Battlemap Combat Oracles - Grasslands

Add more depth to your OSR hexcrawls

Those who read my posts regularly know I’ve been playing and writing up an ongoing solo campaign of Kal Arath that’s nearing a climactic mass battle. It’s a great game, and I’ll play more, whether or not I decide to write up the stories.

I’ve been developing solo oracle resources to add depth to the combat. The game itself (and the supplements) provides a range of well-designed oracles for hex crawling across the Kyrg – a brutal fantasy grassland full of interesting features and encounters.

When I say brutal, I mean that…combat encounters can be unforgiving.

Cimarron National Grassland - Public Domain Photo

Even though there are weather tables that influence your navigation and foraging abilities, I wanted something specific to the terrain of each encounter.

Sure, you can make this up based on the story or by rolling the answers to “yes-no” questions – that’s what I’ve been doing.

Next time, I’ll tempt fate a bit more by using dice.

These d66 tables aren’t specific to Kal Arath. I created them to use with any game I play, regardless of genre. There aren’t any man-made features. They just describe the terrain in case there’s a fight.

Each one suggests possibilities that may help or hinder your actions…a hill might give the high ground advantage to someone. Hopefully it’s you.

There’s still plenty of room for creativity here. Use your game’s movement, terrain, concealment rules, or make something up on the fly.

Combine these tables with points of interest/features for more vivid descriptions. Is that abandoned fort on a flat plain or atop a hill?

Here’s an example of how I’d play a combat encounter:

Dal Bathar and Korgath, two first-level fighters, are plodding east across the grassy Kyrg towards a temple ruin they’ve heard holds vast riches. They encounter four hostile bandits on a beautiful, clear summer day.

I use my range table to determine distance – they’re at medium distance, and the “yes-no” oracle tells me they haven’t noticed us yet

So, I make a roll on the summer grassland table.

55 – Wildflower fields mixed with tall grass — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)

We decide to ambush them and steal their horses. The tall grass gives us a bit of cover if we get low. Both of us fire arrows, then prone out. Whether we hit or miss, there’s a good chance they won’t see us.

Let’s assume the arrows hit and they pass a morale check.

They’re looking around, and we roll to see if they spot us. Nope. So we fire again, then hit the deck. We make stealth checks to crawl and move positions slowly as they search.

You get the idea.

The terrain roll gave us an advantage we could exploit. Maybe we weaken them and eventually engage with our swords. Or perhaps, we can kill one or two before they flee and gain a mount.

Much more engaging than simply slugging it out with mounted bandits on foot.

Give them a try and let me know how it goes!

Summer Grasslands - Public Domain Photo

d66 Grassland Terrain (Summer)

11 – Open shortgrass — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
12 – Thick summer grasses — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
13 – Rolling grassy hills — (Movement: normal uphill; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: yes)
14 – Scattered bushes — (Movement: slowed slightly; Concealment: partial; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
15 – Grassy dip — (Movement: normal; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial if prone; High Ground: no)
16 – Hard dry soil — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
21 – Dense prairie grass — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial/full prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
22 – Shallow stream with muddy banks — (Movement: slowed near bank; Concealment: partial; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
23 – Rocky ground patches — (Movement: rough footing; Concealment: minimal; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
24 – Animal burrows hidden in grass — (Movement: normal, risk trip; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
25 – Thorny thickets — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
26 – Overgrown grassy bowl — (Movement: normal; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial if prone; High Ground: no)
31 – Flat open plains — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
32 – Worn animal trails — (Movement: fast; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
33 – Loose stones on dry soil — (Movement: risk slipping; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
34 – Dry creekbed — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
35 – Burn scars with loose ash — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
36 – Isolated small trees — (Movement: normal; Concealment: partial; Cover: partial; High Ground: slight if climbed)
41 – Tangled grass clumps — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
42 – Heavy animal trails — (Movement: fast; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
43 – Sun-baked bare patches — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
44 – Dry pond bed — (Movement: normal; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: partial if prone; High Ground: low ground)
45 – Grassy ridges — (Movement: normal uphill; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: yes)
46 – Hidden pit under grass — (Movement: risk fall; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
51 – Wide open prairie stretches — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
52 – Heavy grass beds — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
53 – Dry creek cuts through hills — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
54 – Dense marshy grass near water — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
55 – Wildflower fields mixed with tall grass — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
56 – Heavy sod patches — (Movement: very slowed; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
61 – Sparse thorny trees — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
62 – High waving grasses — (Movement: normal; Concealment: partial at range; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
63 – Shallow natural ditch — (Movement: slowed entry; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial; High Ground: low ground)
64 – Broken dry grass patches — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
65 – Dry thistle fields — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
66 – Dry grass ripe for fire — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)

