Paraphernalia

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Revision as of 17:35, 15 August 2005 by Arithon (talk | contribs) ('scout report' link directed to the intro/scouts page)
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Paraphernalia refers to all the "optional" staff and equipment which a troop leader may choose to bring along, but must pay extra for.

People

There is more to a troop leader's personal retinue than scribes and soldiers. Often it is necessary to hire specialized people to perform certain tasks, and so make the whole unit more effective.

Scouts

Trained scouts just plain make your life easier, and make your unit more versatile and effective. Their first and most obvious use is in the collection of trained scout reports. They also make it less likely that you'll get lost on the way.

Healers

Healers tend to your wounded troops, when you're on the road. Having one or two around will ensure that your wounded men get the best possible care when you're away from towns or cities. Of course, some wounds are simply beyond help, and overworked healers often have to prioritize their cases and let troops die who might otherwise live.

Command Staff

It's often useful in battle to exert one's authority and make sure everyone is in line. Ultimately, the effectiveness depends on the leadership of the troop leader, but it's also necessary to have sufficient staff to carry orders and information back and forth.

Equipment

Your unit carries lots of equipment: weapons, armour, pots, pans, saddles, tents, etc. That's all taken care of, as are the mules, and the small equipment wagons, as part of your soldiers' pay. There are a few things, however, which belong to the whole unit -- and which, therefore, you must pay for yourself.

Carts

The next best thing to a healer when you have wounded men is a good sturdy cart. Let the wounded travel in style at the expense of a healthy couple of soldiers! It won't really help them get better, but it will help them travel much more quickly. Of course, you can't pile them too high; if you have lots of wounded men, you'll need lots of carts.

Banners

During the chaos of battle, it can become easy to get disoriented, confused, and even lost. Confused troops are more likely to panic and flee. By the use of brightly coloured banners with the insignia of your unit and your realm, you can direct the eyes of your troops in battle -- keep them together. Archers don't usually see the use, but cavalry and infantry live and die by their banners.

Siege Engines

It is likely that at some point you will find yourself facing fortifications: whether the dirt and wood fortifications of a rural command post, or the tall granite walls of a citadel. Sure, you could tell your men to climb with their hands and ropes, but that's not always going to work. Siege engines will do the trick of providing some means of helping your troops climb in a group, making it harder to throw them back from the walls, and doing some damage to the fortifications to boot.

Unfortunately, siege engines are incredibly heavy and hard to manoeuvre -- they'll slow you down something terrible. Most units don't consider these standard equipment.

Giant Wooden Badgers

There are no giant wooden badgers in this game. You cannot build them, you cannot buy them. Stop asking about them. Seriously.

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