Military Ranks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Military Ranks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Jar Head
02-24-05, 10:21 PM From asking Kieth Baker about this, I am curious to know everyone's thoughts on military ranks in Eberron.

Do you make up ranks? Do you use standard ranks of today's military? Do you use today's military ranks, but a bit dumbed down? I'm just curious on others' imputs, since I am making a character that was in the military.
(Psi)SeveredHead
02-24-05, 11:52 PM I use the dumbed down ranks. They were in use in AD 184 China, so I think they could be in a "newer" setting such as Eberron.

Of course, they were a bit different from today, hence the reference to "dumbing down".
Salla
02-25-05, 02:28 AM I generally use the modern day ranks (Or something similar), but I don't presume that each race/country/nationality/branch of the service uses the same ranks. I just say 'Captain' whoever for simplicity's sake, and assume that, in-character the character says whatever's appropriate, otherwise I'll be spending too much time going "No, he's a (rank), that's more like a Colonel than a Captain." I'd rather just say Colonel and get it over with. :)

I actually assume that about a lot of things. I presume that the game characters don't actually have in-character measurements that just happen to coincide with the American measurement system, but it just makes more sense, from a player perspective, to use RL measurements. "He's 8 breems away." "What's that in feet?" And coins aren't just called '(metal) pieces' ... but it's not worth the effort to remember golden crowns, silver lunaris, etc etc.
talion09
02-25-05, 02:44 AM I pretty much just go with a simplified version of military rank

Any non-com is referred to as a sergeant if he has any rank.

Commisioned officers:
Lieutenant
Captain
Colonel
General

I tend to not give ranks to "specialized" troops like wizards and artificers, I figure they would be rare enough to be relatively independent of the regular line of command.
Siduakal
02-25-05, 11:10 AM I personally would use todays military ranks minus the variations. (IE: No First Sergeant, master Sergeant, etc.. )

So..

Private, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Colonel, General is mine, personally.
JohnSnow
02-25-05, 08:58 PM Well, for whatever it's worth, I'd be inclined to use traditional Renaissance-era English ranks in Eberron.

That means:

Private
Corporal
Sergeant
Lieutenant
Captain
Colonel
General

Sergeant-Major was a rank that existed as well. All the naval ranks came along later.

For vessels, the renaissance terms are messy, to say the least. For instance, there was a fair problem with merchants and soldiers co-operating on the same vessel. The man running the ship was the master. The man in command was the Captain. However, on small ships, naval pride set in and some small vessel commanders needed another title, for which the navy EVENTUALLY settled on "Commander." Hence, 19th century British naval ranks seem "good enough" to me. They run as follows:

Seaman (I'd change this to "Airman" on an Airship)
Midshipman
Ensign
Lieutenant
Lieutenant Commander
Commander
Captain
Admiral

Hope that's helpful.
Demon in Shades of Gray
02-27-05, 04:13 PM Depending on the country, ranks may be something you want to avoid. In most countries during the medevil times, groups of soldiers were drawn from the peasantry by the nobles of the various regions. The noble (or a particularly gifted member of the noble's family) then led that group of soldiers into battle at the behest of the king. If the group was overly large, several members of the nnoble family would attend the battle and each would command a section.

I could see a system like this being used in Aundair. Thus, in the Aundairian military, you have the common rank and file of archers and pikesmen; then, anyone in command is addressed as either "Sir/Madam" (note, the connotations of madam were different then) or "My lord/lady" (since women in command would be far more common in Eberron). Specialist soldiers such as wizards, scouts, healers, and such would be addressed either as that title, or by their organization title (ie: Spell Blazer Karl, Medic Connar).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jar Head 02-24-05, 10:21 PM	From asking Kieth Baker about this, I am curious to know everyone's thoughts on military ranks in Eberron. Do you make up ranks? Do you use standard ranks of today's military? Do you use today's military ranks, but a bit dumbed down? I'm just curious on others' imputs, since I am making a character that was in the military.
(Psi)SeveredHead 02-24-05, 11:52 PM	I use the dumbed down ranks. They were in use in AD 184 China, so I think they could be in a "newer" setting such as Eberron. Of course, they were a bit different from today, hence the reference to "dumbing down".
Salla 02-25-05, 02:28 AM	I generally use the modern day ranks (Or something similar), but I don't presume that each race/country/nationality/branch of the service uses the same ranks. I just say 'Captain' whoever for simplicity's sake, and assume that, in-character the character says whatever's appropriate, otherwise I'll be spending too much time going "No, he's a (rank), that's more like a Colonel than a Captain." I'd rather just say Colonel and get it over with. :) I actually assume that about a lot of things. I presume that the game characters don't actually have in-character measurements that just happen to coincide with the American measurement system, but it just makes more sense, from a player perspective, to use RL measurements. "He's 8 breems away." "What's that in feet?" And coins aren't just called '(metal) pieces' ... but it's not worth the effort to remember golden crowns, silver lunaris, etc etc.
talion09 02-25-05, 02:44 AM	I pretty much just go with a simplified version of military rank Any non-com is referred to as a sergeant if he has any rank. Commisioned officers: Lieutenant Captain Colonel General I tend to not give ranks to "specialized" troops like wizards and artificers, I figure they would be rare enough to be relatively independent of the regular line of command.
Siduakal 02-25-05, 11:10 AM	I personally would use todays military ranks minus the variations. (IE: No First Sergeant, master Sergeant, etc.. ) So.. Private, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Colonel, General is mine, personally.
JohnSnow 02-25-05, 08:58 PM	Well, for whatever it's worth, I'd be inclined to use traditional Renaissance-era English ranks in Eberron. That means: Private Corporal Sergeant Lieutenant Captain Colonel General Sergeant-Major was a rank that existed as well. All the naval ranks came along later. For vessels, the renaissance terms are messy, to say the least. For instance, there was a fair problem with merchants and soldiers co-operating on the same vessel. The man running the ship was the master. The man in command was the Captain. However, on small ships, naval pride set in and some small vessel commanders needed another title, for which the navy EVENTUALLY settled on "Commander." Hence, 19th century British naval ranks seem "good enough" to me. They run as follows: Seaman (I'd change this to "Airman" on an Airship) Midshipman Ensign Lieutenant Lieutenant Commander Commander Captain Admiral Hope that's helpful.
Demon in Shades of Gray 02-27-05, 04:13 PM	Depending on the country, ranks may be something you want to avoid. In most countries during the medevil times, groups of soldiers were drawn from the peasantry by the nobles of the various regions. The noble (or a particularly gifted member of the noble's family) then led that group of soldiers into battle at the behest of the king. If the group was overly large, several members of the nnoble family would attend the battle and each would command a section. I could see a system like this being used in Aundair. Thus, in the Aundairian military, you have the common rank and file of archers and pikesmen; then, anyone in command is addressed as either "Sir/Madam" (note, the connotations of madam were different then) or "My lord/lady" (since women in command would be far more common in Eberron). Specialist soldiers such as wizards, scouts, healers, and such would be addressed either as that title, or by their organization title (ie: Spell Blazer Karl, Medic Connar).