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<blockquote data-quote="nittanytbone" data-source="post: 2712776" data-attributes="member: 35709">Actually, I think most wizards would be able to hold off an army pretty effectively.&nbsp; Most combat units become ineffective once they've taken 50% casualties;&nbsp; morale and cohesion start slipping much earlier than that.&nbsp; For example, the US marines taking Peliliu in the Pacific theatre of WW2 were hardened veterans and one of the most elite infantry units ever fielded, and even they lost combat effectiveness after facing (invisible) artillery and mortars which inflicted 50% casualties -- and they had the benefit of their own fire support and knowledge of modern weapons.I would think that medieval foot troops, unfamiliar with magic and merely knowing that they're taking huge casualties with no chance of returning fire, would have huge morale problems if they didn't all get butchered on the field if the wizard played his cards right.&nbsp; THEY don't know he only gets two fireballs a day!Then again, if effectively led and able to prevent the wizard from getting 9 hours of restful time to sleep and prepare spells, I suppose the wizard might eventually run out of charges in his wand of fireballs...</blockquote>

[QUOTE="nittanytbone, post: 2712776, member: 35709"] Actually, I think most wizards would be able to hold off an army pretty effectively. Most combat units become ineffective once they've taken 50% casualties; morale and cohesion start slipping much earlier than that. For example, the US marines taking Peliliu in the Pacific theatre of WW2 were hardened veterans and one of the most elite infantry units ever fielded, and even they lost combat effectiveness after facing (invisible) artillery and mortars which inflicted 50% casualties -- and they had the benefit of their own fire support and knowledge of modern weapons. I would think that medieval foot troops, unfamiliar with magic and merely knowing that they're taking huge casualties with no chance of returning fire, would have huge morale problems if they didn't all get butchered on the field if the wizard played his cards right. THEY don't know he only gets two fireballs a day! Then again, if effectively led and able to prevent the wizard from getting 9 hours of restful time to sleep and prepare spells, I suppose the wizard might eventually run out of charges in his wand of fireballs... [/QUOTE]

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