Through the Eyes of the Warlord - by Lord Krom

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Through the Eyes of the Warlord - by Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:46 am

Through the Eyes of the Warlord

******************The Components of Warfare******************

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Re: Through the Eyes of the Warlord - by Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:08 am

Chapter 1: Introduction

Through the fifty years of my time swinging a weapon and taking my beatings, as well as giving them, I have come to realize that there are basic foundations and strategies in all conflicts. Skirmishes, battles, wars, altercations, whatever you wish to call it, there are always reasons for them to arise and there are always the same basic components in every army.

In terms of military or armies in our modern world, you are looking at four basic components. Granted, some may argue that this is not enough or could be further broken down into more basic requirements, but this would be a manual written by someone else and their own belief system. Take it as you wish, cast my knowledge aside should that be your wish, or take this to heart as wisdom.

Components of an Army

The components consist of the cavalry, infanty, missile troops, and specialty forces.

The cavalry, both light and heavy, is a crushing force that can turn the battle of any conflict. Trampling down the foes or chasing them down, the horseman can deliver a devastating blow to any opponent. Knights on horseback, lancers, as well as any soldierly unit upon a mount falls under this category.

The infantry, consistent of the soldier, is the staple of any army. They are the shield and the sword, the heartbeat of the army and most fickle. Knights in heavy armor to peasants in cloth make up this vast group. Pikeman, spearman, and foot soldiers carrying an arsenal of hand weaponry is found in this part of the army.

The missile troops is vital for taking down numbers from a far. The risk is lessened by missile troops to attack from a far and have kept many wars from ever starting. Fortifications are often held due to the expertise of missile troops with longbows. A barrage of arrows no only creates a mass effect of damage to the opposing army, but also a psychological boon in shaking up the infantry units courage. In this group, long bowmen, crossbowman, and spear chuckers can be found in this.

Specialty forces are the catch all category that are unique in all ways. They tend to be pivot pieces that can make or break your army in the conflict. Special weapons such as siege machines fall into this category as well as specialized trained soldiers like Elite Paladins and medics. There function is specialized, but the numbers of them in an army is minimal.

Reasons for Conflict

There are many reasons for altercations or conflicts, but rarely do they occur just to wipe out an opponent. Few times in history have sought the complete destruction in all enemy forces. There is nothing to gain in the death of armies, but there may be an underlying reason.

As a strategist, it must be kept in mind that aggressors always have a goal that must be accomplished. This not only is to justify the warrant for a military force, but is needed to be believed by the heart to those in the military. A soldier who believes in the goal or task is four times more deadly than a man who is merely paid. Money can always be had, but a driven soldier is a dangerous weapon to be rekoned with.

The key is to know the reason for the conflict. The reason or goal may just to protect an area of land due to rich resources which promotes the economy. It can be for expansion purposes. It could be purely political driven in the forced hands of marriage or capture of a noble's prize. Whatever the cause is, understand the reason for the grievance and move to rectify it or be prepared to battle.

Battles and conflicts do not happen without reason. It is vital for you to understand the nature of the conflict and find ways to rectify it.

Formations and Tactics

The best laid plan is the poorest to achieve. Why? Because war is not found in black and white. The more complex your battle plan and formations, the more chance for errors to occur which could decimate your entire army. Keep things simple. This allows for error and shifts in the battle to occur given the nature of the terrain, the tactic of the opponent, and the army's experience.

When utilizing missile troops, be sure to keep them open in the formation. They require large amount of room to maneuver through the troops to achieve their objectives. Reposition and their fragility also must be kept in mind when placing them through your army.

As for infantry troops, they are best to be kept in tight, dense formations. Tightly packed infantry units provides a strong morale boost and brotherhood feeling. The knowledge that "someone has my back" and "we are in this together" unites an army. The morale of the infantry is vital to maintain as the leader. Also by keeping the men tightly packed, it keeps the front line consistently replenished. When the first row of men die, the second row is already in place. The pushing or clashing of the battle also provides added support when men work together to support each others weight.

One of the most effect formations found in armies tactics is that of the wedge formation. It is a staple for most as it requires little training or planning but highly effective. To do this formation, all troops are arranged in the form of a triangle with the point towards the enemy. The most heavily armored men are on the outside of the triangle perimeter as they serve as the shields. The more delicate troops such as your missile troops and spearman with lesser armament are found in the interior for protection.

The cavalry units also function well in the wedge formation. A cavalry in the wedge can split an infantry group, cutting them in half like an ax felling a tree. With an opening driven into the heart of an infantry army, reserve infantry units can rush the opening splitting the opposing force and utterly destroying the enemy.

Other formations include the mixed formation. One type was alternating blocks of missile troops and infantry. They are the mixed bag of troops that offer the best of both worlds, but lack the striking power of an infantry mob and the volley of missiles. However, this formations advantage is a gain of mutual support knowing that they are with you in one unit and not segregated.

