Seige Warfare |
| Gorean siege warfare, as it was in Earth history, is commonly unsuccessful.
Starvation of a city is usually ineffective as they will generally have
sufficient supplies to last a year or so. The city will also have siege
cisterns for water. Statistically, the besiegers would run out of supplies
first. Most sieges will not last much longer than a few weeks before the
besiegers will break it off. To directly attack a city requires often three
times the force of the defenders. Siege weapons are also a necessity, requiring
siege engineers to construct and maintain such equipment. Some cities are surrounded by a moat that must be over come. The moat might be drained, bridges or small dugout pontoons used to cross it. Catapults and ballistae of various types are used, including chain-sling onagers and springals. They can fire spears, rocks, flaming naptha and more at the city walls. A giant chain grapnel may be thrown by such an item. The chain will then be drawn back with great force, attempting to rip parts of the walls down. This grapnel though must be used close to its target, thus being more vulnerable to attack by the besieged. Archer blinds, movable wooden screens to shield archers and light missile equipment, are used as protection. Siege towers with battering rams may be used against city gates. Tunnels may be dug underground, trying to pass the city walls though the besieged city will dig their own tunnels to engage the attackers underground. The besieged city may also use a grapnel derrick to topple siege engines close to the city walls. Dietrich was the first one to utilize mobile siege equipment in open warfare. By placing catapults and ballistae on wheeled platforms, they became field artillery. They could launch tubs of burning pitch, flaming naphtha, siege javelins, boulders, and more. Most cities though fall due to trickery, bribery or betrayal. Dietrich has likely taken more towns with gold than steel. The Tuchuks conquered Turia through trickery. Cos conquered Ar through the betrayal of several key figures in Ar. Torcadino was taken by Dietrich through trickery. Several quotes support this proposition. "He has sowed silver and harvested cities." (Magicians of Gor, p.188) "More gates are opened with gold than iron." (Magicians of Gor, p.188) "Any city can fall behind the walls of which can be placed a tharlarion laden with gold." (Mercenaries of Gor, p.101) "I can take any city behind whose walls I can get a tarn of gold." (Hunters of Gor, p.140) |