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<blockquote data-quote="Ovinomancer" data-source="post: 6799615" data-attributes="member: 16814"><p>I disagree, based mostly on how I view hobgoblin civilization: militarized, brutal, but still highly organized. Hobgoblin society is based entirely on their strength of war -- not arms, as an individual's contribution is lessened if he does not contribute to the whole. So the epitome of a hobgoblin is a well trained solider fighting in the ranks to increase the power and prestige of the empire (or warband, doesn't matter). I think this is best represented by the hobgoblin captain -- the quintessential hobgoblin soldier most hobs aspire to be when they grow up. This means that most hobs are the 1/2 CR ones -- trained, but not the best. The warlords are those that are the best of the best - the leaders and role models for the society.</p><p></p><p>Now, it's a pretty decent number to assume that only 7% of a countries population could be mustered for a campaign season (80-110 days) before a typical medieval country would slide into famine. This number counts the peasants (who you didn't typically arm except in dire circumstance) and slaves (who you didn't arm ever). I don't see the hobgoblin mindset lending itself to a large number of hob peasants working the land, but I do see it working with large slaves labor forces -- subjugated goblins, humans, elves, etc. Slave labor is typically less effective than peasants, and requires more control, but you can have more of them for the same costs (if you don't treat them well, which I don't think hobs do). Still, when you consider the need for overseers and whatnot, you can't field everyone, but I think it's closer to 15-20% of total population for hobs than for the historical percentage. </p><p></p><p>But, even those left behind will be trained in war, for the most part. So I think that, percentage-wise, the numbers you came up with for warbands are pretty close -- about 150-200 per 1000 hobs. But, I think that your skill assessment is off, as I think that of the 800 or so not levied, most of those are still skilled warriors either pulling guard duty over slaves, watching other borders, or cross-training into skill sets that slaves are unreliable in or that you need some knowledge in order to effectively direct the slaves. I view hobgoblin society as pretty much the height of the US south's slave era, except that there are many fewer poor hobgoblins eking out an existence in the shadow of the plantations. Most are engaged in running plantations of slaves. Total war seems a very hobgoblin mindset.</p><p></p><p>And, within those 200 levied hobgoblins, there would actually be a higher percentage of the captains than you postulate. I'd say about 1 in 10 or 15, as those individuals would rarely have jobs back home (such oversight would be provided by retired captains) and would always be out on campaign. After all, they're what every little hobgoblin dreams of being. Warlords I'd have as slightly more common, but still only one out on a given campaign at a time (the others being home engaged in whatever hobgoblin politics scene there is).</p><p></p><p>So, a war party of hobgoblins is 1 warlord per 200-1000, and 1 captain per 15 or so hobgoblins. Smaller detachments can have a captain or not, depending on needs.</p><p></p><p>Also, I think that the pinnacle of hobgobliness is the phalanx warrior. Much like the Romans, a citizen fights in the Legions, and is a Legionnaire. You use auxiliaries for your irregulars, skirmishers, and missile troops. Favored tribes of goblins are impressed as scouts and missile troops. Bugbears, orges, and trolls are used as shock troops, but only hobgoblins are in the Legion, and no real hobgoblin would consider being trained as a scout or missile troop commander as anything other than a direct insult to their identity.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ovinomancer, post: 6799615, member: 16814"] I disagree, based mostly on how I view hobgoblin civilization: militarized, brutal, but still highly organized. Hobgoblin society is based entirely on their strength of war -- not arms, as an individual's contribution is lessened if he does not contribute to the whole. So the epitome of a hobgoblin is a well trained solider fighting in the ranks to increase the power and prestige of the empire (or warband, doesn't matter). I think this is best represented by the hobgoblin captain -- the quintessential hobgoblin soldier most hobs aspire to be when they grow up. This means that most hobs are the 1/2 CR ones -- trained, but not the best. The warlords are those that are the best of the best - the leaders and role models for the society. Now, it's a pretty decent number to assume that only 7% of a countries population could be mustered for a campaign season (80-110 days) before a typical medieval country would slide into famine. This number counts the peasants (who you didn't typically arm except in dire circumstance) and slaves (who you didn't arm ever). I don't see the hobgoblin mindset lending itself to a large number of hob peasants working the land, but I do see it working with large slaves labor forces -- subjugated goblins, humans, elves, etc. Slave labor is typically less effective than peasants, and requires more control, but you can have more of them for the same costs (if you don't treat them well, which I don't think hobs do). Still, when you consider the need for overseers and whatnot, you can't field everyone, but I think it's closer to 15-20% of total population for hobs than for the historical percentage. But, even those left behind will be trained in war, for the most part. So I think that, percentage-wise, the numbers you came up with for warbands are pretty close -- about 150-200 per 1000 hobs. But, I think that your skill assessment is off, as I think that of the 800 or so not levied, most of those are still skilled warriors either pulling guard duty over slaves, watching other borders, or cross-training into skill sets that slaves are unreliable in or that you need some knowledge in order to effectively direct the slaves. I view hobgoblin society as pretty much the height of the US south's slave era, except that there are many fewer poor hobgoblins eking out an existence in the shadow of the plantations. Most are engaged in running plantations of slaves. Total war seems a very hobgoblin mindset. And, within those 200 levied hobgoblins, there would actually be a higher percentage of the captains than you postulate. I'd say about 1 in 10 or 15, as those individuals would rarely have jobs back home (such oversight would be provided by retired captains) and would always be out on campaign. After all, they're what every little hobgoblin dreams of being. Warlords I'd have as slightly more common, but still only one out on a given campaign at a time (the others being home engaged in whatever hobgoblin politics scene there is). So, a war party of hobgoblins is 1 warlord per 200-1000, and 1 captain per 15 or so hobgoblins. Smaller detachments can have a captain or not, depending on needs. Also, I think that the pinnacle of hobgobliness is the phalanx warrior. Much like the Romans, a citizen fights in the Legions, and is a Legionnaire. You use auxiliaries for your irregulars, skirmishers, and missile troops. Favored tribes of goblins are impressed as scouts and missile troops. Bugbears, orges, and trolls are used as shock troops, but only hobgoblins are in the Legion, and no real hobgoblin would consider being trained as a scout or missile troop commander as anything other than a direct insult to their identity. [/QUOTE]
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