Units and Technology
Mar 10, 2013 14:55:39 GMT -5
Post by Grandmaster on Mar 10, 2013 14:55:39 GMT -5
Depending on the lord, his or her levies can be trained in the usage of specific weapons and as such, levies can be organized into units. Units such as light infantry are often trained in the use of swords, axes and shields. Their armor is usually light, such as leather. Heavy infantry use heavier weapons such as maces, two handed swords and large battle axes. They also can have heavier armor such as chain mail, and rarely, plate mail (though keep in mind that plate mail is VERY expensive.)
Archers are trained in the use of the standard bow, long bow or crossbow. They are not meant to handle melee combat. The crossbow is also a somewhat recent invention and it is still spreading throughout the kingdom. A wealthy lord may have access to them.
Pikemen are trained in the usage of the pike and often have light armor. They are used to make spear walls and primarily as a defense against cavalry. The pike is a simple but effective weapon of a long sturdy wooden pole with a sharpened steel point. Being as they use one of the first weapons in human history, pikemen are relatively easy to train and inexpensive to outfit.
Light cavalry are peasants trained to fight from a horse and are often used as skirmishers. They can throw javelins or short spears into the enemy before retreating to safety. They also have long swords which can be used to deadly effect against a routing army. Heavy cavalry, in contrast, are outfitted with heavy armor, lances and swords. It is these men that charge into the fray to smash apart enemy formations. These are often the most powerful and therefore, the most expensive units in a lord’s army. Most heavy cavalry consist of wealthy peasants and knights.
If the lord can afford it, they can also have peasants trained in the use of siege weapons. After all, there are times when a gate needs to be bashed open or a wall needs to come down! The simplest siege weapon is the battering ram. Depending on resources available, the battering ram can be as simple as a felled and trimmed tree to an elaborate wheeled structure that protects the users. Catapults are used for hurling heavy rocks, small rocks, heads or what have you at or over walls. If the lord has some crafty engineers, trebuchets may also be built to fling large rocks great distances.
Archers are trained in the use of the standard bow, long bow or crossbow. They are not meant to handle melee combat. The crossbow is also a somewhat recent invention and it is still spreading throughout the kingdom. A wealthy lord may have access to them.
Pikemen are trained in the usage of the pike and often have light armor. They are used to make spear walls and primarily as a defense against cavalry. The pike is a simple but effective weapon of a long sturdy wooden pole with a sharpened steel point. Being as they use one of the first weapons in human history, pikemen are relatively easy to train and inexpensive to outfit.
Light cavalry are peasants trained to fight from a horse and are often used as skirmishers. They can throw javelins or short spears into the enemy before retreating to safety. They also have long swords which can be used to deadly effect against a routing army. Heavy cavalry, in contrast, are outfitted with heavy armor, lances and swords. It is these men that charge into the fray to smash apart enemy formations. These are often the most powerful and therefore, the most expensive units in a lord’s army. Most heavy cavalry consist of wealthy peasants and knights.
If the lord can afford it, they can also have peasants trained in the use of siege weapons. After all, there are times when a gate needs to be bashed open or a wall needs to come down! The simplest siege weapon is the battering ram. Depending on resources available, the battering ram can be as simple as a felled and trimmed tree to an elaborate wheeled structure that protects the users. Catapults are used for hurling heavy rocks, small rocks, heads or what have you at or over walls. If the lord has some crafty engineers, trebuchets may also be built to fling large rocks great distances.