[Mass Combat] Levies in a TL3 Western Europe context

[hal]

Originally Posted by Anders

When you call up the peasantry to fight (and die) for you, what kind of troops are you likely to get? I mean, they'll probably be low-quality and badly equipped, but apart from that?

What do you think of a mix of 20% Archers/30% Light Infantry/30% Medium Infantry and 20% Heavy Infantry? More Light Infantry? Less Heavy?

Since you're asking for specifics, if it is a village militia - you likely won't get any heavy infantry. Nor will you get any archers. Since GURPS MASS COMBAT defines Medium Infantry as those with little or no armor, but don't fight as skirmishers, then I'd treat the Militia as Medium Infantry with Inferior training (half value). If they're fighting with improvised weapons, I'd go as bad as Inferior Quality and Poor equipment (.5 x .25 x 3 = .375 points per fully unit).

Now, if you decide that your peasants will be trained with slings and shield and use a spear for close in work - then I'd suggest they'd be Light Infantry who skirmish rather than fight in a line abreast formation.