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Made in gb
Screamin' Stormboy





I'm playing as a retired soldier turned mercenary in my DND campaign, but I'm looking for tips for roleplaying better

Its set in the elder Scrolls setting but that's not really something you need to know for the tips

Just that I was once a soldier in a Roman type army in command of ten men

I'm kinda modelled of the hound from GOT/ASOIAF in that I call people. Don't bypass the language filter like this please. Reds8n a lot and seem kinda angry

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2017/10/04 10:04:39


 
   
Made in us
Contagious Dreadnought of Nurgle






There's no one answer to how you could play such a character. He could be just a soldier to the core - all he knows and respects is the discipline and honor of military life so he kept doing it after the official end of his service. Or he could be very cynical and selfish, using his experiences and talent for warfare to meet his own earthly needs at the expense of others. In the first example, he might be a pretty straight-laced guy who continues to honor military customs and traditions and is proud to be a professional soldier, whereas in the second he might not care about those things at all and is glad to be out from under the thumb of a state-run military.

I think it's important that you sort out his motivations and what kind of soldier he is, because there are good ones and bad ones.

 
   
Made in gb
Screamin' Stormboy





Ok maybe I should have been more specific, I'm looking for small tips or characteristics on what I could do to appear more like a soldier, not how I should act and make decisions

For example I know that when I get into a fight I instinctively order the other players into formation and let the enemy charge our shield wall (like the Romans did)

But I want to know if there's any small things
For example I've learned that many soldiers are superstitious, which I'm going to use

I plan on harassing the other party members about things like the way they set up camp, and going through their gear reorganising their packs to be more efficient, as well as dawn training with the teams paladin, who is much the same in terms of professionalism

I can explain my characters motives if it would help


   
Made in us
Bounding Assault Marine



Leominster

Some tips that may help. Mind you these are 2nd hand things I have heard from old friend who were in the service.

-Lite sleeper.
-Always keeping an eye on the front door to any place you are staying, eating, etc.
-Never sitting with your back to the door.
-A general respect for authority even in your own way.

"I was never a Son of Horus. I was and remain a Luna Wolf. A proud son of Cthonia, a loyal servant of the Emperor."

Recasts are like Fight Cub. No one talks about it, but more people do it then you realize.



Armies.
Luna Wolves 4,000 Points
Thousand Sons 4,000 Points. 
   
Made in gb
Screamin' Stormboy





Cheers mate, I'll keep that in mind
And thank you to your friend for his service
   
Made in us
Contagious Dreadnought of Nurgle






Well, the reason I was talking about motivation and how the character makes decisions is because it could have a big impact on exactly how much of the discipline from his military service he's retained. What kind of person he is would also define his interactions in trying to impart that discipline on the other characters. Is he more of a stern but fair father figure? Someone who doesn't care about anything other than his next drink and bedmate? Someone in between might still have respect for the military way of doing things, but realize the futility of trying to impose that on civilians who have no idea what it's like to serve.

There are all kinds of soldiers and veterans. Some will maintain military parlance and demeanor for the rest of their lives. Some will be glad to be rid of those things.

In general, a veteran will probably keep mementos of his service such as awards. He will probably never quite rid himself of his entire military vocabulary and at times might lapse into pointing his knife hand at someone's chest and yelling like an instructor or Drill Sergeant. He might stick to a strict routine out of habit. He may or may not want to talk about his service at all, and when he does it will most likely be funny or outrageous stories about the ways he or his fellow soldiers used to get in trouble.

As far as the superstition thing goes, I can tell you a story about that. There used to be these candies in MREs called Charms. A lot of people thought they were bad luck and should be thrown away without being eaten. There was one Staff Sergeant in particular who absolutely believed that if someone messed around with or ate charms in the field that it would rain, and he was shall we say "adamant" that no one be seen with them lest they suffer consequences. I always wanted to sneak some into his gear but I never had the opportunity.

 
   
Made in us
Posts with Authority






The mindset of most pre-modern soldiers would be pretty different from a modern soldier. Even the most straight laced guy would be pretty brutal and callous by modern standards. When you spend your life trying to stick pointy bits of metal into an enemy before he does the same to you, you get fairly into the idea of "hit them as hard as possible before they even know you are there".

Depending on setting, the entire concept of patriotism and national identity might be completely foreign - there were long periods of European history where functionally all warfare was carried out by what amounts to mercenary bands. Before modern ideas about conduct, things like 'foraging' (stealing everything from anyone who couldn't stop you), pillaging and rape were more the norm than exceptions. A lot of soldiers were effectively paid in shares of what they stole/won.

There are a very few concepts that transcend time and place, and even those have exceptions on a personal level. There has and always will be a certain sense of gallows humor among soldiers. It's simply a side affect of being so near to death for so long. Experienced soldiers will often develop the ability to fall asleep no matter the situation, when they can - be it on a leaking galley in the Aegean or a Black Hawk on it's way to Fallujah.

In this sort of scenario it is also important to distinguish a soldier from a warrior. Those are traits that can exist in the same person, but generally speaking they are going to differ significantly. Soldiers train to fight as part of a unit, soldiers, especially something like a roman is going to learn harsh discipline and order - not necessarily build their life around them, but they would have to learn them. Soldiers are also probably going to be far less interested in honor or glory or fair fights, getting back to my first point.

I recommend reading at least the first book or two of The Black Company for what fantasy soldiers would look like.
   
