Army Regiments

[alhoon]

Even better.

Now, numbers aside... we were asked for regiment names.

I think they could be named after the locale. I.e. a "regiment" (or whatever they're called in Richemulot since it's in the late 15th century) from Mortigny could be called "Mortigners" or "regiment of Mortigny" translated in French etc whether they're 50 or 1000. Or if you want something with more flair, give them the name of a noble.

[ewancummins]

Hi all,

One of my NPC's is going to be a Captain of an army regiment in one of the Domains, but I don't know or can't think of any names of Regiments that he could be Captain of?

The PC's meet him on a ship, they help him and he offers assistance of his regiment?

He looks like Solomon Kane.

Sean

I think you need to decide which domains have a professional military, or some semblance of one. That, like everything else, is up to you as DM.


In my campaign, I'd guess that Darkon and Falkovnia would be the most likely kingdoms to have large professional militaries, because they've been to war the most often, have large populations, and are ruled by kings who actually care about that sort of things (especially Drakov).

I imagine the Darkonese have a somewhat less advanced military structure, as they rely to some extent on undead defenders. To keep internal order, Azalin may rely more on the Kargat and own his magical abilities.


Drakov was a professional mercenary solider, a fighting man for hire. I'd have to check the dates, but he may have seen service with or against the armies of the Minotaur League. The League is very Roman, with a professional army. Drakov may have been influened by the hornheads. I expect that his system is pretty well-organized.

I think a Falkovnian officer would be fun. The Falkovnians don't always need to be bad guys. He can have sailed out of Lamordia, perhaps.

[Strahdsbuddy]

Since Darkon essentially has an unlimited army of undead, the need for a standing army would most likely serve mostly to bloat the ego of certain nobles.

ewancummings is correct, every Falkovnian need not be a vicious killer. In fact, I'd like it if fewer of them were. Especially at higher levels of command, logistics are more important than bloodlust, so that whole "strongest advances" theory goes out the window. A loyal Falkovnian officer with less blood on his hands than his king would be a nice change of pace. You can love your country and not believe in everything it does.

Where were you thinking of having your character hail from, Sean?

[ewancummins]

Since Darkon essentially has an unlimited army of undead, the need for a standing army would most likely serve mostly to bloat the ego of certain nobles.

I'm thinking there are:

royal border guards= professional solders. One of the 2E supplements mentions mounted pistoleers in the border forces. Western Drakon is sometimes listed as CL 8, which would make pistols a distinct possibility. Wheellocks and plate armor, baby!

baronial bodyguards= quality and equipment vary, but few are as good as the border guards

civic militias= they'll man the walls, but are rarely much use in open battle or far from home

This may add up to a lot of troops, but I suspect the overall quality is lower than Falkovnian troops. Take away the zombies and keep the two darklords out of it, and Falkovnia would demolish Darkon.

[HuManBing]

I'd agree.

In my campaign, Darkon has a token national army, and it's the barons who provide most of the manpower in personal armies. This means the Baron of Nartok has a pretty large army - the Royal Treasury makes some funds available to him to defray the cost somewhat. Otherwise, Darkon is pretty much the same as any other medieval nation: there is only a national army when wartime calls for it, and that is mostly an ill-trained conscript army. Professional soldiers are much fewer in number, and can buy their own equipment and do their own training. In times of peace, they're likely to be professional bodyguards, adventurers, and mercenaries.


Falkovnia is a completely different animal. The entire nation is ruled over by the military, and this provides most of the social institutions (such as they are). Every able-bodied man would probably be called to serve and learn the "basics" - although this may simply amount to a few years of systematic bullying at the hands of one's superiors. In the border areas and possibly in the larger cities, this training might actually amount to something worthwhile. Falkovnia would likely have a huge reserve of somewhat-trained troops ready, and a smaller (but still comparatively large) central professional core of higher-class military career soldiers. Regiments and platoons could become lifelong support and social groups, with officers intermarrying into each other's families to solidify the bonds. Entire neighborhoods could be defined by which commander you served under.

Falkovnia's a brutal military dictatorship, but that doesn't mean you can't have some fun with the nation concept.

[alhoon]

In fact, I'd like it if fewer of them were. Especially at higher levels of command, logistics are more important than bloodlust

Well, Drakov is doomed to failure. Also he's not in his right mind. He propably executes good and loyal commanders for not killing every child of his enemies.

As of Darkon: Pistoleers in the late medevial? Even if you can buy the pistols... why do it?
As for the Barons providing the bulk of the army or "army", isn't that what actually used to happen before the national armies? Vassal lords bringing soldiers to your banner?

