Topic Time:
Weapons and Armour
No, no.
First let me start with this :
"This topic post isn't written to give one side more right to state that the RP's main focus of weapons and armour is Japanese, Norse, Roman or whatever you guys might feel like. This post is about the nation's military, explaining their style and influences as reasons that back up on why such material, gear and weaponry are beig used. It isn't to fuel any discussions on which clan(s) is better or not. So before you read further, I advise you to not take this as my personal opinion. It is too elaborate on the RP and I hate to break to you all but: the RP's rules on culture and such aren't that strict. No clan is forced to have a certain Japanese/Oriental or any kind of culture. I can go on about this and what not, but that isn't the point of this post. Just, don't start any hissy fit. This post will be read and reviewed by Gerontis, our Head GM. Disagree? That is fine, but know that you have no right to argue if you keep reading. I am open for discussion and you know where to find me on Skype. Once more, read further and you're prohibited from starting to shit or whine about anything. There is a difference between discussing and violating one of the rules, and being a jerk - seeing that more than just me pour effort and energy in making these posts possible. Capisce?"
Now, for those who aren't easily triggered or just enjoy my topic posts and wish to learn or read more, I bid you welcome. I will try to go on with a little introduction as I find that most appropriate. I have to, at least, make it clear why I picked this topic out of others. Right? I believe so, yes.
The thing is that there are many different clans with also different cultural inspirations or mixtures of cultures. This has led to characters, NPCs and clans using different weaponry and armour. The questions then stands on what each country's military uses as standardised gear. From what source did they gain influence and how is that justified? This post, hopefully, will shed some light on the questions and will make it easier to write for the military of the nations our characters are part of or will interact/visit etc.
Before I start, what will you be looking at and searching for?
That is quite simple. There is already information known about the military of the nations. They aren't that super detailed that they will inform you exactly on what each military of these nations prefers to use or wear. I am thus looking for what is known about their military without looking on what kind of influences prominent clans have caused, in the smallest of detail that is. Most of this information is taken from the opening page of the OOC as well asking Gero some questions. Kind of easy, after all, to ask the creator of the RP.
So, if my character uses a weapon or gear that doesn't follow the theme of a country, do I have to throw it away?
No, you silly! While there is a certain standard issue for soldiers, there isn't a real standard issue of gear and weaponry for the shinobi branch. There will be even differences between soldiers that serve in the same regiment of the same nation. This is due to all kind of factors that you don't have to break your pretty head for open.
But wait, Alice! The military of this country needs to be more Japanese/Norse etc!
I am going to make people shit teeth in the morning. That is my first initial reply. My serious answer on that is: Remember that even if a country's military has a preference for a particular kind of gear or weaponry that it doesn't force you to adapt to it. I can only think of very few situations where this will count. Besides, I am talking about the regular military. All of our characters are first part of the Shinobi corps and then part of the military branch to which soldiers belong to. They aren't thus (always) in the same line as the soldiers and other military personnel - as in what they are trained and equipped with.
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The Lightning Country
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"The military of Kumogakure consists mostly of medium infantry. This is infantry that is decently equipped to have moderate protection and yet remain mobile and fast. They don't really specialise in one type of unit, fielding decent infantry, skirmishers and some good cavalry. They value mobility and offensive tactics more than defensive ones. Their navy is decent, though their forte is siege equipment. Kumogakure has and still is researching new ways to bring devastation upon enemy fortifications. From their 'airships' to long range ballista, they both excel in defending a fortification location as laying siege to one."
- The short description about the military of the Lightning country.
Already we can conclude various facts about the weaponry and armoury from this small segment of information:
- The preference is to be mobile and fast,
- The majority is wearing 'medium ranked' protection,
- There isn't a major specialisation other than the fact that they have access to good cavalry,
- Mobility and offensive tactics are preferred over defensive ones.
It is thus safe to say that you won't encounter a lot of troops in the Lightning country's military that are geared with heavy armour. This means no such thing as plate armour or anything thoroughly expensive. At best you'll find probably chainmail with some reinforcements. Think of a person wearing padded armour, chainmail and some hard boiled leather over the mail (cuir bouill). The average soldier would wear padding armour, known as
gamebeson, with perhaps some reinforced leather garments. While some like to think that padding is easy to cut through and just something the poorest wear, it isn't that easy. It protects the wearer pretty well against both the cold and attacks. With not weighing the user or making movement uncomfortable, it is a must with the forces of the Lightning country in battle.
A good (possible) visual representation would be thus:
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WAIT, BUT THAT IS SO EUROPEAN!