Complex formations again are very difficult to maintain and organized. They lack the ease of transition to deal with new problems or encounters that arise in battle. They are inflexible and oftentimes the downfall of many great leaders. Complex formations require a lot of experience and high quality training to maintain. It also requires a great deal of the soldier's faith to be instilled into their fellow comrades to do their job and be in the right position as their life depends on it.
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Re: Through the Eyes of the Warlord - by Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Fri Nov 20, 2009 1:04 am

Chapter 2: The Mounted Soldier

Knights are generally more lightly armored than it is often figured. The cost for thick, heavy plate armament is not easily come by due to the increasing cost of materials and the enchantments required to upkeep them into viable pieces of equipment. As a result, war developed by the introduction of the horseman.

Historical Evolution

Prior to mass trade routes and the selective breeding process of expert handlers, horses were weak. They were free roaming animals that were not trained or bred for desired traits such as strength, endurance, stamina, and speed. As a result, the horse could barely support a rider yet alone a rider wearing full pieces of armor. These weak horses were generally used as transport means by nobles, scouts, messengers and commanding officers rather than viable tools in a skirmish. But the speed of horses forced tacticianers to devise new ways to utilize them. As a result came the birth of the chariot.

The chariot was a two wheeled wagon in which one to four people could stand upon the platform. It was pulled by one to four horses and allowed troops the speed needed for chasing down enemies, breaking lines, and exploiting weak movement by the opposing forces. The chariot however, was inefficient due to the limitations it held. The terrain needed to be generally flat and free of debris or obstacles. The chariot was a powerful turning point in many battles due to the maneuverability of troops and mounting archers upon the platform allowed for sniping and quick assaults with lower risk to personell.

The chariot also allowed for prized fighters and specialists to be transported quickly between locations to carry out vital tasks and missions. It was not uncommon practice to make use of chariots as medical transports or to move elite soldiers into proper positions for quick dismounts.

As time changed and the evolution of the horse occured, the chariot generally speaking faded away. Horses were bred to be larger and stronger. Warhorses were being evolved to carry a soldier wearing armament. With the lack of a chunky chariot, maneuverability and the terrain was no longer an issue for the viability of the horseman. The stronger, more powerful horse allowed for other tactics to be employed such as night raids, wooded attacks, and generally opening the options for the field of battle.
The most effective attack for the mounted soldier is the lance charge. The psychological warfare played often frightened the common foot soldier into costly mistakes.

With the horseman now able to move unrestricted by terrain, the menacing combat of a horseman grew in popularity. A horse not only made a person quicker, but it added the fear factor. A large beast thundering hooves towards you often times broke lines in fear of being trampled. Even if soldiers move out of the way, the impact of blunt weapons became more efficient when used upon horseback. The added momentum and downward swings supplied more devastating blows and fatalities than before. The horseman was feared and respected, and tactics of warfare was changed again to accommodate to defending against cavalry raids and also employing their own cavalry.


Heavy Horseman

When thinking of armies and horses, knights or nobles wearing large plates of armor upon themselves and their mounts are thought of. However, the numbers usually seen are not noble or knights at all but are lower social and political status of men making up the numbers.

In the cavalry of heavy horsemen, Knights and Nobles are often the case found and expected, but the lesser on the social hierarchy are also involved. They often lack the fancy equipment and ornate detail, but they pack the same punch as any other. There are two types of non-noble or knightly men and they are the Sergeant-at-Arms and the Men-at-Arms.

Sergeant-at-Arms or SA's, would appear identical to that of a knight or noble with superior equipment. The only difference is their birthright not granting them the title. SA's are often found trying to gain reputation and fame, wearing unique heraldric colors or emblems, to be sure they stick out in a battle in hopes that they are given title of Knight or Noble. Of course, SA's are also a blessing and a curse because they may risk the safety and strategy of the fight to seek that last bit of fame and glory that they personally need to become higher on the social and political realm.

Men-at-Arms or MA's, are lower leveled yet. They can be viewed as the middle class soldier who at least wears armor and has weaponry suitable for a battle in comparison to the peasants and common foot soldier.

It may be worth mentioning that heavy horsemen are important, but the nature of the horsemen's equipment was moreso important than just mass amounts of metal and leather. Oftentimes, the terrain and resources of the region must be considered when designing your heavy cavalry. Certainly, in traditional combat scenarios, the more armor the better; however, rugged terrain wears out horses more quickly and the lighter armor will be necessary. A sacrifice of protection yields more speed and maneuverability. It is a delicate balancing act as a horseman to not 'overdo' their equipment which hinders their movement and speed.

Light Horseman

Similar to their heavy armored brethren, they hold vital functions of an army or militia as well. Though they cannot take or give the heavy damage like a heavy horseman, their focus is on speed. Naturally, since their focus is that of speed and maneuverability, they are key as scouts, messengers, transports, and as mobile archers. Without a strong light cavalry of horsemen, information of the countryside and enemy statistics could never be obtained.
Light cavalry generally consists of tribal allies and peasants. The requirement for little heavy equipment makes for cheap forces and easily expendable.

Not only were they the scouts, but they often held other key missions. Light horsemen were able to conduct small scale raids on villages or minor battallions of camped men due to their speed and light weaponry. Pillaging the spoils and resources from an enemy camp brings not only valueable supplies and removes some of the enemy troops, information can be obtained and the enemy morale will suffer as a result.