[Rotipher of the FoS]

FWIW, Gundarak probably had a standing military when it was still one nation. Gundar was a soldier and a tyrant, fearful of rebellion and his own offspring, and he may never have trusted his borders' protection because he knew that portals between domains existed (also because he wasn't the sharpest fang in the jaw). His troops were little more than thugs, but there were definitely a lot of them.

It's anyone's guess how successfully Malocchio or Strahd were able to co-opt their former neighbor's forces, but it's likely that both Invidia and Barovia acquired some military assets when they annexed Gundar's old turf. Integrating them into the Barovian militia wouldn't be easy, given the ethnic tensions that Strahd encourages, but he could have kept them on as border guards to keep Malocchio's Vistani-hunters and/or the shadow fey in check. Likewise, those of Gundar's troops who wound up on the Invidian side of the border could've been kept on to hunt Vistani, if Malocchio convinced them the Great Upheaval and their nation's fall was all Hyskosa's fault.

[ewancummins]

In fact, I'd like it if fewer of them were. Especially at higher levels of command, logistics are more important than bloodlust

Well, Drakov is doomed to failure. Also he's not in his right mind. He propably executes good and loyal commanders for not killing every child of his enemies.

As of Darkon: Pistoleers in the late medevial? Even if you can buy the pistols... why do it?
As for the Barons providing the bulk of the army or "army", isn't that what actually used to happen before the national armies? Vassal lords bringing soldiers to your banner?

CL 8, based on European history, runs from 1400 AD all the way to 1550 A.D. Wheelocks come into use around 1500. Troops whose weapons include pistols are certainly possible.

In my country we generally consider 1500 to 1800 A.D. to be the ''Early Modern' period of European history.


In my own system, I consider 476- 1453 to be 'Medieval" That is, from the deposition of the last Roman Emperor in the West to the fall of the Constaninople.

Yay, periodization!

[alhoon]

As you said CL8 ends around 1500. While a few pistols may have existed in 1450 (something Hussites carried), an Italian city introduced them in 1540 for horsemen. However, Martira bay isn't really an "advanced" CL8 as things go IMO. More like a feudal society of something like the hundred years war thing, without the war. Although Death and Azalin's absense took care of that.

Personal opinion though of course. Whatever you like, you can do.

I'm also interested to know: How many plate armors are there in your campaign? For such small nations as the ones in Ravenloft (even the expanded ones with x 4 pop) there can't be many plated knights in CL8 domains to constitute a real revenue as the French brought against the English in the 100 years war.

[ewancummins]

No, I said it ends at 1550 AD. You just cut off half a century, Alhoon.


Pistols appeared in Europe during 'CL 8', in Ravenloftian terms.

Martira Bay is a port city, and close to the advanced domains of the NW. CL 9 Lamordia is not far away. It seems like an obvious place for technological innovations to appear.

I would imagine that most of Darkon looks closer to 'late medieval', much as you have described.

[ewancummins]

I'm also interested to know: How many plate armors are there in your campaign? For such small nations as the ones in Ravenloft (even the expanded ones with x 4 pop) there can't be many plated knights in CL8 domains to constitute a real revenue as the French brought against the English in the 100 years war.

The canon population figures for most domains are ridiculously low. I multiply them by 5, as a general rule, and I increase map scale by a factor of 3. This gives me a Core about 324,000 sq mi, with about 2.5 million people. Average population density is about 8 persons/sq mi. There is plenty of wilderness.

That's roughly comparable to the Thirteen Colonies ( not including extensive Western claims) in the years leading up to the Revolution.

http://www.emersonkent.com/map_archive/ ... lation.htm


Full plate armor is indeed quite rare, IMC. Most such suits are heirlooms.

Azalin can afford to maintain a small, elite force of mounted soldiers in heavy or medium armor with pistols, swords, etc. He's the greatest and richest king in the known world.

[alhoon]

Martira Bay is a port city, and close to the advanced domains of the NW. CL 9 Lamordia is not far away. It seems like an obvious place for technological innovations to appear.

Oh well, whatever suits you. IMO Martira Bay should be 1450 AD, but I see your point of view. I just prefer mine.

[ewancummins]

Martira Bay is a port city, and close to the advanced domains of the NW. CL 9 Lamordia is not far away. It seems like an obvious place for technological innovations to appear.

Oh well, whatever suits you. IMO Martira Bay should be 1450 AD, but I see your point of view. I just prefer mine.

Of course. There are as many Ravenlofts as there are Ravenloft DMs.

[alhoon]

I change the way I see Ravenloft over time. At a point I had Lamordia and Dementlieu at CL 11 and CL 10 (early Industrial age and enlightment).