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Wars and Battles in Roleplaying

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2/10/2013 10:21:12   
TJByrum
Member

I've been wanting to try and come up with a roleplay dealing with a war and battles. You know, generals and captains leading armies across the land, fighting for territory and such. Field battles, sieges, even naval battles. But for now, let's focus on a field battle.

How would you do it?

I use to think of doing it as using the right combination and formation of troops that would win the battle, then tactics could turn the tide of battle. Then I came up with an idea of you leading a single troop type and you could choose the armor and weapons of that troop type and that determined their effectiveness. Then I decided to use the idea of the armies fighting in the background, and the two players fight PvP, and whoever wins the PvP match wins the whole battle, but that detracts the strategy from the battle. Most of my ideas won't work, are to complex, or have elements that can be easily abused.

Collaboration perhaps? "I send these troops out, they do this, what's your reaction?" "I make these troops retreat, and I charge with these troops,", but that's really tedious...
DF AQW  Post #: 1
2/10/2013 10:43:13   
Starstruck
Member

My suggestion: (bold for emphasis)

Commander Starstruck surveyed the field of battle with a keen eye. The sun beat down on his full plate armor, countering the frosty chill of the Northern Plains. The Plains had few easy entrances, and to use a difficult passageway would have been a tactical mistake; he was forced to use a less than optimal opening assault, but at least he had made the first moves.

[Obviously initiative and setting and all that will be determined OOC. Now, below this is the crucial passage, and so I'm not going to add much detail. As a post, I doubt it would fly.]

He led with the cavalry, sending the paltry force of armed riders against the main bulk of the army. As they approached, however, they would split into a pincer movement, swing around to surround them, and from behind, getting the mages into range. It was a good plan, but not a terribly creative one, and Commander Starstruck desperately hoped that the enemy would not see through the plan and be able to thwart it.

In the case above, I adapted a fight scene to large-scale battles. Unless there is a system in place to prevent people from adapting to strategies that haven't even appeared yet, most posts probably wouldn't need to include future tactics. Collaboration would be key, however, as this would allow battles to proceed much more smoothly (wars, more so even than fights, have speedier actions and reactions, or so I assume).

As I do not have any experience doing war RPs, please please PLEASE take this with a heaping tablespoon of salt. This is how I'd imagine it would take place, with the bolded text being the actual events and the rest being description and internal monologue, but there are most likely better ones out there.
DF MQ  Post #: 2
2/10/2013 11:18:46   
TJByrum
Member

@Starstruck: That is a good idea I guess. I could reply with something like this:

General TJByrum of the 16th Legion had been waiting in the Northern Plains for several days. A few miles away his scouts had spotted Starstruck and his army. TJByrum's army, being more fitted for the snowy environment, waited for Starstruck to come to him. There were several passages into the plains, but TJByrum knew Starstruck would no doubt come the easiest. Behind his main force was a large forest, and probably one of the most difficult ways to come, but a good way to cover retreats if necessary. Because of this, his cavalry force had to take an alternate route and would not be here till later.

[Like you did, a little description (or lack thereof) of the location and such.]

Starstruck had arrived with his army and ordered a charge with his cavalry. The armored horsemen rode forth with the momentum of a thousand tidal waves. TJByrum smiled at their charge, "Pikes in front!" he yelled, "Pikes in front! Archers in back!" He barked his orders to his men, who began to mobilize. "Brace for impact men! Brace!" Unfortunately for TJByrum, the Cavalry did not charge right into his Pikes. They instead split into two groups and began to swing around behind his pikemen, seemingly headed for the mages! "No!" TJByrum cried, "Mages, retreat! Fall back into the forests!" But even so, the mounted horsemen were to fast for the mages, and some would be cut down.

I basically replied to your events, and mobilized my army, without using metagaming.
DF AQW  Post #: 3
2/10/2013 13:51:19   
Legendium
Member

Don't RPs belong in the RP section?