Light horsemen also served as temporary reinforcements to the heavy cavalry should there be a need for a bit more of a push. Their light mobility allows for wide range of tactics and uses on the field, but they are often neglected by more prominent Nobles or Warlords.

Equipment

The most basic of equipment used by the mounted soldier was : horse, sidearm (sword, mace, etc), shield, spear/lance, and as much armament the soldier could afford and the horse could carry. Of course, the more money the soldier has, the more elaborate the equipment is as well as the quality. Given that in most battles, the more experienced soldier carried more impressive equipment given the payout of the targets they defeat on the field.

Many horsemen were mercenaries, as it is incredibly costly to care for a horse. Not many armies could afford, let alone house, an entire herd of horses. As a result, mercenaries began to spring up with a horse. Nobles generally paid these mercenaries well for their services, given the magnitude of the damage a mount brings to any battle. With many horsemen being mercenaries however, they often lacked military discipline and only targeted after the large payoffs such as disregarding minor military like footsoldiers and had a tendency to charge attacking leader and other nobles. They sought more money and reputation or fame. Mercenary horseman were both a blessing and a curse.
Connical shaped helmets became widely used as a result of the horseman. The cone head allows for more deflection from weapons swung from above by those on mounts.

A mercenary in your army was in it for the money. They are a blessing because they need not be equipped with costly equipment, fed and sheltered unless it was part of the contract. This saves nobles vasts amounts of money during peaceful times. However, because of Nobles frugal ways, mercenaries also lack discipline and cannot maintain focus on targets. They have a tendency to have their own agenda, and that is to aquire more money and gain the fame required to charge more for their next service.

Armor
The type of mounted soldier and the money available often drives the type of armor encountered upon these soldiers. From studded leather to full plate, the armor arrangements are found cross categorical. The light cavalry units tended to naturally wear studded leathers and chain mail given the nature of their duty; being fast and specialized functions. The heavy cavalry tends to wear splint to plate armors do to a slower, more formidable attack power. The increased defensive qualities of metal covering is required for the tasks needed to be achieved by heavy horsemen.

Helmets
Helmets changed due to the nature of the mounted soldier as well. Simplistic skull caps and coifs are often favored by the light cavalry while full helms featuring visors and complete facial coverings are favored by the heavy cavalry for the added protection. The problem often encounted by the heavy horseman is that the lowered visor drastically decreases the visibility and mobility to survey the battle at hand. The location of other comrades and assessing of the situation is often hindered by heavy great helms. There is a fine balancing act required to be met by a mounted soldier to determine the helmet type. The nature of the attack pattern, the function of the unit, the need for visibility versus protection, amongst other things all must be calculated when selecting a proper helmet. Many however, have opted for the hinged visor or removable visor to satisfy their needs of flexibility.

Shields
Shields are a strong support to wield as a mounted soldier. The shield not only is utilized for added protection, it also is an identifying marker in the chaos of a battlefield. Distinct colors and patterns often will allow men to know who is fighting and for which side; however, it has been also done more than once that this marking has been played to cause turmoil by falsifying banners to get closer to the enemy until it is too late.

Weaponry
Of course, weapons were vital to the success of a mounted soldier. As such, there has been a large range of weapons and tactics associated with the mounted soldier. Weapons are often associated with the type of armament that the opposing force is utilizing and drives the type of weaponry often carried by the mounted soldier. Some of the weapons often found associated with a mounted warrior is as follows:

Spear and Lance
Given that in classic warfare, the mounted soldier utilizes one handed weapons that can strike from a safe distance. As a mounted warrior, the spear and lance have been developed to give a long range of attack which delivers a crushing blow to the opponent without sacrificing the defensive aspects required of a mounted soldier.

A spear or lance is generally couched under the arm allowing for supreme control given that the rider is equipped with stirrups. Of course, lances and spears also have been effective as not only a head on charge type of weaponry, but also can be utilized as a side thrusting device and may also even be thrown.

Long Sword
The long sword was as much as a status symbol as it was a formidable weapon. Being able to afford such a quality weapon that would not shatter or bend however, often led to the sword as being an expensive weapon on the battlefield. In terms of the sword being utilized by a mounted soldier, the blades tended to hold a lot of weight on the blade end making them a bit awkward to utilize. The introduction of the pommel helped in the counterbalancing of the sword, however the sword was generally still heavy to the blade end due to the added power it provided in downward cuts. The impact of a heavy long sword, even if blunted by repeated attacks, could still crush an opponent's armor and break limbs forcing the opponent into submission even if the blade never penetrated the armament of the individual.

Cavalry Sword
These weapons are often referred to as cavalry swords, sabres, and scimitars. They were created for slicing an opponent and when utilized on the horse, it allows to fast movement and slashing down foes on either side of the mount. The curvature of these blades and a lone single edge allowed for more control over the weapon and increasing slashing action. Given that the intention of the blade is simply to be lowered and allow the mount to drive forward, the weapon would naturally slash through an opponent's exposed body further adding a longer and deeper cut upon the opponent creating an often fatal wound.

