Strategic Fantasy Crossover RPG

[Setzer]

I'm aware of that, it's just I want to have some magical capabilities to augment my conventional forces.

[RogueIce]

So I'd be interested in this perhaps, though I'd play as a kingdom where magic is not so widespread. Maybe some more civil actions but not really as a military thing (unless we develop it later on).

I suppose for balance I'd need a tech edge or something? I dunno, I'd really like some help since this sort of setting is not one I'm familiar with, though I would like to play with it.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

So I'd be interested in this perhaps, though I'd play as a kingdom where magic is not so widespread. Maybe some more civil actions but not really as a military thing (unless we develop it later on).

I suppose for balance I'd need a tech edge or something? I dunno, I'd really like some help since this sort of setting is not one I'm familiar with, though I would like to play with it.

I think the big plus is that Shep isn't playing this game.

But we have to work out a system for magic.

*And if you don't mind, I claim Greece and Anatolia for myself. N. Africa and Italy will be nice, as will Egypt and Syria.*

[Darkevilme]

Magic is either something that makes units more powerful and expensive, ie a force multiplier, or the casting pool system. Where you get X amount of points set aside for your yearly pool of mana for epic magic. So far you can expend it to lean a battle in your favour by say raising the dead or dropping meteors on the enemy ranks or stuff. This aint be tested as a mechanism you understand so maybe unbalanced.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Magic is either something that makes units more powerful and expensive, ie a force multiplier, or the casting pool system. Where you get X amount of points set aside for your yearly pool of mana for epic magic. So far you can expend it to lean a battle in your favour by say raising the dead or dropping meteors on the enemy ranks or stuff. This aint be tested as a mechanism you understand so maybe unbalanced.

Well, my hope is that no one comes up with some uber spell out of the fly. I would prefer some fixed structure to it. I mean, next minute you have meteors not just laying waste to armies but whole empires at once.

[Darkevilme]

Well 2000 points of epic magic shouldnt be able to do terribly more than 2000 points of troops should. Sure it's gonna be a bit more potent as each point of magic is only returned to you at years end once expended.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Well 2000 points of epic magic shouldnt be able to do terribly more than 2000 points of troops should. Sure it's gonna be a bit more potent as each point of magic is only returned to you at years end once expended.

Well, alright.

Anyhow, since Setzer took parts of Greece, I will take Anatolia and the Bosphorous around Constantinople.

[Setzer]

Here's the latest map. Fingolfin, the Imperial Purple was already being used, so you're in Royal Blue.

[Akhlut]

Heh, looks like there are going to be 3 Greek-derived peoples in the game, since once I found out this was going to be a break from our original timeline, I decided to base the Crimeans off the Cherson Byzantines.

[Setzer]

Yeah, I was thinking of the Kingdom of Macedonia when I started. I changed some things around, though.

[Akhlut]

More troops.

Crimean Cavalry and Siege Weapons

Mounted Crossbowmen
Heavy Horsemen
Trebuchet
Ballista

The horse crossbowmen are simply the crossbowmen on horses, except without pavises. Their crossbows are also smaller, but they have the advantage of being able to move quickly across the battlefield.

Heave horsemen are the result of the combination of Byzantine Cataphracts and Venetian Knights. They are extremely well trained troops utilizing solid steel cuirasses and scale armor for limb mobility. Their horses are also well-armored. They have good morale, but are slow on the battlefield because of the weight their horses must bear. They are armed with large shields, swords, maces, and lances.

Trebuchets and Ballistae are just standard medieval siege weapons. Trebuchets are counterweight-powered catapults, and ballistae are oversized crossbows.

Iorikid Cavalry

Marauders

Marauders are mounted raiders, for all intents and purposes. They utilize horses to move quickly on the battlefield to exploit holes in fronts, weakening troops, or other opportunities.

Surtite Siege Weapons

Doorknocker
Sappers

The Doorknocker is a large, speciality battering ram designed to open the gates of fortresses. It is made of a column of basalt 50 ft. long and 10 ft. in diameter. It is mounted on a large wooden and metal frame, while the column is pulled back by an number of fire giants and the column then falls into the gate by pendulum motion. The column weighs approximately 736,600 pounds or 334,800 kilograms. The frame is covered on top by a sheet of bronze to prevent hot oil or arrows from hitting the operators.