I do like the idea of armies clashing though. This could make for a very diverse world. If you choose to make an RP like this, wars should be things that select few participate in as major generals, the rest either going solo, (naturally hit by the war's effects every now and then though) or being like you said, leaders of factions. Since examples seem to have become a trend, let me give one. It'll be short.

It hadn't been more than three days since Legendium had escaped prison, and he was heading through the cold northern plains when he heard the low drone of more than one footsteps. Legendium started to wonder who all those footsteps could belong to when from the other direction he heard a sound like thunder. Then he understood. Two armies were advancing on each other, and Legendium was caught in the middle! He began to run when the horses and pike-men came into visibility. He didn't have enough time to get out of the way.....

What follows would be unnecessary in the example, and normally there would be a great big deal of more showing. The point is, a war would make a great side-plot in a world, but as a main plot, it'd get a bit boring. If you mix it with Assassin's guild, you'll have a great plot, and every last bit of my vote.
DF MQ Epic  Post #: 4
2/11/2013 21:30:41   
TJByrum
Member

@Legendium: I agree. A standard run-of-the-gun war roleplay is boring. But throw in some purpose and narrative and you can make it a lot better.

I've an idea...

So there is a large continent with several large cities. Players can be one of two characters: Ruler or General. Rulers start in one of the large cities and that is the start of their dynasty. Generals are serving under one of these Rulers. From there, the Rulers and Generals must march around the continent to take over the rebel settlements and expand their empire. Over time borders will begin to touch and foreign relations will begin. The Rulers job is to handle diplomacy, resources, and military recruitment. A Generals job is to lead the armies, fight battles, and win territory for the Rulers. At any time a General can defect and join someone else or even rebel and form their own faction. Every now and then Rulers will get Resources (based on number of cities they have). They can buy more soldiers from Fortresses and give them to their Generals.

I was thinking of putting in Crusades, Plagues, rise of special Orders and Brotherhoods, foreign invaders, etc. Will you work together or not?

(Crusades as in Polytheistic VS Monotheistic factions)

Edit:
Rise of Kingdoms
DF AQW  Post #: 5
2/12/2013 11:30:31   
Starstruck
Member

But then Ruler characters could get super boring to play. :(

How about we play Genghis Khan, only everyone's Temujin? Basically, all these tribal warlords come together in a feudal system. Conquered warlords have the option to either a.) flee into exile and leave the RP (perhaps reentering with a new army?) or b.) join forces with the marauding army. As the conflict continues, it self-organizes into a kind of tournament, almost, with the warlords who have won the most early having the greatest advantage in an automatic seeding system.

This RP would work better more streamlined, however, so that it could be played repeatedly under different settings. We could simply call the base mechanics "Khan" and, with each new incarnation, jazz up a few of the rules and settings to suit past experiences or add fresh elements of originality. (Range-based dominated? Reduce its effectiveness somehow or limit the amount of ranged warriors an army can have. The tank divisions are both an unstoppable force and an immovable object? Introduce more realistic travel time).

I think this would be a fun idea for casual play.
DF MQ  Post #: 6
2/12/2013 19:49:38   
TJByrum
Member

How about the players all starting with a small army. From there they can become a warlord and try to build a great dynasty, or they can pledge allegiance to another person and become a general under the warlords. Or they could form powerful orders and brotherhoods that can fight for the warlords, etc.

EDIT: I am currently looking for a 'collaborative paint' tool on the web. You know, a blank canvas you can draw on and others can draw on too, but you need a password to do it, etc. I can use this as a map builder. Basically, the 'warlords' will go there and draw an outline of their region, a dot for the city's location, and then use text to name it. It will be a blank canvas, so it is freedom-based. Over time, as people explore and more of the map is drawn by the players, it will build a continent of sorts.
DF AQW  Post #: 7
2/16/2013 3:25:10   
Legendium
Member

@TJ
That's a good idea. It could also be used as a quick way to plan a battle, with arrows showing movement and squares for units.
DF MQ Epic  Post #: 8
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