Dire Wolf Alpha with Orc Warlord
Monstrosity · Crown of Wrath
T3d8Major
Savage partnership of beast and warrior, orc warlords ride dire wolves into battle, their bond forged in blood.
Tier 3 · Role Major · Pool Vigor 6 / Vitality 6 · AC 13 · ATK +4 · Save DC 15 · Dmg d8
| Stat | Score | Mod | Die |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body | 18 | +4 | d8 |
| Mind | 8 | -1 | -d3 |
| Sense | 16 | +3 | d6 |
| Heart | 16 | +3 | d6 |
| Cunning | 16 | +3 | d6 |
| Fate | 14 | +2 | d4 |
Passives
Mounted Pair
Rider and wolf fight as one and cannot be separated except by death. Attacks have advantage when an ally is within 5 ft of the target.
Maneuvers
Savage Charge
Moves up to double speed and the wolf drives into a creature at the end of the line: the target makes a Body save (DC 15) or is knocked prone.
Reactions
Mounted Defense
When the rider would be hit, the wolf takes the hit instead.
Tactics
GM tactics
Leads orc war parties. Uses Savage Charge to close and flatten the front rank. Rider and wolf fight as one, taking advantage wherever the pack has a foe surrounded, and Mounted Defense keeps the warlord alive while the wolf bleeds. Never retreats unless the pack is destroyed.
Running it
Rules
- Shield of Tier + Heart mod over a Vitality pool of 3 + Tier, like a hero but with no wounds. Full Vigor at combat start; at the start of its turn it regains 1 Vigor. Dead at 0 Vitality.
- A hit rolls d8. A crit rolls two: 2d8.
- Crits on a natural 17+ (Cunning 16).
- One attack in a normal turn: a Major's second attack comes at Tier 4.
- Checks morale at one-third Vitality: Heart save against the party leader's presence, or GM judgment.
- NPCs never take wounds.