Tamriel Rebuilt :: View topic - Imperial Infantry Tactics and Guidelines [WA]

**opelcity** · Member 09 Dec 2003 Location: Hessen

Imperial Infantry Tactics & Guidelines
- confidential -
by Brutus Noctavius

This piece of writing is to be issued to every officer in command of troops after reaching the rank of "Champion". These tactical variants have proven to be very successful in past engagements and are necessary to be followed when fighting an enemy together with other Imperial Legion Formations. Only standardized tactics throughout all elements of our fighting forces can ensure success in combat operations.

Terrain and Environment
If possible make sure that YOU choose the site and time of combat. Always have the sun and the wind in your back. It will blind the enemy and increase the effective range of your arrows and bolts. Use the advantages of high terrain! An enemy who has to climb a hill will be exhausted when it comes to the actual fighting. Take notice of the ground you are standing on. The harder the ground the better. It is only there where the full force of the Imperial weaponery can be unveiled. For fighting in hostile environments refer to notes on "winter warfare" and "uncommon combat tactics"

Troop Placement
The Combat Row is the main element of our fighting force. It gives the commander good view of his troops and allows for better control and faster adeption of the individual tactics below. Place your troops in a rectangle with the length a hundredfold longer than it´s width. Make sure that there is no more than an armlength of room between each individual trooper and no more than six soldiers behind each other. An entire legion can easily be commanded in that way. When expecting an assault from enemy horsemen, equip the first two rows of troopers with long spears to be able to repel the attack. Place archers in the rear of the rows of foot soldiers. If you are in the position to use knights, place them on your left and right flank. Keep a number of light troops as a reserve to prevent outflanking and attacks on your archers.

The Crab
Order your soldiers to hold their shields overhead, with the exception of the first row, who will place their shields in front of them. This will create a large troop formation with the appearance of a giant crab with the ability to repel attacks from enemy archers.

The Wedge
Have your troops form a triangle composed of no more then 20 soldiers with their shields placed in front of them and advance into the enemy rows. This will force your opponent to stand his ground, therefore disabeling the individual enemy soldier to move freely. Enemys carrying longswords will be prevented to use their weapon as there is not enough space for them to weild their weapon, while the Imperial Short Sword can be put to a most effective use.

PS: In the final version, there would be simple illustrations under each tactic (i still have some more in mind). i just wanted to see if this fits TR (content and style of writing) or is too much Roman before putting more work in it.

The mentioned "winter war" and "uncommon infantry tactics" as well as notes on "combat in swamp areas" and intelligence leaflets to be issued to troops before deployment are also on my mind...

**Violent_J** · Member 26 Jun 2004 Location: Austria

I think the first part u have written is really good. of course it remembers of the romans but thats only because they were very good at military strategys!

**Majra** · Developer Emeritus 16 Jan 2004 Location: Darvulk Haven Elsweyr

very well done, passes lore, grammarers take over

*when you compile the other parts post them here. Also I can help you with the book art

**Haplo** · Lead Developer 30 Aug 2003 Location: Celibacy

Edited for Grammar and Spelling

--CONFIDENTIAL--
Imperial Infantry Tactics & Guidelines
by Brutus Noctavius

This piece of writing is to be issued to every officer in command of troops after reaching the rank of "Champion". These tactical variants have proven to be very successful in past engagements and are necessary to be followed when fighting an enemy together with other Legion Formations. Only standardized tactics throughout all elements of our fighting forces can ensure success in combat operations.

Terrain and Environment
If possible, make sure that it is always you who chooses the time and place of combat. Always have the sun and the wind at your back. It will blind the enemy and increase the effective range of your arrows and bolts. Use the advantages of high terrain! An enemy who has to climb a hill will be exhausted when it comes to the actual fighting. Take notice of the ground you are standing on. The harder the ground the better. It is only there where the full force of Imperial weaponry can be unveiled. For fighting in hostile environments refer to notes on Winter Warfare and Uncommon Combat Tactics

Troop Placement
The Combat Row is the main element of our fighting force. It gives the commander a good view of his troops and allows for better control and faster adaption of the individual tactics below. Place your troops in a rectangle with the length a hundredfold longer than its width. Make sure that there is no more than an armlength of room between each individual trooper and no more than six soldiers behind each other. An entire legion can easily be commanded in that way. When expecting an assault from enemy horsemen, equip the first two rows of troopers with long spears to be able to repel the attack. Place archers in the rear of the rows of foot soldiers. If you are in the position to use knights, place them on your flanks. Keep a number of light troops as a reserve to prevent outflanking and attacks on your archers.

