Aperture Science
20-09-2008, 21:43
(OOC: Big WIP. I have to go out for the rest of the day, and this is what I've got so far. Figured I would leave it here and let people give me some ideas while I'm away.
I'm going for a more classical 'Egyptian' feel than the time. Mostly New Kingdom era with a mix of Old and Middle, and some more 'modern' ideas thrown in so my forces aren't totally out of date.
Please note that, should I get organized and manage to drive the dirty Samaten's out I'll write up a much nicer factbook with more detail and bbcode and all that. Such as it is, the rebellion may not last very long depending on how things go.
And yes, I know this is missing a history. That's part of the WIP :P)
Name: No official name. Egyptian rebel group.
Territory:
Primarily the cities of Giza, Heliopolis, Memphis and Saqqara, as well as outlying towns and soforth.
Government:
Wahibre Psamtik and his drinking buddies.
Economy:
None, really. Too busy revolting. Some local craftwork and suchlike. Most of the 'industry' is either geared to war production, or in the process of being converted.
Currency:
Deben (equivalent to 3oz of gold, silver or copper, variously.) Each Deben is divided into ten Kidet.
Religion:
Egyptian pantheon, primarily. Due to the highly adaptable nature of said Pantheon, various regions include Greek, Persian and assorted other 'flavors' and modifications.
The patron of this particular rebellion is said to be Re, hence the title of Psamtik, 'Beloved of Re'.
Society;
All farmers pay a labour tax to the government, spending the flood season working on state projects or in military service. All agricultural production is owned by the state, and farmers recieve some portion of their labour per year.
All artisans and craftsmen are employed and paid directly by the state.
The 'white tunic' classes, preists and scribes (so named for their bleached linen clothes), are, again, all employed and paid by the state.
Rather uniquely amoung ancient cultures, Egyptian law views all people (except slaves) as equals. Men and women, nobles and commoners, all are allowed to own and inherit property, serve in government (although it is uncommon for women), buy and sell goods, marry and divorce, and are viewed equally under the law.
The 'law' in Egypt is primarily based on the judges sense of 'right' and 'wrong', rather than a codified set of laws.
There are two primary courts. The first is for minor offences, theft, assault, and suchlike, and is presided over by an appointed official.
The second, for major offences such as murder or treachery, is presided over by the Pharaoh or another royal.
As there is currently no Pharaoh (except as claimed by the Samaten king), Psamtik handles all this.
Military:
Organization:
Currently much of Egypt is engulfed in rebellions and revolts. Psamtik's rebellion is the most organized and, currently, largest, holding most of the major cities in southern Lower Egypt.
Peasants:
Untrained and equipped primarily with farming impliments, these men are even worse off than militia. They have either volunteered or been dragooned into the army, and are primarily used as cannon fodder.
There are, however, a lot of them.
Levies:
The main bulk of the Egyptian army, this primarily consists of peasants/farmers supplied with a basic wooden, reed, or hide shield, a spear, axe or mace (typically bronze, although iron is increasingly common), or, if they're lucky, a khopesh. They receive basic training in officer commands, fighting in a group, and not running away. Many carry a simple bow as well.
While currently engulfed in an ethnic/nationalist frenzy, they are still peasants, and likely to lose their fervor if a battle appears to be going poorly.
Bowmen:
Trained archers equipped with formidable composite bows, these men are to be feared on the battlefield. While not the greatest archers in the world, their bows have been improved over the course of a thousand years, the latest round of improvements coming from the Samaten's.
They typically go into battle wearing only cloth or light leather armor, without a shield. Most carry a dagger or axe for personal defence.
Light Infantry:
The skirmishers and 'guerilla' troops of Egypt. These men usually fight with light throwing spears, slings and other light projectile weapons. They wear little or no armor, many fighting in nothing more than a loincloth.
They mainly serve to distract and harass enemy infantry, dragging them into long engagements in the hot Egyptian sun.
Spear Infantry:
Spear units are equipped with a wooden shield, sometimes with a bronze fronting, and scale armor. They carry a heavy spear about six feet in length, with a bronze or iron head. Some have leather or bronze helmets as well.
Being better trained than the levies, the primary role of these men is to hold the line against cavalry.
Infantry:
Men in scale armor wielding a khopesh, mace, or axe. They also have either a wooden or metal shield.
As with the spear infantry, these men are better trained than the levies. Their main purpose is to act as shock troops, breaking enemy lines and using their khopses to drag horsemen from the saddle.
Phalanx troops:
In the finest tradition of Egypt, desperate times have resulted in the import of foreign military ideas. Greek-style phalanxes are a significant part of the infantry of Psamtik's army.
Charioteers:
The Egyptian war chariot is much lighter and more agile than most others, not being designed for melee combat, but rather as a platform for archery and javelin throwing. They are typically highly decorated and customized by their 'crew' of two.
Egyptian chariots usually have two horses, and the bond between driver and horse must be strong, because the chariot is a highly unstable little vehicle, and prone to dramatic shifts in orientation and velocity if improperly handled.
The other member of the crew is usually strapped to the side of the chariot and wields a bow, as well as a dozen or so short spears designed for throwing.
