Foes
What are Foes: In Enigma, foes are the diverse enemies that players encounter throughout their adventures. Each foe presents unique threats, stories, and challenges, ranging from monsters and spirits to machines and cunning humanoids. These enemies are deeply connected to the world’s lore and the arcane-punk setting. Beyond combat, foes are key narrative drivers, reflecting the world's mysteries, dangers, and fractured realities. Each encounter is designed to feel distinct, encouraging players to think tactically and engage meaningfully with the story.
Balancing Encounters: No complicated tables or complex math is required to balance encounters in Enigma. Every stat block in the Foe Folio (Enigma’s Bestiary) is designed to match one player character. Because there is minimal number bloat, you can confidently pit almost any foe against any party and create an interesting encounter, as long as the number of player characters and foes is approximately equal. The encounter should feel balanced. Below are some methods you can use to modify encounters, either by lowering or increasing the pressure on your players:
Fewer Foes: The more your party outnumbers their enemies, the easier the fight will be. If you want your party to breeze through an encounter, consider removing a couple of foes.
More Foes: Conversely, the more outnumbered your party is by their enemies, the higher the chances of defeat. If you want the party to feel overwhelmed and compelled to use clever tactics to survive, consider adding extra foes to the encounter.
Elite Foes: If you want to create a mini-boss feel in an encounter, you can give any foe the Elite tag. Elites receive an additional turn for every two members of the player characters' party. For example, if the party has four player characters, an Elite foe has two total turns per round. These turns should be integrated into the turn order like two different foes. Additionally, you should multiply their Life Points by a number equal to half the party size. For instance, if an Elite foe normally has 8 Life Points and faces four player characters, adjust the Elite’s Life Points to 8 x 2, resulting in 16 Life Points. Be cautious when using an Elite foe in an encounter; avoid adding too many additional foes unless you aim to provide a significant challenge for your players.
Solo Foes: To create an authentic boss fight experience in an encounter, assign the Solo tag to any enemy. Solo foes gain an additional turn for each player character in the party beyond the first. For instance, if the party consists of four player characters, the Solo foe would have a total of four turns each round. These turns should be integrated into the turn order as if they were multiple enemies. Additionally, multiply the foe's Life Points by the number of player characters and allied NPCs in the party. For instance, if a Solo foe typically has 8 Life Points and is facing 4 player characters, adjust the foe’s Life Points to 8 x 4, resulting in 32 Life Points. It is important to note that you should not introduce additional foes when using a Solo foe; they are meant to confront the party alone.
Sizes of Foes: In Enigma, foes vary in size from average to massive. Player characters are classified as average-sized unless otherwise agreed upon with your Game Master. If you use a grid system (assuming 1-inch squares), one grid space or hex is approximately equivalent to 5 feet or 1.24 meters. Since all powers and ranges are measured in grid spaces, the specific measurement method is not crucial as long as the spaces align correctly. Please review the sizes of foes below.
Average: Occupies 1 cubic space.
Large: Occupies 3 cubic spaces.
Huge: Occupies 5 cubic spaces.
Massive: Occupies at least 7 cubic spaces (can be larger).