[Mass Combat] Equipment vs Training cost ratios

[VariousRen]

Originally Posted by McAllister

I'm sure you have this part under control, but I like the same sort of lonely fun, so here's what I'd want to start with.

Fine spear: $120; 4lbs
Javelin x3: $90, 6lbs
Medium shield, Heavy, No Boss and Metallic (see LTC2, p. 20): $175; 9lbs
Mail, Heavy (covering torso, skull and upper arms): $1,700; 26.5lbs

Wow, that comes to about $2,100 and 45.5lbs. If you assume your soldiers are at least ST 11, they're only lightly encumbered, and you've got another $800 to spend on them. Replace the spear with a thrusting broadsword? Why not? If you can assume your soldiers have at least ST 12 (which doesn't seem outlandish), they might even be able to handle a heavier shield; and they'll thank you for another point of DB.

Heavy Infantry (~$3000 equipment each):
Medium/Light Segmented Plate set (DR 4 torso, DR 3 elsewhere) – $1900, 51lb
Large Light Shield (DB 3, DR 2, 18HP) – $68, 10lb
Balanced Spear (Thr + 2 imp, + 1 skill) – $200, 4lb
Balanced Javelin x 2 (Acc 3, Thr + 1 imp, + 1 skill) – $300, 4lb
Balanced Large Knife (+ 1 skill) – $200, 1lb
Total: $2668, 70lb (Medium encumbrance unless ST >= 14)

I went a little heavier with my set up, but it's interesting (and encouraging) to see we both came up with similar load outs. What surprised me is how well equipped normal professional troops end up being. We're TL2 so Fine doesn't give any damage bonuses, but making everything balanced seemed like a perfect way to spend cash. Really outlines the difference between soldiers and poor adventurers.

[McAllister]

Originally Posted by VariousRen

We're TL2 so Fine doesn't give any damage bonuses, but making everything balanced seemed like a perfect way to spend cash. Really outlines the difference between soldiers and poor adventurers.

I'm looking at Fine on LT p. 59, and it seems to me like it should increase the damage of spears (or thrusting swords, if by some miracle you can afford a Fine sword) just fine regardless of TL. What am I missing?

Originally Posted by LT p.59

Fine†: -1 to odds of breakage; also +1 to damage for
any cutting or impaling weapon, or +20% to range for
a missile weapon. Projectiles, and crushing- or impaling-
only melee or thrown weapons: +2 CF. Fencing
weapons, knives, swords, and missile weapons: +3 CF.
Other cutting melee or thrown weapons: +9 CF.

[VariousRen]

Originally Posted by McAllister

I'm looking at Fine on LT p. 59, and it seems to me like it should increase the damage of spears (or thrusting swords, if by some miracle you can afford a Fine sword) just fine regardless of TL. What am I missing?

Page 275 under weapon materials; Steel is a TL3 invention, iron doesn't get the damage bonus for being Fine, nor does bronze.