Aerial Fantasy Units - All Wrong??!

I agree with this. Given that every ground unit would, on some level, be terrified of a huge arial predator, effectiveness against fighting formations wuold be vastly multiplied by attacking the "soft underbelly" of any army: the supply lines.

But this is just one of an endless string of such conjecture. All magical effect, almost without regard to how minor they may seem, would have vast military considerations. Unless magic users were always crippled or physically handicapped in some way, few societies wouldn't make some effort at training them to be super-powered scouts, spies, sabatours, and communications hubs, depending on their abilities. This last is among the most important abilitiy magic tends to enhance, and, since it has few bells and whistles associated with it, people tend to ignore. But knowledge is power, plain and simple. Communications networks would rule all tactical consierations, if they were available.

I think that, in the case of flying units and magic use, most people are stuck in a mideval mindset. But with rapid communications, modern society becomes possible, even if people still ride horses everywhere and use swords. In fantasy settings, more developed magic would take up the slack for less advanced technology, and the end result would be hugely more developed than most consider.

I'm writing my third book now, actually. It really cramps my game design schedule, let me tell you!

If GRR Martin gets the Dragons into a full scale war in the next book you are likely to see a unique perspective on how to use Flying army units. Otherwise I don't think very many fantasy writers are creative enough to think all aspects of their books out.

I agree with infernal. Take a look at WWI. The Germans had Biplane bombers and the allies had fighters to counter them. The Germans then had fighters to defend their bombers from the allied fighters until the skies became another front to the war. Once technology is introduced it is quickly copied or countered by the other side.

Now if what you are talking about is one army with a major technological advantage that's a whole different story. Most wars today are arguable won by technology.

~Ben

I have to disagree here in that the Shire halflings were obviously well connected to trading with the chinese. Fireworks were well known to the Shire halflings. If they were willing to let the fireworks be purchased by Marco Gandalf then he obviously would be picking up other items for trade. Since the shire is one of the most wealthy regions in Eriador he would want to bring back items that appealed to his clients...
Silk Umbrellas
Fireworks
Spices (why do you think them such famous cooks)

See JRRT's masterwork is not so critical to the world of literature as its underlying subtle economic exposition.

:-)
~Ben

PS here's a link to real history on umbrellas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_umbrella

WARNING: Serious and lengthy Tolkien-geekery ahead. Skip this post if you just don't care.

Not always. I agree, a lot of fantasy isn't very well thought-out, or very well written. But the great works that made fantasy popular in the first place are different, and we game authors could learn a thing or two there.

Well, some of us could. Desprez and Hedge-o-matic seem to have a good handle on it already. :) Desprez suggests that flying units would be best used for harassing supply lines. Hedge adds that an escalating arms race would result in both sides having aerial (and anti-aerial) resources, and that magic's most powerful use might be for communications.

Tolkien's Lord of the Rings is a good example of these points. The palantiri (the crystal balls) were communications devices (and more), originally used by Gondor but later used (and abused) by Sauron. The Nazgul were used as aerial observers and as couriers.

But magic isn't entirely like technology, although the analogy is tempting. Gandalf's powers were innately his own, and were not something that could be duplicated by an R&D project. (See Tolkien's The Silmarillion for background on Gandalf and his true nature.) In the same way, Sauron and his powers, and the things he created with those powers such as the Nazgul, were unique and could not have been duplicated by the good guys.

No doubt Gondor could have bred flying mounts, given time and awareness of the need. Tolkien mentions that the Nazgul's mounts had been specially bred, which must have taken a long time; but they were revealed to the good guys only a few months ahead of the story's climax, so the West had little time to work up defenses and air power of their own. (They did manage to bring in the Eagles near the end!)

The Nazgul were used for communication and as couriers, as any rapidly-flying agent might be. But they had special abilities beyond the mere capability of flight. Their main use in battle was to cow their enemies by their very presence: the shadow of a passing Nazgul would strike terror into the hearts of the men of Gondor and Rohan. (The movie did not show this well, and went instead for dramatic shots of men suddenly grasped and flung by talons.) As for supply lines: If Gondor were invading Mordor rather than the other way around, then having the Nazgul strike at supply lines would have been a good idea. As it was, Gondor had no supply lines because they were at home and buttoned up for a seige. So instead the Nazgul were put to good use harassing and neutralizing the Captains of the West as well as panicking the troops.

The "Captains of the West" included Gandalf, who was kept so busy by the Witch-King that he was unable to save the lord of Gondor; and King Theoden whom the Witch-King attacked in order to quell the advance of the Rohirrim. In a modern war, a soldier usually can't see any leader other than his immediate CO. But in a medieval battle, the king was expected to be in the thick of it, with his battle held high nearby to show he was still in the battle. The presence of a charismatic leader was a huge asset to an army, and the death of that leader was a huge blow.

So why did I bother with this rant? I agree with Desprez and Hedge that fantasy elements should be used intelligently. I just wanted to make the point that magic and technology are not the same thing. I think if one is going to design a fantasy game, it should contain some of these elements that can't be mimicked by modern technology. Otherwise, a fantasy theme is just paint. You might as well be honest and call them fighter jets and attack helicopters instead of dragon-knights.

Desprez, good luck with your game! It sounds fascinating!