Murphy's Law 9: Contents Under Pressure

[Othesemo]

All the auxiliaries. The heavy infantry was Roman (or Italian), but the rest was largely mercenaries. Or local allies of variable trustworthiness, as the elder Scipios discovered in Spain.

My understanding was that the Auxilia were largely composed of volunteers aiming to get Roman citizenship (or just looking for pay)- unless the Romans were facing a serious deficiency, or the mercenaries in question were particularly impressive (like Cretan Archers, who were enormously popular), I don't see why mercenaries would be preferable to normal soldiers or, worst comes to worst, conscripts.

[Asta Kask]

Well, you don't have to train them. Keeping a standing army is hugely expensive whereas you only pay for mercenaries when you use them. And it takes 6 months to turn a conscript into a soldier, whereas mercenaries can start work tomorrow. The armies of the 30-years war were largely mercenary and they were very effective as long as the pay came on time. When it didn't, they went on strike (it happened in the Swedish army after Johan Banér died).

[Othesemo]

Well, you don't have to train them. Keeping a standing army is hugely expensive whereas you only pay for mercenaries when you use them. And it takes 6 months to turn a conscript into a soldier, whereas mercenaries can start work tomorrow. The armies of the 30-years war were largely mercenary and they were very effective as long as the pay came on time. When it didn't, they went on strike (it happened in the Swedish army after Johan Banér died).

Thing is, they didn't have a standing army (prior to the Marian reforms, at least). Roman soldiers were men with property- while they were warring, their farms would die. When the threat of war loomed, the Consul was charged with raising an army- when the threat died down, the men would return to their homes.

[McDouggal]

All the auxiliaries. The heavy infantry was Roman (or Italian), but the rest was largely mercenaries. Or local allies of variable trustworthiness, as the elder Scipios discovered in Spain.

I work with mostly post-roman Empire strategy. Where it starts getting interesting, you know? There's only so much you can learn from Hannibal before you realize that although he was a tactical god, he couldn't turn anything strategic off of his victories.

That, BTW, disgusts me. You only fight if you stand to gain something strategic from it. You don't fight just because victory is assured. I spent a good two hours explaining to my brother why the casualty rate of Phalanx warfare between two Phalanxes was so low, since he was thinking along the lines of Video Game tactics-crush your foes to the last man if possible.

While the tactically sound maneuver, on a level of grand strategy, it is a horrible maneuver. First, your opponents no longer view retreat as as good of an option, since you have shown them that retreat won't save their lives; you'll kill them anyways. Secondly, what reason do they have to spare any of your troops that are routing? I could go on for ages about this, but I'll stop.

[t209]

I work with mostly post-roman Empire strategy. Where it starts getting interesting, you know? There's only so much you can learn from Hannibal before you realize that although he was a tactical god, he couldn't turn anything strategic off of his victories.

That, BTW, disgusts me. You only fight if you stand to gain something strategic from it. You don't fight just because victory is assured. I spent a good two hours explaining to my brother why the casualty rate of Phalanx warfare between two Phalanxes was so low, since he was thinking along the lines of Video Game tactics-crush your foes to the last man if possible.

While the tactically sound maneuver, on a level of grand strategy, it is a horrible maneuver. First, your opponents no longer view retreat as as good of an option, since you have shown them that retreat won't save their lives; you'll kill them anyways. Secondly, what reason do they have to spare any of your troops that are routing? I could go on for ages about this, but I'll stop.

Your brother remind me of my dad's strategy. No Prisoners and kill em all. Well that was 2 years ago.

[CoffeeIncluded]

One more week, guys.

[Othesemo]

While the tactically sound maneuver, on a level of grand strategy, it is a horrible maneuver. First, your opponents no longer view retreat as as good of an option, since you have shown them that retreat won't save their lives; you'll kill them anyways. Secondly, what reason do they have to spare any of your troops that are routing? I could go on for ages about this, but I'll stop.

Indeed. Caeser's amnesty program didn't work out too well for him, though, it must be admitted. Ended up fighting the same soldiers a dozen times.

[Asta Kask]

You kill the leaders and spare the soldiers. What is the enemy's army without soldiers?

[McDouggal]

You kill the leaders and spare the soldiers. What is the enemy's army without soldiers?

I think you mean without leaders, and the answer is headless, until someone else can get in solid command.

[Asta Kask]

No, I mean if all the enemy's soldiers deserts because that way they get to live. Hard to fight a war without an army.

