(For DRM Version 5.0.2)
Updated 11/15/2023
Updated 11/15/2023
AT A GLANCE:
** High-Low Glass Cannons
** Hit Hard, Limited Shields
** Varied Noble Unit Types
OVERVIEW:
Battania is no mere rump state in the mountains, though the crumbling ruins of grand castles that they live in tends to fool most people. No, Battania is a realm resurgent under its High King: a realm united once more. Local chiefs may see themselves as king of their own kingdom, but they recognize Caladog’s power, and with the clans united as their neighbors fight, what grudges with the Empire can the sons of Battania settle? There is song, glory, and heads to be won in such an affair, and there are still lands the Battanians consider theirs to take back.
The Battanians are what most Imperial citizens think of when they think of a ‘barbarian army’ - wild, raucous, many of them being half-naked… all true to varying degrees at some point in history, but it also grossly underestimates them. The Empire learned of maille through contact with the Battanians in centuries past, armor that protects their elite to this day. Their longbows, though deceptively simple at first glance, are a masterwork of woodcraft that requires no shortage of skill and strength to use. Longbows may not outright kill armored enemies, but even the Calradic Legion dreaded facing them en masse.
Battania lacks a professional army or any kind of formalized non-noble military tradition, though they make up for it with a much wider net of recruitment. Every clansman is expected to bear arms if summoned to war, and as such they have much more incentive to use their loot to buy better wargear. The nadir of relations with the Empire also means that many Battanians shun the idea of a standing army on principle. This is further worsened by limited noble cavalry, caused by a preference for the longbow and two-handed blades as well as a loss of suitable stud farms in past generations.
Battania is a realm surrounded by enemies, and if they tighten the noose all the clans will die - and make a very lovely mound of snow. But if they can stay united and gain the upper hand, all the rewards of victory and conquest will be theirs: food, loot, women (and men), glory, heads!... yes, heads! After all, it’d be stupid to put Lucon’s foot on a pointy stick!
RECRUITMENT PERCENTAGES:
Standard Pool:
45% Battanian Clan Youth
15% Battanian Clan Militia
25% Battanian Wildling
15% Battanian Hunter
Elite Pool:
5% Battanian Fian Champions (Bodyguards)
45% Battanian Highborn Youth (T4 Noble Recruits)
30% Battanian Oathsworn (T4 Regulars)
20% Battanian Saethwyr (T5 Regulars)
MILITIA UNITS:
Basic Militia Melee: Town Militia
Basic Militia Ranged: Hunter
Elite Militia Melee: Oathsworn
Elite Militia Ranged: Veteran Archer
FACTION DYNAMICS:
Mountain Men
All Battanian troops gain +10 to their Athletics score on top of any other bonuses, making them just a bit faster across the board.
Muster Recruitment
The Battanians do not have a professional army by any means, but they also expect everyone to go to war when the High King summons. As such, the Battanians do not really have a formal regular tree, instead relying on enhanced Irregulars to pad their ranks and for the nobles of clans to fight as elite troops at range, in melee, or even as cavalry.
As a result, Battanian irregulars all go to T4, but their only regular-grade troops are their archers (reflecting the nature of training longbowmen). This means that for heavier infantry, they need to rely on their noble recruits.
Barbarian Invasion
The Battanians are the archetypal ‘Barbarians’ of Calradian histories, and they want their lands back! Should the Battanians take Imperial territory, they will begin the process of resettling their lands. This includes ‘liberating’ other barbarian tribes such as the Paliacs, folding them into the Kingdom of Battania.
This grants the Kingdom of Battania faction the ability to recruit a selection of their own troops from Empire culture settlements, notably the Battanian Town Militia unit that is usually used as a militia unit in Battanian settlements.
Rhodok Confederation
Though the Battanians are primarily looking to reclaim their territory held by the Empire proper, they cannot ignore that the Vlandians took what was rightful Battanian clay such as the Ocs Pool. To break the power of these knights, however, Battania needs local allies - allies they find among Rhodok hill chiefs and burghers who are willing to confederate with the Battanians.
If the Battanians manage to take Vlandian territory, they will be able to recruit a mixture of Vlandian peasants, their own clansmen (in limited quantities), and Rhodok tribesmen from the standard recruit pool. The elite recruit pool will instead offer them Rhodok confederates in the form of pikemen and pavise crossbowmen, as well as Vlandian Feudal Knights who have bent the knee and accepted a new liege-lord in the form of the High King.
