From: Joerg Baumgartner (joe@sartar.toppoint.de)
Date: Mon 04 Apr 1994 - 14:23:36 EEST
A question about Yelmalian tactics:
Ever since Sun County came out, we tend to think of Yelmalians as hoplites or at least peltasts marching in orderly columns and forming phalanxes in fights.
This, however, does not concur too well with the cult fighting skills (Kuschile Archery, Ride Horse, Bow Attack), nor with the likely combat style the Aldachuri or the numerous other Sartarite Sun worshippers would use.
Looking at the skills, I get the following picture of barbarian Yelmalians (or Elmal cultist warriors):
Guarding: Elmal was the thane guarding Orlanth's stead during the darkness. This doesn't mean that he stood guard before the gates all day/night long, but that he stood ready to defend the stead, and patroled the outlying area, presumably on horseback. GRoY even has Elmalus as the leader of Vingkotling raids, so that the guarding probably had more in common with forechecking.
So the typical barbarian Elmalite/Yelmalian warrior would ride out in small groups (about 5?) on horseback, armed with bow, warspear and a few javelins. When encountering raiders or intruders, the primary tactic is to harrass them with archery from horseback, allowing one patrol member to alarm the stead.
When the enemy comes to close quarters, the riders might continue one charge with the spear used as a lance (more likely they'd throw a few javelins), but then dismount and form a shield wall to finish the opponent. By this time, they ought to have summoned sufficient numbers to form a stable circle, semi-circle or line as tactical unit, to provide a solid base against mobile forces, or the spear-head formation as shock troups against massed enemies. One part of them will act as light cavalry covering the flanks, and continue to hail missiles over the enemy.
Being hill barbarians at heart, neither shield wall nor spear-head should be viewed as regular infantry. Like their sword-swinging, storm-worshipping brethren they will have champions stepping out of the line to challenge enemies to single combat (the only incident when the lines will hold even for Orlanthi warriors). The spear-head is a half-mad charge with slung shield and two-handed use of the spear, which is quick to dissolve once the enemy ranks are pierced. The shield wall is a means to break a charge, be it by mounted or infantry opponents, nothing more. Once the opponents shock action has been neutralized, individual hand to hand combat results.
What do you miniature wargamers say? Is this reasonable?
How would a meeting say in 1611, between Harvar Ironfists Yelmalian lunar sympathizers and staunch anti-lunar storm worshippers (Orlanth, Humakt, Urox worshippers) in the hills between Alda-chur and Alone, have looked? Light cavalry vs. chariots, and sword/axeswinging open lines against set spears?
BTW, isn't Kuschile an Elmal cult hero as well? In the Colymar Book, one of the clans traces its ancestry back to this hero.
--
-- Joerg Baumgartner joe@sartar.toppoint.de
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.7 : Fri 10 Oct 2003 - 01:33:32 EEST