The Front of Battle
This week, we're exploring writing war in fantasy games and novels, and today, we're looking at the middle of it all: the front of battle. Standing toe to toe with your enemies, your fellows fighting and dying alongside you as the air is filled with screams and the ground is wet with blood. What do you need to remember, to tie your world together past the horrific details of the scene?
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War is a messy business - if you're writing the fighting in your fantasy world, it's one thing to write the emotions of a soldier on the front lines, and another to consider the implications of the logistics. If you're looking deeper into your fictional conflict, you should be asking yourself the following questions:
1) What are they fighting over?
If they're warring over land or resources, how far would a fighting force be willing to go in order to secure those things - would they be employing a scorched-earth policy if they want arable land or flammable goods?
Battles like those fought in Europe during the 20th Century are unusual: generally, a battle won't last longer than few days at most. But in the confusion, if the troops are in a woodland or on critical farmland, who is going to stop one rogue soldier from setting it alight to keep himself a bit safer?
2) Where are their troops coming from, and how do their supplies move?
Everyone's got to eat, and soldiers are no different. Sketch out some supply lines and their weak points for ambushes. The food has to come in, along with fresh water, firewood and fodder, and replacement equipment.
Once in, it needs to be stored and distributed. Quartermasters are a crucial part of any army, and they hold a great deal of power over the common soldier.
3) How long are the soldiers going to stay on the front?
Battles are generally done and dusted before more than a couple of days have passed, but even in a war, a kingdom has to pay and feed its soldiers while they are away or they will desert. This can become expensive.
Looting and pillaging is one way to keep your soldiers happy: they get to keep anything they find. It's barbaric, but true. The travesties committed on the invaded people are entertainment for soldiers, a circus to keep them from deserting the front of battle.
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If you enjoyed this post, check out our other journals this week for articles on writing wars: CLICK HERE. Or, you can head over to our YouTube channel for video tutorials on mapmaking and worldbuilding.