Von_Lipwig's Blog

There I am again. Had to scoot off to work earlier.


On the island map, there will be four factions. I already briefly listed them in the first blog, but I'll revisit them a bit more in-depth here.

Nobles
This faction is led by the island's noble families, and consists of all people associated with the noble families as well as the poor folk who still follow them. The Noble faction will start with the island's eastern capital city under their rule, as well as a large starting capital; after all, they have been receiving taxes from the entire island for quite some time.

Being of aristocratic descent, nobles learn how to ride a horse and are able to purchase very expensive armour for themselves as well as their horse. The heaviest cavalry unit can be recruited by this faction. However, not all people in this faction are rich. Many of the faction's followers are poor townsmen and farmers, who are easily conscripted for only little money, and can be sent into battle with not much more than a linnen tunic and a stick.


Conscripts - The riffraff off the streets, ill-equipped and unexperienced. Extremely cheap to recruit. Bad morale, use in masses.

Townsmen - Some of the more fortunate folk can afford to buy some basic armour and weapons. Though their morale is not very good, their equipment is sufficient to survive a few more moments in battle and their weapons do more than just bruise.

Heirless Nobles - These noblemen, often younger brothers, will easily pursue a life of adventure and thus form groups of warriors who go out after bandits when they feel like it, or just spend their time sparring and training or serving in the City Watch. Their family gold enables them to buy better armour and weapons, though.

Country patrols - This cavalry unit are lightly armoured and usually disperse criminals and bandits outside the city gates.

Noble heavy cavalry - Among the most feared military units on the island are the noble heavy cavalry, whose armoured horses and long lances can break any defensive line.

Foreign mercenaries - From across the sea, many warriors flock to wherever is a chance to earn money by killing people. And these mercenaries have become quite good at it.

Veterans
In the woods in the northern part of the island, many veterans of past wars have settled to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet away from the big cities. Apart from the veterans, the woods are also home to bandits, foresters, hunters and many other people. While the people of the woods do not share such a close bond as some other factions may, they share their love for the area they live in and will band together to defend it.

While they cannot boast the same number as some other factions can, they can employ guerilla tactics to dish out considerable damage to other factions.


Bandits - Looked down upon by most proper veterans, bandits are criminal opportunists who can easily be bought to serve a cause, for at least a while. Their equipment is not very good as most of their money goes into alcohol, but their experience is extensive; that is, they know how to kill and rob people.

Huntsmen - Skilled archers who have learned to shoot animals that are way better at dodgin arrows than humans are. Such skill is quite important to have on a battlefield.

Foresters - Quite capable of swinging an axe with sufficient strength to sever a man's arm. Qhilw their equipment is not top notch, their strength and large axes are something to take into account when you consider fighting them.

Mounted brigands - Bandits on horseback, these men are fast riders with reasonable weapons and little armour.

Deserters - These are men who have fled the service of the other factions and are trying their luck in the veterans' army. These soldiers may not have the best morale but are quite skilled indeed after many years of service in another man's army.

Grizzled veterans - these men have served in many a battle and know their way around the field of combat. Their armour and weapons may be old, but they are well-looked after and do their job magnificently. Any infantryman would wee his trousers when faced with a unit of these efficient killers.

Guilds
The guilds, whose main offices are in the large harbour city to the west, are an organisation of guildsmen, tradesmen and the middle classes. Commerce is their middle name and freedom is their main ideal. Their harbours give them access to many trade routes which yield quite a lot of income.


Apprentices - The first men to be sent into service are the apprentices who aren't so good at their jobs or are not currently needed. Their guilds give them sufficient armour and weapons to not be completely helpless on the battlefield, but their experience is sorely lacking.

City Watch - A harbour city without a city watch would be asking for problems. The city watch are decently equipped and quite experienced, though their main opponents are often drunken sailors.

Guildmasters' cavalry - The guildmasters sometimes venture out onto the battlefield. It's not unlikely that this is mainly a publicity stunt. They have the money to addorn themselves with good armour and weapons, but they don't have much experience other than a little bit of training and chasing down some bandits every now and again.

Crossbowmen recruits - Crossbows are easy to make and easy to learn to use. Many of the Guilds' raw recruits are given crossbows and sent to the battlefield with only a little bit of training, just enough not to hit themselves. Their ranks will falter quickly but their crossbow bolts can deliver quite a bit of damage.

Heavy crossbowmen - Some crossbowmen have enough money and skill to buy some well-fitting armour and a much more powerful crossbow, the latest invention of some of the craftsmen's guilds. These crossbows are slower to reload, but pack so much power that even enemies in thick armour aren't safe anymore.

Monks
The monks live in the mountains to the south and are a small, closed community. Apart from the monks themselves, however, there are many other people there: people who make a community tick.

The monks' (and their followers') religious zeal grants them good morale, and even though their numbers are lacking, they will often fight on for much longer than any sane person would.


Religious fanatics - these people are the lowest of the low, not even fit to become acolytes. Their faith is strong, however, and they will happily march onto the battlefield armed with no more than a few rocks to throw. Especially if they are promised that their application to become acolytes will be reviewed if they do.

Acolyte - These students of religion can often be found doing the menial chores no one on the higher rungs of society will. They leap at the opportunity to be recognised as full monks, and fighting in a battle is one way to test one's faith. Though these men are untrained and extremely ill-equipped, their morale is very good.

Monks - not much better equipped than acolytes, but often more experienced. These men have proven themselves often and know how to handle themselves on the battlefield.

Templars - Templars are the order's main military branch, and go to the battlefield in armour that is more ornamental than functional. While their fighting skill is more than adequate, their true value lies in the morale they grant to allied units, to whom the shiny armour is a beacon on the battlefield.

Mounted priests - Armed with clubs and staffs with religious symbols on it, these men are the cavalry force of the Monks. Their morale is infallible but their equipment is lacking.

Additional units
Some units can be acquired through other means, such as by capturing or building settlements. Different units can be recruited from different settlements.

Lumber mills -> Lumberjacks (armed with axes, not armoured)

Mines -> Miners (armed with pickaxes, badly armoured)

Farms - > Farmers (sticks and stones, unarmoured)

Townships -> Townsmen (basic weapons and armour)

Of course, none of this is final. Units may be removed, added or changed. If you have any more ideas or suggestions, I would be glad to hear them!


In the next part, I will try to cover my first ideas for the battle system and include an example battle.