How To Use Bandit Tactics
A bandit’s greatest motivation is the loot. Whether it’s from the victim’s items or for a handsome reward their tactics reflect their motives.
Bandits are not about dying for a cause, a captain, or hard-to-get loot. They are not thieves. Sure, they’re known for sneaking around, but they do not sneak in close and personal for a bit of pickpocketing. They are also not assassins going in for the quick killing blow. They are highwaymen (if on land) and pirates (if on the sea). All about the easy grab, not having to get in close combat unless they have to. They also let their weapons and hopefully, their advantageous positioning, do the bulk of intimidation and persuasion.
This means bandits must always get into what they think is an advantageous position before they initiate an encounter. If discovered before they are ready, their first choice is to flee, if at all possible. This does not have to lead to the end of the encounter. Fleeing bandits can become a chase leading the player characters to another ambush, an encampment, or a hideout. Thus an even bigger encounter can happen, much to the unnerving of the player characters, especially if they discover the tables turned. Or, the fleeing bandits will lead them back into the main plot of the adventure, a gamemaster tactic disguised in an encounter.
The fleeing bandits might turn a chase into a running battle, where those ahead take positions and fire bows, crossbows, firearms, or magic back at their pursuers. This can lead to some fun and dangers that only stop when the bandits escape or the player characters give up the chase. Like the chase, this can lead to a bigger encampment or hideout full of reinforcements.
The only exception to this is when they cannot flee, maintain greater numbers, or an initial assault on them leads to minor damage, emboldening them. With this renewed confidence, the bandits will reposition themselves and even partake in close combat.
Surrender is also an option for bandits.
If your bandits do manage to start their encounter as planned, their tactics are to surround the enemy while maintaining a distance while a spokesman, usually a bandit captain, demands the dropping of weapons, packs, and pouches. The emptying of pockets is usually done by one of the bandits while the targets have their hands up. If their victims refuse or decide to fight back, the bandits will shoot their missile weapons. Fully half their number will then charge in to attack in pairs while the remaining bandits reload and shoot again.
Any wounded bandits will try to evade or dodge in the direction of their nearest fellow bandit in hopes of gaining the advantage of numbers of their attacker. And bandit who takes serious damage will do their best to flee, even if it is to a more advantageous place to take cover or hide.
If combat goes poorly for the player characters, the bandits will accept a surrender. They will then rob the player characters of all their valuables and then leave them. However, there is also the possibility that they will take the player characters prisoner and hold them for ransom! These can lead to some interesting encounters.
May these tactics bring more interesting bandit encounters to your games!
