Hank said
It was briefly mentioned before but it is something I'm curious about: how big is Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi?

I'm envisioning at least three hundred individuals, possibly more. Big unit, maybe upward of a thousand.

Also, just mentioned, but here's a repost from chat.

[12:48] <Noxious> I wasn't planning on making my character really feel one way or another about humans. Sanctity of life is so irrelevant.
[12:48] <HeySeuss> I'm leaving choices open on that front.
[12:48] <HeySeuss> Cause you know, taking and slaughtering hostages may be how you pacify a region in revolt.
[12:49] <HeySeuss> Humans certainly don't feel much about the sanctity of orcish life anyway.
[12:49] <HeySeuss> So why return the favor>?
[12:49] <HeySeuss> I mean, a lot of the members of the Company have served in human dominated organizations.
[12:49] <HeySeuss> Or worked for drow elves or similar.
[12:50] <HeySeuss> Think they have a fuzzy outlook on the brotherhood of races and the sanctity of life? Nah.

HeySeuss said
So far, the conversations in the Guild chat have yielded a favorable tilt toward longbows for similar reasons -- muscle and so forth, but the arbalest thing is certainly true. One of the advantages the orcs have is that they're stronger and they might be able to take advantage of human designs in a way that humans could not imagine.

Ah-ha, but while a longbow might have range, it is helplessly inferior. I dare you to cave in a man's head with a flimsy longbow - now, a steel arbalest on the other hand... Plus, you know, pavises and kettle hats are badass.

K-97 said In this way those who subscribed to their system are unified and respected for their individual beliefs.

We are the orcish foreign legion.

Maxwell said
Ah-ha, but while a longbow might have range, it is helplessly inferior. I dare you to cave in a man's head with a flimsy longbow - now, a steel arbalest on the other hand... Plus, you know, pavises and kettle hats are badass.We are the orcish foreign legion.

Dude, rate of fire. The English routinely dominated crossbow wielding armies in the Hundred Years War and the English and Welsh were sought after as mercenaries all through the era as a result of their proficiency with the weapon. The bottleneck wasn't the inferiority of the Longbow (and orcs are stronger than the typical Englishman) but the training of longbowmen from childhood. It was actually cheaper to arm peasantry, thus trained (and the English nobles set up a system of rewards for it) with longbows and they were rapid fire and could penetrate steel. Ask the French at Crecy and Agincourt all about it.

The crossbow, by contrast, is more sophisticated tech, more expensive, but does not require a skilled person to use it. It might have greater penetration, but it also is slower firing. It is -not- superior in range, because the longbow can be effectively volleyed in an arc and brought down on the heads of the enemy -- also, longbowmen tend to be skirmishers and mobile and can fire over the walls easily, by drawing less power on the weapon. The longbow has versatility in its favor. Also, I think that if any orc tribes hunt with bows, they'll be able to wield extremely high draw longbows that, with bodkin type arrows (chisel points) can penetrate steel plate and will fire quickly. And my guess is that there are plenty of primitive hunter tribes of orcs that know bows. A crossbowman with a pavise can duck behind the pavise, and be shielded from direct fire of a similar sort, but a longbow unit can arc that fire up and over, as indicated before.

Part of the reason we're doing this thread before character sheets get made is to make sure we're all on the same page a bit with this stuff, and to sort out these doctrinal issues before we get to the character building phase.

It's as if you didn't read the part about bashing skulls.

Why not have both for those who prefer one over another? While it's understandable that this company is supposed to be disciplined, Orcs aren't legionaries.

I'm definitely interested in this. One question: will our characters be in the Pikes or in the elite unit at the start of the roleplay?

Peik said
Why not have both for those who prefer one over another? While it's understandable that this company is supposed to be disciplined, Orcs aren't legionaries.

Well, because the tactics for one differ from another, fundamentally. And it's a question of what orcs would be most familiar with in the first place. I have a hard time seeing crossbows, personally.

VoiD said
I'm definitely interested in this. One question: will our characters be in the Pikes or in the elite unit at the start of the roleplay?

