[OOC] The Imperial Dragoons — A Flintlock Fantasy RP [Open]

[VoiD]

@VoiDAh, alright then. So for a vague outline of a character, would it be okay to say he is from a mostly assimilated Norse/Varangian noble family that despite holding some high title is not THAT wealthy. As a result he joined the Dragoons gaining experience and a promotion to Lance Corporal?

@Andreyich

Generally nobility would seek commissions as an officer -- few of the gentry would suffer the ignominy of serving at the same level as the "common" class, unless they were in abject poverty. If you want to go that route, your character would likely want to keep the fact that he is nobility a secret.

A titled norse/varangian family is perfectly fine, though.

[Andreyich]

<Snipped quote by Andreyich>

Generally nobility would seek commissions as an officer -- few of the gentry would suffer the ignominy of serving at the same level as the "common" class, unless they were in abject poverty. If you want to go that route, your character would likely want to keep the fact that he is nobility a secret.

A titled norse/varangian family is perfectly fine, though.

@VoiD

Actually, not speaking of his nobility because of the poorness they reached and subsequent fear of opportunistic hate/reprisal from lower class comrades as well as shame would make the character all the more interesting, I'll get right to it!

[VoiD]

@Andreyich That sounds like a very interesting character, I'm looking forward to the app :)

[Brocktree]

@VoiD a colour sgt would be more like a sergeant major in modern terms.

Also does that means the empire has no significant Pacific naval presence? What with sailing around the horn of africa.

[Andreyich]

@VoiD
Ah, side question? What happened to Greek fire? I just thought it would be badass for napoleonic battlefields to have someone just pop out with a flamethrower or grenadiers lobbing napalm bombs

[VoiD]

@VoiD a colour sgt would be more like a sergeant major in modern terms.

Also does that means the empire has no significant Pacific naval presence? What with sailing around the horn of africa.

@Brocktree

You are correct, but a colour sergeant would be the senior NCO for an entire regiment, and thus not suitable as a character for the moment, as we're starting as a Bandon-sized group. By being the equivalent of a lieutenant-colonel I did not mean literally; they would possess a similar level of responsibility in regards to the regiment as a whole, while still technically being outranked by cornets and such.

The Empire does have a significant naval presence in the Pacific due to their colonies in India and beyond, and the main naval base is at Opone, on the horn of Africa. Ships up until this point that were built in the Mediterranean would have to either have sailed around Africa or carried across the Sinai peninsula to reach the Red Sea.

@VoiD
Ah, side question? What happened to Greek fire? I just thought it would be badass for napoleonic battlefields to have someone just pop out with a flamethrower or grenadiers lobbing napalm bombs

@Andreyich

Greek fire has unfortunately been lost to time, though the Empire has repeatedly invested time and effort in recreating it. Such efforts so far have not resulted in a practical application, though.

[CaptainBritton]

Count me interested.

[BingTheWing]

@VoiD There is a magic option in the CS - this means that Dragoons can also hold magic ranks alongside their military rank? Graduates of the academy are free to assimilate themselves into normal military units?

[BingTheWing]

@VoiD A lot of real world Napoleonic officers joined when they were like twelve, presumably as like apprentices to older officers or something. Could the Dragoons have the same thing?

(Sorry for double post)

[VoiD]

@VoiD There is a magic option in the CS - this means that Dragoons can also hold magic ranks alongside their military rank? Graduates of the academy are free to assimilate themselves into normal military units?

@BingTheWing

Yes. Recall that the vast majority of magic takes the form of physical "sigils", due to its complexity and exhaustive nature. So normally any form of magic in warfare takes the form of meticulously-created traps. You won't find an all-powerful mage slinging massive lightning bolts across the battlefield - even the Magister Maximus would be hard-pressed to use a minor working more than two or three times a day without the use of sigil-craft.

Typically a single regiment may have 1-3 mages of various ability in its ranks. Magic is uncommon even among the nobility, who are partially bred for magical-talent.

