Improving the Imperial Military Image in oblivion

[Khet]

Har, bit late to post this... I gotta learn to keep better track of threads I'm interested in.

 

Anyway, in response to Dez's post on formations, she's right and wrong. Depending on the markup of the army/culture there were a few different formations. But one of the most common European formation was something along the lines of:

 

Archers in the front, followed by Pikemen (to stop oncomming calvary). When the enemy Calvary got too close the archers would instantly fall back and the pikemen would shift into what's called a 'grounding' position. Grounded was setting the butt of the pike against the ground and planting one foot on the pike's butt to help stabalize it. Most often pikes were actually built with holes so they would BREAK on impact, to help prevent injury to the Pikeman. Followed by the pikeman where the footsoldiers carrying swords/shields and whatnot. Calvary were actually most commonly left on the flanks though occasionally some WERE placed near the middle. The archers through all of this had fallen further back in the formation (now at this point they're usually behind both pikemen AND foot soldiers) raining hell upon enemy soldiers. Also, depending on the general there were three common ways to defeat oncoming calvary (again, based mainly on the make up of the army). These were: Let archers fire like crazy at the onrush if there were a lack of Pikemen, use the method I mentioned above with Pikemen, or meet their calvary with your own calvary.

 

 

Then again, once the two armies met everything pretty much crumbled and the battlefield became a hell-hole of mixed units and clumps.

[exanimis]

Har, bit late to post this... I gotta learn to keep better track of threads I'm interested in.

 

Anyway, in response to Dez's post on formations, she's right and wrong. Depending on the markup of the army/culture there were a few different formations. But one of the most common European formation was something along the lines of:

 

Archers in the front, followed by Pikemen (to stop oncomming calvary). When the enemy Calvary got too close the archers would instantly fall back and the pikemen would shift into what's called a 'grounding' position. Grounded was setting the butt of the pike against the ground and planting one foot on the pike's butt to help stabalize it. Most often pikes were actually built with holes so they would BREAK on impact, to help prevent injury to the Pikeman. Followed by the pikeman where the footsoldiers carrying swords/shields and whatnot. Calvary were actually most commonly left on the flanks though occasionally some WERE placed near the middle. The archers through all of this had fallen further back in the formation (now at this point they're usually behind both pikemen AND foot soldiers) raining hell upon enemy soldiers. Also, depending on the general there were three common ways to defeat oncoming calvary (again, based mainly on the make up of the army). These were: Let archers fire like crazy at the onrush if there were a lack of Pikemen, use the method I mentioned above with Pikemen, or meet their calvary with your own calvary.

 

 

Then again, once the two armies met everything pretty much crumbled and the battlefield became a hell-hole of mixed units and clumps.

 

Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black haired, sullen eyed

[Khet]

I look into my heart and find Cimmeria, land of shadow and darkness.

[exanimis]

Oblivion seems to attract fans of Robert E. Howard and Edgar Rice Burroughs, but why wouldn't Conan and Tarzan feel at home in Cyrodiil?

[Skolhamarr]

Don't forget that this is all one empire, morrowind, cyrodiil, etc etc. They don't need to defend from eachother, so if anything There should be defences all over the ports, but I'm not sure about the borders. I agree with the whole making the guards image seem a bit better, they do look a bit sloppy, don't they? At the moment, I'm currently working on an overhaul mod with a few freinds that basically changes the way of life for thieves and assassins, and all these ideas of great forts and well equipped armouries seem like a good idea to add to this. May I borrow some of these ideas?

 

 

please by all means use any of these ideas, but only if you make a rank of Field Marshall...

 

They all might be apart of one nation/ empire, but you need to check on who might be crossing. The high mountain passes you need something there, fort would be one part of that maybe inn and small market...Now on the issue of the thieves guild and dark brotherhood, I think you should have choice to join or crush them. I am using Giskard Legion mod, I love it... wish you could do a little undercover work and put a stop to both guilds.

 

Units: I think you need very specialty unit made up from the most Races of the Empire. For example Nords and Orcs would be your specialist heavy assault troops. They more likely to crushing Morrowind if they had up raising, and putting the population to sword. Now Imperial and Redgaurds a little more diplomatic, would be occupying type with in reason. Nordic occupation would be much like Germanic Kingdoms. Anglo-Saxon, occupation of Britain and the Viking Invasion...

[Khet]

Maybe since Tamriel isn't Earth then we could get away with saying that they never developed battle formations like we did. That'd help us with the whole formation scripting (which would run into problems with the pathgrids and all) and it would also explain why the Battle of Bruma looked so disorganized!

[socksftw]

Yes, but surely they have a base level of intelligence that tells them not to mosh the enemy, and that archers and mages should stay back, and that things work better when they are organised. These aren't barbarians we're talking about.

[Lisnpuppy]

Yes it is all one empire but not always a willing one....and it seems that differnt races/nations often had their own agendas. Look at the Roman Empire...their legions were as spiffy as they come.

[dezdimona]

If nothing else, I think I'd like to see some scripting that could effectively control a five-man squad (four troopies and a Sergeant) and keep them in some kind of disciplined formation while patrolling or attacking, rather than just running willy-nilly as they are prone to do in Oblivion's engine.

 

This would definately help the Legion's image, IMO.

 

A simple skirmish-line, or a phalanx wedge that could be used to protect a Battlemage behind it... is that too much to ask for?

 

That has bothered me since I started playing Oblivion. It's not just the soldiers but the animals as well. Where are the packs of wolves? I have been trying some scripts that would allow an animal to follow another but at my current level of understanding, I've had no luck. I believe it would take a new type of AI package and I have no idea how to even start it.

The MMM mod will give you plenty of animals in packs,as they should be, also adds more different creatures and humanoid enimy's too.

[dezdimona]

Maybe since Tamriel isn't Earth then we could get away with saying that they never developed battle formations like we did. That'd help us with the whole formation scripting (which would run into problems with the pathgrids and all) and it would also explain why the Battle of Bruma looked so disorganized!

military formations would I think be pretty much the same even in a fantasy world. Basic attack and defense always came from trial and error.You don't become an empire without breaking a few eggs,and having your some brains scrambled either.