Egyptians with Medieval Technology

LoneWolf23

First Post
Ok, planning to use an ancient egyptian-style nation for use in my next Greyhawk campaign, only with the other countries remaining at the same tech levels. So I need to create a version of Egypt armed with medieval-level technology like Plate Armor, Steel Weapons, and the like.

I'm thinking that plate-armored Egyptian Knights would look something like a Jaffa Warrior from Stargate SG-1, only with common melee weapons. What do you guys think it would be like?
 

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If you're going to put them in plate armor in the desert, it'll need some sort of anti-heat magic going on or they're going to just fall down and cook.

:D

The jaffa would be an appropriate look methinks.

joe b.
 

Cool Idea

Don't know nufin bout no SG1. Never really got into it, but I saw a couple of episodes. If it's anything like the original movie though, then you're probably looking at breastplates with attached Falcon, or Jackal head helmets. One egyptian god, can't remember his name has the head of an alligator.


Chariots and Composite Bows were introduced by the Egyptians around 1550bce, probably adapted from technology brought by Caananite immigrants.

Middle Kingdom era Egyptians used horse-drawn war chariots with spoked wheels, composite bows, bronze helmets, and protective armor made of bronze scales attached to leather shirts (scale mail).

One New Kingdom battle had 3500 chariots on each side. Lots of Chariots. Lots and Lots.

If I were to extend that out for a campaign using more advanced technology, my super-egyptians wouldn't use massed infantry. They'd be high speed charioteers with advanced bows.
 

Yes, even European plate was known to overheat to the point where the wearer's heart gave out. That's why the Crusaders (when they managed to get to the Holy Land) never went up against similar military forces - the Saracens lived there, and knew about the practically indestructible tanks that were European heavy cavalry, but never equipped their troops with plate. They couldn't. They relied on chain mail, light horses, and mobility rather than the sheer irresistible force that was a plate-armoured knight. Bear in mind, these weren't desert nomads, these were the most advanced civilisation this side of China.

So a medieval Egypt would likely develop chain mail to compete with its neighbours. Elite warriors, with suitable magic on their armour, could be expected to wear plate, but this is expensive and thus rare. It means you see a gang of normal chain-mail soldiers charging towards you, with this huge ibis-headed guy at their head clad in plates of metal - probably inlaid or plated with precious metals, gems, lapis lazuli etc; the Egyptians liked that sort of thing.

Chariots I'm not so sure about. They are a fairly iconic Egyptian contrivance, but there's probably a tactical reason they're not seen in the Medieval period. They probably figured out that a man on horseback (with stirrups and advanced armour and training to use a bow) is just as mobile and not as expensive to repair. However, don't let that stop you throwing in chariots filled with archers or hulking great kapesh wielders lopping off heads left and right, because they're cool.
 

s/LaSH said:
with this huge ibis-headed guy at their head clad in plates of metal - probably inlaid or plated with precious metals, gems, lapis lazuli etc; the Egyptians liked that sort of thing.

and cue Paladin wearing lots and lots of magical amulets

Egypt is a theocracy so any major leader of armies is going to be divinely inspired and if your going to go to the expense of creating enscorcled plate armour your goin to inlay it with all kinds of cool gadgets, charms and amulets too. Infact its probably going to be some kind of owerarmour that would work for a futuristic alien Predator too
 
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s/LaSH said:
Yes, even European plate was known to overheat to the point where the wearer's heart gave out. That's why the Crusaders (when they managed to get to the Holy Land) never went up against similar military forces...

Plate was a later development. In the 11th and 12th centuries knights wore chain. Much as their chivalrous counterparts among the Muslim powers.

In addition, the sort of heavy plate you're thinking of was developed for tourneys, not battle. And dates from the 16th century at the earliest.

Things changed a lot in Europe between 576 and 1453
 

s/LaSH said:
with this huge ibis-headed guy at their head clad in plates of metal - probably inlaid or plated with precious metals, gems, lapis lazuli etc; the Egyptians liked that sort of thing.

Tonguez said:
and cue Paladin wearing lots and lots of magical amulets

Egypt is a theocracy so any major leader of armies is going to be divinely inspired and if your going to go to the expense of creating enscorcled plate armour your goin to inlay it with all kinds of cool gadgets, charms and amulets too. Infact its probably going to be some kind of owerarmour that would work for a futuristic alien Predator too

Hmm... now see, this is the kind of stuff I was thinking about. I plan on using Deities and Demigods' Pharaonic Pantheon as an inspiration, and I wanted to give the culture a twist - an "Elite Guard" of Divine warriors equipped with magical weaponry, each blessed by a patron god, and armed appropriatly: a Guardsman of Ra-Horakthy would be armed with a Khopesh and would wear a hawk-headed helmet, while one of Hathor would wield a Longsword and wear a cow/bull-headed helmet.
 

Actually people on horseback are more mobile than chariots. Chariots, since they are wheeled, are more restricted as to where they can go. Plus, they require a charioteer, and quite possibly multiple horses. So if stirrups are known I'd expect the "Egyptians" to abandon their chariots.

I'd see the elite wearing as little armour but as much magic as possible. Perhaps horse archers with the best possible bows available?

Of course, if LOTS of magic is available, magical flying chariots pulled by phantom horses (perhaps just an effect of the magic) would be pretty cool.
 
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LoneWolf23 said:
Ok, planning to use an ancient egyptian-style nation for use in my next Greyhawk campaign, only with the other countries remaining at the same tech levels.

Sounds interesting, LoneWolf23. Have you looked at Gygax's Necropolis adventure (originally for Dangeous Journeys, then d20-ified by Necromancer Games)---it would fit nicely into an Egyptian GH game. There's a freebie on the NG web site for Necropolis, too, IIRC.

So I need to create a version of Egypt armed with medieval-level technology like Plate Armor, Steel Weapons, and the like. I'm thinking that plate-armored Egyptian Knights would look something like a Jaffa Warrior from Stargate SG-1, only with common melee weapons. What do you guys think it would be like?

You might also consider magical alternatives to armor---stuff like the shields from Dune, or perhaps bracers of defense are much more common, or the armor is reflexive (it expands to coat you on an as-needed basis when you're threatened, or by a command word, etc.).

I would also recommend that you check out some good historical books on Egyptian military technology---these Osprey titles might be useful:


Books on the Crusades may be good inspiration, too.
 


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