EDIT: While I'm not against it, they would have to lie about their age, and personally I'd prefer if the age of a character doesn't go below 14 without a really good/interesting reason.

[Andreyich]

@VoiD
I'm having troubles finding suitable titles for my lad, would it be acceptable for me to say when his family moved to Constantinople they kept the Norse/Varangian title of "Lendmann?"

[VoiD]

@VoiD
I'm having troubles finding suitable titles for my lad, would it be acceptable for me to say when his family moved to Constantinople they kept the Norse/Varangian title of "Lendmann?"

@Andreyich

You could, but it would be pretty meaningless to the Empire's court - the Norse were seen as barbarians to even the Frankish kingdoms at the time, so you can imagine their noble titles weren't held in the highest esteem in the Empire. Perhaps this resource will help you?

EDIT: Your family could also be minor landholders, such as this.

[Andreyich]

<Snipped quote by Andreyich>

You could, but it would be pretty meaningless to the Empire's court - the Norse were seen as barbarians to even the Frankish kingdoms at the time, so you can imagine their noble titles weren't held in the highest esteem in the Empire. Perhaps this resource will help you?

@VoiD

See, I used that article but 90% of the titles were for all sorts of high administrators or officers; various "non-hereditary" things, not like Duke/Baron etc which is what I want. I know you can just translate Count to Graffos for example, but I don't know if it's a legit thing. Perhaps the Greeks would have adopted a more Western court hierarchy?

EDIT: Actually I realized "Konostaulos" could work, since it's a title originating from Nordmen for a leader of a mercenary band? And, the blood actual leader of the Varangian band would slowly wither away in importance as the Greeks would start appointing the leader of the group from the most important of the Varangians instead of it being picked by blood/inheritance?

[VoiD]

@Andreyich That would be a fitting title. You could use that in conjunction with a Baron/Dominus-level title of land, or eschew that altogether.

[Brocktree]

<Snipped quote by BingTheWing>

Yes. Recall that the vast majority of magic takes the form of physical "sigils", due to its complexity and exhaustive nature. So normally any form of magic in warfare takes the form of meticulously-created traps. You won't find an all-powerful mage slinging massive lightning bolts across the battlefield - even the Magister Maximus would be hard-pressed to use a minor working more than two or three times a day without the use of sigil-craft.

Typically a single regiment may have 1-3 mages of various ability in its ranks. Magic is uncommon even among the nobility, who are partially bred for magical-talent.

EDIT: While I'm not against it, they would have to lie about their age, and personally I'd prefer if the age of a character doesn't go below 14 without a really good/interesting reason.

@VoiD

@VoiD
Someone has played a lot of sabers of infinity, huh? ;)

Your world intrigues me- if you're still accepting, ill have a char sheet up by the end of the day.

[VoiD]

@Brocktree I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel to guns of infinity! The magic system was partially inspired by those games, along with some of my favorite books.

You're welcome to make a CS!

[Brocktree]

@VoiD Posted my CS in characters. Will delete or change as needed.

[VoiD]

@VoiD Posted my CS in characters. Will delete or change as needed.

@Brocktree

Good application, accepted. Welcome to the RP!

Forgot to mention to everyone -- if you plan on making your character the lieutenant, please keep in mind that you'll have to be more active than other posters. You'll occasionally have to make decisions as the commanding officer, so you'll have to either post before everyone else on those occasions or be available to collab. If no one ends up taking the Lieutenant role, I'll fill it myself.

[Andreyich]

@Brocktree
Since your character is already an officer/high ranking he'd also probably have served quite a lot too, so want discuss possible common history between our characters?

[Brocktree]

@Brocktree
Since your character is already an officer/high ranking he'd also probably have served quite a lot too, so want discuss possible common history between our characters?

@Andreyich

Aaaah the common civilian misconception.

A new officer is just an over paid private until proven otherwise. Both trooper and cornet in this case are entry level positions. Not that you can't have a veteran cornet! Just that the rank doesn't mean what you think it means.