@Elitestpotato, so Lucrum has a very similar fighting style to Operian's own style. Though, Operian wouldn't destroy her own villages in order to stop a foe. While you could pick up when an attack would come because of your spies, Operian can stop that with their own agents. Though, Operian only really uses their agents for defensive matters rather than infiltration. The agents in Operian would also be focused on the investigation into nobles and making sure they interrupt any assassination attempts so catching enemy spies is probably a second on their priorities. Operian also has trained Generals who know tactics.

@babbysama
Also, considering how rich they are, Lucrum could always pay other nations for protection.
As you said, our two nations are involved in two different forms of economy, so they are not competitors. I could actually see a sort of symbiotic relationship between the two. Ospa could use Lucrum's port(s) (in general Lucrumites are not boat people so they will be rarely used except for importing and other nations using them) to get some of their products into the largest, most profitable markets in Seyan (and some of the best markets in the world). Ospa would have to pay quite a few fees to sell in Lucrum but they would still turn a large profit.
So, friends at this point in time.

@Rae Zer I can just imagine our two armies setting ambushes for each other and just waiting for the other to show up haha.
But, invading with an ambush is quite difficult, if not impossible. So how exactly would you attack?

@Rae Zer I can just imagine our two armies setting ambushes for each other and just waiting for the other to show up haha.
But, invading with an ambush is quite difficult, if not impossible. So how exactly would you attack?

I've designed Operian to be less offensive and more defensive. War isn't their area of specialty unless they are defending Operian. As you can see in my history, the only wars which ever happened to Operian was the rebellion which created the Kingdom, raids from northern tribes, and a war from quite a few northern tribes. Operian is more about diplomacy than much of anything else. Baelorn's primary job, despite being in line for the throne, is to be a foreign dignitary when there are needed discussion. So, offense is rather sparse on Operian's end unless push comes to shove. If they do need to fight, Operian's forces are trained and their Generals have been through academies. While they are focused on ambush, this does not mean they cannot fight like a normal army does. Though, Operian lacks a large force of siege weapons so they go with the old fashioned ladders. Other than that, Operian would use their quick fleet of ships to blockade supplies from the ocean while some of the soldiers combat supplies on the ground.

@Rae Zer Same with Lucrum. The only way they are getting involved in an actual attack is if they are funding a war against their enemies. Lucrum's strongest weapon will probably be their wealth.

@Elitestpotato I'm not underestimating the style of warfare at all. I'm just saying is that guerrilla warfare is most effective in scenarios where the guerrillas do not have to hold territory, and they have a large area of low mobility to work within. Your nation is so comparably small that burning your own villages and farms would be inconsequential when faced with most invading forces.

Edit:

That style of combat suits Operian more, because they have a larger and more open territory which does not consist of any rough, mountainous terrain. It's mostly forest and rivers.

Basically, all tactics are effective given the right conditions and I'm not sure that the terrain you chose is right for the tactics you chose.

You said it yourself right here: "they'd Rusia-in-WW2 it." That tactic worked for Russia because Russia is darned big, but the supply lines of a nation like Xiang could reach across your nation and straight through Jura to boot.

@Elitestpotato Sounds good to me! Trading partners then ^u^ I can see us and Operian being the more neutral nations who are swept up into a war between some of the larger powers.

@The Omnipotent Sphere has a point. The reason the total war style of slash-and-burn worked so well during Napoleon's invasion was simply because they had so much territory to fall back on, halting the French army's advance and starving them out, whereas Lucrum could be more accurately described as a Belgium or Netherlands-sized polity. Unfortunately, neither Belgium or the Netherlands are known for their prowess in combat. Still, if the land is booby-trapped to hell and there are strategic ambushes laid, Lucrum could potentially hamstring an invading force, and with mercenaries/foreign intervention could successfully repel an invasion. But if an enemy force had superior numbers then Lucrum might eventually be overwhelmed in the case of a protracted conflict. Still it's an effective style of warfare and history is full of examples of a smaller force absolutely reking a far superior one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Szigetv%C3%A1r

^This is probably my favorite

@babbysama@The Omnipotent Sphere
Another defense is actually starting a war between another nation and the attacker. Use spies to plant (true or not so true) information about the attacker in courts of another nation. Offer to fund an attack. Then the attackers have to pull back to defend their own lands.

@babbysama

Sieges are the most common examples of smaller forces trouncing larger ones. It is much rarer in the field.

@Elitestpotato

Very true. I think Lucrum could benefit from taking the Sellsword flaw, it would allow you to gain another trait point while playing to the strength of Lucrum's significant finances. I mean, IC-wise I believe you suggested they use their money as a defense anyways. It would just be reflecting that in your NS.

@The Omnipotent Sphere
I was thinking of that, but I didn't want the impression that the Phantoms had any thing to do with mercenaries.

@Elitestpotato well that would probably be all you have to say. "The Phantoms of Lucrum, which are separate from Lucrum's mercenary forces, ..."

@The Omnipotent Sphere
True. But the Phantoms are supposed to be the main unit in the military with troops just defending cities. Maybe I'll add in mercs but the backbone wouldn't be mercs.

True. But the Phantoms are supposed to be the main unit in the military with troops just defending cities. Maybe I'll add in mercs but the backbone wouldn't be mercs.

Then the Sellswords Flaw is not for you.

@Thrashy Exactly why I didn't pick it.

So, uh.. who are we waiting on now with unfinished/unaccepted sheets?

@Rae ZerJust my history section, on my end. But I wager my vassals could be written up with the information provided.

@Aristo You have not a flawless family two. If my vassals are anything to go by, then your history will have an impact on them.

I think the main thing we're waiting on right now is for Thrashy to have computer access again and to finish up the vassals for everyone. Hopefully we can get the OOC going tomorrow or on Wednesday

Alrighty, got the gist of a history section up. Should probably embellish the details of the ruling family and shift between dynasties.

@Aristo Forgot to ask---do you mind if the Queen Dowager for Öspa is a Xiang princess? Are you cool with a marriage alliance? I was thinking of naming her Yixin.