Though the primarily function of these weapons is for slashing, they are equipped with pointed ends similar to that of the long sword and other edged weapons. This allows for the versatility of it also being utilized as a thrusting weapon.

Hammers
Hammers become popular when the opponent's armor is considered to be heavy and well crafted with durable metals. A hammer consists of a double headed weapon with one end being the blunted hammer and the other having a pick. The hammer enabled the user to choose between a powerful impact and the penetrating effect of the pick.

Maces
Maces were popular choices by a mounted soldier do to the the size of the weapon. They were often disappointingly small in size, but they delivered deadly blows all the same. Maces are excellent against armor and have a tendency of shattering bones or stun opponents even without penetrating their armor. Dented armor sometimes was as problematic as the actual body being injured due to the fact that dented breast plates tended to yield laboring or hardships in breathing and limiting mobility. For these reasons, the blunt force of a mace is a compacted weapon but yields heavy damage.

Flails
Often named the morning star, flails have become developed out of necessity of the increase of large, heavy shields. With the business end often consisting of one to four spiked balls on a chain, the weapon's natural ability to "bend" over a shield was a shoe in for the purpose needed. Even if an opponent hid behind a shield, the bending of the chain still let the heavy balls to reach around the shield and strike the intended target.

Axes
A deadly weapon, it combined the leverage of a long haft with a heavy, sharp blade. Used primarily for hacking through shields and armor, they had a tendency of being very awkward. By awkward, it forces the wielder to make commited attacks. If the wielder missed or the axe was deflected by the opponent, the wielder would become vulnerable to attack until they could recover from the attack.

Tactical Strategy
One of the most common tactics employed by the mounted soldier is the charge. Described earlier, the charge is best executed with a line of heavy cavalry weilding lances and spears. The formation tended to be in that of a wedge, causing the enemy force to split much like the wedge of an axe striking into a log. The charge is one of the strongest military pieces utilized as it causes great morale and destruction to the opposing enemy.

Though the charge is vital and usable, counters to them are often held close by an enemy. Though they are not always effective, knowing that they are counting on such a tactic to occur can be utilized as an advantage. There mere presence of heavy cavalry facing the enemy is a psychological factor that keeps enemies on their toes and expending energy to try and prevent a charge from happening. This opens up the field for false or feigned attacks by cavalry units which many times opens up exploits in the enemy force. A strong leader can employ these sort of tactics and strike swiftly when the enemy is forced to deal with a current threat. This has been executed numerous times and forcing an enemy to deal with multiple threats at a time is often the cause for mass break down and heavy casualties.
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Re: Through the Eyes of the Warlord - by Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:09 pm

Chapter 3: The Foot Soldier

Historical Evolution
Although the mounted soldier was more glamorous and was cause of many won battles, the infantryman is the most basic type of soldier and generally the most abundant to any force. Even an unarmed man is considered part of the infantry as they too generally have some sort of use, even if it is not that effective. Through time, the foot soldier graduated from unarmed without equipment into a destructive fighting force. Time, money, technological advances through equipment and metallurgy, and experience are all factors that play into the infantry unit.
Disorganized swordsman in an enemies line is devastating due to difficulty in setting up a defense against it. However, untrained swordsman rarely were given an opportunity to wreck havoc inside of an enemies line.

From the casual barbarian raid of heavy leather and furs with archaic weapons to elite paladins weilding crystaline weapons and heavy armament of mithril, the mentality and strategies of these soldiers are vaguely holding the same military importance. Granted, tactics changed due to nature of the technologies and wealth of the opponent, but their functions primarily have gone unchanged through the centuries.

The nature of the infantryman or foot soldier also changes due to their mission. Fast paced northmen such as my people, The Red Fist Barbarian Clan, have developed small scale bands of men who are specialized in a certain tactic of warfare and employing the strongest weapons and armors avaialble. By having few involved, the chances of detection and efficiency of the party allows for their success against neighboring clans.

On the other hand, large armies and slow movement is prized due to the vast numbers and replenishment of forces at the cost of time and money. Large forces often lack equipment, but they make up for in numbers versus few elite can overwhelm a kingdom and conquer it just by sheer volume.

Infantry Types
Many times, the common soldier was recruited or forced into a milita against their will. They were farmers and peasants mostly in which nobles rarely spent time or their personal coffers to outfit and train them properly. The likelihood of one of these men to stick it out and not to flee was reason why most of them were poorly equipped. They served as a simple mass of people to do the bidding of a noble.

Huscarls or House Carls
Though this does not count for personal militia or guard troops housed by the noble. Any noble of worth had some military that knew what to do and properly outfitted to try and give some protection on behalf of the noble. These men not only functioned as the professional troops around which an army was founded, but they acted also as representatives of the ruler to enforce the laws of the Noble. These type of positions were few given the cost it required of a noble to afford them with proper outfitting, training, and oftentimes gifts of land or equipment to better suit themselves with.

Sergeant-at-Arms
Throughout portions of the Empire and neighboring landmasses, the huscarl and his equivalents have a tendency to become the corps group of professional foot soldiers of a social class known as Sergeant-at-Arms or Men-at-Arms. As mentioned previously, there are fine limiting factors between the two but they are in existance for a reason upon the social ladder.

