Tiberius
Explorer
Hi, everyone. If you're one of my players, you may stop reading now. For everyone else, I have a question.
My players are soon going to be leading their armies against a legion of troops modeled after the Roman style. This is all well and good, as I am somewhat familiar with the tactics of Rome and willing to do research for what I do not know. However, it occured to me that I have to contend with something the actual legates did not: magic. Especially big-boom Evocations. I'm sure others have run into similar situations (SHARK, I'm looking at you.
) and was wondering how have you handled it?
Here's the situation. My PCs recently aquired a barony, the ownership of which is contested. They came in with an army and fought the Romans, carrying the day but suffering ~90% losses. Since then they have made no effort to raise an army. They've been away for a month or so doing adventurey things. Upon their return, they learn that the northern reaches of the barony (a very hilly and forested area) have been reconquered by a legion of their foes. They send to the Queen for help, and she promises a force of 500 light infantry, 300 medium cavalry, and 200 archers. They have also been pledged martial support from the kingdom's allies, to the tune of 950 medium infantry, 3 beholders, 5 stone giants, 20 clerics of Hextor, 20 necromancers, a vampire, and a half-fiend half-flesh golem. Part of the necromancers' job is to raise troops from the field as needed. They view this as an opportunity to test out their new toys, much like the Spanish Civil War. The party doesn't know what they're getting from these allies, and being of generally good temperment will probably not be pleased.
The Republican legions are a mixed-race band. Roughly 50% of the 4,800 troops are human, 20% half-elves, 15% dwarves, 10% half-orcs, and 5% lizardmen. The legate is a Fig10, and the tribunes are wizards and clerics whose main job is to counterspell incoming things and perform other auxilury magical tasks. The missile troops are primarily archers, with a corps of slingers equipped with 5-10 Fireball bullets each. The other members of the legion are rather mundane.
The Republic has ears in the court of the aforementioned Queen, so they know that the local evil theocracy is sending troops. Thus they will have a small contingent of Hieronean paladins with them. They have also convinced the local hill giants (a generally peacful bunch) to help defend the province from the invading monarchists. These giants will probably act as mobile artillery platforms. The legion is holed up guarding the only road through the hills awaiting the arrival of two more legions worth of reinforcements before they march on the capital. They expect to still carry the support of the populace, as the baron has done little more than say "Hi, I'm the new baron! Bye!"
The commanders know that the baron is a powerful elven wizard (14th level), and has is his employ a psionic centaur as a knight (Psion 14). He has also apparently aquired a tiefling scout/assassin (Rgr5/Deepwood Sniper 5/Rog1) and a bard (Brd11, Sor1).
I am grateful for any thoughts you might have about this.
-Tiberius
My players are soon going to be leading their armies against a legion of troops modeled after the Roman style. This is all well and good, as I am somewhat familiar with the tactics of Rome and willing to do research for what I do not know. However, it occured to me that I have to contend with something the actual legates did not: magic. Especially big-boom Evocations. I'm sure others have run into similar situations (SHARK, I'm looking at you.
) and was wondering how have you handled it?Here's the situation. My PCs recently aquired a barony, the ownership of which is contested. They came in with an army and fought the Romans, carrying the day but suffering ~90% losses. Since then they have made no effort to raise an army. They've been away for a month or so doing adventurey things. Upon their return, they learn that the northern reaches of the barony (a very hilly and forested area) have been reconquered by a legion of their foes. They send to the Queen for help, and she promises a force of 500 light infantry, 300 medium cavalry, and 200 archers. They have also been pledged martial support from the kingdom's allies, to the tune of 950 medium infantry, 3 beholders, 5 stone giants, 20 clerics of Hextor, 20 necromancers, a vampire, and a half-fiend half-flesh golem. Part of the necromancers' job is to raise troops from the field as needed. They view this as an opportunity to test out their new toys, much like the Spanish Civil War. The party doesn't know what they're getting from these allies, and being of generally good temperment will probably not be pleased.
The Republican legions are a mixed-race band. Roughly 50% of the 4,800 troops are human, 20% half-elves, 15% dwarves, 10% half-orcs, and 5% lizardmen. The legate is a Fig10, and the tribunes are wizards and clerics whose main job is to counterspell incoming things and perform other auxilury magical tasks. The missile troops are primarily archers, with a corps of slingers equipped with 5-10 Fireball bullets each. The other members of the legion are rather mundane.
The Republic has ears in the court of the aforementioned Queen, so they know that the local evil theocracy is sending troops. Thus they will have a small contingent of Hieronean paladins with them. They have also convinced the local hill giants (a generally peacful bunch) to help defend the province from the invading monarchists. These giants will probably act as mobile artillery platforms. The legion is holed up guarding the only road through the hills awaiting the arrival of two more legions worth of reinforcements before they march on the capital. They expect to still carry the support of the populace, as the baron has done little more than say "Hi, I'm the new baron! Bye!"
The commanders know that the baron is a powerful elven wizard (14th level), and has is his employ a psionic centaur as a knight (Psion 14). He has also apparently aquired a tiefling scout/assassin (Rgr5/Deepwood Sniper 5/Rog1) and a bard (Brd11, Sor1).
I am grateful for any thoughts you might have about this.
-Tiberius
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