Sappers are Surtite engineers, trained in the arts of excavation and sabotage. While explosives are unknown to them, they do know how to strategically pull support timbers from tunnels to collapse them, thus helping to bring down walls. They are armed with shovels, picks, and other such weapons used for excavation. Because they are sized for giants and wielded by giants, anything else in the tunnels can face large problems.

[Setzer]

Now, what about religion? I'm going to be worshipping the old Greek gods, with a bit of foreign ones syncretized in for good measure.

[SisterMiriamGodwinson]

I'm going to worship Rhiathamus.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

*shrug* I might come along with some Greek Gods thing, or some.. religion like worshipping the Valar or something.

[Setzer]

Who is he/she? My internet searches aren't turning anything up.

[The Romulan Republic]

My order of battle(numbers may require alteration to fit the point system):

The army is divided into legions. Each legion contains four companies of 100 men. Their are 4 legions to a division. All fit men are required to do a minimum of five years military service over a period of fifteen years from their 18th birthday.

Two companies in every legion are standard infantry. Their gear is similar to that of Roman legions. They use a mix of pikes and short stabbing swords, and depend on discipline to overcome superior numbers of foes. Each company of infantry also includes a group of 15 crossbow men.

Each legion also includes one company of light cavalry or mounted archers, and one company of logistical support and siege units. These are usually ballistae and catapults. However, some eliet legions have begun to use primitive cannons. Most companies also include a mage, though mages are usually low powered, and only a handful have the power to smash a castle's gates. They are primarily used for scrying, sending messages, and healing, as they are considered too valuable to routinely risk in combat.

In addition, most towns and large villages have an organized militia of local veterans. They wear leather armor or none, and they fight with old and worn weapons: spears, slings, and occasionally bows and swords.

In addition, there is a navy, comprised of 4 dromuns, 12 smaller galleys, 20 transports, and 4 caravels. A marine force defends the ships in battle, fighting with crossbows, short swords, axes, and and Greek Fire. Their is also a merchant marine that can be called up in time of war. The navy is critical to foreign policy, which revolves around securing trade routes and especially control over the western Mediterranean. However, my as yet unnamed nation is not expansionist (save in economic terms).

A shadowy arm of the state is its secret spy network, who's operatives infilterate neighboring states.

I'll add more details later, and modify numbers as needed.

[Setzer]

Alrighty, I think the tweaking is done. I'm gonna start working on my final nation writeup. If Pezook or someone else writes up a unifying history post, I can tweak things to fit with it.

[SisterMiriamGodwinson]

Who is he/she? My internet searches aren't turning anything up.

Rhiathamus is a fictional name of God the Father in Shadowmancer. Shadowmancer is a series by a British author who decides to write Christian fantasy novels.

[Setzer]

Well, I suppose Rhiathamus could be blended with Zeus, but I doubt a god that distant will make his way down south.

[SisterMiriamGodwinson]

I don't understand.... You mean I can't spread my theocracy?

[Setzer]

I'm just saying it's more likely that my people will see parallels between Rhiathamus and Zeus, rather then abandoning the worship of Zeus altogether.

It's a commom historical occurence for gods to merge together. Norseman wrote a very comprehensive essay on it.

http://the-norseman.livejournal.com/3150.html#cutid1
http://the-norseman.livejournal.com/3468.html#cutid1
http://the-norseman.livejournal.com/3806.html#cutid1

[SisterMiriamGodwinson]

Hm. O.k

[Setzer]

That's not to say missionaries should be banned by game rules. In any open religious environment, proselytizing will gain SOME new converts, regardless of other circumstances. It's part of roleplay, just like anything else. IIRC, when Alexander went East, he brought attention to parallels between Zeus and Ahura Mazda to win over his new Persian subjects, who were mostly Zoroastrians.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

I'll probably post up a rough draft of my army organization later when I get back home and scan through my copy of Marius' Strategikon.

As for religion, I think when we allow the spreading of religion, we should keep in mind the potential for conflict. Also, it might be best for empires which are very close to each other to share some form of common religion.

[Setzer]

Well, I'm following the old Greek gods. Are you still going with Orthodox Christianity?