>Army uses swords, shields, and pistols in a modern day setting.
>They are still one of the most powerful.
Explain how their tactics would work, assuming sword and shield was their main weapon and this is mid to low magic/tech.
By carrying swords, they get a major bonus to their BadAss stats which improve all of their other stats.
>>44295001
There would be no way to make this feasible unless there was an advancement in ballistics armor that nullified conventional firearms and metallurgy that made blades able to cut through this armor.
>>44295001
So you're asking for something extremely unrealistic in a realistic setting?
I guess they use tanks to drive close to the enemy then hit them with their swords.
>>44295001
>Magic protects the soldiers from missile weaponry to a large degree.
>Armor is largely missile-proof or at least provides a reasonable protection against it
>The world is usually a high-density environment, composed of relatively confined spaces (such as a world with massive cave systems) and high-density terrain.
>Melee army is not only made of professional soldiers, but they are extremely disciplined and hardened soldiers able to shrug off the natural horrors of war than other forces might not have experienced, and therefore don't break in meat grinders/attrition warfare (where their skills are more useful). This is usually accomplished through extremely stressful mental, physical, and emotional training, which smaller or less dedicated nations cannot afford.
>Nations fielding said army(s) are very wealthy and have a population surplus, allowing for the dedication of a soldier caste without affecting productivity and reproduction
>Culture places a very heavy emphasis on personal honor, and most cultural heroes have glorified the use of close combat, without a truly pressing need to not follow those cultural traditions
>Primary foes are foes that are resistant to man-portable ranged weapons, therefore melee weapons are often an necessity (pistols are a backup/last resort/anti-human weapon). The prevalence of this foe is large enough to not require a separate division of the military being trained to fight another way.
>>44295057
Metallurgy techniques are applied to armor making it stupidly strong.
>>44295001
>Urban warfare in a mountainous country.
>Rugged terrain and heavy anti air defenses on both sides prevent use of most vehicles.
>Prolonged nature of conflict has reduced ammo stores, or there is no dependable resupply in terms of ammo
>Because of close nature of combat one armor begins outfitting it's troops with short swords, axes, pick axes, basic body armor, a shield with bullet proof glass, and pistols.
>Combat consists of charging into enemy fortifications and clearing room by room
The first thing that leaps to mind is trench warfare. WW1 saw a great reliance on shields, melee weapons and pistols that would be easy to use in tight trenches.
If the setting had a reason for trench warfare to still be norm, then that could give you a starting point.
>>44295001
The swords are decorative and mainly for ceremonies. The shields are riot/police/swat shields.
Also, whats wrong with pistols? It never hurts to have a sidearm.
>>44295001
This is basically Zerg/Tyranids/Arachnids, right?
Just replace the countless swarms of bugs with midgets or something.
One way this could work is if the people in this setting stumbled across massively advanced warfare technology but a) the distribution of applications is very uneven and b) said technology is so advanced they have no way of reverse engineering it. In the simplest example, let's say they discover forges that only pump out two things: armor and swords. The armor makes you faster and essentially immune to that setting's weaponry. The swords are powerful enough to maybe get through the super armor if you're skilled. Both are too advanced to reverse engineer and can only be used as is.
That certainly sounds very contrived but it results in a setting that can only reasonably have warfare one way. You complicate or simplify the specific factors to fit whatever context or credibility you want but the general idea (advanced, irreversible technology that was not developed but discovered) gets you the setting you want.
>ultra close quarters force
>pistols are automatics attached to the soldier by a strap
>first encounter stance is to have the pistol and shield drawn and mag dump into the first enemy you see, then immediately shield charge the second while dropping the pistol and drawing the sword.
>>44295001
Armor is largely everything proof, but expensive so army has it. Swords are not!lightsabers. Shields are high tech that you can't make armor out of but block not!lightsabers. Guns for everything else cause getting shot still hurts like fuck.
>>44296976
Also, non-army militia ain't got that super proof armor, so getting shot is still effective.
>>44295001
Only thing that springs to mind beyond what has already mentioned is something akin to how fighting works in the Dune setting.
>Specific technology exists for energy fields that can mostly defeat high-speed projectiles, which combined with plate-style armor can protect a soldier from most ranged fire
>Swords and other melee weapons thus become far more important
>Field generators are built into shields both due to size constraints as well as to give the soldier a shield for the inevitable melee brawl
>Carry a pistol for anyone that doesn't have a shield
>>44295001
They are super soldiers or another species far superior to the rest of the species in physical combat. 15 foot tall soldiers with skin as tough as an elephant capable of wielding 10 foot swords with one hand would be relatively hard even for modern soldiers to bring down without specialized heavy weapons.
Besides that the only real solutions are magic or technology that is effectively interchangeable with magic.
>>44296338
Arachnids had energy weapons, dude.
>>44295001
The faction is the most advanced by a long shot. The majority of their soldiers are bored teenagers hence they run around with swords and knives to kill enemies.
An army of 15 year olds in super advanced power armour running knifing enemies and keeping track for random fucking medals and awards.