Both crew members wear scale torso protection and a helmet, but usually nothing below the waist, as the chariot itself shields them.
I'm going for a more classical 'Egyptian' feel than the time. Mostly New Kingdom era with a mix of Old and Middle, and some more 'modern' ideas thrown in so my forces aren't totally out of date.
Please note that, should I get organized and manage to drive the dirty Samaten's out I'll write up a much nicer factbook with more detail and bbcode and all that. Such as it is, the rebellion may not last very long depending on how things go.
And yes, I know this is missing a history. That's part of the WIP :P)
Name: No official name. Egyptian rebel group.
Territory:
Primarily the cities of Giza, Heliopolis, Memphis and Saqqara, as well as outlying towns and soforth.
Government:
Wahibre Psamtik and his drinking buddies.
Economy:
None, really. Too busy revolting. Some local craftwork and suchlike. Most of the 'industry' is either geared to war production, or in the process of being converted.
Currency:
Deben (equivalent to 3oz of gold, silver or copper, variously.) Each Deben is divided into ten Kidet.
Religion:
Egyptian pantheon, primarily. Due to the highly adaptable nature of said Pantheon, various regions include Greek, Persian and assorted other 'flavors' and modifications.
The patron of this particular rebellion is said to be Re, hence the title of Psamtik, 'Beloved of Re'.
Society;
All farmers pay a labour tax to the government, spending the flood season working on state projects or in military service. All agricultural production is owned by the state, and farmers recieve some portion of their labour per year.
All artisans and craftsmen are employed and paid directly by the state.
The 'white tunic' classes, preists and scribes (so named for their bleached linen clothes), are, again, all employed and paid by the state.
Rather uniquely amoung ancient cultures, Egyptian law views all people (except slaves) as equals. Men and women, nobles and commoners, all are allowed to own and inherit property, serve in government (although it is uncommon for women), buy and sell goods, marry and divorce, and are viewed equally under the law.
The 'law' in Egypt is primarily based on the judges sense of 'right' and 'wrong', rather than a codified set of laws.
There are two primary courts. The first is for minor offences, theft, assault, and suchlike, and is presided over by an appointed official.
The second, for major offences such as murder or treachery, is presided over by the Pharaoh or another royal.
As there is currently no Pharaoh (except as claimed by the Samaten king), Psamtik handles all this.
Military:
Organization:
Currently much of Egypt is engulfed in rebellions and revolts. Psamtik's rebellion is the most organized and, currently, largest, holding most of the major cities in southern Lower Egypt.
Peasants:
Untrained and equipped primarily with farming impliments, these men are even worse off than militia. They have either volunteered or been dragooned into the army, and are primarily used as cannon fodder.
There are, however, a lot of them.
Levies:
The main bulk of the Egyptian army, this primarily consists of peasants/farmers supplied with a basic wooden, reed, or hide shield, a spear, axe or mace (typically bronze, although iron is increasingly common), or, if they're lucky, a khopesh. They receive basic training in officer commands, fighting in a group, and not running away. Many carry a simple bow as well.
While currently engulfed in an ethnic/nationalist frenzy, they are still peasants, and likely to lose their fervor if a battle appears to be going poorly.
Bowmen:
Trained archers equipped with formidable composite bows, these men are to be feared on the battlefield. While not the greatest archers in the world, their bows have been improved over the course of a thousand years, the latest round of improvements coming from the Samaten's.
They typically go into battle wearing only cloth or light leather armor, without a shield. Most carry a dagger or axe for personal defence.
Light Infantry:
The skirmishers and 'guerilla' troops of Egypt. These men usually fight with light throwing spears, slings and other light projectile weapons. They wear little or no armor, many fighting in nothing more than a loincloth.
They mainly serve to distract and harass enemy infantry, dragging them into long engagements in the hot Egyptian sun.
Spear Infantry:
Spear units are equipped with a wooden shield, sometimes with a bronze fronting, and scale armor. They carry a heavy spear about six feet in length, with a bronze or iron head. Some have leather or bronze helmets as well.
Being better trained than the levies, the primary role of these men is to hold the line against cavalry.
Infantry:
Men in scale armor wielding a khopesh, mace, or axe. They also have either a wooden or metal shield.
As with the spear infantry, these men are better trained than the levies. Their main purpose is to act as shock troops, breaking enemy lines and using their khopses to drag horsemen from the saddle.
Phalanx troops:
In the finest tradition of Egypt, desperate times have resulted in the import of foreign military ideas. Greek-style phalanxes are a significant part of the infantry of Psamtik's army.
Charioteers:
The Egyptian war chariot is much lighter and more agile than most others, not being designed for melee combat, but rather as a platform for archery and javelin throwing. They are typically highly decorated and customized by their 'crew' of two.
Egyptian chariots usually have two horses, and the bond between driver and horse must be strong, because the chariot is a highly unstable little vehicle, and prone to dramatic shifts in orientation and velocity if improperly handled.
The other member of the crew is usually strapped to the side of the chariot and wields a bow, as well as a dozen or so short spears designed for throwing.
Both crew members wear scale torso protection and a helmet, but usually nothing below the waist, as the chariot itself shields them.