Should Castles Even Exist?

[A'koss]

Slightly OT, but...

Originally posted by Pogre:

Countries continue to build conventional arms for that reason - the expectation that no one would bring nuclear arms into the conflict.

Uh... just because we've been very lucky not to have gotten into any nuclear shooting matches yet certainly does not preclude (the very distinct) possibility. I think people forget how close to the brink we've been in the past... I have little doubt that nuclear weapons will be employed in war and/or in acts of terrorism in our lifetimes. Do you honestly believe the U.S. wouldn't employ nuclear weapons in a war against a foe that could actually threaten the country?

Remember, D&D is rooted in Good vs. Evil and Law vs. Chaos. That, and HLers have little to personally fear due to self-sufficiency and easy resurrection in the game.

Anyways... something to think about.

A'koss.

 

[S'mon]

S'mon, um... don't take this the wrong way but I think you need to brush up on your HL tactics a little...

Even a moderately prepared HL party can completely ignore and remain out of reach of LL attackers while being able to attack them with impunity. See some of my previous posts...

Cheers,

A'koss.

They can't remain out of reach if they choose to entire the enemy castle/city/dungeon/camp to take out enemy leaders, the usual aim of an HL strike. Of course mages can fly invisibly overhead a city or army and rain down fireballs from afar on the general population - IMC if the enemy has mid-level casters they'll then dispatch a bunch of buffed flying fighter types who can see invisible to take the mage(s) down. If the enemy has HL casters of roughly equal power to the attackers it's likely a suicide mission, a concerted response will easily splat them.

I think you need to brush up on your 'fire team' tactics for the defense.

 

[S'mon]

The most successful army IMC is the Mongali Horde, based off large numbers of mounted archers - the entire Horde numbers some 200,000 when mustered. Like historical Mongols, they travel spread-out, and area effect spells will usually kill only a few. High level leaders travel incognito amongst the general mass. They have a good number of mid to high-level sorcerers who are used primarily to support the army by countering HL enemies, providing everyone with some magic arrows, etc. On level terrain they've always proven undefeatable so far. The only tactic that seems to work is finding and assassinating their Great Khan before the battle, which is not easy.

In castle & city sieges, HL casters do tend to be decisive, just as artillery is usually decisive IRL. Not every battle involves HL casters, and like I said IME there's a home-field advantage to the defender, but if the HL attackers can get air supremacy (wiping out all enemy fliers) they can then lay down area fire on a weak point in the enemy defenses (a destroyed section of wall, usually), enabling their army to storm the breach largely unopposed.

 

[Olive]

Yes. Very simply - the high level clerics and dragons and umber hulks are not the only threats. If you don't have a fortification, the peasant rabble will be able to do as much or more damage as any of the elite troops you mention

Maybe it's just my campaign, but this is how I see it. My PCs see monters lots, but only because they're venturing off into places where monsters live. The average lord has to deal with upset peasantry far more often than umber hulks.

It also helps that there is a ban on wizards participating in politics in my campaign, ripped of of Sep's story hour.

 

[buzzard]

If your enemy develops a weapon that can cut through plate mail like wet cheese, would you go into battle naked? No. You'd put on the armor, so that you'd be protected against the guys who DON'T have that weapon.

Actually when they invented a weapon that cut through plate mail like wet cheese, people did stop wearing plate mail. It was a matter of how common the cheese cutters were that made for the decision.

buzzard

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Well for one thing, I can't imagine a fantasy world without castles.

Well, I am
trying to build one...