Armour in the storms... and attrition.

**Lord Janos** · August 14, 2006, 02:22 PM

Hi there,

I was just thinking, in light of a nasty storm yesterday here in South London, and while surfing TWC, how did Medieval troops fair in nasty storms? It can't have been good news marching along in steel and plate when lightening is just waiting to ground somewhere. Wouldn't it be like a moth to a lightbulb with so many armoured men marching forward? Would they have removed their armour and waited for the storm to pass, or would they just have hoped for the best?

I know it's not entirely relevant to Medieval, however the game got me thinking about it, and i was wondering also if attrition would be included in M2TW. Has there been any word on that, or do we not know if cold weather, snow, rain, and whatnot will have an effect on troops and morale?

I just thought this was an interesting question - you know, one of those random things that spring to mind during the day!

**Sitarus Originalus PM-30+** · August 14, 2006, 04:10 PM

back then they had no clue steal can attract lightning and had no wories about electricity =)

**Lord Janos** · August 14, 2006, 04:40 PM

This is true, Sitarus... however when one of your mates gets fried while on the road to Jerusalem i'd imagine you'd recognise the threat of the stormy weather! I'm just wondering what they did in situations like that - they must've known it was dangerous, this isn't that long ago really.

**philip augustus** · August 14, 2006, 04:47 PM

About the armour and storm i dont know, but about the attrition they already have that in rome were walking in snow reduces moral while marching in the desert makes them tired.

**Mathias** · August 14, 2006, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by Lord Janos

This is true, Sitarus... however when one of your mates gets fried while on the road to Jerusalem i'd imagine you'd recognise the threat of the stormy weather! I'm just wondering what they did in situations like that - they must've known it was dangerous, this isn't that long ago really.

The chances of getting hit by lightning is very low so I dont think it happened so often and removing the armor wont help, a lightning strike will kill you. I heard of a guy who's head was split open by lightning

**Scorch** · August 14, 2006, 04:46 PM

If I remember rightly they probably thought it was something to do with god, and a priest would usually interpret the 'signs' and they would stop marching. I dunno, I just remember hearing that somewhere.

Interesting question though.

**Lord Janos** · August 14, 2006, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by Scorch40

If I remember rightly they probably thought it was something to do with god, and a priest would usually interpret the 'signs' and they would stop marching. I dunno, I just remember hearing that somewhere.

Interesting question though.

Makes sense! I imagined it would be something to do with that. Are there any historical references to soldiers being struck by lightning at any point? It must have happened at some point. It's not generally something you learned about in history class though is it, heh.

**DougyM** · August 14, 2006, 06:48 PM

Actualy lightning strikes dont kill you all the time.

Given that america today probably has more people than the entire populace of the campaign map area in medieval times, plus the complete lack of any tall structures etc... lightning strikes were probably incredibly rare.

As for troops marching and getting "hit", troops didnt tend to wear plate armour and go on marches at the same time... stuffs heavy and it probably chafes.

Now, given that armies marching back then were probably eqaul in size and "shape" as modern marathon runs...

how oftenly has a marathon runner been hit by lightning in the last 50 years?

Not to mention troops wont march in weather thats stormy... (catch a cold, flash floods, exhuastion etc.)

As for attrition, that would be historicaly accurate but would be annoying as hell, imagine youve spent 10 turns building up an elite army and wham... by the time you get to your enemy youve lost dozens of hundereds of your men.

**Lord Janos** · August 14, 2006, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by Knight_Yellow

Actualy lightning strikes dont kill you all the time.

Given that america today probably has more people than the entire populace of the campaign map area in medieval times, plus the complete lack of any tall structures etc... lightning strikes were probably incredibly rare.

As for troops marching and getting "hit", troops didnt tend to wear plate armour and go on marches at the same time... stuffs heavy and it probably chafes.

Now, given that armies marching back then were probably eqaul in size and "shape" as modern marathon runs...

how oftenly has a marathon runner been hit by lightning in the last 50 years?

Not to mention troops wont march in weather thats stormy... (catch a cold, flash floods, exhuastion etc.)

As for attrition, that would be historicaly accurate but would be annoying as hell, imagine youve spent 10 turns building up an elite army and wham... by the time you get to your enemy youve lost dozens of hundereds of your men.

True. Don't worry - i wasn't under the misconception that men were frequently struck by lightening whilst marching! Obviously it would have been incredibly rare and unlikely, i was simply thinking that i wouldn't like to be travelling in a suit of armour at that moment in time yesterday (in light of the thunder and lightening!).

**Sitarus Originalus PM-30+** · August 15, 2006, 01:23 AM

yes i agree with all of you and about what philip augustus said... he is probably right. If i were a prist in those times and one of soldies was killed by a lightning i would say it was God. And that God made this with a purpose! he punished the weak link of our army and so on... and other crap that would make better morale or something.
i know i would try to use it in my advantage and i dont think back then they wouldnt do the same if there was a good and smart general around.