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Message: <blockquote data-quote="William Ronald" data-source="post: 1285968" data-attributes="member: 426">Very good responses.  I think this is one of the most interesting threads on war on EN World in sometime.Elder Basilisk, I should not that in Sung China, before its conquest by the Mongols, warriors were looked down upon by many of the ruling elite.  The scholar class were in general opposed to an increase in power  To quote from "Daily Life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion: 1250-1276" by Jacques Genet:  "It is clear that the origin of the comntempt and suspicion that the arts of war were regarded lies in one of those choice by which every civilization is characterized, and that this attitude was in sympathy with a concept of human behavior that this attitude was in sympathy with a comcept of human behavior that put the emphasis on ritual and on the moral code rather than on any form of direct action."  Additionally, Genet pointed out, that the scholar class was hostile to policies tending to encourage a more powerful military.  There was also in many parts of society a poor opinion of the ethics of soldiers.I would argue that the an important consideration on how war is viewed in a society centers on the religious values.  As previously pointed out, societies embracing a pacifistic doctrine may view war as an evil that has to have limits.  Others, perhaps viewing it as a divine commandment to defend one's own life, may dislike war but allow it under certain circumstances.  For example, either for self-defense or to fulfill a divine commandment.  Of course, there may still be rules limiting what one can legitimately do in time of war.  (I am trying to avoid too much religious discussion. However, it should be noted that different traditions have had beliefs on how a "just war" is conducted.  It should also be noted that the doctrines concerning those beliefs have been subject to interpreptation.)In a magical world with clerics who can cast communes or summon representatives of their deities, societies worshipping good-aligned deities might have a clearer idea of what is a just war.  It is also possible that some deities might allow there worshippers the free will to make some interpreptation of doctrine.   Over time, a faith may develop new doctrines based on their core beliefs.  Or a deity's views may change over time.  In Sepulchrave's story hour, for example, Oronthon in the view of some seems to occassionally struggle between the concepts of justice and mercy.  For myself, I take the right of self defense to be a given based on my own beliefs.  From what I have read of history and seen in my own lifetime, it seems that it only takes one side to start a war.  Even if one side surrenders, there is no guarantee that an attacker will not harm non-combatants.  Considering the nature of some foes in many D&D settings, always surrendering to an agressor would likely spell the death of a culture to that of an agressor.</blockquote>

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