How Would You Defend A Mountain Fortress? (Volume II)

SHARK · Aug 14, 2002

EDIT BY HENRY - FIRST THREAD WAS http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18134&page=1&pp=20

Greetings!

The other thread of this topic was reaching a point of awkwardness, so I have started this thread to continue the interesting conversation.

Thanks again everyone for your interesting ideas and fine contributions to this topic! I have postponed the upcoming scenario, personally, so that at least for me, this thread remains not only very interesting, but also quite useful.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

mmadsen · Aug 14, 2002

To recap, how would you defend your Mountain Citadel against the oncoming Vallorean Legions and their Vallorean Champions?

You are an epic-level general of the Galleran empire, serving under the terrible Vampire Lord Mallenar.

The Vallorean Champions (the PCs) are between 30th and 60th level, with numerous cohorts and followers from 15th to 20th level. The Vallorean Legions are high-level (8th to 12th), with enchanted communication helmets, masterwork arms and armor, and enchanted food, water, and healing supplies. Specialist units, the Inquisitors and Witch Hunters, hunt down Vampires and Lycanthropes.

The Valloreans also field units of Pegasus, Griffon, and Giant-Eagle air-cav that land groups of flying commandos -- after softening up the landing area with several Meteor Swarms, followed by globes of exploding Daylight.

Our forces include:

(1) Commander (50th level)
(12) Elite Specialists (30th level)
(24) Lords (20th level)
(1) Wang-Liang/Half-Fiend General (30th level)
(2) Wang-Liang/Half-Fiend Lords (20th level)
(30) Wang-Liang/Half-Fiends (16th level)
(300) Wang-Liangs (12th level)
(38) Fire-Giants (20th level)
(24) Cloud-Giants (20th level)
(15) Chimeras
(12) Manticores
(600) Vampires (6th-12th level)
(880) Werewolves (4th-12th level)
(2800) Ogres (under 10th level)
(26,000) Hobgoblins (standard levels as organized)
(100,000) Humans (minimum of 2nd level, majority Fighters)

We have to defend two human cities and our own Mountain Citadel, holding off the Valloreans until Lord Mallenar sweeps them away in a deluge of blood and fire.

Edit: The original thread is still at http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18134. Feel free to read the original thread, but please reply to this thread.

mmadsen · Aug 14, 2002

So, against their 350,000 elite human heavy infantry and auxiliaries, we're supposed to pit our ~150,000 humans, hobgoblins, and assorted monsters. Let's look at our strengths and weaknesses.

Our Wang-Liang are effectively Trolls that can turn invisible or disguise themselves. That is, they're big, strong, and immune to most attacks (except fire and acid). I'd love to be able to send Wang-Liang skirmishers against mundane heavy infantry. They can do some damage, withdraw -- with some dead foes for "rations" -- come back fresh, and so on. They can also ambush quite effectively, using their invisibility. Perhaps they can even disguise themselves and infiltrate a camp that doesn't have much magical support. We can't risk Fireballs and Flame Strikes though. Disguised as mundane Ogres, the Wang-Liang might not draw so much fire.

The Vampires have many stengths and at least a few obvious weaknesses. Vampires and their spawn are, of course, vulnerable to sunlight and to Clerical magic, but they have an amazing capacity for spawning more of their kind -- particularly in the short term, since they "spawn" quickly and won't run out of "food" in the time frame of this military campaign. The two nearby cities might find their "noncombatants" (women and old men) quickly conscripted into the Midnight Legions. Also, Vampires don't have to advertise their nature. Armed as soldiers, adult, male Vampires should blend in fine (during a night attack).

The Werewolves, as lycanthropes, don't "spawn" as quickly and effectively as the Vampires. Perhaps they can use their curse behind enemy lines or in guerrilla skirmishes -- the high-level Clerics can't be everywhere -- but they don't end up with powerful slaves. In the vast forests, they should make good scouts and quasi-cavalry, and they may have enough wolves there to command as auxiliaries.

mmadsen · Aug 14, 2002

From SHARK's original post:

Chief areas for defense and fortification for you to be generally focused on are as follows:

The fortress itself
The surrounding forest
The mountains and hills within about ten miles in every direction.
The city of Koben-Charrak, and the river-crossings. There is an extensive barge system and river traffic that moves across, and up and down the great river. This river traffic is not only a source of supplies, but also troop deployment.

Your forces are familiar with the terrain, and the terrain favours the defense. Attacking forces will be in for a difficult time, even under the best leadership.

Being outnumbered, and with limited hard military support, you will have less margin for error, and will have to deploy and equip your forces carefully, and also to make every operation, ambush, and struggle count. The enemy forces may very well send elite units of adventurers to assassinate you, and wipe out the command staff before the arrival of the Legions.