Irregulars - Clansmen
A typical tribal levy, Battania’s clansmen muster to battle often to defend against cattle raids by neighboring clans and to meet the Empire and repay them for centuries of brutality. They are not a regular fighting force by any means, but a combination of traditions and simple necessity ensures that their veterans are well armed.
Their recruitment is somewhat haphazard as they have a handful of starting points rather than the normal singular point. The majority of recruits will be Clan Youths, your standard T1 recruit. Others will be militia drawn from the older men of the clan, others still will be wildlings, and in certain circumstances they will use their town militia as recruits. These units all have different biases in what you can upgrade them into - for example, Clan Militia cannot become Kerns as they are not agile enough - so you may need to do some filtering.
All else fails, though, you can train them into more pikemen to help you fend off enemy cavalry.
Battanian Clan Youth
Tier I Skirmish Infantry
** Shielded
** Good versus Shields (Javelins)
Clan Youths are the youngest members of a Battanian clan looking to prove themselves in battle. There is rarely a shortage of such, but they will need to develop their experience if they are going to be useful in reclaiming Battania’s lost lands.
These late teens typically fight as skirmishers, being of lighter build as they have yet to reach their prime while having all the energy of youth. They only carry a few of their javelins, so need to make them count or withdraw behind more experienced troops for the next phase.
It will take time for them to no longer be youths, but once they achieve that they may either continue as javelineers by becoming Hurlers, or they may take up a pike and stand firm on the line as Clan Warriors.
Battanian Clan Militia
Tier II Pike Infantry
** Spear Brace
Clan Militia are older members of a Battanian clan - still trending young, but not outright whelps - who usually do not make a habit of fighting as a warrior for whatever reason. Though they may lack the mobility and flexibility of the youth, they can still serve as stalwart pikemen to fend off enemy cavalry charging the Battanian line.
As these men lack the initiative, desire, or build to serve as skirmishers, they are only able to upgrade into Clan Warriors to continue as pikemen.
Battanian Town Militia
Tier II Infantry
** Shielded
Town Militia are Battanian townsfolk who have taken up arms, primarily in defense of their homes when the enemy comes knocking. Most of them are armed with a sidearm and a shield, some equip spears, and usually are only seen defending Battanian settlements when attacked. They are not a typical recruit for Battania in its native settlements as a result, instead being seen when invaders conquer Battania or when the Battanians conquer certain territories.
They may either upgrade more quickly into Clan Warriors, becoming pikemen, or they may hold off on their upgrade in order to become an Oathsworn. The choice is their commander’s, most likely.
Battanian Wildling
Tier II Spear Infantry
** Shielded
** Athletic Infantry
** Weapon Focus: Polearms (+10)
“Wildling” refers to Battanians who live outside the more formalized clan system of modern Battania, often in smallholds and communities deeper in the mountains and forests. While considered the “barbarian’s barbarian” by Calradic scholars, in truth the main difference is that they have kept some traditions of the Old Ways more stringently than other Battanians who have had a lot more contact with outsiders. And even then, they are not so far removed from their kin that they could be considered a different culture.
One area where they do notably differ is that when they muster for war, they field as spearmen instead of pikemen like the other clans. Part of this is usually fighting in smaller numbers, part of it is tradition. Nonetheless, they bring to the battlefield a ferocity of those who know that they must fight or lose everything.
They may either continue this path as a Wildling Warrior, or they may become Hurlers and fight as part of the Kern.
Battanian Clan Warrior
Tier III Pike Infantry
** Spear Brace
Warriors are the ‘proper’ combatants of a clan, those men (and sometimes women) who are first to answer when the muster is summoned and last to return home when the campaign is done. While in the past they fought as spear and shield infantry, these days they have begun to fight as pikemen. First pioneered by the Rhodoks, the Battanians adopted it for similar reasons: to deter enemy cavalry from plowing through their ranks.
These troops need to be firmly positioned in order to be a staunch line of pikes against enemy attackers, but are vulnerable to projectiles. Mix in shielded units like Oathsworn or foreign mercenaries to take the damage, and let them impale anyone foolish enough to charge in head on.
Veterans of the Clan Warriors may be able to acquire maille, to compensate for their vulnerability, and in the process become Armored Warriors.
Battanian Hurler
Tier III Skirmishers
** Shielded
** Athletic Infantry
** Good Against Shields (Javelins)
Hurlers are the first step of proper skirmisher troops, who have been chosen for their athleticism to run up close, hurl javelins, then fall back to the line where they support it as axe-and-board warriors. They are lightly armored and their shields are small, but they can either strip the enemy’s protection by pinning shields or inflict disproportionate damage on unshielded targets… if they can approach unmolested by enemy archers.
