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Yes!

9 (90%)

No!

0 (0%)

I really don't care!

1 (10%)

Total Members Voted: 10

[WhitiusOpus]

I guess. I still favor the scutum it's far more effective, more durable and offers more flexibility then the flimsy oval shields that broke so easily against shields and maces. A single good axe swing will split an oval shield or a mace swing will splinter it.

The scutum is no more durable than the Oval Shield, and has less flexibility. The only advantage of the scutum was that it covered a larger area, and was therefore better in formations, which we won't we using much of. Any powerful axe swing will splinter a wooden shield. A shield is to absorb the blows of cutting weapons, not deflect them entirely. It was a known tactic for Roman infantry to wait for a barbarian to hit his shield, then wrench their weapon out of their grasp, leaving them defenseless.

The bronze shield boss on the scutum will deflect an axe swing and block a mace swing without damaging the shield.

...

They both had bosses...
Here, let me post a picture, as you obviously don't know what I'm referring to.

Spoiler: Roman Oval Shield (click to show/hide)

[PewdsRocks]

Huh the mock ups I saw of roman oval shields didn't include bosses. No matter if we have to have oval then no matter it won't have any actual gameplay difference over the scutum anyway so I can just think of it as the scutum shield.
The basic formations we'll use will work just as well with either only difference is the oval is useless for shield bashing it's far to big.

I'm kinda biased against the oval shield, it more or less came into general usage the same time the empire began to decline and the same time they began reducing the thickness of the armor they used.
So I tend to consider it inferior by default.

[TalonisWolf]

  Go for it. 

  Alright then, sappers need only be miners. See how many men within our ranks have experience mining. Recruit from the surrounding area. It'd be a start, and is something to do while we besiege the castle.

  Also, construct siege weapons from lumber in the area. Again, keeps the men busy while doing something useful.

 Unless our employer gives us orders, why not try recruiting from the local area? Can't hurt. Also, make friends with the ranks of our employers forces- some of them may one day seek to join us as mercenaries, perhaps even officers cast aside after the war/feud is settled.

[PewdsRocks]

Well I'd suggest we wait until after our contract so we have some money and that we target the militias for recruitment. They at least have some basic training and maybe some combat experience.

[TalonisWolf]

 But we need not worry about advertising costs- this is the medieval era, where things are done by word of mouth. If word is out that we are interested in recruiting, even if only sometime in the near future, some would show an interest. If it comes down to the cost to arm and supply, well, 'borrow' from the enemies armoury, or from the battlefield. Tell them they'll get proper equipment after the conflict.

[PewdsRocks]

Maybe, but it seems like a bad idea to walk off when we're still under contract.

[TalonisWolf]

  We wouldn't devote everything to it, just say a few things to the local bar- and innkeepers. The word would spread from there. Ever been to a small community? It'd be similar, since the populace has little else to do other than work, and one can only talk about that for so long.

[PewdsRocks]

Actually, why not send our injured officer? He's off duty for a while so he's got nothing better to do and he can take the 2 new junior officers with him. Let them get a bit of experience dealing with people.

[TalonisWolf]

Actually, why not send our injured officer? He's off duty for a while so he's got nothing better to do and he can take the 2 new junior officers with him. Let them get a bit of experience dealing with people.

  This. If he is off active duty, might as well put him to some good use. Along with the two others, who will gain experience valuable to keeping the rank and file in line.

 They all get experience, we get more manpower. Some of which might already have some skill or talent which we can then use to possibly train others. Win-win.

[Parsely]

Let's wait til' after we get paid to recruit dudes. Equipping men who want to join the band isn't our responsibility, that's why they're paid, and if you want to be a merc you'll already have your own gear. Not the case with villagers. We'll probably save money by just recruiting experienced men rather than hiring nubs AND equipping them.

[TalonisWolf]

 We could use them for tasks other than fighting. Menial Labour, smithing our own weapons, etc.

[Parsely]

We could use them for tasks other than fighting. Menial Labour, smithing our own weapons, etc.

Menial labor? Like what?

I doubt we'd be able to reliably smith our own weapons. I can see us making stuff like arrowheads, but actual weapons? Nah. Too much effort/money for too little gain. It'd be cheaper just to buy them.

Sapping doesn't really need actual engineers or experts, but its helpful if you want the diggers to not bury themselves alive. You'd only need one guy who was experienced at tunneling to advise on shoring and technique and whatnot. The actual diggers can be freaking anybody. Sapping takes a really long time though. Not the best tactic for attacking a castle when we don't have any shock troops to charge the breach, so I think its safe to say that we can ignore that tactic for now.

And I doubt we'll be assaulting castles often enough for us to need to consider providing for a tactic that's only useful in so specific a scenario.

[PewdsRocks]

Well we could go to the nearby town and see if any soldiers who want to be mercenaries are around.

[Parsely]

Well we could go to the nearby town and see if any soldiers who want to be mercenaries are around.

While I doubt that there will be mercs there, its certainly a possibility. Don't see why not in that case.

[FritzPL]

I'm under the impression that you people are overthinking this to the max. This isn't Lordship: Tales of Lord Stone, it's a mercenary company! The OP stated what supplies and manpower we have available, and it has been ~5 pages since the last update - fourth one in overall, if I remember correctly - and you are already making plans a few months, if not years ahead! Hold your horses and let the OP update before you dissolve into which ancient civilization had better shields or formations.