war in Glorantha

From: Steve Lieb <styopa_at_iname.com>
Date: Mon, 05 Oct 1998 11:47:58 -0500


<a lot of interesting snippage>
>On a more OT thought, I would argue that there are basically only two
>military forms that have been shown to be widely used in Glorantha. These
>are the Lunar infantry forces and the Western shock cavalry. All have been
>around many hundreds of years. Generally they do a pretty good job on
>anyone they fight. Of course, Lunar magic support certainly helps out in
>dealing with opponents.

I think you are being too limited. I see a few more (including yours on my list) listed as [archetype] generic name (examples/description): [Lunar] infantry (although I would say the Lunars are more cohort-tactics, while Yelmies are phalanx-tactics)
[Western Knights] (shock Heavy Cav/Cataphracts)
[Pentan/Praxian] light shock cav/light cav missile troops
[Orlanthi/Trollish] Warbands (ala the Celts/Gauls)
[Elvish] light missile troops (skirmish infantry)
[Dwarvish] Heavy Foot (heavy armor, melee weapons)
[Afadjann] Medium Archers (mobile, organized non-skirmish missile troops)

While there are clearly many, many more variations on these themes, these are the main "flavors" that I see Gloranthan troops coming in....

>In particular the Pentans, the
>Praxians and much of the West seems to hold this opinion. There are good
>reasons for their belief that infantry has no real place in their way of
>war, but it imposes limitations that they probably don't see.
They probably see them, but don't care. Sure, you can't hold a town with light cavalry, but once you've sacked it, why would you want to?

>
>Most of the West would not use horse archers, even if they had them, as
>they don't fit the way they want to fight. And if they had infantry as
>effective as the Swiss they would probably not use them effectively. The
job of knights is to fight, and it is wrong to allow anyone else to do this. I'm not convinced of the exclusivity of the Western Knight caste. Sure, you have Knights, but they are typically supported by hordes of cheap, useless militia foot.

>
>It appears that real armies are pretty rare in Glorantha. The Lunar
>Empire, Kraloria, and Loskalm seem to be the only human cultures of
>Genertela that maintain a reasonable sized trained and formed military.
This is clearly cultural (I'd also add Nolos and Tanisor). You have to have a culture that is wealthy and relatively stable to afford the $$ and opportunity cost of having a standing military. Barbarian cultures can't do this, and mercantile cultures (the only others organized enough) won't support the costs.

>But they are all capable of doing impressive things when properly led.
and overwhelming in numbers.



More Bow talk:
> The Lunar army is severely lacking in bows, as its more usual RW
>models (greek and roman) did. The Roman Empire used auxilia and client
>troops to compensate, but the only known compensation available to the
>Lunars are the Char Un and the Thunder Delta Slingers.
The solar tradition of the DH cities would suggest that they also field archers.

>little known to us. I use the Carmanians on that role. They hit harder in
>melee, but their armour and dark magics enable them to trade shots with the
>Pentans advantageously. And being a mounted force, they are less vulnerable
>to the flanking and isolating maneuvers of the Pentan clans. Of course, with
>the Carmanian heavy cavalry watching Chargg, who will stop the nomads?
The nomads stop THEMSELVES unless led by a Sheng Seleris. Internal politics, lack of professional troops, and quick success all combine to dissolve any 'organized' offensive mounted by the nomads before it goes terribly far.

Alex first boinks me with logic:
>> Additionally, I'd point out that Wales was
>> heavily forested as was most of England (at that time) - going back to my
>> point about "sheltered" conditions...
>I don't think many decisive archery engagements have been fought inside
>forests, Robin Hood notwithstanding.

Touche.

And then succeeds brutally at [Humiliate List Subscriber]:
>
>> Of course, you *could* check out my Gloranthan weather (still in alpha)
>> program (plug, plug) and get the *real* scoop on gloranthan weather!!!
>> find it at: http://www.remotepoint.com/styopa/glorantha.htm
>
>No you won't. ;-) I'd suggest, rather:
>
>http://www.remotepoint.com/~styopa/Glorantha.htm
>

Egad . . . . :) at least someone went there, eh? Hey, that was my plan the w-h-o-l-e time, yeah, that's it....

End of The Glorantha Digest V6 #245


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