I am the very model of medieval major generals...
- Thread starter alsih2o
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Piratecat
Sesquipedalian
Many of the Generals in my world are both smart and charismatic. They don't have to fight themselves; they have to make good battle decisions about where OTHER people should fight, and they have to command loyalty and respect. The Marshall class from the Miniatures Handbook is a natural class for generals.
Of course, armies also see their share of high lvl fighters and incompetent nobles, but the real stars are the ones who can get other folks to do their jobs better.
Of course, armies also see their share of high lvl fighters and incompetent nobles, but the real stars are the ones who can get other folks to do their jobs better.
Arnwyn
First Post
All of the above. IMC, it depends on the country (or city-state, or whatever) and their laws and culture.
Generally, IMC, it's "duly experienced fighters" that are the most common (but, as I mention above, it could be all of the above). In any case, they'd all likely be higher-level characters (usually 10+ IMC).
Generally, IMC, it's "duly experienced fighters" that are the most common (but, as I mention above, it could be all of the above). In any case, they'd all likely be higher-level characters (usually 10+ IMC).
EternalNewbie
Explorer
As this may very well be applicable to a campaign I'll be running shortly, I thought I'd chime in.
While I think that the soldier working his way through the ranks to command troops has its place, I'd have to say that I'll probably lean more towards the noble/bard route, simply because there is a lot more to that post then simply leading troops. A good general/commander has to survive life at court and needs the related skills that the common soldier just won't have. He/She needs to be able to negotiate and compromise (diplomacy), and recognize adversaries and allies (knowledge heraldry, or bardic lore) to get what he/she needs to do the job. To be effective, I think you'd also need a horde of knowledge skills too, like logistics, tactics, seige tactics, geography etc, and in a D&D world, probably a little arcana too.
Now, this is probably a little too much realism for the average campaign (a fault I've been accused of more than once), but I'd still favour high skill point classes. And of course its all dependent on the social/polictical structure. If the kingdom is unfied against a common threat, for example, there'd be a lot less politicking and a lot more need for capable fighters to inspire and lead the troops directly. If it's a tightly controlled aristocracy, they're sure not going to want the common man in a position to have the loyalty of a large number of troops.
Of course, following this method you still end up with a fairly large number of inept commanders, which is a fairly common theme through history...
While I think that the soldier working his way through the ranks to command troops has its place, I'd have to say that I'll probably lean more towards the noble/bard route, simply because there is a lot more to that post then simply leading troops. A good general/commander has to survive life at court and needs the related skills that the common soldier just won't have. He/She needs to be able to negotiate and compromise (diplomacy), and recognize adversaries and allies (knowledge heraldry, or bardic lore) to get what he/she needs to do the job. To be effective, I think you'd also need a horde of knowledge skills too, like logistics, tactics, seige tactics, geography etc, and in a D&D world, probably a little arcana too.
Now, this is probably a little too much realism for the average campaign (a fault I've been accused of more than once), but I'd still favour high skill point classes. And of course its all dependent on the social/polictical structure. If the kingdom is unfied against a common threat, for example, there'd be a lot less politicking and a lot more need for capable fighters to inspire and lead the troops directly. If it's a tightly controlled aristocracy, they're sure not going to want the common man in a position to have the loyalty of a large number of troops.
Of course, following this method you still end up with a fairly large number of inept commanders, which is a fairly common theme through history...
He who has the most power or he who has the most nfluence or he who has the most knowledge. It is a NPC created for a plot in my games and while he/she sometimes is the right person for the job many times he may not be. 
MoogleEmpMog
First Post
Generals IMC are usually high-level fighters, clerics, warmains, marshals, paladins and samurai. My 'archetypical' general character sheet reads something like Samurai 2/Warmain 4/Marshal 4/Legendary Commander 10.
Strategists, on the other hand, are usually given a courtier base or outright d20 Modern smart hero. They might have a few wizard or cleric levels. Think the Silverburgs from Suikoden.
Strategists, on the other hand, are usually given a courtier base or outright d20 Modern smart hero. They might have a few wizard or cleric levels. Think the Silverburgs from Suikoden.
Some times it's simply someone with a lot of money. Selling commisions in the military is an old (if not exactly honored) tradition. There have also been numerous times where wealthy individuals spent their own money to raise a military force for their nation. I know this happened during the american civil war and in the roman empire.
Varianor Abroad
Explorer
Depends on the game! In one fantasy world modelled after Europe, many generals got to be generals because of an accident of birth. In my current game world, most are there due to skill. I don't write them up unless I need tem, so I don't have stats to go on though since I haven't had any wars.
kigmatzomat
Legend
I think any general who's other than a political appointment will have a few levels in fighter just by having been in melees where the lines break and they wind up in the thick of it. After that I tend to use a homebrew PC Expert variant with rogue-like skills and skill-based bonus feats.
Regardless of classes, effective professional generals tend towards lots of points in spot/listen/search/history/geography/diplomacy/sense motive/bluff, speaks multiple languages and possibly perform (trumpet/bugle/drums) to send battlefield signals. Feats tend to include improved initiative, endurance, alertness, and other campaign-specific feats that boost either perception or stamina.
Regardless of classes, effective professional generals tend towards lots of points in spot/listen/search/history/geography/diplomacy/sense motive/bluff, speaks multiple languages and possibly perform (trumpet/bugle/drums) to send battlefield signals. Feats tend to include improved initiative, endurance, alertness, and other campaign-specific feats that boost either perception or stamina.
