Magic on the TL 3 battlefield

Dalillama · 04-05-2024, 06:08 PM

Or, What's a battle mage for anyway?
Assuming TL3 militaries, who have had access to magic long enough to include it in their tactical doctrine. Assume limited access to enchanted gear, and that a skilled mage has half a dozen primary spells. What are the best ones? Does this change depending on troop type?

Case 1) Rare magic. There is roughly one mage per battalion, 1 in 1000 soldiers is a useful mage. What spells are most useful for this army?

Case 2) common magic: There's about 1 mage per company of 80-100 soldiers; command, intelligence, and logistics have their own mages. What are the best spells for a line mage? How about a 'scout' mage?

Case 3) Ubiquitous magic: Every squad of 4-8 soldiers contains a mage, there are additional company and battalion-level mages, every branch of specialists has mage.
Case 1 is probably going to see mage focused on crying the enemy army, coordinating movements, and ensuring the right weather, and preventing the other side from doing the same.

Case 2 might use a lot of area effect spells, even create fire can control parts of the battlefield.

Case 3 is going to probably focus on buffs, plus one or two fighting spells because they'll be in the thick of it.

Thoughts?

04-05-2024, 06:08 PM	#1
Dalillama Join Date: Nov 2004	Magic on the TL 3 battlefield Or, What's a battle mage for anyway? Assuming TL3 militaries, who have had access to magic long enough to include it in their tactical doctrine. Assume limited access to enchanted gear, and that a skilled mage has half a dozen primary spells. What are the best ones? Does this change depending on troop type? Case 1) Rare magic. There is roughly one mage per battalion, 1 in 1000 soldiers is a useful mage. What spells are most useful for this army? Case 2) common magic: There's about 1 mage per company of 80-100 soldiers; command, intelligence, and logistics have their own mages. What are the best spells for a line mage? How about a 'scout' mage? Case 3) Ubiquitous magic: Every squad of 4-8 soldiers contains a mage, there are additional company and battalion-level mages, every branch of specialists has mage. Case 1 is probably going to see mage focused on crying the enemy army, coordinating movements, and ensuring the right weather, and preventing the other side from doing the same. Case 2 might use a lot of area effect spells, even create fire can control parts of the battlefield. Case 3 is going to probably focus on buffs, plus one or two fighting spells because they'll be in the thick of it. Thoughts?