Paksworld

I’m working on a fairly complicated little battle early in Book Three–complicated in part because it includes some weapons types I haven’t previously used in my fiction in something this size.   The forces involved aren’t matched in size, experience, or weaponry…which is sending me back to the history books repeatedly to check that I’m not doing something stupid.  Some things are obvious and familiar to any students of military history…surprise (if you do it) is always good and surprise (if they do it) is a PITA.   Flank attacks really do gum up the enemy’s advance.  Charging after a “fleeing” enemy when you haven’t noticed what’s on your flank…not a smart idea.  And so on.

Others are less so.  Take the great archery debates about longbows and crossbows.    It’s not that one is better than the other, full stop–but that each has advantages in particular situations (which include weather.)   In fact, each variation of each has advantages in particular situations…my friend the crossbow maker told me that yew is a superior wood for bowstaves used in colder climates, whereas bois d’arc (native to my area) is better in hot climates.   I could declare that blackwood (the great bow wood of Lyonya) is superb in all climatic conditions, but…why would it be?  It’s native to a northern temperate hardwood forest–like the original forest of the Appalachians.   It doesn’t break with a snow or ice load–it’s fitted to the climate it grows in.

So…I have a larger force, with some heavy cavalry, some disciplined infantry with polearms, and with them some crossbowmen.  They’re used to formation fighting.

And I have a smaller force with some disciplined infantry (short sword), some longbow archers used to shooting in formation, and some “irregular” archers used to fighting alone or in small groups,  with longswords as well as their bows.

There will be a pause–possibly a couple of days–to do a map and work through this.    Trying to “see” it in my head, I’m seeing too many blurry patches.  (When visualization works, it’s clear all the way to the edges…)