War in table top RPG's?

[sarendt]

I can see what you mean about

if you try to emphasis everything than you're actually emphasizing nothing.

I guess I wanted to see the characters move between the higher up actions, to the lower ones.

I will expand this idea in a hour or so, gota do some actual work...

-Scott

[Tadanori Oyama]

You can do both, I simply recommend not trying to do both at the same time. Having characters move between levels of a military is something would like to try.

You might have your players start as basic soldiers and then be promoted to officers in the field, then brought back from the front lines to advise the generals and political officials as to the "on the ground" situation, allowing you to bath players in blood and sweat at first before pulling them back so they can see what the war is doing indirectly. You may then have the players return to the front lines and resume small focus (buddies in the trench) or the players might remain back and take on a directing role.

The reverse would be starting the players high up in the command chain so they are directing people and then have them get busted down to trench level because they made a mistake or one of the higher offices decided to use them as an example, or whatever excuse you want to provide.

[sarendt]

@Tad, you basicly expanded that for me, that was more or less what I was going to say.  My idea was more to let the players run standard adventures for 5-10 levels (assuming D&D, but whatever) at level 5 start hinting at the comming war, armies moving, quests to recon the enemy lines, towns reloacting etc.  

If the players seem interested, let them move towads an active role in the military war machine, taking missions for the crown or what not.  As the war commences, have them in a position of influence for the kings and generals etc.  Let them choose where to go and what to do, if they choose to return to the kings and generals they would have a chance to influence the war strategicly, or they could continue to run missions behind enemy lines or out side of communciation with the generals, taking more of a tactical approach.  Finally they might decide this whole war thing is for the birds and go find someplace safer to adventure until it winds it self down...

This approach requires quite a bit of work though, as you have to have some level of planning for each possiblity, thus the difficulty.  That doesn't even get into the 'feel' of the war, which would just be the GM's talent to bring this type of world alive...

-Scott

**modified to fix major spelling error

[clockworkjoe]

well I remember reading somewhere that a common tactic in ancient warfare was for the generals of each army to seek out each other during a battle. The idea being that the quicker you kill the enemy general, the quicker the enemy army collapses.

Also, armies were led from the frontline most of the time. At the very least, you had to be on the battlefield to lead an army. So high level battles would be duels with opposing leaders or trying to kill as many troops as possible to demoralize the enemy.

[Tadanori Oyama]

well I remember reading somewhere that a common tactic in ancient warfare was for the generals of each army to seek out each other during a battle. The idea being that the quicker you kill the enemy general, the quicker the enemy army collapses.

Also, armies were led from the frontline most of the time. At the very least, you had to be on the battlefield to lead an army. So high level battles would be duels with opposing leaders or trying to kill as many troops as possible to demoralize the enemy.

Are we talking about an ancient war? My time I've done a D&D war it's been much more of the modern spin on war since the players and NPCs can use magic to emulate modern methods of warfare.

I'd been operating under the idea that his players would be in the World War era of technology using guns and possibly motorized devices.

[sarendt]

I'd been operating under the idea that his players would be in the World War era of technology using guns and possibly motorized devices.

Oh wow, I was thinking about ancient warfare, flavored with magik.  Most of my worlds are low magik with steam punk & clock work style modern contraptions thrown in. 

I would like to see this thread be a place for all types of warfare discussion, so I guess if people give examples lets just try to mention what era of game were set in.

Good call Tad!

-Scott

[ristarr]

The group I am running now is in a war flavored campaign.  They are not going to be involved in much actual action on the front lines or as battle commanders ( I am not sure about that one as it could be a long way off ).  Now, I am using them to provide protection against insurgents in the port city that is the major point of supplies going out to the battle.  I sent them out to Crafthaven ( Ross's module Tides of Doom ) to investigate the diminishing supply of fireheart, which was being used by the war wizards at the front.  It seems to me this is a way to introduce more standard type dungeon crawling to the war effort.  Also, they have a lot of chances for urban investigation in trying to ferret out foreign agents.   They also have a story arc to stop some drug smuggling rings, operated by the enemy, that threaten to destabilize the populace.
In the future, I see them going behind the lines for missions, but it kinda depends on what they want to do.  Since the war is against an undead empire, I think they will want to continue the fight ( several Raven Queeners ) in an either official or unofficial capacity.

[sarendt]

@ristarr:  I look forward to hearing how it turns out.  I like the idea of multiple paths you have created to tackle or solve the problems created by the war.

@Everyone:  What type of difference do you see in presenting a war from different era's?  Is it simply two options, ancient and modern, split around WWI technology or are their shades in there somewhere?  Has anyone seen a war played out in a future setting, such as Shadowrun or Starwars?

-Scott

[Avoozel]

In short, Reign is amazing and the best fantasy rpg to tackle shit like that

So, when are we going to see a "Reign: New World" supplement?

I actually ordered the hard cover from LuLu and in the span of two weeks managed to get my group into the system and concept.   Then again, I had given them a little taste of ORE with Nemesis. 

[theoutsiders68]

I am currently building a campaign on this very subject

theoutsiders68

On youtube check it out...