Men-at-Arms could hope to be elevated to the rank of knight for their service, which would grant them the land and estates as well as the large pay that accompanied such status. Though until they get the title and the prizes that come with it, they did not go hungry to say the least. These men often were paid large sums of cash because they were trained and most of the time carried their own arms and equipment already. This was a desirable trait by nobles because they were a formidable force and at the ready to do the bidding at a moments notice.

Though it should be made mention that sometimes, these men also have a habit of growing agitated without work or having a solid purpose. These men without chance to employ their skills leads to bandits and thugs many times. To keep them at bay, nobles oftentimes have to pay more money to maintain the peace or cut them loose. The problem with cutting them loose is possible retaliation in which the noble then has little to stop them from wrecking havoc upon their kingdom. It may be safe to simply call these Men-at-Arms and Sergeant-at-Arms skilled mercenaries.

Swordsman
Primarily most efficient in skirmishes in siege attacks or assaults, the swordsman was a trained soldier with the emphasis upon the edged weaponry. There were two main types of these men; the one handed with shield and the two handed sword. Both have their functionality and purpose, but the limited range of their usefulness in an army makes them not heavily utilized. Again, these type of foot soldiers serve for specialized missions and a lot of one on one skirmishes. But in a united militia, they lack the skills with longer ranged weaponry to be effective.

Spearman and Pikeman
A solid formation of these troops could present several spear points against each enemy soldier facing them and could strike from a farther distance than those wielding axes or swords. These soldiers are superior in this term and often make glorious fighters for a militia or militant army. However, if the formation and line of spearman was broken, the spear quickly became ineffective and you would be wishing for more swordsman in your line.
Two handed sword is more flexible weapon than most consider it to be. It can be weilded with both hands to deliver blows capable of smashing through armor of cutting legs off horses. BUt more often it can be utilized by placing one hand on the blunt area in front of the main hilt and utilized as a short steel spear or slashing attack

Axeman, Billman, and Halberdier
The axeman is vastly popular in militia groups lacking order and structure. The devasting blow from an axeman caused dramatic damage to units who fall within range of these soldiers. However, as militia groups grow more complex, they gradually start to fade away in favor of units that function within a group. This birthed the range of polearms such as the bill and halberd which replaced the axe. These weapons are more versatile than axes and could be used by a tight formation to keep enemies at a distance as well as a swung for fearsome chopping power.

Equipment
The equipment used by foot soldiers or infantry units was rather basic consisting of a spear and shield of some type plus whatever other weapon a man could provide himself with. Given the basic formations were shieldwalls and Boar's Snout structure, spears and shields were the main staple of the foot patrol. In terms of outer wear, the armament tended to be simplistic in nature and light weight given the personal finance and acquisition of materials was difficult for farmers and the like. A skullcap, tunic, shield, small arm, leather boots, spear, and chain or splint mail top is what was generally found upon a normal infantry man or mercenary foot soldier.

Armor
Armor was not always limited to light armors, but given the nature of the individuals being on foot, the added weight of the heavy armor often was shed. The lesser heavy armor protection is generally opted for in favor of mobility and speed in movement on the battlefield. As a result, a lot of studded leather, chainmail and other lighter armaments were worn over heavy plate. This does not go to say heavy armor did not exist, but due to the cost and social status often carried by having these suits of armor, it was not found upon the common soldier.
Those surrounding that of nobles and knights were better equipped. This makes for opponents to locate leaders easily, but it also provided a lot of extra protection making them harder targets to hit.

Shield
Many shield types are utilized by the infantry unit. Bucklers to tower shields, each have their purpose and strength as well as weakness. However, it is common and almost a staple of any professional soldier to have a shield as it is a primary defensive measure against missile attacks. Even if a soldier was a two handed weapon master, they generally still had a shield strapped to their back for the added defensive measure or in case their primary battle weapon is destroyed, lost, or found to be ineffective. It allows for flexibility in the infantry combat.

Weaponry
Foot soldiers normally carried a sidearm in addition to their battlefield weapon. These include daggers as well as various types of sword. Due to the cost of long swords and social status held by such a weapon, many nobles outfitted their soldiers with short swords or daggers only. Not only did it limit them in social power, but it also was cost effective as it utilizes less material and resources to craft these weapons.

Pikes and Halberds
Pikes make for excellent defensive weapons but using them offensively require a level of skill and unit cohesion that eluded most non-professional troops. These weapons offer many of the advantages of the spear, but also have the added boon of being able to cut or chop. They offer great advantage in reach and aids in demounting soldiers from horses or other mounts.

Javelins and Darts
Some infantrymen employ short range missile weapons. The problem encountered with these weapons is generally that of needing an opening in the formation to employ their use. There are rarely employed or utilized in a formation due to this reason.

Tactical Strategy
There are many strategies and formations useful and excellent offering both a strong defensive position as well as an offensive. However, given that foot soldiers had a low level of training available to them, the tactics were always kept fairly simple. Majority of commanders do not bother themselves in that of directing infantry due to the low level of competance expected from untrained units. They were generally marched and utilized as blocking shields or detourants from repeated cavalry charges. The marching them into other opposing force to engage in melee combat was about all the purpose that infantry served as. Listed are some of the common formations utilized in the past that are worth exploration.

