TheSexinati
Active Member
- Sep 1, 2017
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Snippity snip
I'd say that whilst Individually, humans are likely weaker than Orcs. When It comes to battle, I have the feeling that Humans will have a superiority in Tactical formations and overall strategy, and they would likely have an advantage with logistics (Road system, wagons etcetera), unless the Demons are involved (Magical teleportation?... there goes your logistical advantage!)Snippo-majippo
I've seen my fair-share of Re-enactments, Any singular Orc without the benefit of armour or a big fucking shield thinking that they can attack a block of humans with impunity is probably going to get zonked in the face by a spear or polearm. You only want to face a formation with another formation... or with something like a well-prepared Shock cavalry charge (With the expectation that you'll probably lose some men) or perhaps a pissed off Andras.
If you can curb the temptation within your orchish forces and stop them from being 'Murda-happy Kill-hobos'... and can drill them up properly, they could damn-well beat a Human formation in a battle.
Edit: Skirmishing-wise, I think the Orcs could have an advantage over Humans. Orcs are physically stronger, which means they could likely field bows of a larger draw-weight than human bows (Assuming that you can find proper woods for the arrow shafts), and they could likely throw a mean javelin a fair distance... and I wouldn't want to meet one with a sling or staff-sling (Head sized rocks banging on my helmet... I think not!).
Now, skirmishing from cavalry might be an advantage for the Humans. I don't know if Orcs can ride horses or similar mounts into battle. If not, then Orcs might have to fear attacks or 'Chevauchees' from Light/Medium cavalry, assuming that the Humans are prepared to hurt their own lands and people.
Edit 2: And by Well-prepared cavalry charge, I generally mean when their enemies have either been weakened sufficiently via ranged combat (Such as at Carrhae), or when you are facing demoralized or less-well trained infantry. Believe it or not, a block of Infantry (Even with shorter spears or even side-arms such as swords/axes) can handily beat back heavy cavalry charges quite well (Battle of the Golden spurs being a notable example), but this comes with the caveat that said infantry are well trained and with good morale... and have some balls of steel. The moment people start running for the hills (Which is often what happens when they see a wall of lance-equipped cavalry heading straight for them)... that's the moment when you have something to fear.
If however, they don't run, the attacking cavalry forces are then often at a disadvantage themselves, because even if they do make a dent in the enemy formation, they will likely be in dissarray themselves, and there may be difficulty in escaping due to what is essentially a pile-up of horses in your way. Heavy cavalry is expensive, so if you have the abillity to keep those idiotic murder-hobo nobles in check, you leave them to charge when you spot an oppotunity.
And charging against pikes... let alone a pike square, that's a foolish endeavour.
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