Made in gb
Screamin' Stormboy





Oh definitely 100% agreed on the concept of "not interested in fair fights". He fights with the logic of "a crippled enemy is a weak one"
My friends have frequently made fun of me crippling enemies as fast as possible in fights


Automatically Appended Next Post:
If you guys want some context as to the character

He was orphaned as a teenager and lied about his age, joining a Forrester regiment, as a centurion instead of a ranger (defender of the fort they were stationed at. While rangers would.. well range forward from the fort )
he served with them untill after the great war with the elves, which the elves won
He is deathly afraid of large bodies of water, boats, etc, after his men were betrayed by the lord of a coastal city, who gave his fleet to the elves in fear of his own life

Hes pretty honour bound, but he's fine with crime like theft or assault on someone who annoys him

Oh and he's illiterate, growing up as a young teenager in the forest. He knows about formation and tactics from experience. He knows the history of his empire from tales of great heroes and legends, not history books

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/10/03 17:24:36


 
   
Made in gb
Keeper of the Holy Orb of Antioch





avoiding the lorax on Crion

Ummm a centurion would not be illiterate. They where a officer in charge of 80 men, they lead soldiers in combat and yes a lower ranking one was still expected to be fully literate to understand and issue orders from there chain of command.

Even a lower ranking centurion was a experienced battle leader. With authority and responsibility of 80 soldiers and a portion of the battle line.. They had to have years of service to ever to be considered one and be a expert soldier and also lead from the front and inspire there men by example..

Higher ranking as they rose where from lower cohorts to the first and where some of most senior members of the legion and part of the HQ generals circle of advisers and war leaders.

That's in roman context anyway...

And yes a Romano would fear large bodies of water. Thy did not like sailing or navel combat.much preferred land warfare and marching.

Romans yes where a suspestichous people. They believed very much in God's and beings not of this world.

Your idea of a illiterate Centurian in Roman context is very inaccurate.

To command 10 your looking at a Decanus.
They had 8 legionaries and 2 servants who supported them and there men. They were more like a Sgt or corporal and likely a legionnairery with abit of experience under there belt.

They where 10 to a tend. 10 to a century. 5 to a chort. 10 cohorts to a legion..

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2017/10/03 21:55:51


Sgt. Vanden - OOC Hey, that was your doing. I didn't choose to fly in the "Dongerprise'.

"May the odds be ever in your favour"

Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl wrote:
I have no clue how Dakka's moderation work. I expect it involves throwing a lot of d100 and looking at many random tables.

FudgeDumper - It could be that you are just so uncomfortable with the idea of your chapters primarch having his way with a docile tyranid spore cyst, that you must deny they have any feelings at all.  
   
Made in gb
Screamin' Stormboy





Ok this one's my fault for not being clear enough, he wasn't in the real Roman army, but the empire from the elder Scrolls games. Loosely based on the real Roman empire, so the ranks are not accurate. Here centurion is my shorthand for "dude in heavy armour with a gladius and scutum"
He grew up in what was basically a pop culture representation of the real Roman empire
So historical accuracy, not entirely important
   
Made in gb
Keeper of the Holy Orb of Antioch





avoiding the lorax on Crion

Warboss Grimdakka wrote:
Ok this one's my fault for not being clear enough, he wasn't in the real Roman army, but the empire from the elder Scrolls games. Loosely based on the real Roman empire, so the ranks are not accurate. Here centurion is my shorthand for "dude in heavy armour with a gladius and scutum"
He grew up in what was basically a pop culture representation of the real Roman empire
So historical accuracy, not entirely important


All good. If I was playing with you I might tease you on history though about where the centurion left his other 70 men lol.

So roman style many plate Armour, short stabbing sword, heavy sheild and a distict helmet? Ptobbly a dagger and such survival kit like pans and canteens etc.

Also I've worn that stuff at a event. You could try it on. It's not as restrictive as it looks. You can move it in quite easily. (segmented armour)

You might also want to consider if loosely based. Fighting style. Not much slashing, sheild. Stab, defence based combat.
A roman style of combat very much relies on stabbing thrusts. Even maybe a loose one.

They have had heavy Armour and sheild advantage.

Officers and NCO in olden times often carried or wore some battlefield identifier.

I just know roman history

Hope it helps.

Sgt. Vanden - OOC Hey, that was your doing. I didn't choose to fly in the "Dongerprise'.

"May the odds be ever in your favour"

Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl wrote:
I have no clue how Dakka's moderation work. I expect it involves throwing a lot of d100 and looking at many random tables.

FudgeDumper - It could be that you are just so uncomfortable with the idea of your chapters primarch having his way with a docile tyranid spore cyst, that you must deny they have any feelings at all.  
   
Made in gb
Ultramarine Librarian with Freaky Familiar





Bear in mine warfare back then was very much more throwing bodies in shieldwalls and obeying orders to the letter. Autonomy wouldn't be tolerated, so either the soldier would take charge and not suffer any insubordination, or would obey the orders of the team "leader" to the letter.


They/them

 
   
Made in us
Terrifying Doombull




Warboss Grimdakka wrote:
Oh definitely 100% agreed on the concept of "not interested in fair fights". He fights with the logic of "a crippled enemy is a weak one"
My friends have frequently made fun of me crippling enemies as fast as possible in fights

They kinda should. D&D combat can be very unkind in its action economy. Focus fire something til it's dead, and then move on to the next. Any sort of crippling/stun juggling should be left to characters that can get multiples at once (to crush their action economy). Unless its taking people out of action entirely for a time, most options are worse than just applying damage until it stops moving.

Efficiency is the highest virtue. 
   
 
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