- Location
- Virginia
[X] Plan: Steady our claws
Who Needs Harmony?: An MLP Empire Quest
- Thread starter Questor
- Start date
- Location
- Castle Drakenhof
There's an army listed? Let's see what we have, maybe plan out prospective reforms.
I would recommend that we take inspiration from Renaissance Italian swordsmanship. It focused on blades meant to cut and thrust, with smaller round shields, like bucklers or rotellas.
Adapting a style like that to Griffon physiology will allow us to take advantage of our inherent maneuverability. I doubt that much Griffon on Griffon combat would actually take place on the ground, and would be more of an agility game than any ground based combat.
What we need for skirmishers in the air are javelins. They're easy to make, easy to teach, and easy to use in conjunction with momentum. Until we can get crossbows, and thus cut down on training time to make them a cost-effective force, this is the best we have for the mobile, three-dimensional warfare of the sky.
These. These will be important. Once we unify Griffonia, our ability to field large quantities of swordsmen will be quite valuable. Of course, this demands quality over quantity, but that's fine.
I would recommend that we take inspiration from Renaissance Italian swordsmanship. It focused on blades meant to cut and thrust, with smaller round shields, like bucklers or rotellas.
Adapting a style like that to Griffon physiology will allow us to take advantage of our inherent maneuverability. I doubt that much Griffon on Griffon combat would actually take place on the ground, and would be more of an agility game than any ground based combat.
Here, here we see something unique. The potential for lancers deployed en masse. All the shock of the charge with none of the cost of a war mount or the training required to use it. There's definite potential here, but it would require an overhaul of the spear's design and giving each soldier several, a backup weapon, and extra armor for the mass.
Useless, unless we sink ungodly amounts of time and effort into making them equivalent to steppe horse archers. Given that they'll be moving at nearly the same speed as the ones they'll be firing at, I don't think that much of their effectiveness.
What we need for skirmishers in the air are javelins. They're easy to make, easy to teach, and easy to use in conjunction with momentum. Until we can get crossbows, and thus cut down on training time to make them a cost-effective force, this is the best we have for the mobile, three-dimensional warfare of the sky.
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- Location
- Venezuela
[X] Plan: Steady our claws
Easter
Laziest lazier
- Location
- Bed
Something to note is that the bow will still be useful against ground based enemy. As for spears I feel like a heavier glaive or halberd would work fairly well since quite abit of momentem can be gained in the air along with how much room there is along with making them fairly useful against heavier enemies.
- Location
- Castle Drakenhof
The thing with bows is that they take a lot of time to learn how to use, and that's when you're standing on flat ground. While bows could be useful for our army, it's just not worth the effort when throwing weapons serve the same purpose just as well. Besides, a javelin is better at AP than an arrow, and armor is the thing to worry about with ground bound targets.
The thing with lances, is that they have this tendency to break on, or during the impact. When you're transferring that much force down a wooden shaft, things tend to shatter. I would recommend the soldier having at least one simple iron tipped lance, and then a more versatile polearm as a backup weapon. Probably a halberd. That way they can serve dual purposes.
- Location
- MN
[X] Plan: Steady our claws
Easter
Laziest lazier
- Location
- Bed
Sounds resonable to me, depending on just how far we can get techwise guns could also be be a massive boon to our forces.
- Location
- Somewhere
Let's look at the full 'state of the nation' sheet for 'Turn One: The King is dead long live the King'.
[X] Plan: Steady our claws
Strong economy, okay military, low numbers of elite units in the last knightly order, and politics could be worse.
[X] Plan: Steady our claws
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- Location
- Castle Drakenhof
When guns reach the level of flintlock muskets, both is tech and spread, it's going to completely redefine warfare. We're going to lose our advantage, because any Griffon flying around within range of a firing line is dead. Low altitude flight will be reserved for shock maneuvers, equivalent to cavalry charges.
Of course that's just as it relates to land combat in open areas. Urban areas with large amounts of multistory buildings will be a playground, and we'll have an inherent advantage in aerial combat, being able to deploy from airships. Naval actions will also be affected, not having to pull up alongside ships to board them. The same logic applies with amphibious assault, until we get to the point where the needed supply for the battle can't be carried with us by claw. (Read, armored vehicles)
- Location
- Somewhere
The diplo actions need build up, or are not wanted at this time. If we could take the Diamond dog action with the scout out opinions, or replace our diplo action with Diamond dog diplomacy, I'd vote for it. Diamond dog diplomacy is risky though, working on actions that raise citizen and nobility opinion is a safe bet.
Easter
Laziest lazier
- Location
- Bed
I would like to start opening diplomatic ties but if we want to be respected we need a solid military and nation to back up our words.
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- Location
- At the end of the world
[X] Plan: Steady our claws
- Location
- Castle Drakenhof
This, and the fact that war is inevitable. When it does come, we want a decisive and swift victory. War is expensive, and unnecessary expenses are to be avoided at all costs.
- Location
- Maryland
I wasn't really sure how to handle piety actions for this quest. If there's a lot of reader interest I'll try to make religion and spirituality a bigger aspect, but for now we're operating under separation of church and state.
- Location
- Maryland
As a great man once said: Speak softly and carry a big stick.
- Location
- Maryland
Two things to keep in mind: many of your people are hunters by trade, and thus already have a certain familiarity with a bow. This means that you don't have to worry too much about the costs and time it takes to train them.
And while you may be facing a potential war with your neighboring states, in the near future the monsters that inhabit the lands around you are going to be your biggest threat.
- Location
- Maryland
Plan Steady our Claws wins, no contest. Give me some time to do the rolls and write up the results.
In the meantime: what sort of weapon do you think our Merchant King would wield, both as a means of defense and a symbol of his office? A sword? A war axe? A warhammer? Discuss.
In the meantime: what sort of weapon do you think our Merchant King would wield, both as a means of defense and a symbol of his office? A sword? A war axe? A warhammer? Discuss.
Easter
Laziest lazier
- Location
- Bed
Some kind of spear? It would fit with his background and what he would of been facing through his life(monsters and bandits).
- Location
- Somewhere
Wouldn't he want a weapon that works in any situation? Chakrams perhaps?