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===Recruitment===
===Recruitment===
All Imperial armies must use recruits drawn from a single nation. Each nation can only physically support a [[Imperial armies#Maximum numbers of Imperial armies|limited number of armies]] at one time; this number cannot be exceeded.
All Imperial armies must use recruits drawn from a single nation. Each nation can only physically support a [[Commission#Maximum_numbers_of_Imperial_Forces|limited number of armies]] at one time; this number cannot be exceeded.


When the army is complete a new [[Imperial title]] of [[general]] is created in the [[Imperial Military Council]]. Appointment follows the normal constitutional process (human generals are selected by the senators of the nation) and re-appointed each year after that.
When the army is complete a new [[Imperial title]] of [[general]] is created in the [[Imperial Military Council]]. Appointment follows the normal constitutional process (human generals are selected by the senators of the nation) and re-appointed each year after that.
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==Upkeep==
==Upkeep==
Although the soldiers in an Imperial army are not paid for their service, an army still costs a huge amount of money to operate. Each Imperial army costs 50 Thrones per season, paid for from the [[Imperial Senate]] budget. Each large army costs 75 Thrones per season.
Although the soldiers in an Imperial army are not paid for their service, an army still costs a huge amount of money to operate. Each Imperial army costs 50 Thrones per season, paid for from the [[Imperial Senate]] budget. Each large army costs 75 Thrones per season.
{{Maximum Armies}}


==Military Units==
==Military Units==

Revision as of 19:42, 5 March 2016

Commander.jpg
Mathayus, General of the Granite Pillar, and Highborn warriors of the Shattered Tower

Overview

The Empire is defended by its armies. Each army is a large force, capable of acting independently and supported by their own logistics with baggage trains, siege engines, and foragers. They are therefore able to venture beyond the boundaries of the Empire and, so long as their casualties are low, remain fully capable despite being engaged in prolonged campaigns.

The typical member of an Imperial army is fed and billeted by the civil service but is not paid in coin. These volunteers have signed up for two years Imperial Service - they are trained and equipped and then assigned to an Imperial army. if they choose to leave the army at the end of that period they receive payment in land from the Empire (equivalent to a level one farm).

Although the lure of land is what draws most citizens to Imperial Service, the training and equipment received can be valuable. Most members of the many independent military units spread across the empire are former soldiers.

Each Imperial army is commended by a general. While generals are chosen by Senators, once appointed the general has sole authority to order the army to move or attack as they choose. Traditionally the generals of one nation will cooperate but it is not a requirement and a general is within their rights to give orders as they see fit.

Army Size

To allow players to make sensible and meaningful comments about the capability of their armies, each army has a fighting strength (usually 5000). This number represents the effective fighting force of the army - equivalent to 5000 raw recruits. The civil service uses complex day magic to quantify the effective fighting force of each Imperial armies, providing this IC information to the Imperial generals. An actual Imperial army may have more or less than 5000 soldiers in it, the civil service only provide the Generals with precise information on the actual fighting strength, since this is the critical number needed to make effective strategic decisions.

Barbarian armies tend to be much larger than Imperial armies, although in practice their fighting strength is usually similar.

As an army takes casualties its fighting strength drops. An army whose fighting strength falls below 1,000 will immediately disband.

The majority of campaign armies have a maximum strength of 5,000 fighting force. A large army, however, has a maximum fighting strength of 7,500 but still counts as a single campaign army.

Special Quality

Each Imperial army has a unique quality that is permanently fixed at the time the army is created and which reflects the character and flavour of the army.

When a new army is being created it will automatically develop a quality dependent on the nation raising the army. In many cases the quality will depend on events at the time and be influenced by decisions taken by the characters involved in raising the army.

Senate Commissions

The Imperial Senate can pass a motion to commission a new Imperial army, or to resupply, improve, or enlarge an existing army.

Costs

  • Materials: 200 wains of mithril and 50 Thrones
  • Time: 1 year to construct
  • Upkeep: 50 Thrones per season.
CullachMarching.jpg
The Cullach march.

Recruitment

All Imperial armies must use recruits drawn from a single nation. Each nation can only physically support a limited number of armies at one time; this number cannot be exceeded.

When the army is complete a new Imperial title of general is created in the Imperial Military Council. Appointment follows the normal constitutional process (human generals are selected by the senators of the nation) and re-appointed each year after that.

A newly created Imperial army is at its maximum strength of 5,000. It begins play mustered in one of the Imperial controlled territories belonging to the nation where it was raised.

Resupply

The strength of an Imperial army declines as it suffers casualties. While an army will slowly resupply and reinforce itself over time, the Senate can pass a motion to provide the army with additional resupply. The army to be resupplied must be in a friendly territory, and may not be engaged with any enemies.

Further details of how an Imperial army can be resupplied by the Senate can be found here.

Enlargement

The Senate can contribute resources to increase the strength of an existing army, making it large. It takes three seasons and costs 50 wains of mithril and 100 crowns each season until complete (for a total cost of 150 wains of mithril and 300 crowns). The army can continue to operate, moving and fighting as normal, while it is upgraded. The additional fighting strength is added to the army when the enlargement is complete.

Upkeep

Although the soldiers in an Imperial army are not paid for their service, an army still costs a huge amount of money to operate. Each Imperial army costs 50 Thrones per season, paid for from the Imperial Senate budget. Each large army costs 75 Thrones per season.

Military Units

Some wealthy or powerful citizens maintain their own independent military unit. These units can be attached to an army to increase its effective fighting strength. This is done by the orders of the military unit’s commander (submitted using the personal resource downtime system).

The experienced and capable troops in a starting military unit provide an advantage out of proportion to their numbers, adding the equivalent to 100 raw recruits to the strength of the army they support.

Current Armies

At present there are 22 Imperial armies.

Further Reading

Core Brief

Additional Information