Thoughts on the Gygax's AD&D (1E)

[tzor]

First and foremost, never underestimate the power of effective cannon fodder. The whole collapse of medieval armor was based on the collapse of knighthood. When knights fought knights armor was good, but when two score of men surround you and poke at you from your horse with pole arms, you die real fast. This even applied in 1E … a constant supply of reach weapons is going to take down any good fighter … eventually.

Now combat in a world of magic isn’t going to be like combat in a world without magic. (Magic effectively raises the technology level of the combat … still infantry are still required for any modern combat operation.) If we look at the 1E rules, a well equipped, well trained archer unit should put fear in any magic user who wants to get into combat. Under 1E rules, a readied specialist goes first. The magic-user doesn’t have a chance, he’s a pin cushion.

The real problem in the end is that a high level character is a lot like the cartoon character of the Tasmanian devil. Sure he’s nasty when you are around him, but just avoid being around him. Armies have the ability to spread out over a larger area, so they can remain when you have moved on.

[RobbyPants]

First and foremost, never underestimate the power of effective cannon fodder. The whole collapse of medieval armor was based on the collapse of knighthood. When knights fought knights armor was good, but when two score of men surround you and poke at you from your horse with pole arms, you die real fast. This even applied in 1E … a constant supply of reach weapons is going to take down any good fighter … eventually.

I could be wrong, but I thought that pike men lead to the fall of the calvary charge, but firearms lead to the fall of armor.

[echoVanguard]

First and foremost, never underestimate the power of effective cannon fodder. The whole collapse of medieval armor was based on the collapse of knighthood. When knights fought knights armor was good, but when two score of men surround you and poke at you from your horse with pole arms, you die real fast. This even applied in 1E … a constant supply of reach weapons is going to take down any good fighter … eventually.

I could be wrong, but I thought that pike men lead to the fall of the calvary charge, but firearms lead to the fall of armor.

Wikipedia supports your argument - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platemail . Also, some amusing footnotes in there about an Australian outlaw using plate armor to gain an edge in his gunfights against police. Favorite part: apparently the police, upon watching the outlaw shrug off bullets, at first thought he was a supernatural creature (such as the devil or a bunyip).

echo

[PoliteNewb]

If we look at the 1E rules, a well equipped, well trained archer unit should put fear in any magic user who wants to get into combat. Under 1E rules, a readied specialist goes first. The magic-user doesn’t have a chance, he’s a pin cushion.

1.) Unless he has Protection from Normal Missiles, in which case he laughs unless your arrows are magic. Or unless your DM is a cock who rules that even a hit that deals no damage still disrupts your spell.
2.) Readied specialist? Most D&D armies are 0th level schlubs, not 1st level Fighters with specialization. The army you get at 9th level as a fighter might (in 2nd edition) contain like, 10 of those guys.