Professional Armies, Mercenaries and Military Colleges

[Helaman]

Which lands have proffessional armies? Are there any books that cover mercenary units or mercenaries in the setting and are there any military schools or education centers mentioned in any of the campaign books etc

[Helaman]

Ok...

This is what I've been able to dig up.

Korvosa - Order of the Nail (its in imported police force) but is an armed force.
- Korvosan Guard. More like a militia / guard first, then army second but sorta is an army.
- Elite Hippograph mounted troops but also seems to have marines too

Druma - The mercenary league (which seems to be a formal army despite the name) also called the 'Black Jackets'.

Cheliax - The Hellknights - More like the House of Thumes personal enforcers
- The Dottari - Milita/Town Guard

Rahadoum - The Pure Legion. Seems like they are the religious police whose main mandate is keeping the country free of religious materials first.

Andorian - Eagle Knights. Soldiers but they seem to also be running anti-slaving spec ops.

Anything more?

Cant find crap on Merc organsations beyond some arms runners/smugglers and dont seem to have anything on military colleges but Korvosa has a great Mage university

[GeraintElberion]

Galt has armies (web fiction).

There are armies all around the Worldwound.

There are armies at Lastwall.

Some River Kingdoms have armies (see Kingmaker, including the stories therein).

So far there are few books to help you on this subject. Definitely an idea for a future release.

[The 8th Dwarf]

GeraintElberion wrote:

Galt has armies (web fiction).

There are armies all around the Worldwound.

There are armies at Lastwall.

Some River Kingdoms have armies (see Kingmaker, including the stories therein).

So far there are few books to help you on this subject. Definitely an idea for a future release.

Isnt there a version of the Varangian Guard in Taldor.

The Sable Company in Korvosa are the Hippogriff mounted Marines.

[Mr. Bojangles]

The Factions Guide has several small write ups on armed forces scattered around avistan and garund. Some are really nothing more than elite guard details (Risen Guard, Ulfen Guard) but others are probably exactly what you're looking for (the Ninth Battalion, the Bloodstone Swords).

[Kthulhu]

Any nation that lacks a military force will quickly cease to be an independent nation.

[Helaman]

I was also thinking that unless each nation PROPERLY invests in securing its tradeways (which is expensive in manpower) that brigandage WILL occur.

Then throw monsters into the mix as well.

Which then creates the final step of mercenary units.

Small units of friends who rent themselves out as mercant guards and those hired by merchants as dedicated guards is one piece of the puzzle but realistically small units (10-30) of mercenaries wouldnt be out of the question.

Keep in mind Vikings could conduct successful raids against villages of 150+ people with 30 warriors... 10 warriors is a threat to public order at best, 30 is a serious risk... especially if they arent paid and are hungry.

Anything larger would come under attention from various governments and would be too hard to supply & control from a discipline-lawlessness perspective without VERY strong leadership and sponsorship - like a war etc.

That said it looks like the 'Black Jackets' of Druma seems to evolved with just that sponsorship. I could see maybe 1-2 companies of 100+ troops would be possible if raised by merchant conglomerates or merchant princes who rotate sharing the resources and in times of lesser need, outsourcing them to other merchants.

[Helaman]

Well... the more I surf the internet the more I found... including this.

"Numerous mercenary companies operate across Golarion, offering their martial skills to the highest bidder. Some mercenary groups are organized like private armies, with ranks, uniforms, and codes of conduct. Others are little more than roving gangs likely to attack a potential employer if not paid to fight someone else. Many mercenary companies contain a mixture of races and cultures. Mercenaries are, for the most part, tolerant of differences."

Source: Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting.

[Shizvestus]

The Ulfen Guard runs out of Korvosa... Then there is various dueling schools, and monks guilds here and there in various cities, and Fighting Coloseums, and 2 Monks guild/fighting coloseums, one in Cheliax, and one in Riddleport.

