How do you handle the military?

[randomling]

This is really a few questions in one. I'm trying to consolidate all my ideas for my homebrew and turn it into something that works. I have (I think) lots of good ideas but I'm struggling to put it all together, and one of the things that bugs me is the military. I know little about the army, navy, etc... so for all you homebrew-runners out there I have a few questions.

1) How are armies raised and maintained in your campaign world? Is there a standing army, or is a fighting force only raised at times of war?

2) Do you use standard military ranks? If so, army or navy? If not, did you make up your own? How did you do that?

3) Do you have any PCs who do serve or have served in the military? How do you handle that in terms of NPCs, etc?

It should be noted that I'm going to be using my homebrew as a world for stories as well -- so while I'm not likely to be inundated with soldier PCs I have a few ideas for soldier main characters. Contributions from worldbuilding writers would be welcome, too!

Thanks in advance, everybody.

 

[Dragongirl]

1) It is very dependant on what kind of nation it is. The more centralized it is the more likely it will have a standing national army. The more decentralized it is could mean private armies for local nobles (feudal society or a nation breaking down) or emergency militias especially in more rural nations. It also depends on what are the dangers around that nation? If they are next to a hostile area or country there will most likely be a standing army of some kind.

2) I use soldier, sargent, captain and general when I do a standing army most of the time. Personally I don't think Lt. and Major fits in most fantasy worlds.

 

[8XXX{0}====>]

In my Homebrew, the main kingdom, Hardonia, has a large standing army to protect it from the monsters of the Southern Reachs, the Pax Hobgoblinica (think a roman empire-esque hobgoblin nation) to the west, and the ever growing Jungle of Nax to the southwest.

Basically, the army, along with the state, are devout followers of Pela (Pelor, but female), and Heronious. They are made up of Clerics of Pela and Heronious, of Warriors and Fighters, and of all the mages and sorcerers they can find (magic in the kingdom is only allowed under army sanction). Those with the "gift" of wizardry are sent to special schools in the capitol, whereas those with sorcery in thier veins are usually trained directly by the local Head Sorcerer in their area (school + sorcs = not good). Of course, in the furthest reaches of the Kingdom, the laws of the Capitol are not as strong as closer to the capitol.

What this basically means in terms of your questions is...

1. Large standing army because war is all around, all the time. Volunteers, or in wizards and sorcerers cases, forced volunteers, serve thier entire life. All men serve for two years, usually from 18-20 during times of war. Women serve the same length, but over time, by making a gold a year worth of soldiers uniforms, or tents, or blankets, starting at 18, and going until 58. In either case, people can pay to avoid serving, or nominate someone else to serve in their stead.
2. Ranks are... let me grab my notes... Soldier, Sergent, Captain, Sub-Comander, Commander, Sub-General, General, Arch-General. Ranks apply whether Fighter, Cleric, or Mage.
3. I have never actually run a game in this campain world because i cant find any players, but any arcane magic users would either be soldiers or running from the law. Clerics of Pela or Heronious would be soldiers, and clerics of other gods wouldnt. Fighters could be soldiers, but maybe not.

 

[randomling]

OK, here's the setup in my world (actually, just this one nation that I'm building right now) as I see it:

The nation of Cellsor is a kingdom, but it is made up of a number of semi-independent baronies which answer to the King. There is a Cellsori standing army, based at the royal seat, which is basically raised and maintained out of the King's coffers. The baronies also supply the King with a small number of soldiers as a kind of tax, but these are conscripts, only called to service in times of war.

However, the baronies also have the capability (and the right, by law) to raise armies, and the richer ones keep standing armies, though they are of small size and not terribly effective. (We'd be talking about 500 1st-level warriors, here.) The number of baronies is not fixed, and especially in the south (far from the royal seat and the quick action of the king) baronies frequently war for territory. However, these contests are as often political as violent.

As for ranks, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. The King's military is highly structured, and baronies model their armies on the King's, though they tend to be less organized and disciplined.

Where are the holes in that?

 

[Black Omega]

In my Rokugan game the standing armies are composed of samurai and professional ashigaru. There are standing Imperial Legions and all clans have their own forces as well. But then, Rokugan uses the Japanese samurai feudal system.

I use Rokugan ranks, which are based on Japanese ranks, if memory serves correctly. The PC samurai are currently at the rank of Gunso, roughly sergeant. They've only recently gotten this rank, so I'm only now starting to really make use of it. But the group is hitting 10th level, they all have their little areas they are leaders.

 

[Crothian]

1) How are armies raised and maintained in your campaign world? Is there a standing army, or is a fighting force only raised at times of war?

2) Do you use standard military ranks? If so, army or navy? If not, did you make up your own? How did you do that?

3) Do you have any PCs who do serve or have served in the military? How do you handle that in terms of NPCs, etc?

1) My main country has what is called a Gaurd. Basically during times of piece they use the army to patrol, fight bandits, and protect the cities and trade routes. In times of war they will become the army as well as drafting of many of the citizins.

2) I use a rank system simliar to the army but more simplistic. I've also added in the the officier title of Knight that attaches to the normal rank. So, we have Captains and Knight Captians, generals and Knight Generals. The Knight term is given only to the nobles who devote themselves to the Gaurd.

3) I've had PCs run away from their responsibility or jion a special group within the Army like the Imperial Rangers or the Bordergaurd.

 

[Black Omega]

OK, here's the setup in my world (actually, just this one nation that I'm building right now) as I see it:

The nation of Cellsor is a kingdom, but it is made up of a number of semi-independent baronies which answer to the King. There is a Cellsori standing army, based at the royal seat, which is basically raised and maintained out of the King's coffers. The baronies also supply the King with a small number of soldiers as a kind of tax, but these are conscripts, only called to service in times of war.