Shieldwall
Shieldwall formations is one of the basic military tactics utilized by formal militias and organizations. It is very effective due to it's simple nature of execution. It offers great defensive capabilities at the expense of mobility. It's formation is simply men overlapping their shields with weapons sticking out between and over the shields. Subsequent ranks of troops added rigidity by bracing the men in front and by thrusting their weapons over the shoulders of those in front. As long as a shieldwall remainder steady, it was very resilient but if an enemy broke the front the formation could fragment very quickly.

Boar's Snout
This formation was often executed by the northmen and barbarian hordes in Valencia. The Boar's Snout required coordination that was only available to trained or experienced troops. It was thus used by professionals such as the personal troops of a chieftain or tribal leader. The bulk of barbarian force, which was composed of armed farmers, used more conventional tactics. The Boar's Snout was essentially a heavy wedge that used its weight and momentum to drive a hole through an enemy line. Once the enemy formation had been broken, the aggression and fighting skill of barbarians could be brought to bear.
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Re: Through the Eyes of the Warlord - by Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Thu Nov 26, 2009 2:47 am

Chapter 4: Missile Troops

Missile weapons are "fire" rather than "shock" weapons. That is, they cause attrition rather than smashing an enemy formation and driving it from the field. Good combined arms tactics between the fire of archers and the shock action of armored cavalry is extremely effective means of defeating an enemy. However, missile weapons could sometimes achieve decisive results on their own.

The repeated nuisance of missiles wore down opponents. They were primarily useful in siege and naval combat, where their ability to strike at a distance was often the only way to attack an enemy. However, they are also a potent force on the battlefield when well handled and generally were accorded higher status than most other infantry.

Historical Evolution
It is dangerous business getting close to an opponent who could hit back, whether it is a prey animal or an enemy humanoid. As a result, means of striking at a distance was developed. Primitive hunting bands that went to war with others of their kind were the earliest combat troops.

These early troops were a mix of men armed with clubs and spears, backed up by those shooting bows and throwing javelins. Technological advancements in weaponry and metallurgy have resulted in more powerful weapons and better protection, but the mixed warband remains a common way of making war.

These specialization of troops emerged a new band of warfare. The shock factor of crushing melee and cavalry with the fire factor from missile troops. Organized military forces generally follow this model as it has shown to be most productive in majority of situations.

Missile Types
Missile types range throughout time and the advancement of weaponry has opened the field even further in terms of missile warfare. Bowmen, crossbowmen, siege weapons, and spear chuckers are all viable missile types. Not to mention, those peasant throwing rocks or other objects are also considered a missile combatant.
Archers have two options for ammunition. Either carry their own or wait for an enemy to shoot at them and collect the arrows. Oftentimes, a combination of the two is employed. It is not uncommon for a single arrow to exchange sides four times or more.

Archer
It takes a lot more to become an archer than to buy a bow. Archers are specialized units that were either given specialized training or were a product of their culture requiring the use of a bow on a regular basis. The archer though, was not just a master with the bow, but also decent at secondary weapon melee. Afterall, there are a finite number of arrows that a quiver can hold and it grows to be quite costly and cumbersome toting a large number of arrows to the battlefield. As a result, the archer tended to be somewhat proficient with short swords or daggers.

Crossbowman
As well as archers, these soldiers often carried a sidearm for personal defense in addition to their main weapon, the crossbow. The crossbowman also was often found wearing heavier armament due to the nature of their weapon's device. Archers require a lot of maneuverability to fire their weapons in contrast to a crossbowman who needs to squeeze a lever. The crossbowman is easier to train due to the nature of the weapon and the fact that these weapons carried much shorter distance of travel than the archer's arrow. A peasant could easily be equipped with a crossbow and become an effective tool. The same cannot be said by giving a peasant a bow.

Slinger and Javelinman
Slingers were individuals who utilized the sling in flinging projectiles at an enemy. In a standard militant army, they are virtually unfeasible and a waste of troops. Armor oftentimes could easily deflect such projectiles as they did not give enough force to cause damage to their opponents defenses. However, in untrained and underdeveloped armies, these are cheap missile units.

Javelinen are also growing less utilized as they offer too little in attack. The power behind a javelin is limited to the arm of the thrower or the use of a tool known as an atalatl. Either way, the implementation of a bow and crossbow has rendered these type of individuals as inefficient in any organized army.

Mounted Archers
The combination of firepower and mobility afforded by putting a bowman on a horse has grown to be a very attractive concept by most war leaders. The problem leads to the difficulty of creating an effective mounted archer. The cost factor is often a downside in these type of missile soldiers. The cost of the horse, the price of training, and the equipment required with arrows and armor leads these to be generally sparsely utilized in most military units.
The Red Fist Saddle was a famed invention of the barbarian clan. The saddle was based on a wooden frame and covered in leather with decoration with varying number of silver ornaments which dictated its value. Among the ancient tradition of the Red Fist people was a blessing said over the saddle and straps before departure to war or the hunt.


