Most incompetent fantasy world conflicts ...

Crom · Post by **Crom** » 2003-08-27 03:36pm

In the spirit of worst Sci-Fi battles what are the most incompetent examples of fantasy world warfare?

I can't think of anything off of the top of my head ...

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-08-27 03:39pm

The defenders of Cairhein must have done very poorly to have their city sacked once and nearly sacked twice by a lot of spear-wielding light infantry with no siege weapons or experience.

Crom · Post by **Crom** » 2003-08-27 05:53pm

HemlockGrey wrote:The defenders of Cairhein must have done very poorly to have their city sacked once and nearly sacked twice by a lot of spear-wielding light infantry with no siege weapons or experience.

It's been a while since I've read WOT, did the Aiel use their One Power wielders against the city? That could count as artillery support, of a kind.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-08-27 07:51pm

The 100 man regiment that went after Guts in Berserk (rather than endlessly pelting arrows at him till he went down, they engaged him in single combat and were all slaughtered).

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2003-08-27 08:02pm

Final Fantasy 10: "Operation Mi'hon" I believe it was called? Infanty and Cochobo cavalry with canon backup, against SIN.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-08-27 09:30pm

HemlockGrey wrote:The defenders of Cairhein must have done very poorly to have their city sacked once and nearly sacked twice by a lot of spear-wielding light infantry with no siege weapons or experience.

Not once you get off your stupid, they're spear weilders so they must suck routine. By canon they're damn formidible fighters.

Agent R · Post by **Agent R** » 2003-08-27 10:09pm

LadyTevar wrote:Final Fantasy 10: "Operation Mi'hon" I believe it was called? Infanty and Cochobo cavalry with canon backup, against SIN.

I don't think they were intended to survive. I believe their main task was to pin down the fiends until they could use their ace in the hole: that machina that looked like a pair of giant spears and fired energy at Sin. The planners of Operation Mi'ihen were overconfident, and in my book, overconfidence is the same as incompetence.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2003-08-27 10:22pm

Agent R wrote:
LadyTevar wrote:Final Fantasy 10: "Operation Mi'hon" I believe it was called? Infanty and Cochobo cavalry with canon backup, against SIN.
I don't think they were intended to survive. I believe their main task was to pin down the fiends until they could use their ace in the hole: that machina that looked like a pair of giant spears and fired energy at Sin. The planners of Operation Mi'ihen were overconfident, and in my book, overconfidence is the same as incompetence.

As a plan it was fine: Lure it in, distract it, then blast it with everything they had. The plan also worked: Sin came to it's Spawn(Though they obviously didn't think the agitated Spawn would fuse!). The cavalry did, indeed, delay Sin. And the heavy artillery at least gave it pause(Indeed, the giant lightning tower had nearly collapse Sin's shield when Sin decided to blast it).

I'd more put it down to bad Intel on Sin's durability, and not enough hardware.

Brother-Captain Gaius · Post by **Brother-Captain Gaius** » 2003-08-27 11:17pm

The war the Menzoberranyr find themselves currently in in the War of the Spider Queen series. That matron mother council thingy = teh sux. As in the other thread, a six year old could make better decisions than them.

The duergar are so going to pwn teh dr0w.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-08-27 11:22pm

Not once you get off your stupid, they're spear weilders so they must suck routine. By canon they're damn formidible fighters.

Which explains why they can sack a walled city...how?

Symmetry · Post by **Symmetry** » 2003-08-28 02:20am

HemlockGrey wrote:
Not once you get off your stupid, they're spear weilders so they must suck routine. By canon they're damn formidible fighters.
Which explains why they can sack a walled city...how?

Remember, the Aeil are pretty much the only people in this time period to use camoflauge, and most seem to be pretty acomplished climbers. Thus, while the people inside the city are confident that light infantry can't get them, the Aeil sneak up to the city and climb up the walls. Pretty much the same story as the stone of Tear. During the second seige, the inhabitants knew to be on the lookout for this, so thats why the Shaido couldn't get in.

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2003-08-28 03:10am

Speaking of Operation Mi Hern why not use the machina missle the Airship had that Cid used to blow up Home on Sin?

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-08-28 10:35am

Well, in Warhammer I think there was some battle where the High Elves lost 10 times as many soldiers as the Druchii. And I don't recall them being outnumbered.

Considering that the High Elves are supposed to be some of the Warhammer World's best strategists, this must be quite an embarassment.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-08-28 11:36am

Remember, the Aeil are pretty much the only people in this time period to use camoflauge, and most seem to be pretty acomplished climbers. Thus, while the people inside the city are confident that light infantry can't get them, the Aeil sneak up to the city and climb up the walls. Pretty much the same story as the stone of Tear. During the second seige, the inhabitants knew to be on the lookout for this, so thats why the Shaido couldn't get in.

