
96-00 105 infantry ? 40 with ring mail,
shield, short sword, and spear; 40
with ring mail, shield, spear, and
hammer; 25 with studded leather
armor, buckler, sling, and dagger;
and, special scouts *

* The special scouts are four 2nd-level
gnome fighters led by a 3rd-level fighter/
illusionist. All have ring mail, shield, short
sword, and hammer.

Troop Table XVIII: Hobbit
Even under the new rules, a halfling
lord is an extremely rare individual and is
looked upon with something close to awe
by other halflings. This is a somewhat
weak table compared to the other demihuman
troop tables because most halflings
are 0-level fighters (having 4-7 hp).
 
Dice Result
01-40 45 infantry -- 20 with padded armor,
shield, short sword, and spear;
15 with padded armor, shield, spear,
and hand axe; 10 with leather armor,
sling, and dagger
41-65 55 infantry ? 25 with padded armor,
shield, short sword, and spear;
15 with padded armor, shield, spear,
and hand axe; 15 with leather armor,
short bow, and dagger
66-85 65 infantry -- 25 with padded armor,
shield, short sword, and spear;
20 with padded armor, shield, spear,
and hand axe; 20 with leather armor,
sling, and dagger
86-95 75 infantry -- 30 with padded armor,
shield, short sword, and spear;
25 with padded armor, shield, spear,
and hand axe; 20 with leather armor,
short bow, and dagger
96-00 90 infantry -- 35 with padded armor,
shield, short sword, and spear;
30 with padded armor, shield, spear,
and hand axe; 25 with leather armor
sling, and dagger; and, special
scouts *

* If the halfling lord is of the hairfeet
subrace, the special scouts are five lstlevel
gnomish fighters. led by a 2nd-level
fighter/illusionist. All have ring mail,
shield, short sword, and spear. If the lord
is a stout, they will be five 1st-level dwarven
fighters led by a 3rd-level fighter. All
have chain mail, shield, battle axe, and
hammer. If the lord is a tallfellow, they are
five 1st-level high elf fighters led by a 2nd-level
fighter/magic-user. All have chain
mail, shield, sword, and bow.