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Armies of the World

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Each of the four major nations has its own military, each of these having been composed along different guidelines. Their purposes also are different, and it is very important to consider why each army is how it is.

The Armies of the Dwarf Clans
Although these have nominally united, the dwarven armies are actually still very much based on the clans. Dwarven warriors equip themselves, often using weapons and armor handed down from father to son for generations. But armor and weapons are expensive both to purchase and to maintain, and for this reason most dwarven armies depend entirely on their upper and middle classes. Also, because the military is composed of voluntary warriors acting for their own reasons, discipline and skill are an unknown to their leaders.
Although equipment isn't truly standard, most dwarven warriors do favor a similar collection. The most common dwarven armor is half plate, although field and even full plate are also sometimes found among those of wealthier families. The most common dwarven weapon is the spear-axe, since it combines the two most useful weapons for dwarves. But it is extremely complicated and requires special training to use both ends effectively, for this reason the waraxe is also commonly found. Spears are also commonly found, but usually being carried in addition to a waraxe, rather than in place of one. Swords are less common, though some warriors prefer them to the bulkier waraxes, even going so far as to use two-bladed swords to combine the lighter swords with the double edge of the spear-axe.
With this emphasis on using two handed weapons shields have little place in dwarven armies, though sometimes light shields attached to the armor itself are found on dwarves seeking additional protection. Similarly dwarves have very little use for ranged warriors. Most dwarves fight either within the tunnels of their holds or at the very entrances, and in any case prefer to rely on their solidity in battle. When ranged weapons are seen they are generally javelins or throwing axes, which can readily be used as melee weapons.

The Kobold Army
Unlike dwarves, kobolds prefer to have their army drawn from the regular masses and equipped as uniformly as possible. This serves a number of purposes, including giving them as large a military as possible and reducing the number of discontented civilians. Kobold tactic is to throw bodies on a problem until it goes away. With their short lifespans and high reproductive rate (females can lay clutches of 4-8 eggs about once a year) kobolds can afford this principle.
In keeping with this principle, kobolds prefer simple tactics and cheap equipment that can easily be retrieved, reused, and replaced. Kobold infantry is divided into two sections: pikemen and crossbowmen. Pikemen are given chain shirts, light shields, and pole-axes. Crossbowmen receive leather armor and crossbows. The principle is simple: the pikemen keep enemies away while the crossbowmen shoot them. Both groups are given short swords, in case an enemy gets too close. Although crossbows are more expensive than bows, they also require virtually no training to use. Similarly the swords are not given to protect the individuals, but rather so that an enemy takes as many losses breaking through as possible. Kobold lines are maintained by the sure knowledge that the crossbows behind them will shoot first and ask questions later if they see someone coming towards them.
The Elites, the unimaginatively named elite force of the Kobold military, are composed of the few veterans of the ordinary ranks. These soldiers are expected to take over when the front lines fail. Elites are given heavier chain armor and shields, light crossbows, javelins, and swords. The are expected to fire their crossbows to back up the standard lines, being trusted not to hit their allies, and to discard them if the lines should break. Against a charging enemy they can form a shield wall and set their javelins. If the enemy fails to completely route the line but the line is in danger of failing then the elites reinforce it by throwing their javelins and coming in with their swords.

