What does a System-Based military look like, anyway?
Added 2019-10-10 21:18:31 +0000 UTCWe've been on a Skill binge for a while, lets try something different.
So before I sit down to write on my other book today, I have to admit that I haven't got the best military background. I've read a lot of fantasy military books, but don't have a very good personal understanding of what it's like to be in the military, especially one with Skills and Breaks and stuff...
The reason for this is to breathe a certain amount of realism into the scene that I might not have been able to alone, and make people think I thought of everything.
So! Let's cook up some small common-sense factoids about daily military life in the magical world of Marconen. The format will be Behavior: Because
example: After the first major battle, Veteran Sergeants have to perform Watch, Because all the recruits are Breaking.
I hope you guys don't mind me shamelessly using you for your ideas.
Comments
what are levies?
Macronomicon
2019-10-12 22:05:40 +0000 UTCthose seem like a good one for the Ilethans to have.
Macronomicon
2019-10-11 04:53:33 +0000 UTCI can also see troop compositions not being monotone, so rather than a bunch of “siege heavies” you might have a siege company with several rolls needed, people to destabilise enemies being sieged (shock and awe boys), people to crack the bunker open, and people to enter the breach. Basically it’s not enough for standardisation (which would be the equivalent of a real armies standard kit), there needs strong specialists (equivalent of real armies different roles). Even a big standard troop company would need a medic, etc
Bacon Macleod
2019-10-11 02:01:26 +0000 UTCI can also see people who hit the required veteran level to command troops being required to take some sort of long distance fast communication skill, since info is massive in warfare, and being able to coordinate. Maybe another skill to set designated orders to underlings on the fly? Some sort of magically enhanced chain of command and information flow at the very least
Bacon Macleod
2019-10-11 01:57:21 +0000 UTCWith a system based military, I imagine a variety of espionage missions taking place, a variety of counter strategies, wide area of effect spells, buffs and debuffs spreading to everyone, betrayals due to mental magics, and a wide variety of chaotic things happening on the battlefield. With so many people having so many gimmick skills and so many odd synergies that can't be counted, it's impossible to effectively make a plan unless you have a powerful skill you can exploit at your disposal.
Mmmmyes
2019-10-11 01:46:21 +0000 UTCYou forgot pick up cigarette butts haha I’m guessing you’re a vet. Fucking motorpool mondays, am I right smh
Chawki89
2019-10-11 00:54:47 +0000 UTCBehavior - post battle bent bootcamp: because the army needs to control the direction soldiers develop so after large battles, soldiers who advance are sequestered to the rear and replaced with fresh soldiers so they can be put though a training camp to properly distribute their points
Karolus
2019-10-11 00:18:03 +0000 UTCbehavior - army logistical support is handled by a bureaucratic class with traits in that direction: because getting food and supplies is difficult in the best of times, having people supernaturally good at this is a necessary in an environment where this is possible. I imagine they would function like the Mandarins (I assume they would function similar to their operation under the Quin Dynasty, and may be eunuchs in some if not most counties to control their influence and prevent family bias)
Karolus
2019-10-11 00:15:47 +0000 UTCbehavior - specialized "Bent Slaves" are typical in armies that field lots of mages: because ... duh, magic only works so long as you have bent as fuel. Bent slaves are forced to take talents to regenerate bent faster and transfer bent to a sorcerer. Killing these people is key to defeating armies that rely on magic as their primary weapon
Karolus
2019-10-11 00:10:28 +0000 UTCknights and levies with an easy meritocratic promotion system as breaks would cause levies to become more powerful while high break knights would be more powerful and easily defeat regular troups, levies could kill mages by wearing down there bent and mages could kill knights with long range spells. Rock paper scissors (obviously those would be basic tactics)
A disgruntled nondescript squirrel
2019-10-10 23:49:54 +0000 UTCBehavior - early in training people are seperated into specilizations based on stats and temperment: because most militaries will take substantial advantage of having troops with predictable skill builds. So predictable that I assume the system will account for them somehow. Like a standard heavy infantry build focused on armor and defense skills.
Karolus
2019-10-10 22:18:56 +0000 UTCIf I would hazard a guess I'd say it depends on what you want or what kind of force it is. I would have standardized skills for the grunts so you can predict how they'll do. Depending on how useful armor is I would focus on stamina and armor skills. With enough armor, skill and a shield you can become pretty arrow proof. If there are skills that allow arrows to pierce armor then such archers would be invaluable. If it requires bent and they only kill ten people each fight then it would be pretty bad. A ranger type group fcosuing on mobility who could kill ten soldiers each then leave would be a nightmare. If you do squads you want peeps who have good stength and stamina but also specializations. Like info gathering, negotiation, etcetera. It depends alot on the situation the squad is entering. I suggest you make more polls for specific military types.
Sean Austin Gartland
2019-10-10 22:10:24 +0000 UTCMaybe restrictions on rank and possitions based on stats, like a strategist or a logicstics officer needing to have a certain amount of mind to get the position or a sergeant needing to have higher body and mind stat preferably with something like a leadership skill, maybe skill requirments on positions as well?
Lentitudo
2019-10-10 21:59:30 +0000 UTCFood is always an issue with the military. I would think it would be even worse with a primitive one. Every military also tries to deny the other logistics.
Chris
2019-10-10 21:54:09 +0000 UTCThere's lots of bullshit that goes on the military. Take inventory of shit, mow the whole battalion area with like 7 dudes, sweep the whole motor pool, clean the bathrooms, clean the office building, clean all of the weapons. Currently still at work past 1700 because some people decided to not update their life insurance.
EitherWay
2019-10-10 21:39:18 +0000 UTCLogistics is King And medicine/hygiene is queen more wars have been won by people in the rear with good math skills and the ability to tell people not to shit over there military service is soul crushingly boring right up until all the adrenaline in the world is running through your body like a fresh bump of cocaine then just like that it's gone and all you have are your few buddy's you like a whole bunch of people who you hate and the simple knowledge that you are not feeling like your being paid enough.
Austin Gibbs
2019-10-10 21:30:31 +0000 UTCI also appreciate any constructive criticism toward making the military run of WotR more realistic...but not too realistic. There's some real life stuff that happens in the military that can die in a fire.
Macronomicon
2019-10-10 21:24:20 +0000 UTC
