Post by Muramasa on Jan 29, 2007 11:11:38 GMT -8
The Auland military doctrine can be summed up by this old soldier's saying "Strike fast, strike hard, or strike fast and hard". The saying, all innuendo aside, is quite indicitive of their overall strategy. The Auland military tends to favor striking quickly using their well trained calvaryin conjunction with striking hard using their artillery to overwhelmn an opponent in favor of out-right brute strength and infrantry power. There are several reasons for this. Historically, the military used to favor slow forward advances and relatively organized troop movements in order to intimidate opponents as well as break their morale. When Auland began to participate in War of Avatar however, Auland found itself with an enemy it could not intimidate so easily. Also, the destructive nature of enemy summons made formations a liability to the army itself.
Given the fact that summoners had posed a problem for the Confederation since the begining of the war, the Auland military decided to revise their tactics. While at the begining of the war, Summons did play a large role, General Kolas noticed that their combat effectiveness was greatly hampered by the amout of time it took to open the correct gates. Using this to their advantage, command decided to rework soldier priorities. Hence forth, more emphasis would be placed on better training and equipping their calvary, though in this case, they would act as more of a mounted Dragoon force than anything.
While not necessarily made to deliver any devestating blows, the calvary worked well to allow the army a first priority strike, as well as cause disarray to the enemy forces. In addition, they could quickly change their battle field role from an offensive role to an observative role to provide reconaissance. Most importantly, their mobility allowed them to distract, circumvent, and at most defeat the biggest threat to the Confederate forces, the summoners, as they would be allowed to quickly engage summoners before they had a chance to summon anything.
At the same time, battlefield analyst were hypothesizing that engaging the enemy at a distance beyond the enemies would prove to be more beneficial; the reduction in casualties being the top motivation, as well as provide a cheaper alternative than to risk resource expensive chalvary. The idea of Auland's artillery came from the recent development of the high powered rifle developed by Clarion. Working similar to a larger version of it, the artillery cannon would fire a large bullet between a 30-50 degree angle (any other angles were too unstable, or did not reach desired distances). While still not able to penetrate magical barriers, it provided to soften target areas before infantry moved if fired pre-emptively. Also, the size of the chamber allowed for a multiple bullet types to be placed in, and in dire situations, unconventional shells as well. While an important part of the strategy, though, ultimately the artillery idea is too expensive and slow for mainstream use.
On a side note, magic is not necessarily gone from the Auland military strategy, though it is much more limited than Kiluda's. While certainly not in mainstream use, having a magician or two does prove to be a valuable asset, whether it be through their surgeons or though a strategist or a tactical advisor. Indeed, it is actually pretty common place to see at least a mercenary mage give combat advice as well directly participate in battle. The most valuable combat surgeon is relatively well versed in white magics as well, facilitating the closing of a wound with sutures and gentle healing touch. It seems to be that there is no stigma against magic in the military, all negative views of magic come from civilian backlash, their memories of the damned thing that was summoned years ago is still fresh in their mind. Lack of magic in the Auland forces appear to be more the result of preferance than anything. Even Auland's own General Kolas is proficient in the art as well, along with an aide who (according to rumors) is not only incredibly knowledgeble of the subject, but a full time practictioner.
Given the fact that summoners had posed a problem for the Confederation since the begining of the war, the Auland military decided to revise their tactics. While at the begining of the war, Summons did play a large role, General Kolas noticed that their combat effectiveness was greatly hampered by the amout of time it took to open the correct gates. Using this to their advantage, command decided to rework soldier priorities. Hence forth, more emphasis would be placed on better training and equipping their calvary, though in this case, they would act as more of a mounted Dragoon force than anything.
While not necessarily made to deliver any devestating blows, the calvary worked well to allow the army a first priority strike, as well as cause disarray to the enemy forces. In addition, they could quickly change their battle field role from an offensive role to an observative role to provide reconaissance. Most importantly, their mobility allowed them to distract, circumvent, and at most defeat the biggest threat to the Confederate forces, the summoners, as they would be allowed to quickly engage summoners before they had a chance to summon anything.
At the same time, battlefield analyst were hypothesizing that engaging the enemy at a distance beyond the enemies would prove to be more beneficial; the reduction in casualties being the top motivation, as well as provide a cheaper alternative than to risk resource expensive chalvary. The idea of Auland's artillery came from the recent development of the high powered rifle developed by Clarion. Working similar to a larger version of it, the artillery cannon would fire a large bullet between a 30-50 degree angle (any other angles were too unstable, or did not reach desired distances). While still not able to penetrate magical barriers, it provided to soften target areas before infantry moved if fired pre-emptively. Also, the size of the chamber allowed for a multiple bullet types to be placed in, and in dire situations, unconventional shells as well. While an important part of the strategy, though, ultimately the artillery idea is too expensive and slow for mainstream use.
On a side note, magic is not necessarily gone from the Auland military strategy, though it is much more limited than Kiluda's. While certainly not in mainstream use, having a magician or two does prove to be a valuable asset, whether it be through their surgeons or though a strategist or a tactical advisor. Indeed, it is actually pretty common place to see at least a mercenary mage give combat advice as well directly participate in battle. The most valuable combat surgeon is relatively well versed in white magics as well, facilitating the closing of a wound with sutures and gentle healing touch. It seems to be that there is no stigma against magic in the military, all negative views of magic come from civilian backlash, their memories of the damned thing that was summoned years ago is still fresh in their mind. Lack of magic in the Auland forces appear to be more the result of preferance than anything. Even Auland's own General Kolas is proficient in the art as well, along with an aide who (according to rumors) is not only incredibly knowledgeble of the subject, but a full time practictioner.
