All Things Vargr

[Condottiere]

That would depend.

You're thinking Caribbean, but the Vargr Extents extend very far.

What does a random corsair care, when raiding the Imperium, about the frontier Vargr worlds, as they vend their way homewards, twenty or thirty parsecs coreward?

 

[Condottiere]

What are the odds that Byzantine will send a punitive expeditionary force against Sweden?

So Roving Rusty the Reaver, can make guide his corsair crew from deep within Vargr space, to raid Regina, and once rich enough, return home.

 

[Condottiere]

Vargr: Military Organization

V. And then, there are the salt mines.

W. Or, any type of mining.

X. Humans are stronger and less nomadic than Vargr, and the vast majority don't like mining.

Y. My guess would be, that human slaves are cheaper to obtain and maintain than robots.

Z. And robots tend to rusty, when they are marked.

 

[kilemall]

What are the odds that Byzantine will send a punitive expeditionary force against Sweden?

So Roving Rusty the Reaver, can make guide his corsair crew from deep within Vargr space, to raid Regina, and once rich enough, return home.

Likely you hire opposing packs to do your punishing.

 

[Condottiere]

Considering ten percent corsair demographics, seems the pragmatic solution.

Not just for a punitive action.

 

[Condottiere]

Vargr: Military Organization

1. So, this is how I see that the ground forces of a Vargr city state are organized.

2. Neighbourhood/regional militia, made up of local volunteers, usually citizens.

3. Career border patrollers.

4. Hybrid corsair pack, led by career military officer.

5. Paramilitary police reserve for riot control.

6. Regular army mechanized units.

7. Regular maritime units.

8. Regular aerospace units.

9. Palace guard.

 

[Condottiere]

Vargr: Military Organization

A. Hybrid corsair packs tend to be light infantry.

B. Combat support elements would be centralized at the band tier.

C. So, unlike autonomous corsair packs, hybrid corsair packs are dependent on the band to provide support, including transport and heavy weapons.

D. Support elements are assigned, or attached, as per perceived need.

E. Armour and heavy artillery, would be banner tier.

F. Likely drawn from the regular army units, such as exist.

 

[Condottiere]

Vargr: Military Organization

G. Vargr doctrine is probably taxiing the troops to the edge of the battlefield.

H. The troops then rush the defenders, supported by air, artillery, and armour, assets.

I. Air assault cavalry seems likely.

J. Parachuting, I don't think so.

K. I don't see Vargr enthusiastic about dragging along hundred kilogramme packs.

 

[Condottiere]

Vargr: Military Organization

L. I don't think that Vargr have a Marine corps.

M. They do have troops specialized to fight in different environments, including vacuum and microgravity.

N. The primary role of spacecraft based troops is to guard against mutiny and hijacking.

O. Hired corsairs can be unleashed to board enemy spacecraft.

P. They would have a ready buyer for the prize ship.

 

[Condottiere]

Vargr: Military Organization

Q. The way to control uncertain troops is to separate arms and branches.

R. The only truly combined arms integrated unit would be the Vargrian Guard.

S. The most efficient personnel would be assigned to logistics.

T. Because tooth to tail would be ratioed in favour of teeth.

U. The most loyal to air and armour.

 

[Condottiere]

Vargr: Military Organization

V. Preference would be to have artillery self propelled.

W. For heavy artillery, automatic loaders.

X. I think they skip medium artillery, because they're looking for effect, rather than accuracy.

Y. Probably big fans of theatre missiles and rocket artillery.

Z. Accuracy would be for light artillery, mortars, and grenade launchers.

 

[Condottiere]

Vargr: Military Organization

1. Since Vargr have a minus two on strength, they're not going to be inclined to carry the same amount of equipment as a human trooper.

2. Endurance minus one, would indicate minimizing strenuous physical activity.

3. Dexterity plus one, would mean a preference for line of sight fire fights.

4. Probably advancing to contact, and, if possible, using their natural senses to achieve initiative, and incite ambushes.

5. However, their eyesight is worse in darkness and they suffer DM-1 to any skill check requiring sight in dark conditions.

6. They prefer the sunny outdoors?

7. If the assumption is that future combatants have night sensors, attacking during the day might not matter.

8. Humans could switch off the lights in the spacecraft, if they're being boarded by corsairs.

9. And that preference for line of sight, could extend to both smallarms and heavy support weapon systems.

 

[kilemall]

Canines are den oriented, unless Grandfather coded it out I would think there is a tendency to burrow in the field.

 

[Condottiere]

I tend to think they prefer manoeuvre, to bunkers and trenches.

Though, dig foxholes, if temporarily stalled.

 

[Condottiere]

Vargr: Military Organization

A. Once contact with the enemy is made, the Vargr commander has a number of options.

B. They could pin down the enemy, and send forces to outflank it.

C. If they perceive it to be vulnerable, they could rush them.

D. The Vargr could also take cover, and call for heavy artillery, and/or air support.

E. Since that may take a while, heavy support weapon systems are brought up.

F. And the area is immediately blasted.

 

[Condottiere]

Vargr: Military Organization

G. I tend to think that Vargr like artillery.

H. They just don't like to be the ones loading the gun, and hauling it around.

I. Six inchers being standard on Earth, where the shells are still handleable, by humans.

J. Nine point two inchers, being the upper limit, or so I'm told.

K. With Vargr lacking two points of strength, the sweet point is going to be a lot lower.

 

[kilemall]

Vargr: Military Organization

G. I tend to think that Vargr like artillery.

H. They just don't like to be the ones loading the gun, and hauling it around.

I. Six inchers being standard on Earth, where the shells are still handleable, by humans.

J. Nine point two inchers, being the upper limit, or so I'm told.

K. With Vargr lacking two points of strength, the sweet point is going to be a lot lower.

Perhaps heavy use of exoskeleton loaders?

 

[Condottiere]

Static defences, probably.

It depends on whether the Vargr managed to breed cavalry mounts and beasts of burden on Lair, otherwise, heavy artillery is going to be a rather late addition to their military tech tree.

Or, you have slave gangs of Vargr hauling artillery pieces, like the Egyptians did with the pyramid stones.

 

[Condottiere]

Vargr: Military Organization

L. Once you have motor vehicles, artillery will be immediately self propelled.

M. In theory, the Vargr could have done that with boats, but that would have funnelled them littorally, and riverinely.

N. Multiple launch rocket systems would likely be ideal.

O. Easier to handle, a lot of firepower in a in tight window and narrow area.

P. Shoot and scoot.

 

[Condottiere]

Vargr: Military Organization

Q. Which might also explain the Vargr love of ships and piracy.

R. Early Vargr civilization might be very riverine, with transportation and trade routes mostly along coasts and river systems.

S. Especially, if they didn't have beasts of burden.

T. Once they discover steam engines, they start building railways into the hinterland.

U. In theory, they could have built canals, but that requires sustained interest.