Sounds fairly decentralized, I'd guess the King's standing army is fairly small? Sounds like a good adventure world, plenty of room for chaos.

However, the baronies also have the capability (and the right, by law) to raise armies, and the richer ones keep standing armies, though they are of small size and not terribly effective. (We'd be talking about 500 1st-level warriors, here.)

Why bother with a standing army if it's barely better than peasants with pointy sticks?

The number of baronies is not fixed, and especially in the south (far from the royal seat and the quick action of the king) baronies frequently war for territory. However, these contests are as often political as violent.

It does beg the question why baron standing armies are so poor if they are often used and useful.

As for ranks, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. The King's military is highly structured, and baronies model their armies on the King's, though they tend to be less organized and disciplined.

Question, if the King's military is much larger and more efficient why does he allow so much chaos? Not a problem, but it's an obvious question that should have some type of answer.

 

[Dragongirl]

OK, here's the setup in my world (actually, just this one nation that I'm building right now) as I see it:

The nation of Cellsor is a kingdom, but it is made up of a number of semi-independent baronies which answer to the King. There is a Cellsori standing army, based at the royal seat, which is basically raised and maintained out of the King's coffers. The baronies also supply the King with a small number of soldiers as a kind of tax, but these are conscripts, only called to service in times of war.

However, the baronies also have the capability (and the right, by law) to raise armies, and the richer ones keep standing armies, though they are of small size and not terribly effective. (We'd be talking about 500 1st-level warriors, here.) The number of baronies is not fixed, and especially in the south (far from the royal seat and the quick action of the king) baronies frequently war for territory. However, these contests are as often political as violent.

As for ranks, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. The King's military is highly structured, and baronies model their armies on the King's, though they tend to be less organized and disciplined.

Where are the holes in that?

Other than the poor quality of the Baronial forces this sound very much like medeival France. I agree with Black Omega that you need to make your local forces more effective, at least in your South where they are used often. Most likely there are also numbers of mercenaries roaming the South either employed by one of the lords or looking for employment.

I doubt the Baronial armies will have anything higher than captains as commanders other then the baron himself or his proxy to rule the entire force.

Since the area under direct control by the Royal forces seems to be small I doubt you will need a lot of ranks. One general, a sub-general (don't know what to call that) and then captains of various units.

IMO

 

[Tonguez]

A. Yuan Empire (Mongol Empire at its height)

1 A large standing army divided into Units(Tuman) of 10 - 100 -1000. Each member of a Unit is equal but each 1000 is lead by its own 'Khan' and the whole army is lead by the Great Khan Tegru
Children are all trained to use weapons and the army is considered an honoured career choice - better than being a scribe) but less than being Shaman (Druid) or Cleric (the most honoured profession is that of Farmer)

2 No ranks generally except for Khan and Great Khan

3 PCs are often military personel either as a Special Forces Unit in their own right (with an NPC Khan) or PCs have been leaders of Units (with the Unit effectively a set of stat bonuses)


B. Kingdom of Anziko

1. Small Standing Army which comprises the Royal Guard. Each Village and Clan is semi-autonomous and has its own lord (referred to as a Ras) and each Lord can be called upon to provide troops to either defend itself or to support the Negus (King) - it is in the best interest of clans to have some trained warriors as those who neglect this area can not effectively defend themselves.

2. Not developed but
Warrior (infantry) - Sekh (Knight) - Ras (Lord) - Negus (King)

3. PCs never really had much contact with the millitary other than the Royal Guard and a few processions when Ras Benari rode an Elephant to the City with 300 Horse-Knights in tow

3. Hawaiki - Mythical Polynesia

1. No standing armies each village defends itself from attack and makes raids as required. All are trained in use of arms and raiding parties are lead by a chief.
Related Villages (ie Tribes) do sometimes work togehter and form a larger war party of about 140 (this is a large army)

2. No ranks except Warrior and Chief (and Priest/Shaman)

3. Military doesn't exist except as a function of village life so PCs participate if and when required within the life of the village (eg the PCs village has been attacked in the past and they were forced to fight)

 

[randomling]

OK, so the baronies need to be more powerful... but not powerful enough to overthrow the King unless they all banded together (which, givfen Cellsori politics, is highly unlikely).

A few things:

1) There is an ongoing skirmish war with a country called Nerez going on in the North-East, about four days' ride from the royal seat. It's over mining rights, and the Nerezi are just protecting their territory so they aren't looking to invade (there's no threat to Cellsori territory, really, just the Cellsori economy). However, this is one of the main things the King uses his standing army for. New recruits are sent out to the front line as a "training excercise". It's not a war that's going to be won quickly, and despite the advice of his generals that he should give up and go home, the King persists.

2) I was originally going to have standing armies and law enforcement be different people. In cities, which don't have standing armies of their own usually (except for one which is exceedingly rich and paranoid), the law enforcement is by the King's Watch (which has to exist by law. Lawful King and government, but they don't have a lot of power in all the ways they want it).

3) There are very few actual members of the PC classes in the world... probably less than 5% of the population. The most common of those would be fighters and rogues. There is only about one wizard OR sorcerer, maybe a druid, and about a cleric and a half, for about 1,000 people. Not to mention there being strict legal injunctions on magic (no fireballs in public places). But I'm not sure what role spellcasters would play in my military. (Absolutely none in baronies' armies, but maybe the King would use them?)

Not sure on a lot of things though...