Most of them are well on the way to becoming Battania’s feared Kerns, but some may decide to take up the falx instead and charge headlong into the melee for the heads it brings.
Battanian Wildling Warrior
Tier III Spear Infantry
** Shielded
** Fanatic
** Athletic Infantry
** Weapon Focus: Polearms (+10)
These Wildlings are those that have become experienced warriors and stand first in the battle line. They may not be heavy infantry, but they make up for it with a ferocity that in centuries past terrorized the Calradian people. Shields allow them to protect their brethren, and spears allow them to contribute in dismounting the enemy.
The finest of these warriors may take on formal oaths, becoming the traditional Battanian elite warrior: the Oathsworn.
Battanian Armored Warrior
Tier IV Pike Infantry
** Spear Brace
The Battanians have long worked maille, small iron rings linked together to provide a mesh that can deflect a sword blow when worn. Though they do not have any formal foundries, generations of making it (and looting it from their neighbors) has ensured a plentiful supply for those veterans who can afford it. These warriors, fighting as pikemen to defend what remains of Battania, are such warriors.
They are still fairly vulnerable to projectiles as the maille only offers so much protection, but these troops will be a pain for enemy infantry and cavalry to get through from the front.
Battanian Oathsworn
Tier IV Heavy Infantry
** Shielded
** Fanatic
** Athletic Infantry
** Weapon Focus: One-Handed (+10)
Oathsworn are those warriors that have bound themselves to their chieftain as his (or her) retainers, fighting on behalf of their chief and in theory only retreating when they do. For the common Battanian, this is one of the greatest honors they might see. They are not professional warriors in the traditional sense, but they bring to bear a fanaticism that can be hard to match and are quite well armored.
They tend to be sword and board defenders these days, protecting the pikemen from enemies rushing them in close quarters. This also acts to allow them to excel in the defense of cities or storming them, which is a large reason why cities have begun to try and retain these warriors as part of their own defense - an oath to their land rather than to their chief. A few of them do carry spears, though this is not a standard feature of their ranks.
Battanian Kern
Tier IV Skirmish Infantry
** Shielded
** Good Against Shields (Javelins)
** Athletic Infantry (+10)
** Weapon Focus: Throwing (+10)
Kerns are Battania’s feared light infantry - scouts, skirmishers, and slayers all - who open the battle with their javelins before joining the main push. If they do their job well, the enemy front ranks will be completely exposed to punishing missiles and melee. If not, well… it will be their heads claimed by the enemy. Bands of Kerns can be quite well organized, though it is by tradition rather than professionalism.
For best effect, try to send them out as a vanguard to strip the enemy of their shields before having them fall back to support your melee line.
Battanian Border Horse
Tier IV Light/Skirmish Hybrid Cavalry
Requires a Horse
Minimum Riding Skill: 20
** Shielded
** Good against Shields (Javelins)
** Additional Secondary Skill: Throwing
Border Horses are pony riders who are quite far from the best cavalry in Calradia. Nonetheless, they are a necessary collection of warriors as their patrols alert the clans to incursions and then screen against enemy cavalry or harass the enemy rear line. They also make fairly handy raiders, if the need arises.
They are a fairly flexible force, carrying a spear, a satchel of javelins, a sword, and a shield. However, they are still light cavalry and tend not to be able to stand up to the noble cavalry of other armies. Still, they can buy valuable time for Battania’s infantry to get ready or force the enemy to stay honest with their own flanks.
“Regulars” - Battanian Longbows
The longbow is a potent weapon of war, capable of delivering arrows at long range with enough force to punch through maille armor. The Battanians have long made use of it, ambushing legionaries in painful cross-volleys or using them to whittle down anyone who dares attack them. However, the longbow is not a weapon you can just give to anyone: the Battanians are only able to field them in numbers is because the vast majority of them begin to learn how to sue it from a young age, allowing them to develop the muscles necessary.
Even so, military use of the longbow is effectively reserved to those who commit to being archers as a vocation. In a sense, one might consider these to be the ‘regulars’ of a Battanian warhost, as their weapon is their life. Even so, the majority of them go home to their farms or crafts between wars, preventing them from becoming a professional archer corps.
Battanian Hunters
Tier II Missile Infantry
** Standard Ammo: Barbed Head Arrows 60g
Hunters are a mixture of poachers, younger Battanian men still getting the full grips of longbow usage, and militia archers. Their main job is to add to the volleys laid down by Battania’s longbowmen and in particular to try and tear apart enemy light troops, especially when defending settlements.
