Do armies in your campaign go around raping, pillaging, and plundering?

[Silveras]

In answer to the final part of the original post, yes, AEG's Empire (by Mike Mearls) addresses these notions in part. He ignores the rape part.

The Mass Combat rules address supply for units, and talk about making foraging checks to feed the unit. This takes place at a high level, though, and so the effects on the local farmers are not addressed; just the effect of a lack of supplies on the military units.

Among the Realm actions is "Sack Enemy Lands", which essentially turns your soldiers loose to plunder a Castle/City/Town/Village that they have conquered. You gain some money in the looting, and the enemy stronghold is destroyed.

 

[Harlock]

No, my characters do tha raping pillaging and plundering.

 

[AnthonyJ]

A side point of detail:

'Rape' in the contest of 'rape and pillage' may in fact refer to the middle english definition, which is 'seize and carry off' (this meaning is still listed in dictionaries, but is rarely used AFAIK).

 

[Xeriar]

Well disciplined armies will avoid rape and will likely even be dissallowed masturbation, good or evil. It's not an honor thing - it's about being ready and willing to fight.

'Good' armies, if such a thing existed on an undisciplined scale (at least on the size of an army) would probably about it as well.

Pillage and plunder are different, an army requires six pounds of food and four pounds of water per person per day (to keep them in healthy condition), and a horse three times as much. This is in addition to the vast quantities of wood and other supplies needed for war.

An army of ten thousand men needs nearly half a million pounds of food a week to march. Sure, they can go on less, but they will suffer for it.