Name that James, Artillery

From: James Frusetta <gerakkag_at_wam.umd.edu>
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1997 18:25:21 -0500 (EST)


MOB
>Our civil war general-bishop Polk actually went through life with the
>much more Lozengely-resonant name "Leonidas"

  What! "More Lozengely-resonant name!?"   How can you make such a statement when so many of the most famous people in Glorantha are named James? I was simply _improving_ Polk with the addition of such a fine name. <g>
  What's that? You say you never heard of any Jameses in Glorantha?   Well, ever wonder what all this one-name business is about? Clearly, they all have _James_ (or a varient) as their first name, and the record-keepers didn't want to confuse people by mentioning it.

A few of the more famous examples: James Argrath, Jaimie Ralzakark, Jim Arkat, Jamesina the Inhuman King, Jimmy the Mad Sultan*, Jameria Cragspider, Diego Delecti, Jimmy-Bob Death on a Horse, Yaakov Zzabur, Jacomus the Red Emperor, and of course, Jimbo Harrek "the Highly Annoyed."

The best research by would-be God Learners, however, indicates that the Crimson Bat is named Bob, not James.

>And that is how they used them, to force the enemy to engage when you
>want to, against your good units.

Yup -- also to cover retreats, river crossings, and to keep enemy archers and artillery from messing about with your own troops. They'd fire off a couple of volleys into the enemy when the infantry advanced at a charge -- but frex, I don't see any mention of their use against enemy cavalry. I don't think they used them to attack enemy officers -- I saw no reference -- but it'd sure be a priority in Glorantha. BTW, there's a reference to one of these things going through five men and their armor (!), although I suspect it may have been invention on the part of the chronicler...

Now, of course, what is required is to mount one of these things on the Bat, and have it make Stuka-style dive-bombing attacks. <g>

James (And a Fine Name It Is, Just Ask Harrek) Frusetta


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