Characters will all have served in the Pikes, but they are part of an elite formation, like a first company in the Roman legion, but probably looser than that. Notable and very skilled members of the Company. We're keeping the group small (though they might get attached to other parts of the Company as leaders or to assist otherwise) to keep them interacting in the RP.

HeySeuss said
Well, because the tactics for one differ from another, fundamentally. And it's a question of what orcs would be most familiar with in the first place. I have a hard time seeing crossbows, personally.

Alright, makes sense. What will the equipment level be?

Peik said
Alright, makes sense. What will the equipment level be?

14th century -- early Hundred Years War equivalent.

Is this forum closed? This seems pretty awesome. If not, I'll probably just read your posts.

HeySeuss said
14th century -- early Hundred Years War equivalent.

And culturally?

Peik said
And culturally?

Hard to say. I'm saying the furthest point of advancement is 14th century European tech, there will be magic and I'm not sure about culture, but I figure the situation will be fluid in politics -- lots of warring nobles. :) Oh, and elves.

I was wondering more like in our equipment. Are we going to have broadswords and hauberks or plated mail shirts and sabers? Or a ragtag, complete mix-up of equipment?

I shall declare my interest. This idea is fascinating and reminds me of a series of books I enjoyed in the past.

The first thing that strikes me, role wise, is a doctor. An orc experienced with herbs and such who can disinfect a nasty shiv wound whilst capable of bashing skulls.

Peik said
I was wondering more like in our equipment. Are we going to have broadswords and hauberks or plated mail shirts and sabers? Or a ragtag, complete mix-up of equipment?

I think they'd be using weaponry whose use complements their strength; sabres really don't cut the mustard. Heavy bludgeoning weapons and polearms, big blades and so forth.

Armorwise, well...not a lot of people forge armor for orcs specifically, good armor anyway, but don't you think an orc could carry heavier armor that would be a benefit in a fight? I would think they'd go kind of heavy on that stuff just to give them another advantage in the fight. Assuming they can afford it. But that's also where a blacksmith or several come into play. You figure that with the number of orcish and half-orcish outcasts out there, stronger than typical humans, they might have found work in forges in various towns. It's also possible the company has its own armorer that works likely lads under his supervision to manufacture, repair and maintain weapons and armor. I think they'd go heavy, big and intimidating. Many of the races they'll be fighting won't have their bulk and strength, so there's intimidation and common sense -- if you can haul it, wear it.

LimeyPanda said
I shall declare my interest. This idea is fascinating and reminds me of a series of books I enjoyed in the past.The first thing that strikes me, role wise, is a doctor. An orc experienced with herbs and such who can disinfect a nasty shiv wound whilst capable of bashing skulls.

That makes total sense.

Now the issue is choice of complementing weapon. I'm torn between a Falchion/shield combo and a battleaxe.

LIMEY. We played together for a bit in SilverLeaf. I like your style and I'm glad to see you stuck with the guild during the move and I get to RP with you again!

LimeyPanda said
Now the issue is choice of complementing weapon. I'm torn between a Falchion/shield combo and a battleaxe.

Falchions sound really cool and way more orcish than battle-axes, in a way. Plus, orcs can swing some pretty ferocious ones, perhaps with hooks on the blunt side of the blade or something.

Noxious said
LIMEY. We played together for a bit in SilverLeaf. I like your style and I'm glad to see you stuck with the guild during the move and I get to RP with you again!

Lordylordy it has been a while. Not since you were trying to rape people with your mind have we RP'd.

HeySeuss said
Falchions sound really cool and way more orcish than battle-axes, in a way. Plus, orcs can swing some pretty ferocious ones, perhaps with hooks on the blunt side of the blade or something.

Falchion is where I'm leaning: it also has the tri-purpose of being a hacksaw and a Lumber axe, should the service be required...

Falchion it is! If their was going to be anything on the flat side, it would be blunt: maybe iron rings for breaking weapons *Shrug* Blacksmithing mumbojumbo.

Other options I briefly pondered where: A flail, a mace, a Halberd, Daggers (because sometimes it's better to slip a dagger between ribs, as opposed to through skulls), and a Claymore.