[Elemental]

No, I mean if all the enemy's soldiers deserts because that way they get to live. Hard to fight a war without an army.

Though one can do quite well with a navy if the circumstances are right.

Anyway... That's a risky strategy as desertion is not guaranteed, particularly if the soldiers are fighting for a cause they believe in or the defence of their loved ones and homes. Plus... The penalty for desertion can be quite high, particularly when it comes to the deserter having to live with themselves...

Yes, by all means don't kill all the men, but also don't simply release them to return and take up arms again. Treat them humanely and keep them safe.

[ReaderAt2046]

Hannibal worked for the Carthiginians, who were basically the... Great. I know exactly why Hannibal wouldn't spare any of the Romans, but I can't tell you because it would annoy the PoliCor people and get me in trouble with the mods.

[McDouggal]

Hannibal worked for the Carthiginians, who were basically the... Great. I know exactly why Hannibal wouldn't spare any of the Romans, but I can't tell you because it would annoy the PoliCor people and get me in trouble with the mods.

Shoot me a PM, we can argue it privately.

[JusticeZero]

Well i'm done with finals! How are you holding up, Coffee?

[CoffeeIncluded]

Last one's in a couple hours. I didn't have time to study adequately for any, since I had all three finals in a row, and none of them were easy. Then again, I kinda brought it on myself. My only job with this final is to not completely blow it and I get an A in the class, but that's much easier said than done.

[super dark33]

So that's your

Final final?

[CoffeeIncluded]

Finally done! I'll get back to work with the comic tonight or tomorrow.

[Lix Lorn]

Take some time to relax if you wanna

[CoffeeIncluded]

Thanks, and trust me, I did and am. Went to the annual county book sale today and ended up getting 80 dollars worth of books--after putting a third of them back because I literally bought so many I couldn't carry them all. I still needed a ride to the bus stop afterwards!

But I still found time to work on the comic, which I'm doing right now and will continue to do for an hour or so before going to bed. Thank you all so much for putting up with me, and you didn't deserve my lateness and delays.

[Mutant Sheep]

I still don't know what you mean by delays. Finals happen. Students shed tears. How could a comic come in such a time? (What books? Tell usssssss!)

[SamBurke]

Thanks, and trust me, I did and am. Went to the annual county book sale today and ended up getting 80 dollars worth of books--after putting a third of them back because I literally bought so many I couldn't carry them all. I still needed a ride to the bus stop afterwards!

But I still found time to work on the comic, which I'm doing right now and will continue to do for an hour or so before going to bed. Thank you all so much for putting up with me, and you didn't deserve my lateness and delays.

Book fairs. The classic trap for brilliant folks, nerds, and Playgrounders.

[Asta Kask]

Book fairs. The classic trap for brilliant folks, nerds, and Playgrounders.

I think there's a considerable overlap between the three...

Good to hear you're back, Coffee. Now get some rest before you get back to the Plot.

[CoffeeIncluded]

I bought everything, from a giant book of mythology to a first edition copy of Watchmen ($17.50 because of a beat up cover; everything else was $2) to A Brief History of Time.

[OoTLink]

Shoot I could shed tears over a midterm sometimes >>

Apparently I should visit a book fair. I haven't read enough of those in a while, and the ones my english class assigned were really terrible.

[Miopic]

you only spent $80 at a book fair, darn that is some self control.... I have banned myself from ever returning to such things.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Except for a first edition copy of Watchmen, all the books were 2 dollars each. I bought 32 books after putting 15 or so back. I still needed a ride to the bus stop since I physically couldn't carry them all.

Oh, and update tonight or tomorrow, everyone.

[Othesemo]

Thanks, and trust me, I did and am. Went to the annual county book sale today and ended up getting 80 dollars worth of books--after putting a third of them back because I literally bought so many I couldn't carry them all. I still needed a ride to the bus stop afterwards!

Hehe, very nice. Wish we had that sorta thing here.

Not that I strictly need more books (my bedroom is literally lined with shelves), but still.

[OoTLink]

You guys must know some great fantasy books, any suggestions? I could use something that isn't too gritty :)

[Lix Lorn]

Temeraire is awesome, but a little gritty, and gets dark.
David Gemmell is good if you like fights.
Redwall, How to Train Your Dragon, Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl are the obvious ones you probably know.
Seraphina is a good one I picked up at random.
Ooh, and Septimus Heap.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Looking at the quality of this update and the backgrounds, even with the nice job I did on Remus there is no excuse for how long this took. Ah well...

#208: Better Late Than Never