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Myssa Rei
Acolyte
Philippines
22 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Nov 2006 : 05:07:16
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I've thrown this query at the WotC Boards to see what the people there think about it, rules-wise, so this time, I'm going to ask the about the lore-side of the equation from the folks over here.
The question is actually summed up in the Message title. The details are listed below.
If I'm remembering this correctly, armies, at least according to the DMG (which may have changed with Heroes of Battle, which I don't have at this point), are by default composed of conscripted commoners, with warriors and experts making the rank-and-file of the career soldiers and command staff, while adventuring classes either occupy the upper tier (officer positions) or existing as part of a 'strike force' type of special unit (and even then, they're not really that high a level to begin with).
However, this doesn't seem to be the case with armies in Faerun, as what I've read from the novels (and indeed, some of the web supplements, like Ed Greenwood's expanded description of the realms of the Border Kingdoms) seem to point to the fact that they're either entirely composed of adventuring classes (as in the case of the Elven Crusade led by Miritar), or mostly made up of adventuring classes (in the case of Cormyr's Purple Dragons).
Which now brings me to the heart of my quandry... As the armies of the Realms bear little resemblance to the 'default' armies presented in the DMG (which is assumed to be something a good-sized barony or small kingdom could field, I guess), what do you think would be their composition? Would they follow the integrated population ratio (37-20-18-10-7-5-2-1) for the class mixes, or it really depends on the kingdoms involved (for example, Thay's griffon cavalry seems to be composed entirely of wizards)?
Also, which class would fit into each of the said ratios. I see easily fighter-types being the most numerous in armies and take the highest numbers ratio, while the arcane spellcasting classes taking the last few lower ratios... But, after reading the Last Mythal series, it doesn't seem to be the general case either, as I perceived that there were a lot of arcane casters (aside from the so-called champions, who seem to be multi-classed fighter/clerics) in the elven army.
Finally, what would you think would be the average levels of the participants of a given army? I have a feeling that the Elven Crusade was an anachronism, in the sense it looked like it was composed of members with levels of 10-14, which is certainly not what you find in a normal army.
So, am I just thinking too much, and will have to take things on a case-to-case basis? Or is there a general pattern that armies follow in the Realms?
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Never underestimate the power of a good story. |
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bitter thorn
Learned Scribe
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2006 : 14:56:19
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| Like most things in the Realms it's going to vary quite a bit. I tend to stat career soldiers as fighters and/or marshals in places like Cormyr, Silver Marches etc. where conscriptiton isn't the norm. A dales militia, on the other hand could contain many voluteers that are 1st level commoners and experts or high level retired adventurers or all or the above. In short it will be driven by the setting/region and special circumstances. |
"Nobody listens to the Ranger!"
Our groups are all sticking with 3.X classic Realms. |
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dwarvenranger
Senior Scribe
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2006 : 00:39:58
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| Myssa, one of the best breakdowns of a standing army was done by Walkerninja (the mans got too much time on his hands) for a campaign he was running a while back set in the Dalelands. The original copy of the diagram breaking down the various unit still hangs in our game room. I don't know if he has it on Word but it's definitely worth PMing him about it. |
If I waited till I knew what I was doing, I'd never get anything done.
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2006 : 11:32:04
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Rich Baker said, at one point, that the Elven Crusade's army consisted of fighters etc of lvl 5 and higher. Elves would probably have many bladesingers in their ranks, in addition to rangers and fighters with the occasional paladin.
The Purple Dragons probably also have a whole bunch of more experienced fighters and or knights, but with the recent "thinning" in the ranks of Cormyr's army there are probably fewer very experienced people. Same goes for the War Wizards, with the maximum caster level of probably 14 or so, considering that good old Vangey was "only" level 17 or so... |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Composition of Armies in the Realms
