Good job on the exhaustive detail, I've learned something about fortifications today. You also made me want to rewatch Alatriste. Cool movie, from what I can recall of it.
A tragic loss of life that the Druchii will pay dearly for.
Mate you can Pretty much use this exact same argument for why obviously Greatships don't work.
Interesting to read. They are obviously talking about Elspeth, Agatha and Alisa and are somewhat uncomfortable about their magic, but the focus on them being mercenaries seems much more important. They know that the twins are her sisters, so Alexandra probably needs to assuage the fragile Kislev mindset of not relying on outsiders to get shot done, while also legitimizing herself by not getting her family too involved.
Honestly an interesting idea, straight up abandoning the smaller and less defensible settlements in order to focus our population in better defended forts could work as long as the settlements get enough warning to allow them to leave.This topic of star forts is really interesting. An exorbitant expense but perhaps a way to make an area as close to impregnable as possible in the setting. I can see the value of incorporating elements of their design into our urban planning, but I question their overall tactical value. The places where they make sense seem to be limited. Perhaps one for the Iceborn Flame to further protect it (which I would be supportive of), perhaps one for the arcane fulcrum if we were responsible for it, perhaps one in the Middle Mountains for people to fall back to in the event of an invasion.
But generally I wonder if, rather than expensive fortresses, if the security of the province would be better maintained by further development of the militia. Specifically I'm remembering Alfred the Great's Burgal Hidage.
Due to the tactic of Danish invaders which involved avoiding striking hardpoints like cities and armies, instead predating on weaker or poorer settlements, Alfred established a system of fortified areas to which the populace would retreat during an invasion. These were towns, which had specifically been designated as the relief point for everyone within a 15 mile radius.
I find myself curious what it's like during invasions when the cities of Ostland swell with peasantry during invasions. I note how pulling all the citizens of the coast to Salkalten prevented significant loss of life. I wonder if establishing a series of small forts, administered by a small cadre of full time militia officers, staffed by rotating militia members, to which peasants could retreat and militia's could hold out might help more than singular grand fortresses.
I don't know what they should look like or anything, I don't know if we could include local nobility in the maintenance or operation of them, but I'm curious about other peoples thoughts.
yes, but star forts >>>>>>> castles, at least if we go by irl fortress efficiency. Comparing a castle to a star fort is a bit like comparing a musket to an assault rifle.
True, but as you yourself have said, they cost accordingly. There is no way we transform every minor noble's castle, every fortified village and army camp into a star fort. We don't have the funds. Even if we do start building star forts they would be around major cities, key strategic postions and other places of great importance. Most other locations will have to do with lesser fortifications.
A possibility I think that hasn't been brought up is... Because Elspeth, Alisa, and Agatha, are wizards of the Imperial Colleges of Magic, that puts them at a different angle of scrutiny than being mercenaries. There are no wizard mercenaries on the front page. Therefore it is not possible for Kislev to acquire wizards through mercenary contract at this time in 2344 IC unless unique circumstances permit. Such as blood relation, or Emperor Magnus pulling an intrigue angle into assisting Kislev as he is obligated to do through the Blue Steel Concordant of 2325 IC. The empire of the hammer-man cannot interfere in Kislev's civil war too much, otherwise a Romanov win would be criticized as outside interference. Still, the empire of hammer-man is being run by the greatest diplomat known to the empire in it's history. Hard to say the three Amethyst wizards aiding the Romanov side of the Kislev civil war cannot be Magnus the Pious's plan of action to assist Kislev without sending a army of the empire of hammer-man there. Harder still to believe Magnus the Pious was completely unaware of Kislev's current issues in 2344 IC. Could totally happen, but there is a somewhat mythical perception that Magnus the Pious is such a great emperor he does in fact know about the little intrigue issues and problems that happen in his empire and near his empire.
If you mean me then no, no I did not.
I mean, that assumes that
Yes I'm sure the Twins were very passionate and eager to get to Kislev to get busy investigating the Eyeless.