With some more training, they may become proper Archers.
Battanian Archer
Tier III Missile Infantry
** Standard Ammo: Needle Bodkin Arrows 50g
** Double Satchels
** Weapon Focus: Bows (+10)
Though Fians are the ones that people most often think of when envisioning Battania’s archers, the common clansmen have their bowmen as well. Though not nearly as skilled as their noble counterparts, they are a step above non-professional archers from other cultures.
Those who prove themselves will be considered to be Veteran Archers.
Battanian Veteran Archer
Tier IV Missile Infantry
** Standard Ammo: Needle Bodkin Arrows 70g
** Double Satchels
** Weapon Specialist: Bows (+20)
These veterans are Battanians bowmen who have proven themselves hardy in battle and skilled with their bows. They are essentially a straight upgrade from their predecessor. They are often seen defending settlements, with many retired archers training the next generation and joining them when the enemy attacks.
The finest of them may be inducted into the retinue of their chief, becoming Saethwyr in the process.
Battanian Saethwyr
Tier V Missile Infantry
** Standard Ammo: Needle Bodkin Arrows 90g
** Chance for Shields OR Double Satchels
** Decent Melee Combatant (w/Shields)
** Weapon Specialist: Bows (+20)
** Weapon Focus: One-Handed (+10)
Though not proper Fians, these retinue longbowmen are nonetheless confident and deadly companions to their warlord. Protected with proper maille armor, these troops can help screen their compatriots during the skirmish phase or punish the enemy with missiles as the warriors hold the enemy back. Saethwyr often carry two satchels a piece, but others will instead bring targes to protect themselves and for the melee. Both are viable, and can help protect the bow line if the enemy pushes through.
Though not professional soldiers, they are pretty close to it and even then retain a level of archery skill above their neighbors.
Nobles - Highborn Warriors
The Battanians are not strangers to mounted nobility, and even with the loss of so much pasture land they still have some nobles who mount up and fight. However, the Battanian nobility has never truly embraced the idea of noble cavalry as an end unto itself. The majority of nobles may ride to the battlefield if they can, but once there the majority will dismount to fight on foot. In the past, this was an aspect of headhunting as dismounting would be the only way to collect heads. In the modern day, it is still about heads but it is increasingly to fill a niche in the pike-and-longbow tactics which encourage a more defensive mindset, one that cavalry is not as well suited for.
This means that in contrast to the nobles of other cultures, Battanian ones are willing to fight in a number of different ways. While the traditional Fian Archer remains as their iconic way of fighting, they can also field powerful shock troops in the form of axe-armed Rhyfelwyr or mount up as Ridere. As a group they may either focus on one area in a warhost, or spread themselves out to support it in different ways.
Battanian Highborn Youth
Tier IV Missile Infantry
** Noble
** Standard Ammo: Needle Bodkin Arrows 50g
** Double Quivers
** Decent Melee Combatant
** Weapon Focus: Bows (+10)
These youths of the Battanian nobility are eager to prove themselves, and rather than joining the Wolfskins to live down to Calradian expectations they have decided to fight in warbands. Besides having plentiful arrows to thin the enemy ranks and armor, they also carry powerful two handed swords to cut down anyone who tries charging them in melee.
Once they have taken a head or two, they will be considered warriors of the nobility. This may be in the form of a melee warrior or an archer, though many these days prefer to be an archer.
Battanian Highborn Archer
Tier V Missile Infantry
** Noble
** Standard Ammo: Needle Bodkin Arrows 70g
** Double Quivers
** Decent Melee Combatant
** Weapon Focus: Bows (+10)
Whether they have returned from the Wolfskins or proved themselves in direct combat, Highborn Warriors are the mature nobles of Battania who have quite a life ahead of them. No matter how scruffy looking they may seem, they are well equipped to back their deadly confidence.
Those who truly wish to make a career out of military service may become Fians.
Battanian Highborn Warrior
Tier V Heavy Infantry
** Noble
** Shielded
** Weapon Focus: One-Handed (+10)
** Good against Shields (Axes)
Highborn Warriors are Battanian nobles that have chosen to focus their skills in melee combat, for now taking up a highland shield and an axe along with the traditional swords as (large) sidearms. They may not be particularly spectacular, but they are a fairly durable unit for Battania and can serve as a good protector for the mustered warriors if enemies get past the pikes.
Most of them will desire to become feared and fearsome Rhyfelwyr, but others might choose to become Ridere and battle as cavalry.