*Sigh*
Before you go on about that, let me allow to say this:
"I searched for a blank visual representation because there isn't a clear cultural influence with the Lightning's military. There are both oriental and western kind of armour that can have that kind of style as shown in the image. Also see me write: 'A good (possible) visual representation'. Those who aren't familiar with what a cuir bouill is or have the idea that leather armour or even padded armour is, will not have the same visual representation. Want to have an example? Fine. In both the western and the oriental world, the use of lamellar armour exists. And lamellar armour can be made from pieces of leather to steel."
That having said, I can already state that I can't talk too much about the weaponry of the Lightning's military. It is clear that they prefer offensive over defensive tactics. But it is safe to say that there will be a wide variety of weaponry present in the Lightning's military. Without much more information or settled information, there is little that I can work with.
B-But is that all for the Lightning?!
Fear so. The thing is that you have to take in that I don't just want to decide what the entire military uses. This post is about to clear out some points. If things are, however, not too clear to me either then I can't just write and claim it is the truth. Once I have perhaps more work and sources to deal with I will update it. Until then? Onwards to the next.
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The Republic of the Water
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"The military of Kirigakure is mainly consisted of light infantry. While some may make jokes, no one in particular, that it’s because Kirigakure is poor and can’t afford all the equipment that’d make a military heavy infantry…well, that’s only part of the reason, so take that! But also because Kirigakure is maritime based, and adding heavy to water does not equate to good things. Therefore you can find most troops of Kirigakure wearing relatively light armor, enough to provide sufficient protection nonetheless, while remaining fast and mobile. In hand is usually weaponry with the intent of keeping the enemy at bay, or pushing them back, such as spears, though it isn’t uncommon to see troops wielding swords as well. With the recent re-shaping of the military, value is being placed on defensive tactics rather than offensive, as it would be foolish to follow in past footsteps equaling to failure. The end goal now is survival, not conquest nor pride. The navy of Kirigakure is simply their best feature and continues to build each day. No other western nation seems to rival or even come close. Simply put, whatever they can do, one can expect Kirigakure to do it as well, and more efficiently."
- The short description about the military of the Republic of the Water country.
Now, what can we conclude from this? Other than the fact that the link expired - which was to show my name, I believe - is that the Republican military doesn't support much heavy infantry. They are focused on a maritime military. What that means is that their main focus is on their fleet. The Republic already has a fearsome reputation when it comes to warfare on the seas, boasting to have the best fleet in the known world.
Their warfare on the land is less ideal, though. While light infantry can be quite useful on the battlefield, they lack cavalry or heavy infantry. The Republic did, however, shift from an offensive stratagem to a more defensive one. Looking at the Akiyama clan, it is somewhat easier to deduce the components of the Republican military than that of the Lightning's military.
"So, what kind of weaponry would the Republic soldiers favour?"
Judging from what we can learn of the Akiyama clan, we can state that there are two situations that we have to take into account. The maritime warfare and land warfare. On land, the Republic troops will favour using polearms, such as pikes, to keep both enemy cavalry and infantry at bay. But there will be no disapproval of the use of shields and other weaponry, such as swords. This will be just less prominent among the Republic troops that fight on land.
When fighting on deck, the choice is different. Instead of pikes to fight and keep enemies at bay, the choice of the Republic troops will go towards short swords, hand axes and picks. Easier to fight on deck as it is quite hard to utilise battle formations when the enemy is boarding your vessel or vice versa.
In both situations, the use of bow and crossbows is the most common. Both on land, to support their infantry formations, as on the sea, to pepper the crew of enemy vessels.
"And what about armour?"
Armour is said to be light. The reasons were given that the Republic can't finance its military to be heavily equipped and that it isn't really suitable for their main way of warfare. Gambesons are the most common of armour found among the troops of the Republic. There are some cases where the troops are wearing something else or more. Such as the berserkers of the Akiyama clan, who don't wear a shirt when going into battle. Then there are those who are wealthy enough in the Republic who can afford more than just padding armour. Depending on their wealth, this can range from good quality chainmail vests to steel lamellar armour, such as the style of the samurai.
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The Empire of Akino
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"The military of the Akinian realm focus on a lot of variations. Their main focus is their heavy infantry, that is equipped with long oval shields, spears and side-arms. Wearing protective gear, their heavy infantry can form a formidable defensive or offensive unit. Capable of fielding several specialised units that hail from various clans and regions, that aid to the combat strength of an Akinian army, they are a force to reckon with on the battlefields. Their cavalry is often a mix of the hit and run cavalry, using several samurai traditions, as more lance and shock cavalry.
