City Government Power Bases – War and Military plus Software Giveaway
A strong military is real, solid power. A city with a skilled, well-equipped and well-led army can protect itself, fend off its neighbours, go on a conquering binge, and keep its own citizens under control, though not necessarily all at once or in that order.
A politician with a private army can often get away with what he wants until someone with a bigger or better army comes along.
Strengths
People can be coerced into doing many things when they’re at the bad end of a sword, making the military a powerful and influential card to have in any government’s hand. In addition, unlike city walls, the military is a mobile defense or weapon. This allows a government to influence its neighbors and, possibly, more distant powers.
The military is also good tool for taking what a government wants, whether it’s land from neighbouring cities or states, civil liberties from its citizens, or money and resources from anyone.
The military has its own internal, controllable, social and economic rules, which often makes it easier to wield than other power bases, such as affiliation or popularity.
A military is easy to develop as well, either through conscription, feudal obligation, recruitment or slavery. As a tool, it can be honed and shaped to the government or politician’s needs, making it quite flexible.
For example, a government might require a small navy, a larger land force, and a special unit of spell casters, based on its analysis of internal needs and external threats.
War itself is a potential power base. Wars tend to unify civic factions, freeing up government resources or providing government with breathing room to do its own plotting.
Wars provide good cover, as well. While the populace casts its gaze outside the city walls, the government can be quietly performing various actions and maneuvers that might meet with great outcry during peaceful times.
A war victory can launch many political careers as well, as soldiers and generals leverage increased fame from valorous deeds or great leadership, fortune from pillage, and popularity from victory and reputation.
Weaknesses
There are few limits to an army, other than movement rates and supply logistics. While this makes the military a potent threat to a city’s enemies, it also makes it a deadly threat to a city’s own citizens.
Many cultures go to great lengths to protect themselves from their own military. A rogue general or ambitious politician might turn a civilization’s weapon against his kin. Consequently, some governments might decree that troops cannot enter the city proper or must remain a certain distance in miles from the city walls.
Others might have clear legal guidelines about who can order the military to do what. Different branches of a government might be given different executive powers where the army is concerned to establish a safe system of checks and balances.
Armies are expensive. They need food, water, supplies, equipment, training and fuel. Troops need wages, unless the motivation to serve and fight isn’t economic.
Leadership is a critical weak link as well. Superiority of numbers sometimes works against the enemy, but at the cost of great waste and long-term viability. Good leadership will not only make better use of fewer resources, but also maintain discipline and the ability to maintain an army in general.
This factors into loyalty, which is always a cause for concern. Unless discipline is tight and loyalty of the leadership assured, there’s no guarantee an army will do what a government or politician decrees.
A good military can attract unwanted attention. Other parties, such as neighbors, enemies and any higher powers the government serves, might fret about their safety with a rival military in their back yard. This might start unwanted conflicts or unify the opposition against the city. Therefore, as a power base, having a military can cause a great deal of trouble.
Wars can’t last forever, making them unstable power bases. They also tax the resources of all those involved. The government must also constantly assess whether the costs of a potential loss outweigh the benefits gained from war activity or from a potential victory.
Flavor
The military provides great flavor opportunities:
- Divisions and units. Different sections of the military have different functions, require unique equipment, and have different character and NPC class make-ups. Consider how different you can design parts of your city and the military folk who work or live there based on their function: navy, air force, land force, tunnelers, siege experts, war casters, magic defense, medical, administration, training and so on.
- Uniforms. Every professional military unit has a uniform, and this clothing lets you distinctly color and decorate NPCs, villains and locations.
- Military activity. Troops rarely get to rest. They’re always doing something. Put standard military activities into the background and foreground of your campaign: training, exercising, sleeping, eating, deploying, returning, patrolling, swabbing the decks, building equipment, cleaning equipment, assisting civilians, building public works, maintain public areas.
- Military life. Civilians don’t salute. Right there is a unique roleplaying opportunity you can wield. Inject the military into your city. Have NPCs salute, bark orders, obey commands, stand at attention, goof off, function as a well-oiled team, curse and so on.
War is the backbone of many campaigns. War oozes flavor like blood and provides lots of possibilities for molding a great city design or campaign.
For starters, there’s the conflict itself. The PCs can encounter units fighting and join in or carefully sneak around. Then there’s conscription, press gangs, a nervous citizenship, siege, clandestine military operations, broken families and torn lovers.
There’s also the possibility of civil war. Imagine a city design where brother has fought brother for months or years. What is the condition of the city’s infrastructure? Who’s left standing? How does one survive?
Figure out the personality of your city’s military (or militaries). Will it be aggressive and domineering? Will it be quietly confident? Will it abuse its power, and if so, how?
Comment plot hooks for a chance to win NBOS software
It is time for another software giveaway, courtesy of NBOS.
Comment below your ideas for encounter seeds and hooks based on military civil power base. What kinds of encounters could PCs have in a city where military is the power base?
Multiple entries are welcome and give you a better chance of winning. I’ll draw the lucky winner Friday, so enter now before it’s too late.
The winner gets an NBOS software title of their choice, delivered electronically.
- City Government Power Bases – Overview
- City Government Power Bases – Law and Affiliation
- City Government Power Bases – Class and Level
- City Government Power Bases – Leadership
- City Government Power Bases – Social Leverage, Marriage and Wealth
- City Government Power Bases – War and Military plus Software Giveaway
- City Government Power Bases – Magic and Psionics
- City Government Power Bases – Religion
- City Government Power Bases – Land
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March 14th, 2011 at 9:17 am
This is convenient, I plan on running a campaign soon where war and the military are a central role, though not in the way y’all are thinking. Now I get to contribute AND possibly get advice on my campaign, sweet!