The Turtle
Order your soldiers to hold their shields overhead, with the exception of the first row, who will place their shields in front of them. This will create a large troop formation with the appearance of a giant turtleshell with the ability to withstand attacks from arrows and rocks.
This is NOT the crab. It is the turtle. References are made, check them. I changed it for you.

The Wedge
Have your troops form a triangle composed of no more then 20 soldiers with their shields placed in front of them and advance into the enemy rows. This will force your opponent to stand his ground, therefore disabling the individual enemy soldier to move freely. Enemies carrying longswords will be prevented from using their weapon as there is not enough space for them to weild their weapon, while the Imperial Short Sword can be put to a most effective use.[/i]

---

Not bad, the reason why you don't see numerous red marks on the paragraphs is that usually you were missing a comma somewhere, had an extra comma, or had mixed up some letters(fight, fihgt).

A bit Roman in style, but...then again Majra's the Tamriel Lore guy, I'm the Roman Lore guy. And TR Lore's what matters. however I DID change the Crab formation to the Tortoise formation.

**opelcity** · Member 09 Dec 2003 Location: Hessen

**Túrelio** · Developer 18 Apr 2004 Location: Georgia, USA

Well if the mud crab can be found in other parts of Tamriel that is actually not a bad idea. I am not sure I have heard of a turtle but it might be mentioned in lore somewhere. It actually isn't a bad idea, a good way to blend this in,

**Morden** · Developer Emeritus 30 Oct 2003 Location: BC, Canada

**Túrelio** · Developer 18 Apr 2004 Location: Georgia, USA

I thought he was refering to sturdy ground, as in opposed to muddy.

Another thing, since this is TES, we have magic and the Empire does use it in battle and war. Would this be included or another special book?

**Morden** · Developer Emeritus 30 Oct 2003 Location: BC, Canada

Sorry my post cut off half way through. I was also going to mention that the soldiers should stand shoulder to shoulder, so that their tower shields could interlock. Each man covers the left side of the next man. As opposed to standing within an arm's reach of eachother. Its getting specific, but i think it should be if it is to be a confidential document. As it stands its far to general. It sort of falls under common sense. Its a great start though. Smile

**Majra** · Developer Emeritus 16 Jan 2004 Location: Darvulk Haven Elsweyr

my knowledge of battle formations and tactic fails me however, so I will stay out of this. I can do some research on the library about what Tamriel battles resemble. Smile

BTW I am not the lore guy, if LG or Nazz were to comment on something I would almost always have to assume they are correct (until I find something otherwise of course)

**Zalzidrax** · Developer 03 Dec 2003 Location: Bothell, WA

**Túrelio** · Developer 18 Apr 2004 Location: Georgia, USA

I agree, with maybe the exception of healers, although they may not even be on the front lines. I assume that they would use a large amount of siege weapons along with Battlemages, it makes sense.

**opelcity** · Member 09 Dec 2003 Location: Hessen

**Túrelio** · Developer 18 Apr 2004 Location: Georgia, USA

instead of "harder" you might try "Solid".

**Jacurutu** · Developer Emeritus 13 Feb 2004 Location: Stonefalls

Yes, it helps avoid an unfortunate duality.

**Sucineri** · Member 23 Jul 2004

http://library.thinkquest.org/21665/reports/legform.html

Just found that link online..will look for more.

**Sucineri** · Member 23 Jul 2004

http://www.dnd.starflung.com/formfite.html

Tada..another one. Smile

**Xveers** · Member 20 Feb 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

another option instead of "harder" would be "firm" since that would allude nicely to the softer swampy ground that the imperials would like to avoid.