Equipment
The equipment of the missile troop was fairly universal. The primarily missile weapon device and a secondary offhand was staple for each troop. The armament ranged from cloth to medium armor qualities of scale and splint mail. Rarely were these soldiers found in heavy plate armor as it was not necessary for their protection.

Weaponry
The weaponry of the missile soldier was primarily a weapon for impaling an enemy, in other words, they caused injury by penetrating the target rather than by impact alone. The main function of the missile was to get its point deep into the target. Any impact done was a secondary function.

Bow
Bows all consist of a starve and a string, but the details could vary considerably. As a general rule, a longer bow was more powerful. Slow growing yew is widely considered to be the best of all bow making material. Some bows were created from a single piece of wood while others were joined by parts with composite of materials including horn, sinew and of course wood.

Crossbow
Crossbows also came in various types. Metal prods were sometimes used at other times wooden or composite ones would suffice. The lightest crossbows wre suitable only for fowling, but a heavy crossbow could punch through armor and kill the best armored knight. Once cocked and loaded, the weapon could be held ready more or less indefinetely allowing the user time to aim carefully and choose a clear shot.
Many types of crossbows emerge out of necessity. Stirrup crossbows, ratchet crossbows, claw crossbows and windlass crossbows each function the same but load differently and offer differing impaling power as a result.


Slings
Slings utilize varying objects as missiles. Most commonly used were stones that once loaded and slung, they travel in a flat trajectory and can caused devastating damage to unarmored individuals. The problem often associated with the sling is the ability of obtaining experience and qualified slingers who can actually aim the projective to be effective.

Tactical Strategy
There are three ways to utilize missile weapons: in the charge, for skirmishing and for volley fire. A heavy missile weapon like a javelin, axe or mace might be hurled just before contact by infantry, who would the exploit the disrupted formation as they attacked with hand weapons. This was more a softening up tactics used by conventional infantry as they charged home.

Skirmish
Skirmishing tended to more so of an annoyance to an enemy than anything. Skirmishers would approach close enoguh to use their weapons then fall back to reload and avoid any counterattack. Fighting in a loose swarm, they did not all shoot at once and thus could not cause major casualties quickly enough to shake the enemy's morale. They can however, wear down an enemy unit or provoke it into trying to chase them, breaking up its formation or even taking it out of the fight entirely.

Volley Fire
Volley fire requires a formed and fairly well regulated formation of troops who can shoot at more or less the same time. Archers shooting their arrows over the ranks in front of them can drop massive volleys of arrows into an enemy formation causing catastrophic results if successful. Volley fire can break an enemy unit in a way that skirmishing can not psychologically speaking and breaking the enemy morale.
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Re: Through the Eyes of the Warlord - by Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Thu Nov 26, 2009 3:54 am

Chapter 5: Siege Weapons and Specialty Troops
Most battles were fairly inconclusive in the grand scheme of things. The victor would usually gain time to achieve his other objectives such as ravaging an area or taking a castle, but these battles rarely changed the world.

A fortress could be taken by surprise, stealth or treachery, or perhaps through negotiation. Failing any of those, siege and assault were the only remaining options. The most potent fortress was vulnerable if weakly defended or if someone opened the gates for the attackers. This sometimes happened as a result of treachery and occasionally, through what amounted to a commando mission.

Siege Conventions
The civilized convention was a way to ensure that the population of a stormed fortification was not put to the sword, which was likely if the attackers had to suffer the privations of a siege and the torment of taking part in an assault. The usual form was an agreement that the castle would surrender at a given date and time if conditions were not met usually this would be either relief of the castle of by a significant force or the defeat of the besieger. If none of this workers, a siege was the only option.

A besieged fortification or castle was encircled to prevent escape and to cut it off from re-supply. It could then be either assaulted or else starved into submission by an army lacking the ability to break in by force. Disease and food shortage was as likely to affect the besiegers as the besieged given the length of time required to setup camp and being forced to wait out depletion of supplies. The longer a siege went on, the more chance there was a relief army arrival or a crisis would errupt elsewhere requiring the taking down of the siege.

To avoid all of these potential problems, the best way to handle this was to successfully assault the castle or stronghold and that comes the siege engines. Siege engines could knock holes into the walls or ladder sieges developed to go over them. There are some strategies employed to dig under the walls or to disrupt the foundation of walls by having the walls crumble due to poor foundation support. Either way, walls were an obstacle that needed immediate destruction to give the soldiers a chance to battle.

However, the attack on a fortress wall was not to be watched by those under siege inside of the fortification. Inside of the fortification, it was certain that they were sending volley or arrows, ballistics sent in return or other defensive maneuvers utilized to stop further attacks. One man on the inside of a fortress could take out large numbers of individuals due to the protective power held by a fortress. To minimalize these mass executions, the siege engineer and artilleryman troops became vast important.

Historical Evolution
Humanoids have always sought protection and shelter from various threats. Whether it was the elements, wild animals, or from other humans, there has always been a need for safety structures. Given the need for safety, it has grown through the ages of man to become gradually more complex due to technological advances. However, three basic elements of the fortification remains; walls, height and obstacles, natural or man-made.

