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Fantasy Arms Race, Round Two
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<blockquote data-quote="s/LaSH" data-source="post: 688246" data-attributes="member: 6929"><p>Well, I'd have to agree with the consensus...</p><p></p><p>The Jongan fortification phase is a strategic error. They hold the technological edge, but by retreating they allow the Cresians time to advance their own technology, lay a fleet of hulls, and train a bigger army. Furthermore, if the Cresians get their act together (and it's allowed) the coral barricade will permanently kill any hope the Jongans have of making any further raids.</p><p></p><p>The thing about coral, however, is that the reef itself isn't alive; it's the discarded shelters of billions of generations of polyps. Coral reefs are millions of years old. If the Cresians try to build a coral barrier, they're in for a rude surprise... unless they find a way to kill 99% of the coral polyps in a given area, then grow them back. Does anyone think Summon Swarm could become deadly if adapted to this purpose? (OK, it's a non-standard spell. But it's not too far off, and the reef itself isn't summoned, it's built by the summon.)</p><p></p><p>Then again, the same thing can be said about human hair and outer skin... it's not alive, either, but it sure looks that way. So perhaps Plant Growth could promote the expansion of coral. It's a difficult point to adjudicate, and if coral can be propagated in this way the Jongans are doomed, no two ways about it. The Jongans can't suppress the Cresian war machine if they're reefed off, and the Cresians can prepare for a long siege (as the Jongans aren't beaten yet).</p><p></p><p>The Jongans, of course, would do their best to stop this, but sonics and fire aren't too effective underwater, especially not against rock. And even if they do kill the polyps, the Cresians just come back the next day and grow more - the Jongans actively help in their own destruction.</p><p></p><p>So what do the Jongans do while all this is going on? They're building mighty fortresses... they're standing to lose dominion over the sea... and they're engaging in summoning experiments. Could they possibly develop aerial cavalry?</p><p></p><p>This is EXTREMELY hypothetical, I should point out.</p><p></p><p>Whatever gods the Jongans follow are certainly willing to assist their chosen people in their fight against the Cresians. The Cresians recieved the gift of lycanthropy; why don't the Jongans recieve a similar gift in the form of a tame griffon - or wyvern?</p><p></p><p>If a single breeding pair is recieved (with a divine blessing to prevent inbreeding), the Jongans could concievably have a single strike force (of a half dozen griffon) in 2-3 years, and two dozen in 4-6 years. I anticipate that the Cresians would launch a full-scale assault only when they feel they're ready - that could easily take 5 years, and maybe longer.</p><p></p><p>Aerial cavalry gives the Jongans the ability to launch long-distance raids from their fortresses even during a state of siege. It also gives them the ability to pass over coral barriers, entanglement, and nearly every benefit the Cresians have developed. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the Jongans would get enough in the way of numbers to turn the tide before the Cresians rolled onto Jonga and started besieging their fortresses with superior numbers.</p><p></p><p></p><p>I also anticipate that the Jongans would become adept trap-makers. Starting with pit-traps on their roads to deter Cresian invaders, and moving up to murder holes in their fortress entrances. (I wouldn't say molten lead is beyond them, and molten gold could well be used if they're truly desparate. Anyway, spears and stones and boiling water are just as effective.)</p><p></p><p>Finally, the Cresians have their own fleet... why don't they go exploring? They've explored in all directions to find the Jongans. What else did they find? And did they stop when they found their enemy, or did they keep going to the local equivalent of Africa? The thought of Cresian elephant riders is quite invigorating.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="s/LaSH, post: 688246, member: 6929"] Well, I'd have to agree with the consensus... The Jongan fortification phase is a strategic error. They hold the technological edge, but by retreating they allow the Cresians time to advance their own technology, lay a fleet of hulls, and train a bigger army. Furthermore, if the Cresians get their act together (and it's allowed) the coral barricade will permanently kill any hope the Jongans have of making any further raids. The thing about coral, however, is that the reef itself isn't alive; it's the discarded shelters of billions of generations of polyps. Coral reefs are millions of years old. If the Cresians try to build a coral barrier, they're in for a rude surprise... unless they find a way to kill 99% of the coral polyps in a given area, then grow them back. Does anyone think Summon Swarm could become deadly if adapted to this purpose? (OK, it's a non-standard spell. But it's not too far off, and the reef itself isn't summoned, it's built by the summon.) Then again, the same thing can be said about human hair and outer skin... it's not alive, either, but it sure looks that way. So perhaps Plant Growth could promote the expansion of coral. It's a difficult point to adjudicate, and if coral can be propagated in this way the Jongans are doomed, no two ways about it. The Jongans can't suppress the Cresian war machine if they're reefed off, and the Cresians can prepare for a long siege (as the Jongans aren't beaten yet). The Jongans, of course, would do their best to stop this, but sonics and fire aren't too effective underwater, especially not against rock. And even if they do kill the polyps, the Cresians just come back the next day and grow more - the Jongans actively help in their own destruction. So what do the Jongans do while all this is going on? They're building mighty fortresses... they're standing to lose dominion over the sea... and they're engaging in summoning experiments. Could they possibly develop aerial cavalry? This is EXTREMELY hypothetical, I should point out. Whatever gods the Jongans follow are certainly willing to assist their chosen people in their fight against the Cresians. The Cresians recieved the gift of lycanthropy; why don't the Jongans recieve a similar gift in the form of a tame griffon - or wyvern? If a single breeding pair is recieved (with a divine blessing to prevent inbreeding), the Jongans could concievably have a single strike force (of a half dozen griffon) in 2-3 years, and two dozen in 4-6 years. I anticipate that the Cresians would launch a full-scale assault only when they feel they're ready - that could easily take 5 years, and maybe longer. Aerial cavalry gives the Jongans the ability to launch long-distance raids from their fortresses even during a state of siege. It also gives them the ability to pass over coral barriers, entanglement, and nearly every benefit the Cresians have developed. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the Jongans would get enough in the way of numbers to turn the tide before the Cresians rolled onto Jonga and started besieging their fortresses with superior numbers. I also anticipate that the Jongans would become adept trap-makers. Starting with pit-traps on their roads to deter Cresian invaders, and moving up to murder holes in their fortress entrances. (I wouldn't say molten lead is beyond them, and molten gold could well be used if they're truly desparate. Anyway, spears and stones and boiling water are just as effective.) Finally, the Cresians have their own fleet... why don't they go exploring? They've explored in all directions to find the Jongans. What else did they find? And did they stop when they found their enemy, or did they keep going to the local equivalent of Africa? The thought of Cresian elephant riders is quite invigorating. [/QUOTE]
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