Armies of Oerth, Part XXI: The Great Kingdom

(Writer's Note: There! You should have had plenty of time to read Scottsz's latest addition to his Cold Text File. If not, what are you waiting for? Click right here. For another army list, please continue reading below...)

Continuing my study of the greater armies in the Flanaess, I had discovered another article. From Dragon Magazine #59, this one is entitled The Great Kingdom and The Knights of Doom - Notes From The World of Greyhawk Fantasy Setting and written by the Lord of the Green Dragons himself, Rob Kuntz. It gives us a look into some of the activities of the Great Kingdom, as well as the controlled servants of the OverKing Ivid and his Court Wizard Xaene: the dreaded Knights of Doom.

The Knights of Doom were written up to be used for NPC encounters, likely as they scoured the coutryside fulfilling the dark will of their masters. The LotGD gives us a superb breakdown of the KoD, their levels, the number of men-at-arms they lead, and most importantly...a breakdown of the unit composition of the Great Kingdom's army. Reverse calculation of the KoD & their units actually allows an estimate of how many KoD there are and a better estimate as to the size of the greater army.

I am continuing to use the Field of Glory wargaming rules to represent these forces. As in the last few installments, I am using the ratio of 250 men-at-arms per model base.

To continue...

The Great Kingdom's Army List

Once the most powerful force for order and good, the Aerdians have declined over the last century to an unspeakable state of decadency. After a millenium of leadership, its rulers and nobles turned to evil and irrationality. Its current monarch, Ivid V of the royal house of Naelax, is reported to be quite mad, but crafty and deviously capable nonetheless. His writ extends to the Royal Demesne surrounding the capital, the Grandwood, and further only by threat and persuasion of the Peers whose fiefs comprise the balance of the realm.

Commander-in-Chief: OverKing Ivid,  

(C 7th level/MU 12th level) = 1 base

Sub-Commander: Xaene, Court Wizard (MU 16th level) = 1 base

Heavy Cavalry: 2,000 = 8 bases
(3 models/base; knights on horses, heavy plate armour & lances, substantial shields)

Heavy Cavalry: 3,000 = 12 bases
(3 models/base; knights on horses, heavy chain armour & lances, substantial shields)

Medium Cavalry: 2,000 = 8 bases
(3 models/base; riders on horses, leather armour & moderate shields, hand weapons)

Medium Horse Archers: 1,000 = 4 bases
(3 models/base; riders on horses, leather armour & moderate shields, bows)

Heavy Halberdiers:  2,000 = 8 bases
(4 models/base; foot troops, heavy plate armour & substantial shields, halberds)

Heavy Pole-Arms: 2,000 = 8 bases
(4 models/base; foot troops, chain mail armour & substantial shields, pole-arms)

Medium Infantry: 4,000 = 16 bases
(3 models/base; foot troops, chainmail armour & no shields, hand weapons)

Light Infantry: 2,000 = 8 bases
(2 models/base; foot troops, no armour & no shields, hand weapons)

Medium Archers: 1,000 = 4 bases
(3 models/base; foot troops, leather armour & moderate shields, short bows)

Medium Crossbowmen: 600 = 3 bases
(3 models/base; foot troops, leather armour & moderate shields, crossbows)

Medium Archers: 400 = 2 bases
(3 models/base; foot troops, leather armour & moderate shields, long bows)

So, this totals 83 bases with 253 models on them.

Alternately, you could have the army led by:

Commander-in-Chief: Knight of Doom, Greater Marshal (F 11th level)
wears magic plate armour, wields a sword of cold, and can withstand all types of fire

Sub-Commander: Knight of Doom, Lesser Marshal (F 11th level)
wears magic plate armour, wields a mace of disruption, and is immune to all fires but dragon breath

Sub-Commander: Knight of Doom, General (F 10th level)
wears magic plate armour, wields a magic two-handed sword and has a Nightmare mount

Remember, these Knights will appear as normal men with their faces hidden by visors. Their armour is always golden - in defiance and mockery of those aligned with law and good.


Next up...???

Ciao!
Grendelwulf