Goblin Armies
Orc lords receive combat training almost from the crib. The favored games of all goblin children involve play-fighting with whatever they can find. In the case of noble families that is wooden training equipment. A young orc is trained by his father and his father's retainers until he is old enough to fight in actual combat. As he grows his wooden equipment is replaced with over-large, bulky metal replicas of what he will actually wear. When he is through growing he is fitted either for his own armor or to inherit a suit refitted for him. During his training the young lord learns to use all of the weapons used by orc lords, fight both on and off a horse, with or without a shield, and in all sort of weather and conditions. By the time he takes his place on the field an orc is the most dangerous single combatant.
But the equipment used by the lords is extremely expensive and difficult to maintain, and so they are the only ones who wear it. A lord is surrounded by his retainers, who use much simpler armor that is cheaper and easier to use. Lords have to purchase all equipment for their followers, so all retainers of a particular lord are equipped the same. Most commonly men-at-arms wear chain armor extending to the knees, with a heavy leather coat underneath and covered by a surcoat with the lord's crest.
This equipment, too, is expensive. Apart from major lords who control large lands and command levies from a number of vassals, orcs can't afford to keep very many retainers. To supplement these in battle they recruit from the goblin masses that they theoretically rule. Goblins who fight for their lord can expect to be paid from the spoils when on the offensive, and from still having their own lands when on defensive. These fighting men are typically poorly trained, if at all, and have the cheapest possible equipment. The best available is cast offs from retainers, otherwise they typically have leather buff coats and either spears or bows.
In combat most damage is done by the lords and their retainers. Foot soldiers are of little consequence except against other foot soldiers, and have great difficulty harming a well armored orc. Feudal battles essentially end when one army flees, which typically happens if their lord is overcome. He can then be ransomed back to his family, the area ransacked, and the booty distributed to the soldiers. Lords also usually grab a few extra serfs on their way back. Some experienced foot soldiers may eventually be promoted to full time retainers. And a retainer who shows particular skill may be adopted into a noble family, or even promoted to vassal and given a fief of his own.
In spite of the potential reserves they might obtain, orcs are careful to ensure that elves never have any weapons save those useful in hunting (which is near impossible to prohibit). As one lord commented "Arm an elf and you run the risk of him suddenly remembering whose land this actually is, while he's pointing it at you."

Imperial Legions
The legion is the largest professional army in the known world. Legionaries are paid from imperial coffers in the name of Parliament, which also issues them equipment. Thus, like the Kobold army, all legionaries use standardized equipment. But training before joining a legion in intense, and once a recruit is inducted training continues to keep them in form. The most important facet of the legion is not skill, but discipline. Imperial tactic holds that if their men can maintain formation during an onslaught then even outnumbered they can still prevail. That tactic has rarely failed.
Part of their discipline based warfare is a dependence on heavy infantry. Unlike dwarves this is not the entire basis of the legion, but rather its backbone. Legionaries generally carry javelins, swords, and heavy shields. They are given banded armor, the heaviest armor that can be mass produced and fitted to virtually anyone.
Legionary light infantry favors scale armour and bows, although they also carry bucklers and swords. The legion also supports light cavalry, also in scale armor, who carry lances and sabres. Cavalry are rarely used in heavy combat roles outside of flanking maneuvers, instead they usually see use as scouts. This has changed on the frontier where the emperor has desperately deployed cavalry in an attempt to counter centaur raiding parties.

Centaur Warriors
Like the dwarf clans, centaurs have no real professional army or tactics. Centaur warfare involves their warriors marginally doing what they are told by their leaders, while actually engaging in one-on-one fights with each other or hasty run-by raids. Centaur warriors usually prefer spears, although throwing axes and short bows are also extremely common. In addition centaurs wear a form of barding made from hardened animal skins worn over sensitive areas that can deflect glancing blows.

Other Fighting Forces
Obviously the professional armies aren't the only fighting groups in the world, but they are the easiest to consider.
Elven militiamen are possibly the least often talked about of the unofficial fighting forces. Officially they don't even exist, and if found out they face death. Since elves are banned from owning any true weapons, their militiamen secretly train using those things they can use: farming implements and hunting weapons. Reinforces scythes, war-sickles, bows, and javelins are their weapons. Elven militias defend their villages during feudal combat, and sometimes devolve into bandits preying on goblin traffic. In either case they take great pains to go unidentified, leaving no survivors if at all possible and keeping themselves fully covered at all times, changing in secret away even from each other.
Elves aren't the only ones to keep a militia force. On the frontier the legions have proven less than useful for protecting outlying settlements. Many of these are formed by former legionaries who were granted lands on retirement, they are willing to pick up their old weapons again if threatened by raiders. Other militiamen are hunters or others accustomed with bow or spear. Frontier militiamen tend to favor longbows or spears, but many old legionaries gladly take up their old swords.
The traveling people often need to protect themselves from raiders or even mobs. Their guards (who they carefully never refer to as "warriors" or "militiamen" lest they give the wrong impression) are trained by other guards to serve as scouts as well as guards, and make their living in the caravan community by serving these roles. They make extra money performing additional duties as hunters or strongbacks, along with performances during stops, though they do take spoils when called upon to act in their guardsman role. Guards are given their first weapon by their mentor, and from then on purchase their own goods where they stop. Their are no fair generalizations for what traveling people guards favor.

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