Dwarf Military Maxims, Expressions, and Exclamations

[willpax]

On the importance of making sure troops are properly trained and prepared before the battle:

"It is not the fire's fault that you didn't test the ore."

(For those rare occasions where the dwarven armies are forced to perform a retrograde maneuver).

 

[mmadsen]

I'm not exactly sure that the dwarves would do all they could to avoid battle on an open field if it suited them. I've alikened the dwarves to an infantry heavy army much like that of Imperial Rome. Heavy shields and armour coupled with great weapon skills and excellent training should prove to be quite a powerful addition to the dwarven battle compliment.

Dwarves definitely qualify as heavy infantry. Thus, they would want to draw cavalry and skirmishers into rough terrain.

Rather than battleaxes, I'd see the dwarven army adopting a more Roman soldier -- heavy armour, large shield, javelin/pila, and short sword. It sort of makes sense, too; if dwarves spent a large portion of their time underground, would they use weapons like axes in such cramped quarters?

A pick, hammer, or axe makes much more sense than javelins for a short-limbed race of miners living underground. And with a spike/blade at the end, a choked-up axe might make a serviceable shortsword.

 

[Endur]

Bah! Lessons from pointy ears, I think not.

Moradin said we must use our might to make the world right.

I was trying to come up with a sufficiently dwarven version of Sun-Tzu's "All warfare is based on deception." This may work:

A lesson from the elves: All war is based on deception. All diplomacy too.

 

[maddman75]

All warfare is based on deception.

Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

Be as unmovable as the mountain, but strike as the erupting volcano.

Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.

Let 'im think to grab you by the beard. It'll get his arms close enough for ye to hack them off.

If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.

If you can't get through his armor, best to sharpen your axe.

If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

When an orc charges, bat him on the head. When he rages, bat him on the head again. When he's too mad to see straight, cut him down.

If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.

Strike while the iron is hot. Its easier to cart off a lot of rocks than a boulder.

Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

Let your hammer never strike the same spt twice.

 

[Endur]

The particular passages from Sun Tzu you quote don't necessarily fit all dwarves.

Most Dwarves are Lawful Good. Given the dwarves' various restrictions, both on movement and alignment, I don't think they would have the same military maxims as Sun Tzu.

Sun Tzu's maxims were intended to win wars, and occassionally battles, by deceiving the enemy as to your intentions and where your force was. Attacking the enemies' weak points with your strength.

I'm not sure that a Dwarven commander would do that.

As a Dwarven commander, I would want the enemy's strongest forces to attack my strongest forces. The result would be a climatic battle where the Dwarves should triumph.

What I do not want, is for the enemy to screen my strong forces and attack elsewhere with his strong forces.

So, how do you become a successful dwarven commander? You identify where the enemy is likely to attack and put your strongest force there ahead of time.

While it is theoretically possible for a dwarven force to go on the offensive, you generally want to avoid that unless attacking a strategic objective.

The problem with offensives in general is that because of the dwarven army's slow movement and general lack of cavalry, you can't force the battle, and it becomes like an invasion of Russia, where you want battle and the Russians retreat.

So, when playing the dwarves, you almost have to resign yourself to playing the strategic defensive.

My goal is to generate military maxims, expressions, and exclamations a trained dwarf siege engineer might use -- to convey that he's a trained specialist who has read the dwarf equivalents of Vegetius, Sun-Tzu, etc.

For instance, what would be the dwarf equivalents of these:

 

[Endur]

Don't forget the crossbow. 3e rules aside, every dwarf should carry a crossbow just in case the enemy avoids melee.

The Battleaxe was originally used (according to the history channel) as an effective weapon against Cavalry. The length of the haft gave it sufficient reach to strike a cavalry rider.

Dwarves definitely qualify as heavy infantry. Thus, they would want to draw cavalry and skirmishers into rough terrain.

A pick, hammer, or axe makes much more sense than javelins for a short-limbed race of miners living underground. And with a spike/blade at the end, a choked-up axe might make a serviceable shortsword.

 

[Sejs]

The seperation of Offense and Defense is an illusion. An undefeatable defense marching inexorably forward is no different than a crushing offence. If a man strikes at the avalanche, it is not the mountain that feels harm.

 

[MarauderX]

"Like bringing coal to Newcastle"

Newcastle is supposedly renowned for it's coal, so why would you bring coal there when they already have lots?


"You must fire the brick before you expect anything from it"

You must prepare and/or train or else be prepared for poor results.

 

[ejja_1]

quote:
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All warfare is based on deception.
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"An elf with a beard is still an elf!"

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Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
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"Let them think we are just merry tinkers, then well show them what a hammer is really for!"

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Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
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"Let all that glitters draw them near, then use thier bones for your bread and thier blood for your beer."

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If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.
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" A mountain is strong, but the water still flows through it."

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If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
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"The orcs burn with rage, let us throw coal on the fire."

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If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.
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"A diamond is hard but will break under repeated hammering."

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Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
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"Humans think that we sprout from the ground like plants, let us show them how right they are."

 

[mmadsen]

Some of these posts point to another interesting topic: How would dwarves fight? What strategies and tactics would they rely on? I created another thread to discuss dwarven strategy.