Militaries & Siege Combat

[Detomah]

Describe siege combat in Athiria.
Siege combat is a form of large scale combat between two cities. It is the set of rules governing the management of war. When a consensual combat between cities is established, the attacker and defender will engage through the use of the military sub-game. The military sub-game provides communication channels, tactical commands and access to siege weaponry so that a city can be destroyed or defended.

Can guilds attack cities?
The military sub-game is only available to cities. We wouldn't want every guild in the game running around Athiria with trebuchet in hand sacking town after town. Since the punishment system for murderers is city aligned, it only seemed right that siege combat be the same. Siege combat is a big decision for a city with its trade, political and financial considerations.

Who can participate in the Military sub-game?
Any citizen of either city or their allies can participate in the war once consensual combat has been declared. Any outsider is still subject to the rules of PvP and murder should they decide to participate. Military personnel are declared by the leaders of the city and a city has access to an entire military hierarchy. While any citizen can participate in the war, only military members will have access to uniforms, communication channels and siege weapons used during battle.

Will supply lines play an important factor in siege warfare?
Yes. Supplies are needed to fix war machines, feed troops and provide maintenance for armor and swords. We expect that caravans who usually run goods from one town to the next will find it profitable to aid in providing supplies to a warring army or the defense of a city. Allied cities will have the ability to ask that their trade routes be rerouted to a nearby army in an effort to provide assistance. In essence, the army becomes a small temporary city that caravans can do business with just as if it was doing business with the army's parent city itself.

How does the organizational structure work? Will there be commanders and captains, etc., etc?
Militaries share a lot of similarities with other types of organizations in game. They have ranks that one or more people can be assigned to, titles than can be bestowed and communication channels only visible by members of the military.(and spies) In addition to this, each member will be able to be put into a hierarchal set of groups. The depth of the hierarchy has yet to be decided but there will be at least three levels to every military, Generals, Unit Commanders and Squads. Available to each level are commands to help them execute warfare. Orders can be issued down this chain for flanking maneuvers and other tactics, though getting them followed is left to the social side of the game and an army's leadership capabilities.

What happens if a unit or squad does not follow its orders?
Unfortunately there is nothing akin to a military justice system in the game. Following orders is not something that a computer can track so therefore it cannot reliably flag it for punishment like it can murder. This would leave a military justice system open for grief usage and that's not desirable. A military's leadership has the option to remove the unit, the squad or its leadership and can add their names to a list of characters that have not served the military well. This list will at least allow a military to note which characters are not worthy of serving in future campaigns.

What happens to a city that is destroyed?
Only the possessions of the city are destroyed. Sure this is a large setback but the city itself remains an official organization in the game. That city may no longer have a home, but their city is still recognized by the game and as such so is its justice system.