May Communiqué
First of all, I'd like to thank the people who reached out to me. Please don't worry, I'm doing fine. I was just lacking productivity and felt some shame about only being able to manage a quite sparse monthly update last month. Normalcy has in large part returned here. Besides it's not like there's a pandemic and mass protest going on, right‽ In all seriousness though, I do very much hope for the safety and wellness of everyone in this trying time.
Finally, finally the planned content here was completed. A few events grew slightly too complex, and that was part of the problem. They are finished now however.
Arbitology: Dei Gratia Rex is, so far as I am able, laser-focused on the 12th century. This is ever so slightly before the advent of the great mercenary companies which often appear in media; John Hawkwood's story belongs to another era. Mercenaries however still remained an important part of warfare. Who were they, though?
Feudal obligations for military service — in history and in DGR — only amounted to only 40 days per annum. Vassals may be motivated to join the king's war beyond this requirement due to loyalty and affection, a common cause, or perhaps an offer of favor or lucre, but these arrangements were unpredictable and subject to the vagaries of personal diplomacy. Mercenaries were frequently a safer, more predictable option. Assuming, of course, that coffers were sufficiently full to afford their wages.
The sources call these men many things. I settled on routiers as a general distinction, but the companies were specifically known by their place of origin. The sources speak of Flemings in the employ of William I, or Bretons and Brabançons hired by other rulers. Given the more fragmented state of Britain in this timeline, these are joined by Normans, Anglo-Saxons, and others in DGR.
When you no longer need these routiers they may freely be dismissed. On occasion, that may not be the end of their story though...
A fair bit of time in May was spent reading. That ended up being a productive activity when still trying to work from home. Many events have been planned as a result of this research. Discussing some of those plans with a friend did lead to an interesting suggestion however: a bibliography.
DGR was conceived from the beginning as “hard historical fiction.” It isn't an academic work however. There are a few places in which I've consciously allowed mild anachronisms in the service of gameplay or narrative, and probably others where I have let them slip in wholly by mistake. That said, quite a few books and theses have been consulted in the composition of these events. Would a bibliography be a welcome feature, or is that perhaps a bit too dry for a game? I'd be interested in hearing perspectives in the comments.
Battles! These loom large in the imagination, but were actually quite rare historically. Skirmishes and small-scale engagements were fairly common, but armed contests between full armies were uncommon in this time period. Even for those who ordered their life around waging war, pitched battles happened once or perhaps twice per lifetime. As rare events, these engagements must be especially interesting; that's the goal anyway!
Sieges
Finally, finally the planned content here was completed. A few events grew slightly too complex, and that was part of the problem. They are finished now however.
Routiers
Arbitology: Dei Gratia Rex is, so far as I am able, laser-focused on the 12th century. This is ever so slightly before the advent of the great mercenary companies which often appear in media; John Hawkwood's story belongs to another era. Mercenaries however still remained an important part of warfare. Who were they, though?
Feudal obligations for military service — in history and in DGR — only amounted to only 40 days per annum. Vassals may be motivated to join the king's war beyond this requirement due to loyalty and affection, a common cause, or perhaps an offer of favor or lucre, but these arrangements were unpredictable and subject to the vagaries of personal diplomacy. Mercenaries were frequently a safer, more predictable option. Assuming, of course, that coffers were sufficiently full to afford their wages.
The sources call these men many things. I settled on routiers as a general distinction, but the companies were specifically known by their place of origin. The sources speak of Flemings in the employ of William I, or Bretons and Brabançons hired by other rulers. Given the more fragmented state of Britain in this timeline, these are joined by Normans, Anglo-Saxons, and others in DGR.
When you no longer need these routiers they may freely be dismissed. On occasion, that may not be the end of their story though...
Research
A fair bit of time in May was spent reading. That ended up being a productive activity when still trying to work from home. Many events have been planned as a result of this research. Discussing some of those plans with a friend did lead to an interesting suggestion however: a bibliography.
DGR was conceived from the beginning as “hard historical fiction.” It isn't an academic work however. There are a few places in which I've consciously allowed mild anachronisms in the service of gameplay or narrative, and probably others where I have let them slip in wholly by mistake. That said, quite a few books and theses have been consulted in the composition of these events. Would a bibliography be a welcome feature, or is that perhaps a bit too dry for a game? I'd be interested in hearing perspectives in the comments.
What's Next?
Battles! These loom large in the imagination, but were actually quite rare historically. Skirmishes and small-scale engagements were fairly common, but armed contests between full armies were uncommon in this time period. Even for those who ordered their life around waging war, pitched battles happened once or perhaps twice per lifetime. As rare events, these engagements must be especially interesting; that's the goal anyway!