I am a writer, I published my first novel in 2013. Currently I am studying for a BH (with Hons) in Creative Writing, after completing this I intend to do a MA in Military History.

Apart from writing I love history, I know about a dozen martial arts and have studied several styles of sword fighting from around the world.

My dream would be to earn a living from my writing, be it novels or games.

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This is just a quick demonstration of the level of detail I put into world building. The world has three major nations, each with a religion, culture, mythology, social hierarchy and so on. These are the note I wrote for the military of one of those nations. Just the military mind.


Sorry for any grammatical errors, like I said, these notes were just the ones I jotted up for myself.


Weapons, armour and warfare - Southern Isles



Tactics

In keeping with the Japanese theme of this land the warfare between the city states, and thus their overall style of warfare, is cohesive with Japanese tactics and soldier composition. Using highly skilled upper class professional warriors to form the ‘core’ of the army is key, with the island leaders and their entourage forming a unit of very heavy, very skilled cavalry mounted on small, sturdy horses and more than capable of fighting on foot.

Below them in terms of class and skill is the ‘bow caste’ of the southern isles, these men a land owners, business owners and form the upper middle class – they don’t work. Instead they practice their archery, competitions, archer duels and sporting events keep them practicing in times of peace. These archers, while relatively small in number, form a deadly force that lacks the military discipline of other cultures but despite their incoherent shooting each man is a deadly marksman.

The garrison class are employed part time, the slaves and casteless of the southern isles allows them to practice their spear work regularly while working as city guards, personal body guards, and private guards. These men use naginata style spears and are deadly at mid-range and against cavalry.

Finally the lowest caste – the conscripts – are only brought into war when there is no other choice, these men have no military training but are handed spear, shield and dagger and quickly taught how to march and stand. Their main tactical role is to hold the bulk of an enemy army in place while the small, highly skilled castes above them do the real damage.


Weapons

Heavy armour has made the use of the fast, light katana decline quickly. Instead Dao are now the most common weapons, with two handed versions more often used. These weapons are quick, heavier than a katana and can both cut an unarmoured/ lightly armoured foe and batter a man in armour.

Longbows are the common weapon of the ‘bow caste’. These bows are often highly personalised, with feathers and ornamentation at the ends along with elaborate grips. The arrows are around 70cm long and can be shot around 300m.

Naginata are the weapon of the ‘garrison caste’. These weapons are longer, and thus can keep professional full time soldiers at a greater length, but they require more skill than a standard spear and a naginata wielding warrior will often have an advantage over a man with a spear, even if the spear is longer, because of the greater manoeuvrability of the naginata. The naginata stands taller than the man using it.

The yari is the basic weapon mass produced and passed out to conscripts. It is often a more effective weapon than a common spear as its blade is longer and shaped like half a sword, this gives it more penetration and makes it harder for an opponent to lop the spears head off.

The Scutum is the shield that accompanies the yari. It is large and its oval shape makes it effective against incoming projectiles. Lightly armoured conscripts can move quickly under a canopy of these shields, safe from incoming fire.

Roundel daggers are also given to and carried by most men. These are little more than very large, very sharp nails. They are designed to find gaps in armour, and have enough penetrating force to smash through skulls and ribs.


Armour –

The higher classes (island lords and their entourage) wear a set of armour that is not dissimilar to a combination of European plate and the Samurai armour of the 15th – 17th centuries. Steel plates cover the body, legs, back and other parts, while a face mask and helmet protects the head. Armour sets are always personal and plumage atop the helmet shows the man’s clan colour. The armour is good against the now out of fashion katana and other cutting weapons, but heavy weapons like the two handed Dao that is now in use can dent and split the armour. Short stabbing weapons may find gaps in the defence (roundel into eyes for example). Arrows fired at a close enough range can penetrate the armour.

Lamellar armour is used for both the bow and garrison caste, this armour is easy to produce, and good. It suffers from being more vulnerable to crushing attacks than plate, but it is far lighter.

Leather armour is very cheap, it is mass produced and stored for soldiers to train in and to equip the conscripts with. It offers basic protection but a strong cut, stab or blunt force strike will still kill.


Animals –

Large Yacatchi dogs are often used in war on the Southern Isles (bigger than a GS, black and fluffy). These animals are highly intelligent and are considered by many to be the successor of wolves. They were first used to guard flocks, then to actively hunt wolves. Now there are no wolves on the southern isles. Now the men of the isles use the dogs to hunt men.

Aduu horses (mongol horses) are sturdy, very good in harsh conditions and capable of carrying their armoured masters into war. For a long time they have been simply a transport to the battle, but since the invasions of the empire they are being used more and more in actual combat. Because of this the country has begun breading them at a high rate.


Special features –

After the arrival of Pegasus horses almost 200 years ago a small number of women have established a new caste – Valkyrie – these women are the highest women in society, and some argue the highest people. They carry light weapons including jian swords, double bellied crossbows and thin lances. Used as shock troops and assassins their position in society is based solely on their unique flying horses. Men have tried to fly the Pegasus, but the leaders of the isles have concluded that the horses are the domain of women – not only are the women far lighter, but the horses buck and rear when ridden by men. (This is deliberate as they were created by the mages of old and thus have strange behaviour patterns nature cannot explain.)

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