d66 Grassland Terrain (Fall)

11 – Dry shortgrass plains — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
12 – Brittle brown grass — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
13 – Rolling dry hills — (Movement: normal uphill; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: yes)
14 – Shriveled bush clumps — (Movement: slowed slightly; Concealment: partial; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
15 – Dry grassy dip — (Movement: normal; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial if prone; High Ground: no)
16 – Firm cracked earth — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
21 – Dead prairie grass mats — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
22 – Shallow muddy trickle (streambed) — (Movement: slowed near mud; Concealment: partial; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
23 – Scattered dry rocks — (Movement: rough footing; Concealment: minimal; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
24 – Animal burrow openings in dry grass — (Movement: normal, risk trip; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
25 – Dead thistle patches — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
26 – Withered grassy bowl — (Movement: normal; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial if prone; High Ground: no)
31 – Wide flat dry plains — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
32 – Worn animal trails — (Movement: fast; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
33 – Loose dry stones — (Movement: risk slipping; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
34 – Dry creekbed with brittle plants — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
35 – Old fire-scorched patches — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
36 – Sparse leafless trees — (Movement: normal; Concealment: minimal; Cover: partial; High Ground: slight if climbed)
41 – Heavy dead grass clumps — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
42 – Bare animal paths through grass — (Movement: fast; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
43 – Cracked dry ground patches — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
44 – Dry pond bed — (Movement: normal; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: partial if prone; High Ground: low ground)
45 – Dry grassy ridges — (Movement: normal uphill; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: yes)
46 – Hidden pit under dead grass — (Movement: risk fall; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
51 – Open brown grass expanses — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
52 – Matted grass beds — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
53 – Dry creek cut through brittle land — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
54 – Dry reed patches around empty ponds — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
55 – Empty wildflower fields gone to seed — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
56 – Tough dry sod mounds — (Movement: very slowed; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
61 – Sparse thorny bushes — (Movement: slowed slightly; Concealment: partial; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
62 – Fallen dead grass clumps — (Movement: normal; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
63 – Shallow dry ditches filled with leaves — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial; High Ground: low ground)
64 – Broken brittle grass patches — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
65 – Dry brittle thistle fields — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
66 – Sun-browned cracked ground — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)

d66 Grassland Terrain (Winter)

