The Concept of Warfare in Demeria
Mar 10, 2013 14:54:59 GMT -5
Post by Grandmaster on Mar 10, 2013 14:54:59 GMT -5
While peace is the preferred state of affairs, there comes a time when differences between lords cannot be resolved or lords otherwise face a threat from outside their realm. War, though necessary at times, is a daunting and expensive prospect to any lord, noble or royal. Thus, it is often used as a last resort to solve a problem.
A lord mostly draws his armies, or levies, from the peasants over which he rules. There exists no standing or professional armies within Demeria. While it is true that castles, cities and towns have a watch and lords often have a retinue of body guards, professional armies are often out of reach for a number of reasons, primarily logistical and financial. Furthermore, peasants often have to supply their own equipment, though wealthy lords can supply their peasants with weapons, armor and training. Lords can train peasants for a variety of units, including light infantry, heavy infantry, archers and pikemen (more on these later). For the majority of the peasants, however, soldiering is a part-time job that’s called upon when needed and rarely do they make it their profession.
War is a deceptively simple situation. The two armies meet on the battlefield, and they go from there. If one army is significantly larger than other, the smaller army usually does not bother and either retreats or surrenders. When the armies are matched in size, the fight occurs in segments dealing with charges, brief periods of fighting, retreating, resting and getting back into it. Archers can thin numbers, skirmishers can break up formations and cavalry can outflank to cause an army to rout. War is, in essence, an attempt at organized chaos.
Wars are typically fought in the spring before the planting season and in the fall after the harvest. Many soldiers have jobs that need to be done in the summer and the winter is too cold for proper warring! While wars can occur during summer and winter, both sides often avoid such because it is simply too costly in the long run.
A lord mostly draws his armies, or levies, from the peasants over which he rules. There exists no standing or professional armies within Demeria. While it is true that castles, cities and towns have a watch and lords often have a retinue of body guards, professional armies are often out of reach for a number of reasons, primarily logistical and financial. Furthermore, peasants often have to supply their own equipment, though wealthy lords can supply their peasants with weapons, armor and training. Lords can train peasants for a variety of units, including light infantry, heavy infantry, archers and pikemen (more on these later). For the majority of the peasants, however, soldiering is a part-time job that’s called upon when needed and rarely do they make it their profession.
War is a deceptively simple situation. The two armies meet on the battlefield, and they go from there. If one army is significantly larger than other, the smaller army usually does not bother and either retreats or surrenders. When the armies are matched in size, the fight occurs in segments dealing with charges, brief periods of fighting, retreating, resting and getting back into it. Archers can thin numbers, skirmishers can break up formations and cavalry can outflank to cause an army to rout. War is, in essence, an attempt at organized chaos.
Wars are typically fought in the spring before the planting season and in the fall after the harvest. Many soldiers have jobs that need to be done in the summer and the winter is too cold for proper warring! While wars can occur during summer and winter, both sides often avoid such because it is simply too costly in the long run.