The world has been dominated and unified by a single oppressive government. This happened far enough in the past that with the exception of a few tiny terrorist groups the citizens have been trained and bred to be submissive to and dependent on the government. As such a standard military no longer exists and only a few small special forces groups are maintained to deal with the occasional guerrillas. Order is maintained by powerful police forces (both standard and secret) that report directly to the government. Though the government has grown somewhat complacent over the years, they do still realize that the gathering and manipulation of information is their best weapon, so their intelligence agencies are one of their biggest strengths.
The PC’s goal will be to start a revolution to overthrow the government and end an era of oppression and stagnation. They need to somehow raise a force using a submissive population that has grown to rely on the government for everything. And of course the challenges are just beginning: The population is full of secret police and other spies, their enemy controls all resources with an iron fist, their potential allies (the terrorists mentioned above) are mostly just as bad as their enemy, and their enemy has a habit of swiftly crushing any resistance before it has a chance to grow. They need to raise a fighting force powerful enough to stand up to the government’s special forces and police while at the same time being secretive enough about it so as not to get crushed before they get their feet off the ground.
So in the context of this article they are, against all odds, trying to CREATE the military power base where there is none in order to be able to stand up to an oppressor. Of course once (if :P) their force gets off the ground their enemy will then have the same problem: When they realize that their police and special forces are no longer enough they will have to conscript and whip their citizens into fighting shape, knowing full well that even if they emerge victorious the newly trained and empowered citizens will be a threat to them.
March 14th, 2011 at 11:03 am
In a highly martial kingdom, the king has been murdered. His two sons hold top positions in the military. The elder and heir apparent is in charge of the army, tasked with conquest and defense of the borders. The younger is in charge of the Royal Guard, tasked with defense of the royal family, lands and the capitol.
The death of the king has cast suspicion on the younger son, who was tasked with protecting him. The elder demands that all military personnel swear sole fealty to him as the new king, forcing members of the Royal Guard to choose between their commander and their king.
The PCs are brought in to investigate the King’s death and the role, if any, either of his son’s played in the murder.
March 14th, 2011 at 11:11 am
Each of the military units in the city is a complete organization into itself and locked into a set of complex rivalries with all the others. They settle conflicts between themselves via battles of champions and use of ‘ringers’ is common. A PC known for his combat skill could be offer a place in the unit just long enough for him to act as a champion.
The military is facing raiders using new and unusual tactics. The PCs, as experts in unconventional tactics, are hired to investigate and advise.
Sean Holland recently posted..Review – Legendary Items
March 14th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
The PCs stop by a city-state ruled by the military. While wandering the streets and doing their business, one of the PCs is mistaken for a military leader of a rival nation. The local authorities are under orders from the rulers to capture, interrogate and execute all leaders from the rival state. The PCs are forced underground where they encounter a rebel movement from said rival nation. Their only chance of survival is to join forces with the rebellion in order to formulate an escape from the city. The rebellion is willing to assist the PCs, but only if the PCs help the rebellion first.
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March 15th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
In the days of the Roman Empire at its height, the Legion has been a steadying presence in this frontier garrison town for five years, and their commanders are well-respected by the townspeople and area peasantry alike. Thanks in part to its military power, the benefits of Roman government and law have begun to take hold. But now, the Legion faces two new challenges. A corrupt provincial governor with designs on the imperial throne seeks to either turn the Legion against the Emperor, or if that fails, to replace its commanders with ones loyal to him. All the while, an uprising against the Roman conquerors is brewing in the countryside beyond the town’s walls. Can the Legate and his subordinates successfully deal with the dual threats of political intrigue and popular revolt? And how well can they maintain the support of the townspeople in the midst of such turmoil?
March 16th, 2011 at 12:24 am
There is a new king with the change in power the political landscape is in upheaval as the nobles scheme, plot and maneuver for position. Included are the different captains of the army who are looking to make a name for themselves and are willing to give untried these adventurers the opportunity to prove themselves. Will the young heros successfully navigate the murky waters of royal intrigue and bring honor to their liege, their captain and themselves?
March 18th, 2011 at 2:46 am
Who has the right to raise troops, who sets the limits or requirements, and who pays?
The Crown has required the raising of new troops, giving a subsidy for the considerable costs of a permanent increase. However the burden on magnates is still considerable, and when it is discovered that those closest to the Throne have been given a bigger subsidy or waived of the requirement altogether trouble begins to brew and a the frontier nobles start to chafe under the heavy-handed reins of the central power.
One fascinating fictional example is in Dune, where the Sardaukar represent a fearsome power base. The growing professionalism of the Atriedes military is one of the spurs to the plotting to destroy their other power bases…
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March 19th, 2011 at 8:30 am
I rolled a 1, which is great news for Robert, who has won the giveaway.
Robert, visit http://nbos.com, decide which software item you want, and contact me with your selection.
Thanks everyone for your great hooks.
March 19th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Congratulations, Robert! As a regular commenter here at Camapign Mastery, it’s great that you’re the lucky winner. And to all the others who entered, thanks again for participating and better luck next time; I’m sure this is not going to be the last contest that Johnn and I run here!
March 20th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
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