Walls
Walls could be built of earth, stone or wood. They provide barrier to entry and protection from missile attacks. It also stops vision and knowledge of opponents to see what stirs on the other side of the wall from what is occurring.

Height
The advantage of height gave defenders within the fortification the power of gravity to deliver harsher blows. Similar to that of a horseman who can utilize leverage of being above the enemy and giving added power and tactical advantages. Being higher in position also gives a better line of sight and observation over an enemy.

Obstacles
Moats and ditches were often constructed out of necessity to further give problems to attackers. The use of moats and ditches prohibited the use of siege devices such as rams and towers from being implemented by the attacker. By stopping attackers from getting close to the walls, it only strengthens the defensive of the fortification.
Fascines were bundles of sticks fastened together with chains or rope. They could be rolled into ditches to fill the voids to allow for transportation of siege machines across ditches.

Types
Types of troops and specialty units evolve out of necessity to fulfill a special mission or task. These can range from the common peasant used in a work gang to sophisticated trained military units employed to serve on suicide missions to the brains who develop killing devices or defenses against those devices of warfare.

Sapper and Miner
Sappers and miners had some of the most dangerous jobs. They were merely workers more than anything soldierly. Sappers were those workers who worked the land while miners were those who worked under the earth. Sappers function was to do as directed, whether to dig a hole where they were told or to put their weight behind a lever to dislodge stones from a fortifications wall. The sapper required little skill or training and therefore were very cheap labor requiring no training or equipment.

Miners needed to be a little more skilled than that of a sapper because they had to dig tunnels that could last for at least a few days. Knowledge of earth was required as a result and how to properly maintain structural integrity for a given amount of time was required. Mining was a slow process and risky profession given the likelihood of tunnel collapse.

Artilleryman
These soldiers are used as the workers of siege machines that function as either anti-structure or anti-personnel. These are the primary operators of differing siege machines or artillery devices. Their duties include that of maintenance and repair of siege weapons, transportation and utilizing them efficiently.
There were many types of siege weapons or devices employed for various reasons. Some weapons include the trebuchet, giant crossbows, and catapults.

Siege Engineer
Siege warfare was a specialist subject and expert engineers could have a decisive influence on a campaign. These engineers were the brains behind the construction and design of massive weapons of warfare. Those who had the great intelligence required of these weapons tended to live well and treated as nobility whether they were or not given their duty. However, what is given to some for being successful engineers also led towards punishment if the designs of such weapons were not working. The cost for siege weapons was a burden for any nobleman to endure and a failed weapon was very costly, not only monetarily but also in time and resources.

Tactical Strategy
The capture and defense of fortifications was the keystone of warfare. Certain tactics and stratagems were standard and could be expected. Any competent defender would take steps to prevent his fortress falling to an obvious or commonplace gambit, which meant that unless the garrison were taken by surprise a siege generally followed a fairy standard pattern.

The Siege
Stage One in dealing with a fortification is to implement a siege. Preventing communication in and out of a fortification and to cut off supplies was priority and the main purpose. The attempt to seal off a structure or harbor is vital to the success of a siege. Any leaks allow for the transfer of goods or communication that hinders the usefulness of the siege.

For those on the internal of the siege, small skirmishes or raids often occur to bolster morale and promote the resistance of the siege. Many times, these small raids have a purpose and strike at times of least expectation to the besiegers. The raiders may be on a quest for materials and goods or to try and strike vital areas to weaken the siege attempt to make it fold or crumble. Those on the defensive end rarely stood by waiting.

Besiegers Besieged
It is not uncommon for the besiegers to find themselves under attack from outside, or even besieges themselves. There are many times trained personel and messangers who can escape a besieged settlement to get word out to an ally. In this case, the attack can happen from both sides and the besiegers find themselves in great trouble if they do not make for a quick escape or have a secondary plan to unify and replenish their own supplies or forces.
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Re: Through the Eyes of the Warlord - by Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Thu Nov 26, 2009 5:07 am

About the Author

Lord Krom of Stromgald, son of Faldan, Elder of Red Fist Clan is a man of wisdom and knowledge. He has spent much time in the wilderness and in different terrains through his life as a tribal leader and General of the Emperor Stormbringer's Armies. His hope is that this manual may serve you in knowledge of tactics and strategy in large scale warfare and military order.

Currently, Lord Krom resides at his estates known as Seven Oak Farms where he raises food and cattle for the Empire. He has expanded his ranch to increase food supply to share with the Empire's neighboring provinces and territories as well. He has come out of retirement as a military leader to serve the Viceroy of Valencia to serve as a General and bring peace to that area of the Empire.



Out of Character
This is a little project that I took great pride in creating as a long standing Warlord in the game. I love the army aspect and military protocol and thought I would share some of my knowledge. I give a lot of credit to my local library for having many books featuring weapons and fighting tactics of the medieval warrior.

Thank you for reading this and I hope you find the information useful. I built this not only to inform, but also to give reason and justification for some skills that are found without having actual mentors to teach them. My war manual can be helpful and useful in justification for them. Some skills included:

Soldiering
Engineering
Reading: Common
Advancement into Warlord Class
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