In addition, though you are quite capable, it should be realised that the enemy will very likely end up assaulting the fortress by storm. The Valloreans will not be merciful, nor will they spare the city populations. Anything that seems tainted and wicked in whatever manner, can be expected to be put to the sword, or burned at the stake. Be prepared for ferocious, relentless, and absolutely ruthless attacks by the Valloreans.

mmadsen · Aug 14, 2002

According to SHARK, the Valloreans organize their forces in the following forms:

Legion Table of Organization and Equipment (TOE)

Legion: Each Legion is composed of three Regiments, totaling 10,000 men, Commanded by a Legate. Also called a Brigadier General. The Deputy Commander of a Legion is a Lord Tribune.
Each Regiment is composed of three Battalions, totaling 2,622 men, commanded by a Tribune.
Each Battalion is composed of four Companies, totaling 874 men, commanded by a Praefect.
Each Company is composed of four Platoons, totaling 218 men, commanded by a Captain.
Each Platoon is composed of four Squads, totaling 54 men, commanded by a Centurion.
Each Squad is composed of three detachments, totaling 13 men, commanded by a Sergeant.
In addition to the standard Legion formations, there are the following units that are part of a Legion, totaling 2,126 men. They are as follows:
1 Special Operations Battalion: These forces are various levels of different characters and specialists, who have a range of tactical deployments.
1 Headquarters Battalion: Various levels of experienced characters, some serve to assist in the administration of the legion, while others are elite bodyguards and so on.
1 Air Assault Company: Various levels of Sorcerers and Wizards, mounted on enchanted Griffons.
1 Elite Ranger Platoon: Various levels of Rangers.
1 Elite Knight-Templar Platoon: Various levels of Paladins, Witch Hunters, Inquisitors, and Clerics.
1 Elite Shadow-Raven Squad: Composed of 4 Valloreans, Rogue 10/Shadow Raven 10; 4 Valloreans, Rogue 10/Shadow Raven 6; 8 Valloreans, Rogue 10/Shadow Raven 2.
1 Heavy Assault Squad: Composed of the following:
1 20th level Cloud Giant Sorcerer
1 20th level Cloud Giant Cleric
1 20th level Cloud Giant Fighter
1 20th level Cloud Giant Ranger
1 16th level Cloud Giant Sorcerer
1 16th level Cloud Giant Cleric
1 16th level Cloud Giant Fighter
1 16th level Cloud Giant Ranger
2 12th level Cloud Giant Sorcerers
6 12th level Cloud Giant Fighters
1 Arcane Communications Squad: (Composed of 4 20th level Sorcerers; 4 16th level Sorcerers; 8 12th level Sorcerers. These are usually distributed to each Battalion, to maintain overall command coordination.

mmadsen · Aug 14, 2002

The average Vallorean Squad is composed of a Vallorean/Half-Celestial, 16th level Fighter; Aasimar Fighter 4/Wizard 12; Aasimar Cleric 12; Aasimar Rogue 12; Urrgan Ranger 12; Ogre Fighter 12; (6) Vallorean Humans, Fighter 8; (1) Vallorean Human Fighter 4.

The Vallorean Legions have magical communication helmets, magical waterskins, and magical MRE (food ration) packs. They also have items that enhance skills like Hide, Search, Spot, Listen, Swimming and Climbing. Most of the legionnaires (12th level and lower) have either Masterwork weapons and equipment, or magical weaponry of no greater value than +2.

mmadsen · Aug 14, 2002

In the campaign, there is no resurrection or raise dead spells. Once someone is dead--they are dead. There are however, "Fate Points" and there is the Philosopher's Egg, and a few other substances, magical places, and so on, that can restore life to a dead creature, but they are usually very isolated and rare.

mmadsen · Aug 14, 2002

I hope that summarizes the ground rules adequately.

hong · Aug 14, 2002

This is starting to sound like the Sharkworld Mountain Fortress Industrial Revolution.

Hong "so, what would be the Industrial Rating of a Vallorean Legion?" Ooi

Maldur · Aug 14, 2002

I started a writeup of the 2800 odd ogres. Ill complete the text asap, but I have a large workload this week.

These ogres are the cadets of a military academy situated at the fortress. This academy takes ordinary teenage ogres and forms them into Shock Ogres, Teams of ogres trained in exploiting openings created by artillery. Unfortunately they are not completely trained so only a small part of the group is capable of their famus shock attacks. To train and support the ogres a cadre of trainers is also part of the academy. To use the typical ogre traits, competitiveness and ( for lack of a better word) simplemindedness, most of these trainers are skilled propagandist (bards) and they are very good in whipping the ogres into a frenzy.

Images:
Young ogres trained to several levels of effectiveness and compatance.

Fanatical loyalty to the King, ingrained by years of propaganda and brainwashing.

Commisar-like-trainers using fiery retoric to whip the ogres into a fighting frenzy ( the speaking horn is standard equipment for trainers)