Soooo the defenders of Cairhein were incompetant, at least the first time around.

Luke Starkiller · Post by **Luke Starkiller** » 2003-08-28 01:08pm

HemlockGrey wrote:
Remember, the Aeil are pretty much the only people in this time period to use camoflauge, and most seem to be pretty acomplished climbers. Thus, while the people inside the city are confident that light infantry can't get them, the Aeil sneak up to the city and climb up the walls. Pretty much the same story as the stone of Tear. During the second seige, the inhabitants knew to be on the lookout for this, so thats why the Shaido couldn't get in.
Soooo the defenders of Cairhein were incompetant, at least the first time around.

Exactly, there are all of 4 or 5 truly competent commanders in WoT.

Smiling Bandit · Post by **Smiling Bandit** » 2003-08-28 02:31pm

Speaking of Operation Mi Hern why not use the machina missle the Airship had that Cid used to blow up Home on Sin?

Wasn't ready - the Al-Bed were still fixing it and it was secret.

As to the WoT discussion:

I don't care what the book says, you freaking cannot disguise yourself while climbing up a wall with a big spear. And they had a vast army anyway.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-08-28 03:15pm

And they had a vast army anyway.

And? So if you plop down 100,000 people in front of a walled city, giving them only short spears and no siege equipment, nor anyone who knows how to build or use said equipment- in fact, only a select handful might have ever actually seen siege equipment, and of course the entire army has never, ever been placed into a situation where a siege would necessary- while at the same time staffing the city with soldiers who have fought in several minor wars and who's commaders have had ample opportunity to study the art of siege warfare and who have probably had a shot at it at least once- you're telling me that, with all that, the the city will simply raze itself to the ground? The only way to defeat a city in that way would be to starve it out, not storm it.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-08-28 03:24pm

Incidentally, I will now travel back in time and inform Mehmed II that he did not, in fact, need to hire Urban, and if he could just sit his army around the city it will collapse into itself.

Smiling Bandit · Post by **Smiling Bandit** » 2003-08-29 08:21am

The only way to defeat a city in that way would be to starve it out, not storm it.

You misunderstand me; I was saying that they had a vast army and hence could not hide it. Sure, you can hide a few people with camoflauge. You can hide a lot of stuff from ariel scouts. You can't hide and army. The Aiel travel light, with very little long-term provisions. You can't sneak up on a city, well, barring really unusual events. If the Aiel managed to slip spies into the city, then maybe they could storm it. A very good way to win against a walled city is to bribe someone to open the gates.

dworkin · Post by **dworkin** » 2003-08-29 12:07pm

Warcraft III - I used to have a pet rock with more intelligence than the average leader of their armies.

Leader - An ancient artifact that is obviously evil. Let's use it.
Flunky - Umm sir, what about that big warning sign, 'do not touch'?
Leader - No, must use evil.
Flunky - You all right sir? I think...
Leader - Grr, ugh (takes evil artifact) ahahahahahahaha!

The third time this happened in the campaign I banged my head on my desk

As for the elf telling the death knight how to breach their defences. Elven rangers are obviously selected by bust size not brain power.

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2003-08-29 12:30pm

About any fight from 'Bored of the Rings'.

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-08-29 01:56pm

consequences wrote:About any fight from 'Bored of the Rings'.

Are you referring to that LOTR parody book??

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2003-08-29 02:37pm

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2003-08-29 05:04pm

SirNitram wrote:
Agent R wrote:
LadyTevar wrote:Final Fantasy 10: "Operation Mi'hon" I believe it was called? Infanty and Cochobo cavalry with canon backup, against SIN.
I don't think they were intended to survive. I believe their main task was to pin down the fiends until they could use their ace in the hole: that machina that looked like a pair of giant spears and fired energy at Sin. The planners of Operation Mi'ihen were overconfident, and in my book, overconfidence is the same as incompetence.
As a plan it was fine: Lure it in, distract it, then blast it with everything they had. The plan also worked: Sin came to it's Spawn(Though they obviously didn't think the agitated Spawn would fuse!). The cavalry did, indeed, delay Sin. And the heavy artillery at least gave it pause(Indeed, the giant lightning tower had nearly collapse Sin's shield when Sin decided to blast it).

I'd more put it down to bad Intel on Sin's durability, and not enough hardware.

And the fact that the Yevon temple supported the whole affair because they knew it would wipe out the Crusaders, who were becoming far too ambitious and independent for their own good.

Still, it's the only time you'll ever see anthing like the best scenes from Nausicaa animated, so why complain...

Symmetry · Post by **Symmetry** » 2003-08-29 08:09pm

Vendetta wrote: Still, it's the only time you'll ever see anthing like the best scenes from Nausicaa animated, so why complain...

Yeah, it was nice to see a chocobo charge, but they weren't nearly as cool as the Torumekians.