11 – Frozen shortgrass plains — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
12 – Crusted snow over dead grass — (Movement: slowed slightly; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
13 – Rolling frozen hills — (Movement: slowed uphill; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: yes)
14 – Frosted bush clumps — (Movement: slowed slightly; Concealment: partial; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
15 – Snow-filled grassy dip — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial if prone; High Ground: no)
16 – Hard frozen soil — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
21 – Flattened frozen grass mats — (Movement: normal; Concealment: minimal; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
22 – Frozen-over stream — (Movement: risk slipping; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
23 – Rocks half-buried in snow — (Movement: rough footing; Concealment: minimal; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
24 – Exposed frozen animal burrows — (Movement: normal, risk trip; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
25 – Frost-brittle thistle patches — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
26 – Snow-drifted grassy bowl — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial if prone; High Ground: no)
31 – Barren frozen flatland — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
32 – Animal trails packed with snow — (Movement: fast but visible; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
33 – Loose rocks on frozen ground — (Movement: risk slipping; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
34 – Snow-crusted dry creekbed — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
35 – Ashy burn patches under snow — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
36 – Sparse frost-covered trees — (Movement: normal; Concealment: minimal; Cover: partial; High Ground: maybe, if climbed)
41 – Frozen grass clumps — (Movement: slowed slightly; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
42 – Frozen animal paths — (Movement: fast but slippery; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
43 – Hardened frozen ground — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
44 – Snow-filled dry pond bed — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: partial if prone; High Ground: low ground)
45 – Snow-dusted ridges — (Movement: slowed uphill; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: yes)
46 – Hidden frozen pit — (Movement: risk fall; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
51 – Wide frozen grass plains — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
52 – Heavy frost on low grasses — (Movement: slowed slightly; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
53 – Frozen dry creek cut — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
54 – Dead reeds packed with snow — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
55 – Snow-buried dead flower fields — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
56 – Frozen sod mounds — (Movement: very slowed; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
61 – Thorny bushes under frost — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
62 – Broken frozen grass clumps — (Movement: normal; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
63 – Natural snow-drifted ditches — (Movement: slowed entry; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial; High Ground: low ground)
64 – Cracked frozen soil patches — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
65 – Snow-choked thistle patches — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
66 – Icy hardened mud flats — (Movement: risk slipping; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)

d66 Grassland Terrain (Spring)

11 – Fresh shortgrass plains — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
12 – Thick new grasses — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
13 – Rolling green hills — (Movement: normal uphill; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: yes)
14 – Flowering bushes — (Movement: slowed slightly; Concealment: partial; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
15 – Soft grassy dip — (Movement: slowed if wet; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial if prone; High Ground: no)
16 – Moist spring soil — (Movement: slowed slightly; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
21 – Dense prairie grass growth — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
22 – Full seasonal streams — (Movement: slowed crossing; Concealment: partial at bank; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
23 – Rocks scattered among new grasses — (Movement: uneven footing; Concealment: minimal; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
24 – Animal burrows hidden in new growth — (Movement: normal, risk trip; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
25 – New thistle growth — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
26 – Grassy hollow filling with runoff — (Movement: slowed if wet; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial if prone; High Ground: no)
31 – Open green plains — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
32 – Fresh animal trails through wet fields — (Movement: fast; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
33 – Slick stones on muddy ground — (Movement: risk slipping; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
34 – Wet creekbeds — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
35 – Old fire patches with new growth — (Movement: normal; Concealment: minimal; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
36 – Small saplings with budding leaves — (Movement: normal; Concealment: partial; Cover: partial; High Ground: slight if climbed)
41 – Heavy spring sod patches — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
42 – Twisting animal paths through grass — (Movement: fast; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
43 – Sun-warmed muddy ground — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
44 – Flooded pond beds — (Movement: very slowed; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: partial if prone; High Ground: low ground)
45 – Green grassy ridges — (Movement: normal uphill; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: yes)
46 – Hidden soft pits under new grass — (Movement: risk fall; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
51 – Wide green expanses — (Movement: normal; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
52 – Tall spring grasses — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
53 – Water-carved creekbeds — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
54 – Fresh reed beds growing near ponds — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
55 – Flower-filled fields — (Movement: slowed slightly; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
56 – Soft sod mounds — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
61 – Sparse budding bushes — (Movement: normal; Concealment: partial; Cover: partial; High Ground: no)
62 – Collapsed grass clumps over wet ground — (Movement: normal; Concealment: partial if prone; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
63 – Natural runoff ditches — (Movement: slowed entry; Concealment: full if prone; Cover: partial; High Ground: low ground)
64 – Patchy soft ground — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
65 – Early dry thistle patches — (Movement: slowed; Concealment: partial; Cover: none; High Ground: no)
66 – Saturated muddy flats — (Movement: very slowed; Concealment: none; Cover: none; High Ground: no)