Military tactics vs. high-level spellcasters

[Olgar Shiverstone]

The attackers are hosed in the D&D scenario -- and even in most real-world scenarios of the castle is properly built. My answer: poison the water supply.

Either that, or pull back and nuke the castle from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

pull back and nuke the castle from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

"Captain"
"Yes, General?"
"Didn't I order you to nuke those sons of mothers? 'Nuke'm till they glow and then shoot them in the dark' I said, I'm quite sure of it."
"Yes, you did, General?"
"Well, it is dark. Why can't I see them glowing yet? Have you used enough nukes?"
"Uhm... about those nukes.... I went to the quarter master, and...."
"Out with it, man!"
"It seems we're fresh out of nukes, sir"
"What?"
"Yes, the quartermaster told me. He said: 'Nukes? Won't be invented for a nother 1000 years,' sir. Sorry, sir"
"Invented? Tell him to spare me that technical stuff. I want them nukes, and I want them now."

 

[Warren Okuma]

"Captain"
"Yes, General?"
"Didn't I order you to nuke those sons of mothers? 'Nuke'm till they glow and then shoot them in the dark' I said, I'm quite sure of it."
"Yes, you did, General?"
"Well, it is dark. Why can't I see them glowing yet? Have you used enough nukes?"
"Uhm... about those nukes.... I went to the quarter master, and...."
"Out with it, man!"
"It seems we're fresh out of nukes, sir"
"What?"
"Yes, the quartermaster told me. He said: 'Nukes? Won't be invented for a nother 1000 years,' sir. Sorry, sir"
"Invented? Tell him to spare me that technical stuff. I want them nukes, and I want them now."

"That epic mage with the correct spell seeds is unavailable at this CR sir."
"Rats."

 

[RangerWickett]

Very good point! What's my motivation here people?

The mage fortress and the town around it is a nest of opposition against your nation. People go there to plan objective raids against your country, to make alliances, trade information, equip, and train. Basically, it is the base of an enemy army, and if you can destroy the base, while you might not necessarily kill everyone involved, you'll make it harder for them to organize.

 

[takasi]

I like the underground assault. Recruit creatures that can dig and attack the castle from underneath.

What would the wizard defenses be in this scenario? How would a group of high level wizards hold back 10,000 burrowing creatures?

 

[Salthorae]

The mage fortress and the town around it is a nest of opposition against your nation. People go there to plan objective raids against your country, to make alliances, trade information, equip, and train. Basically, it is the base of an enemy army, and if you can destroy the base, while you might not necessarily kill everyone involved, you'll make it harder for them to organize.

Well, war is nasty, and siege warfare more so. I would say no limits on tactics (unless the nation with the 10k troops is run by paladins), otherwise water supply poisoning, small skirmishings to draw out the wizards (as suggested earlier). If that isn't an option, then you definitely need magic fire power/counterspelling ability on the side of the army to have a chance vs. the wizards.

Either creatures that can negate magics, use magics (wizards/outsiders), or items of some sort that will help the troops counter spells. I can't think of a mass siege tactic that would avail troops vs. high level mages really without some magic of their own.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

The mage fortress and the town around it is a nest of opposition against your nation. People go there to plan objective raids against your country, to make alliances, trade information, equip, and train. Basically, it is the base of an enemy army, and if you can destroy the base, while you might not necessarily kill everyone involved, you'll make it harder for them to organize.

If that's the case, a simple blockade might sufficent. If you hem them in and they don't have significant offensive strength, the stalemate works in your favor. You don't need to destroy them -- you just need to keep them from sallying out from their base against you.

 

[takasi]

If that's the case, a simple blockade might sufficent. If you hem them in and they don't have significant offensive strength, the stalemate works in your favor. You don't need to destroy them -- you just need to keep them from sallying out from their base against you.

If they don't have significant offensive strength then why not go for the base?

What can kill an army while they're marching to a fortress can surely kill an army trying to create a blockade.

 

[painandgreed]

If they don't have significant offensive strength then why not go for the base?

Because they have significant defensive strength.

 

[takasi]

Because they have significant defensive strength.

You do know we're talking about wizards, right?