Rating the quality of military forces in Traveller

[Enoki]

Has this even been considered?

What is the quality of the various military forces of polities in Traveller? Knowing this, and how various polities get their manpower, would open up a number of possible scenarios for play.

For example:

A heavily conscripted service might have lots of 'draft dodgers.' Or the poor quality of training, equipment, and life in a military in general might induce higher desertion rates. A military geared to one type of combat scenario faced with something very different might have problems coping with the situation. Even things like the social expectations of various ranks within a military could come into play.

Knowing more about all of this for the various militaries in the game would impact a lot of play and even character generation.

What qualities does the Imperium's military and its various branches possess?

I would think there is a wider gulf between officers and enlisted in the Imperial military in general, and even a pretty rigid pecking order among officers with the presence of nobility. I think that the quality of military units in Imperial service would vary widely with most being of average to mediocre quality suited primarily for occupation duties and a show of force. Many would also have far more social value attached to them than combat value. That is, a particular unit is one that, if you are a social climber and want to make rank and be seen, is one for the 'in' crowd and those of importance in the Imperial hierarchy to join. It would be like an exclusive club for the well-heeled.

At the same time, I could see there being a smaller number of units within the Imperial military that are top notch and used regularly for combat missions and difficult assignments. Those who really want an exciting military career facing danger and such would gravitate towards these.

Anyway, I think this needs far more coverage than its gotten.

 

[mike wightman]

Striker covers troop quality and the proportions , with the various major races being given modifiers to troop stats.

 

[Rupert]

Striker covers troop quality and the proportions , with the various major races being given modifiers to troop stats.

So does Striker 2, and also Path of Tears which does so at a high level and in the context of the New Era, and so has a strong interest in the quality of equipment as well.

 

[Enoki]

Thanks. I'll revisit those.

 

[Condottiere]

Interstellar militaries can pick and choose recruits, and have enough resources to train and equip them.

Planetary militias will widely vary, in all aspects of military quantification, especially, if they haven't had operational experience.

 

[Enoki]

Interstellar militaries can pick and choose recruits, and have enough resources to train and equip them.

Planetary militias will widely vary, in all aspects of military quantification, especially, if they haven't had operational experience.

I doubt that to a great degree.

First, it costs money to move someone from planet A to planet Z a bazillion (a highly technical and precise term) parsecs away. That alone means you don't get to pick and choose when you're running a large interstellar empire.

Oh, I checked the Striker rules. Book 2 has a very sparse section on the quality and quantity of military forces that doesn't give a lot of details, and also really doesn't fit what needs to be covered.

I see, for example, the Imperium, setting things up more like the late Roman Empire. The serious nobility--dukes and such--each are responsible for raising a certain amount of military forces to keep order and protect their part of the empire. The dukes then commission lesser nobles to raise certain military forces to meet this requirement. So, some baron or viscount is commissioned to raise a battalion or regiment of Imperial troops to a certain standard of equipment and training. They fund this however they want, from taking a portion of business profits to taxing the snot out of the population. Their unit is enumerated and often bears their name or a chosen name.

The Imperium itself also has a force of units made up of lifetime volunteers and picked troops, often ones who already have served in other units, like the ones above, for some time. These troops are worth the effort to move them to where they're needed as they are going to be there a long time and have proven their worth.

 

[mike wightman]

Troop quality is in Book 1, page 8