There is a fighting school in Ustalav, and one in Brevoy. The River Kingdomes are full of Mercenary Bands and also town Militia and Small Armies and City Watches.

Most Costal Countries - Cheliax, Andoran, Taldor have their own Navy and Armies, and the Towns of Riddleport, Magnimar, and Korvosa have their own small armies/millitia, and Navies. With Korvosa haveing an amazing Navy. Riddleport haveing Pirate Navy.

The Wourldwound attrackts lots of Mercenaries, and many of wich are bands of Clerics, and Paladins :) and they have a city in Sarkoris dedicated to defeating the Demons of the worldwound with its own standing army.

Lastwall has an army dedicated to watching Ustalav's Imprisoned Litch King. Its army is filled with Paladins and Clerics. Taldor is recovering from its last war with Qadira...

Nex and Geb... armies of Undead and Wizards :)

Lands of the linnorm Kings - Vikings :)

Hold of Belkzen - Orcs :)

Stoval Plateau - Shoanti Barbarians :)

[Shizvestus]

Ooops, I forgot, Absalom best Navy in the western World :) Everybody els has armies too, like Kyonin - Elves, and so forth :)

[Helaman]

I think its fair to say that Absalom seems to have the best of everything...

But its been fun researching.

My main purpose was trying to create an 'officer' type fighter from a military academy etc... unfortunately such academies dont get a lot of ink if they exist at all (despite the Campaign setting book claims to the contrary). There isnt a lot about the 'Regular' armies of each realm - the focus has been more one the elite (Eagle Knights, Hell Knights etc) or the local townguard who are likely to be the players adversaries.

Then again professional military educational institutions really only appeared (to my mind) until about 300-350 years ago in real life.

Before that the officers various training was from their family, patron (for instance a knight one was squired to), and court life with the individual military unit itself (and its commanding officers of the time) developing the officer... which leads to inconsistent results which was part of the impertus to Sandhurst Royal Military Academy (1790) /Portsmouth Royal Naval College (1733) etc

For the life of me I can't think how China managed this - but it wouldnt surprise me if each of the more successful Emperors didnt have such a programe

I could see Qadira having an officer cadet program but not sure for the rest.

[Judy Bauer]

Shizvestus wrote:

Lastwall has an army dedicated to watching Ustalav's Imprisoned Litch King. Its army is filled with Paladins and Clerics.

Lastwall is also home to the Crusader War College (Campaign Setting 91, Cities of Golarion 50), which is particularly known for its strategy and cavalry training.

[The 8th Dwarf]

Shizvestus wrote:

The Ulfen Guard runs out of Korvosa...

I am not sure that is correct...Sable Company, yes.... I am sure that the Ulfen Guard is in Taldor.

There was a fighter feat in the old hard cover guide to the Inner Sea that gave the fighter more class skills - I think it was called Academy trained or some thing similar.

[drayen]

Shizvestus wrote:

The Ulfen Guard runs out of Korvosa...

The Ulfen Guard is the personal bodyguard to the Grand Prince of Taldor.

[Shizvestus]

Ah cool :)

[Helaman]

The 8th Dwarf wrote:

Shizvestus wrote:

The Ulfen Guard runs out of Korvosa...

I am not sure that is correct...Sable Company, yes.... I am sure that the Ulfen Guard is in Taldor.

There was a fighter feat in the old hard cover guide to the Inner Sea that gave the fighter more class skills - I think it was called Academy trained or some thing similar.

The ruleset for the Campaign guide is Alpha Playtest so not even sure if that feat is legal (even if adjusted to PF RPG Release rules). Can't find much mention of academies elsewhere.

[Greg Wasson]

From the Campaign setting

Quote:

Alkenstar gunmarshals wield thier firearms in defense of the nation-making Alkenstar one of the most heavily defended countries in Garund-and in mercenary groups who frequently augment the armies of Nex.

So I would say that Akenstar has mercenary companies as well.