Wars

[Bob (DM)]

Wars will be handled through the threads in the War folder (I will think of a wittier name). The posts threads in those folders should be somewhat vague as to exact forces, etc. with the actual details being given in private messages. Thus, Jeroen has been informed of just how many units and the type, etc. have invaded, while the public thread has only vague details in order to prevent other players from getting intel they shouldn't have, but still letting them follow along on the progress of the war.

[Tanaka Kozo -Tnk (Tristan)]

Hi Bob

Some related questions on the topic of wars and war-related actions to hopefully provide some .

What is Zaidanese concept of army sizes, i.e. is a 5 unit force called a small/medium/large/massive army? Not looking for hard and fast numbers but rather general ranges i.e. 1-5 is ... 4-8 is ...

Are there any codes of conduct in war i.e. is raiding dishonourable, ideas of ransom for captured nobles?

What military actions are considered "hostile", specifically the reconnaissance action? If someone uses this against you is it seen as cause for war? Or is it relatively common amongst neighbours?

What is the impact of a partially built fortification i.e. if I am building a level 4 castle (40 GB) and I have completed 1/4 (10 GB) do I get the benefit of a level 1 castle if invaded?

[Bob (DM)]

1. Most states have about 10-15 units total, with the larger states having 20-30.
2. None really, they are like the actual Japanese in that all sorts of stratagems and tricks are used. As for ransoms, well sure, though that sort of thing is more the purview of the common people (i.e. merchant types), but still it is not unheard of among the nobility, though it rarely works on them as the fact that somebody has been captured (as opposed to kidnapped) is seen as something of a disgrace or dishonour.
3. I would say that reconnaissance is pretty common, but it is actually up to the one being scouted if they want to consider it hostile, though most don't. It is seen as more or less normal activity and accepted, though foreign scouts will be intercepted and attacked if possible (i.e. a failed reconnaissance action).
4.Yes. Each "level" exists once fully paid for.

[Abe Taiyou -Abe (Jeroen)]

1. Most states have about 10-15 units total, with the larger states having 20-30.

Oh that's very good to know and changes my perspective a bit.


Also a question, how do ships calculate into a battle? Say in Kisosaki, since I am defending I'd like my army near the coast because then I could possibly get artillery support from my navy. Is that possible? (If not, fluff it in )

[Tanaka Kozo -Tnk (Tristan)]

I don't think you can consider ships providing artillery support in this timeframe, I doubt any ships with artillery have the draught to be able to get close enough to shore to actually impact a battle. Maybe using the crews as irregulars or the like.

I think the big advantage from ships would be moving troops and supplies.

[Bob (DM)]

It depends on the ships. That sort of thing is what the Heisen are designed for, being small shallow draft vessels they are intended for close to shore work and use on rivers. In addition, any of the Light ships could be used. However, all those ships are busy defeating the Ikeda fleet this war move.
And yes indeed, ship crews can be used as light troops, they are listed in the unit ref page of your SR.

[Abe Taiyou -Abe (Jeroen)]

Alright, thanks for the heads up. Something to keep in mind for the future then.

[Bob (DM)]

As a general rule, there are places along every coastline where any ship can get in close enough to support land units, but it would generally take winning an opposed Warcraft check to be able to get the battle fought in such a place. However circumstances might affect that. For example, say you had a cavalry force and were invaded by a slower force, you could withdraw to the coast where your fleet could support you and since the enemy force is slower than yours they would be unlikely to be able to stop you, so you would get a bonus to your Warcraft roll.

[Abe Taiyou -Abe (Jeroen)]

Cool. These sort of things of things make me happy. It allows some actual manoevring on both sides and spices things up.

I saw about the ships crew, a question though. If said unit of irregulars is destroyed what happens to the ship in question? Can one 'train' a crew seperately? Temporarily distribute some crew from other ships or otherwise save the ship?

[Bob (DM)]

Good question!
Off the cuff ruling is yes. The ship remains, and yes one can train a new crew. As for distributing other crews, that too can be done, effectively you take a full crew from one ship and turn it into 2 partially damaged crews.
Similarly, the three ships captured from the Ikeda have all been damaged, one of them so heavily that it has to be towed.

[Abe Taiyou -Abe (Jeroen)]

Aha nice! I'm glad you lean that way. I can also imagine it would depend on the circumstances. In the example of a more manoeuverable force defeating another, if the defeated one had destroyed ship crews in there the victor might be able to cut them of right? (Warfare check, or circumstantial.)

Another question, is it possible to siege a city only from the sea? For instance to bombard it as a diplomatic tool?

(I like that bit about the towing. Details like that bring everything to life. Which reminds me, I have to contact Maeda about that.)

[Bob (DM)]

A clarification regarding the Establish Field Army/Establish Task Force actions. It is not necessary to use these actions to defend when attacked, it is used to assemble an army for offense usually or to form joint forces such as the Abe/Maeda fleet.
Furthermore any units marked as regiments or as fleets or flotillas on the Units and Ships pages of your SR are effectively already a field army/task force and have a commander already.

Another example of the use of this action would be in Iwate where the Abe army has been joined by a Watanabe contingent, so either they operate as two independent forces, or a field army must be established to allow them to function as a single force under the designated commander.

As to the timing of these actions, as these are a form of a decree of sorts, they take effect immediately, in as much as the command structure is established right away, but the component units may not all be in place right away and so would have to move to the designated province before they are assumed have joined the field army/task force.

See the individual action descriptions for more details.
Establish Field Army
Establish Task Force
Establish Higher Echelon Unit

[Bob (DM)]

Also, for those engaging in the war, remember to take the Wage War action, so all your many military actions (establishing field armies, moving units, etc. are all free actions.

[Abe Taiyou -Abe (Jeroen)]

Bob, should I change some of the naming of my units? I used Rentai to describe 'vassal' regiments (fluffwise) and Ryodan to describe 'my own'. This might lead to some confusion. On the other hand it could be construed as pecularity of the Abe army structure. (Archaic terming for the time when the Abe were much larger, etc.) In that case I'll just make clear english notes as to what is what.

[Bob (DM)]

Whichever you want. The size of the unit will be the actual determining factor. I have no problem with people using grandiose titles and designations for their units, etc.

It adds to the flavour and also might cause some confusion, when a spy informs you that the X Ryodan is moved, you may not know if that is really a corps, or only three units, etc.
Also a Rentai (regiment) does not have to be precisely 5 units, it could be anything from 4-6 units for example.
Again, this may add confusion, but in Zaidan, these are not really precise terms so that is fine.