Though having a basic understanding of naval warfare, the Akinian Empire isn't even near on being par with the Kirigakure navy. The main purpose of the Akinian navy is to fend off pirates and securing trade routes as to escort transport ships. Their siege warfare is rather good, utilising siege equipment on battlefields, as well in sieges, in order to deliver devastating attacks."
- The short description about the military of the Imperial military of the Akinian Empire.
"Oh and here we go. Willing to bet that the Imperial military has more information and details about them."
Let me start to clear this out before I even go and conclude what we can grasp from the short description about the Imperial military: Stop that.
It isn't just childish and annoying, but it is also demotivating. Yes, the Akinian empire seems to sport more details and information. How is this the case? Favoritism? No. Luck? Not really, no. It is because people that have been put into the position to think and write for the empire have simply done more than the other nations and factions. So want to see a difference? Then stop wasting time and effort into whining about "the Empire has too much information", "the Empire has all the good stuff!", "Ugh, the Empire is so favoured!". Instead, try to give more lore and details to the Lightning country or Republic. Instead, try to do something productive instead of whining.
Now that is out of the way, we can start with the Imperial military. Already from the information, it is clear that the Akinian military is capable of bringing heavily equipped soldiers into the fray. But what one must not forget is that the Imperial forces aren't all geared with a lot of protective gear. Specialised troops are used to fill in the roles that the heavy infantry of Akino can't fulfil. This makes the Imperial military capable to field armies that are diverse and able to wield both offensives as defensive stratagems, depending on the enemy and the terrain.
Discipline and loyalty are the most important virtues in the Imperial military. Something vital for a military that has its units work in various formations or armies that have a diversity of units.
Another important fact is that the troops of the Akinian empire are provided by the state when it comes to arms and armour. This enables the forces of the Empire to have in general better-equipped soldiers, but also a sense of unity as it is rare to see soldiers in the same unit have different weaponry or equipment.
What kind of weapons do the Imperial military favour?"
In order to determine this, we have to look on what clan the Imperial military has focused or gained inspiration from. Which is mainly from the Hon clan. While it might not come off as a surprise for many, it isn't that the Hon clan is favoured the most and for that reason, the Imperial military has reformed in a fashion such as the Hon clan. The reasons can be listed as following:
- The Hon clan is one of Akino's largest clan. Their renown of fierce fighters has led to both respect and dread among friends and foes.
- The current Empress is from the clan, which further interest and respect towards the clan as the empire prospers.
- The current military adviser and the highest official is the leader of this clan.
- The Hon clan's military as advanced over the conflicts that they waged. Learning from both victories and defeats, the clan has managed to have a developed military which has caused the reforms of the Imperial force.
Okay, but what weaponry would the Empire then favour?"
That is hard to answer. We will have to divide the Imperial forces into three known sectors: Infantry, cavalry and skirmishers.
Let's start with infantry. The generic infantrymen of the Akinian are equipped with a large oval shield with the as main weapon a short sword, close to that of a gladius, or having a spear as an extra weapon.
"Wait, hold on. A gladius? But that is Roman. Not Nordic nor Japanese!"
I know. But one must realise that the Akinian military isn't focused on what looks best or sounds best, but what works best with influence from the Hon clan. Other weapons that are being used depends on the formation of the unit. There are such as units who utilise polearms to form pikewalls as well units who use two-handed weaponry to fill the role of shock troopers.
"And does the Imperial army sports fur with their armour and gear?"
Reading some work from Minoru no Kanazawa, huh? But no. The forces of the Imperial military don't sport any fur with their armour. The generic infantrymen of the empire have heavier gear than found among the average trooper of other nations. Dressed in a gambeson, they wear brigandine armour or chainmail vests over it. With the addition of shoulder plates, arm and shin guards as helmets the soldiers of the Empire are geared to be capable of fighting in prolonged fights. It, of course, depends on what kind of unit they are serving in. Not every unit is geared in the same fashion as the 'average imperial soldier'. Some are lighter while others have even better protective gear. Much like their weaponry, the Akinian Empire does sport a more European weaponry preference. In order to give a good visual idea, one can see the Akinian military to resemble a certain image of the Late Roman military.
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Final word
With this topic being explained a bit, I know that there are still a lot of questions. I already addressed in the skype chat on why I haven't been able to fill more of the void and clear out matters. I still hope that this post will prove to be both fun as informative. My own personal opinion is that I am not entirely content with it. But that has more to do with the fact that I desired to write more about it. My next topic? Not sure. If you want me to write about a certain topic then just inform me on skype and I shall see what I can do about it.