Battanian Fian
Tier VI Missile Infantry
** Noble
** Standard Ammo: Needle Bodkin Arrows 80g
** Double Quivers
** Good Melee Combatant
** Weapon Specialist: Bows (+20)
** Rapid Shot
Fians are the nobles of Battania who have made a career out of being an archer in war - literal fighters of the highlands. Their confidence only grows, as does how well equipped they are. While relatively lightly armored for nobility, this is primarily a concession for the weight of their ammunition. They are still quite skilled in melee, should the need arise. Many enemies learned to run once the trees started speaking Battanian…
Perhaps their most notable talent is their ability to draw three arrows at a time via Rapid Shot, though they are nocked and fired one by one. Nonetheless, this doubles or even triples their damage output within a set period of time, albeit at cost of endurance during battle.
Battanian Rhyfelwyr
Tier VI Shock Infantry
** Noble
** Weapon Focus: Two-Handed (+10)
** Good against Shields (2H Axes)
** Athletic Infantry
Rhyfelwyr are the finest warriors of the highlands, hard hitting and well armored shock infantry. Though they lack shields of their own, their axes tend to rip apart enemies pretty effectively. Some of the heaviest infantry on the continent, perhaps they are a glimpse to the future of Calradic infantry warfare as heavier armor becomes more widespread?
Regardless, they excel at hacking open enemy shields and only the heaviest of enemy infantry will want to engage them directly. And in case they find their axe or falx ill suited for dueling an enemy, they all carry the traditional two-handed sword… though frankly, their axes are usually more than enough!
Battanian Ridere
Tier VI Cavalry
Requires a Horse
** Noble
** Shielded
** Weapon Focus: Two-Handed (+10)
** Weapon Focus: Polearms (+10)
Ridere are Battanian nobles that have mounted up, an increasingly rare sight with the loss of the lowlands to the Calradians and Vlandians. Nonetheless, some Battanian nobles still seek to fight as cavalry as such is all the better to ride down fleeing enemies. More often than not, however, their job is to tie up the enemy’s cavalry. While they are certainly of higher quality than the majority of cavalry, their numbers are limited.
Fortunately, they will not insist upon a full war horse: most of these men are interested in horsemanship on their own and so do not specifically need their warlord to provide them with one. Instead, a more common horse will suffice - something has to carry the heads of slain enemies, after all!
Battanian Fian Champion
Tier VI Missile Infantry
** Bodyguard
** Noble
** Standard Ammo: Needle Bodkin Arrows 110g
** Double Quivers
** Good Melee Combatant
** Athletic Infantry
** Weapon Specialist: Bows (+20)
** Weapon Focus: 2-Handed (+10)
** Rapid Shot
Living legends, or at least characters in a legend, Fian Champions are the acme of Battanian noble prowess with the longbow and with the sword. The heads they have taken, the glory they have won, the volleys they have laid down from a safe distance as the rabble dies screening them… Fian Champions have lived to see it all.
Compared to their more common comrades, Champions are notable primarily for the vastly improved armor they bring to bear, bringing them up to the level usually associated with other nobles. This does affect their speed, though they train in it to help offset some of the issues.
MODDER COMMENTS:
With Battania, I initially followed a similar concept that TaleWorlds did - a broad swathe of Celtic groups with some Thracian and Dacian influence in the form of falxes. Ultimately though, they suffered heavily from a complete lack of cavalry but also having inferior irregular options to boot, particularly when they were half-naked. They are still living in that fantastical area that the native Battanian troop tree fills, but hopefully now it will be a little more tempered and in line with the other factions rather than standing out as this bunch of pelt-wearing barbarians with some absurdly well armored longbowmen
Battania’s paradigm has also shifted over the course of the mod, from being the aforementioned pelt-wearing barbarians to something more tempered, to now a paradigm of its own. Where other factions have to balance their recruits based on quality, Battania’s bulk troops can upgrade further than the irregulars of other factions, allowing for a higher average quality across an army. Unfortunately, it comes at the cost of not having the same regular options, leaving a hole where other factions would have their mid-tier troops.
This means that Battania is sensitive to momentum - upon repeated victories, their irregulars will stand head and shoulders above other factions’ irregulars. At the same time, if Battania is beaten and is unable to build up their average troop quality they will have no quick answer to the enemy’s regulars besides hiring mercenaries or getting lucky with access to the elite pool. All in all, the Battanians should play a little differently from other factions without requiring gimmicks.
And, ironically enough given the lore about them being aggressive, they benefit the most from a commander who holds them on a tight leash and in the right formation for the situation at hand. Make of that as you will.
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