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Thread: Troop Maximums

  1. #1

    Troop Maximums

    Hail!

    One of my players brought up an interesting question yesterday. Is it
    possible to have so many troops in an invasion force, that not all of
    them can be used?

    Now, I play a Hyborean Wars PBM, and the rules there dictate that an
    army max.'s out at 30 units (though IIRC, their units are 2,000 men
    strong!) and that the inclusion of a good general may bump up the max a
    few units. Therefor, it is possible to invade Zamora for instance, with
    30 - 35 units. (They also use the 30 max as an 'army' maximum, and
    additional troops are assigned to different armies, with each nation
    receiving 1 Imperial army for every three provinces it controls.)

    So, I was thinking about this, and thought that the battle lines in
    Birthright are rather chaotic to be sure, and as such, a single
    general/command unit could not effectively control too many troops
    either. As such, I was thinking that a max. amount of troops should
    also be implemented when invasions are to occur. I was thinking maybe
    20 units? That's what, 4,000 troops? Quite a handful for one general
    to organize I should think.

    For some bonuses to reflect the generals ability, I was thinking perhaps
    a +1d4 unit modifier for high charisma (over 16 perhaps?) and maybe an
    extra unit for strategy and similar warfare related NWPs.

    What do you all think?

    Keith

    - --
    "I am your humble knight, and I swear allegiance to the courage and
    power in your veins.
    So strong it is, it's source must be Uther Pendragon."
    The Draftmine (Home of the Brass Boar & other Oddities.)
    http://www.angelfire.com/ak/draftmine/
    Brenna's Blood Secret PbeM (A Haven's of the Great Bay PBeM.)
    http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dungeon/2239/index.htm

  2. #2
    Daniel McSorley
    Guest

    Troop Maximums

    From: Morg
    >One of my players brought up an interesting question yesterday. Is it
    >possible to have so many troops in an invasion force, that not all of
    >them can be used?
    >
    >So, I was thinking about this, and thought that the battle lines in
    >Birthright are rather chaotic to be sure, and as such, a single
    >general/command unit could not effectively control too many troops
    >either. As such, I was thinking that a max. amount of troops should
    >also be implemented when invasions are to occur. I was thinking maybe
    >20 units? That's what, 4,000 troops? Quite a handful for one general
    >to organize I should think.
    >
    I agree that there is a practical limit, however, there were armies quite
    a bit larger than 4000 men floating around the medievel world.
    However, for playablility, once you get up beyond the 20 unit range, I
    think warcard battles get unwieldy anyway (more so than usual), so I'm
    willing to go with that.
    The problem with this limit is that it will rarely be reached. My
    players never seem to be able to concentrate their forces where they are
    most needed, because I trick them :) So a typical battle is 10 units
    against 6 or 7 entrenched defenders, then we switch armies to play the
    enemy's counter-invasion of the player's lands, usually 4 on 4 or so. Of
    course, my players don't rule big huge countries like some of the Khinasi
    lands, either, they run small places like Medoere or Roesone because the big
    guys in my games are NPCs.

    >For some bonuses to reflect the generals ability, I was thinking perhaps
    >a +1d4 unit modifier for high charisma (over 16 perhaps?) and maybe an
    >extra unit for strategy and similar warfare related NWPs.
    Maybe a number of extra units equal to his reaction bonus, plus one each
    for strategy, leadership, administration, and one for each lieutenant
    commander he has there (actual Lieutenants, he can't just say, "You, be my
    lieutenant for the day.")


    Daniel McSorley- mcsorley.1@osu.edu

  3. #3
    BenandAmy
    Guest

    Troop Maximums

    At the battle of Red Wall in China (220? AD) the northern forces alone
    had over half a million troops.
    - -----Original Message-----
    From: Kariu
    To: 'birthright@MPGN.COM'
    Date: Sunday, October 04, 1998 5:28 PM
    Subject: RE: [BIRTHRIGHT] - Troop Maximums


    >Greetings,
    >
    >Taking a historical perspective, there have been wars fought in earth's own
    >past that the battle field held forces numbering 120,000 soldiers. While
    >this is quite large and excessive, it can also represent the battle taking
    >place in multiple areas within the same battle zone.
    >
    >During the American Civil war for instance, I believe the Battle of
    >Gettysburg/Monasis, (part 1) the Union forces numbered close to 70,000
    >soldiers while the confederates held a number close to 40,000.
    >
    >Large battles to happen but the battlefield then usually encompasses miles
    >of terrain, not a hypothetical "arena" where the armies are supposed to
    >meet.
    >
    >
    >
    >:-)
    >
    >muaa
    >
    >-----Original Message-----
    >From: Morg [SMTP:morgramen@home.com]
    >Sent: Sunday, October 04, 1998 10:56 AM
    >To: birthright@MPGN.COM
    >Subject: [BIRTHRIGHT] - Troop Maximums
    >
    >Hail!
    >
    >One of my players brought up an interesting question yesterday. Is it
    >possible to have so many troops in an invasion force, that not all of
    >them can be used?
    >
    >Now, I play a Hyborean Wars PBM, and the rules there dictate that an
    >army max.'s out at 30 units (though IIRC, their units are 2,000 men
    >strong!) and that the inclusion of a good general may bump up the max a
    >few units. Therefor, it is possible to invade Zamora for instance, with
    >30 - 35 units. (They also use the 30 max as an 'army' maximum, and
    >additional troops are assigned to different armies, with each nation
    >receiving 1 Imperial army for every three provinces it controls.)
    >
    >So, I was thinking about this, and thought that the battle lines in
    >Birthright are rather chaotic to be sure, and as such, a single
    >general/command unit could not effectively control too many troops
    >either. As such, I was thinking that a max. amount of troops should
    >also be implemented when invasions are to occur. I was thinking maybe
    >20 units? That's what, 4,000 troops? Quite a handful for one general
    >to organize I should think.
    >
    >For some bonuses to reflect the generals ability, I was thinking perhaps
    >a +1d4 unit modifier for high charisma (over 16 perhaps?) and maybe an
    >extra unit for strategy and similar warfare related NWPs.
    >
    >What do you all think?
    >
    >Keith
    >
    >--
    >"I am your humble knight, and I swear allegiance to the courage and
    >power in your veins.
    > So strong it is, it's source must be Uther Pendragon."
    >The Draftmine (Home of the Brass Boar & other Oddities.)
    > http://www.angelfire.com/ak/draftmine/
    >Brenna's Blood Secret PbeM (A Haven's of the Great Bay PBeM.)
    > http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dungeon/2239/index.htm
    >
    >
    >************************************************* **************************
    >>'unsubscribe birthright' as the body of the message.
    >
    >

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