Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JediJoeH 08-24-07, 05:43 PM	I know this has probably been asked to death, but I read through the 8 pages fo the Forum and found no Thread on this topic. I'm going to be running a military campaign, and for the most part I'm comfortable building the organizational system for the military the players will be in and creating the world. I want to know if anyone else ran military campaigns, for good or bad and what worked for you, what didn't. What didn't work for the players, what did... And how you handled wealth gain. They (probably) won't be delving dungeons while actively serving in the army. So far, all I know of the world is that most aspects of the campaign are going to progress. That is, it begins as a low magic campaign and will become a high magic. Same with the fantasy aspect of the story. And the other aspects of the game will also progress to grander levels later on. Thanks in advance for any thoughts, advice and maybe some warnings, too.
Dog_O_War 08-24-07, 08:25 PM	Wealth gain in a military campaign; SPOILS OF WAR. Things they find on the battlefield, trophies from enemy commanders, and equipment requisitioned from the heroes' home base are all ways of gaining wealth. Alternatively having them perform special single unit missions (just the PC's) to aquire powerful artifacts and such are also viable options for wealth gain. Even land grants from the king (or lord or whatever you're using) as treasure for fortress building are all excellent options to give the PC's (without breaking wealth per level; too much gold and treasure gives them an overwhelming advantage in combat; ten +1 swords give a characters' unit a very decersive edge).
GoriceXII 08-25-07, 10:04 AM	I am running a military campaign. I found that I had to be careful not to assume my players know much about military history or any kind of military background. Sometimes this is a little hit or miss and being ready to learn quickly from mistakes helps. I created a shares system for dividing up loot that seems to work fairly well, since dungeon delving is not a constant for me either. However military missions can have a nice feel of that kind--say if you are attacking a fortification it really is like dungeon delving just in a different way. You also need to plan for the effect of players gathering magic and greater power will be. I find that improving player units to special forces type status will help with that--say attaching them after a while to a senior commander's HQ and having them be given direct missions by someone high ranking. You also will need a pay scale and some idea of expenses. For example: is this the sort of military where say officers must purchase their own weapons, mounts and other gear? Are they expected to pay for their food and lodging?
JediJoeH 08-25-07, 06:30 PM	Its a fuedal type system, with each lord responsible for providing X number of footmen/archers/etc. The players are going to start as these footmen, and obviously gain in prominence as they progress. SO.... once/if they become noblemen, they'll be not only responsible for their own provisions, but also the provisions of the troops they command. This is gonna be a pretty ambitious campaign, moving from small skirmish battles to a multiple-nation war. I'm going to have years and seasons, too. So they'll have a chance to go home during the winter months.
Alexeduardo 08-25-07, 07:08 PM	is this the sort of military where say officers must purchase their own weapons, mounts and other gear? Are they expected to pay for their food and lodging? What the hell are you talking about? a bunch of armed thugs going kobold hunting? I highly recomend droping them in suicidal missions early in the game, this way they'll gain ranks faster.
taradusis 08-25-07, 09:22 PM	Perhaps you should invest in tome of battle?
JediJoeH 08-27-07, 05:01 PM	Perhaps you should invest in tome of battle? Is it a good, and crunchy book? What the hell are you talking about? a bunch of armed thugs going kobold hunting? I highly recomend droping them in suicidal missions early in the game, this way they'll gain ranks faster. Ah... no. Though it could be reasoned out that joining in any major battle, is , essentially a suicidal mission. Somebody will die, one just cannot know whom. As for a little more background on the type of army they'll be in, think Braveheart or Kingdom of Heaven. "Men fight for me because if they do not, I will throw them off my land..." "I have two hundred men-at-arms..." And so on and so forth. Encounters and story building aren't really a problem for me. Lines of Lvl 1 Warriors as footmen shouldn't pose a problem to PCs. Does anyone have advice on portraying nobles in a setting where the PCs are not, and at least, initially, shouldn't associate with the PCs? I'm hoping to instill if not loyalty to the army and noble, at least necessity. Anyone have any advice on things to avoid in a military campaign?
taradusis 08-27-07, 05:31 PM	I myself liked the ToB but most people nit-picked it to death.I would try to keep the focus immediate,Pcs tend to want to wander all over the battlefield.Try to concentrate on battles that involve less than 200 people.