>>44295001
Easy enough to explain. They managed to create man-portable APS, probably mased on laser, which combined with platoon, company and so on CRAM systems (that exist even today) make all but absolutely withering artillery fire ineffective.
>>44295001
could have it that resources are scarce so while they do have the technology for guns/tanks/whatever swords and shields are favored more simply because having an army armed with firearms uses far more materials then a army armed with swords in prolonged wars. So firearms are only given to elite unites and more mundane troops are stuck with swords and shields.
>>44295001
energy shields based on relativity fuckery provide protection against most projectiles
energy generators powerful enough to penetrate the shields are not feasible to be mounted on small missile weapons due to size and cost.
melee weapons and big missiles launchers are used to break these; normal firearms can be used as small distractions, the kinetic energy potentially able to slow shielded target or incapacitate shieldless ones.
>>44295001
Spells make them immune to every gun smaller than naval cannons and spell penetrating enchantments. Pistols can be enchanted but only fire one round before needing elaborate recharging ritual. Most people will carry multiple pistols and discard them after being fire. Swords can be enchanted and need no such recharging.
Basically, just go back to the black powder age.
>>44295001
All civilizations see war as a competition to be fought with honor and sportsmanship
>>44295001
Look, if you want to hate on 40K, go ahead and do that instead of posting backhanded shit like this. Oh wait, that would only get you fucking dunked, wouldn't it?40K is the one and only reason this board even exists you ungrateful bitch. Fuck off to reddit.
>>44295001
A variation on the dune force field warfare, where only relatively slow swords or closely fired pistols can penetrate personal shields. Can fluff it to be magic shields etc
>>44295001
Magic swords cut through armor
Magic armor blocks everything except magic swords
Magic shields block magic swords too, but are too expensive and heavy to make armor out of.
The pistols are for shooting anybody else.
>>44295318
>heavy anti air defenses on both sides prevent use of most vehicles.
>Prolonged nature of conflict has reduced ammo stores, or there is no dependable resupply in terms of ammo
That got stupid real fast huh?
>>44295001
Your whole premise is fucking retarded.
>Explain how to be the best at war in a mid/low tech/magic setting by using a sword and shield.
You might as well ask how to be the best at archery if you're only allowed to use a wooden spoon.
Jesus, it can't be done unless you rape suspension of disbelief so hard that nobody can hear the dialogue over the screams.
>>44295057
Superstronganium is a magical projectile warding metal that can stop but the most powerful and strongest peircing metal.
Swords made out of the metal is the only thing that can get trough it as blunt and peircing won't work.
As has been mentioned before, trench warfare and close-quarters warfare. A mountainous country with fortifiable terrain that makes passage hard for enemy artillery and tanks would be optimal, but good leadership and good strategic minds could make it viable in other terrains most of the time, as long as the army is allowed to choose its fights.
The pistol is for retaliating when engaged from firearms range, with the modus operandi probably being firing off a few shots before attempting to find cover and lure the enemy into close quarters. Close-quarters combat would likely consist mostly of charging around corners or down slopes, preventing the opponent from using firearms for a few precious seconds with a shield bash while laying into them with the sword, or just straight-up ambush combat where the goal is to kill your enemy before he can even bring up his gun into a firing position.
One advantage of a short sword is that you can swing it from almost any position with one hand and still expect the attack to have an effect (or at least not hurt you). Try firing an SMG in one hand while bringing it up from waist level without shooting yourself in the leg while your arm is jerked around by the recoil.
Of course, this is all theorycrafting. In modern warfare, melee weapons are almost always outdated - there are situations in which melee weapons are more desirable, for example trench combat, but guns usually win out. If you're not afraid of dying, it's also possible to pull a Mad Jack - battle is a stressful situation that relies mostly on routine and training to not end up in a panicked battle royale every time, and in some cases, coming at an enemy soldier with a sword can be enough to set him thinking for just a few precious seconds as he has to adapt to the situation and figure out how to deal with it. With any luck and a bit of skill, you'll have severed an artery or the like before he's able to retaliate - but if he has friends, you're dead meat.
>>44300123
Rough day at work?
>Explain how their tactics would work, assuming sword and shield was their main weapon and this is mid to low magic/tech.
Everyone else fights with their bare hands.
The army regularly faces overwhelming numbers that don't pose a huge threat to a soldier but can still impend his progress if he has to save ammo constantly.
I mean, if you're a lumbering juggernaut clad in densest armor known to man, have a weapon that can cleave through anything including starship bulkheads, and you'd really want to save some bullets, why not charge the enemy with a sword?
New-future armor developments swing the offense-defense thing way back towards Defense. Long-range weaponry is no longer a consistent way to kill people, and the best way to do it is generally bludgeoning the shit out of someone in melee or grappling and sticking something pointy/shooty inside of a gap in the armor. Alternately, you use fuckhueg mounted weaponry.
Tanks are now bizarre gods of war that have to fight like battlebots. Missiles newfound ineffectiveness in naval combat brings back the Battleship.
>>44295001
how is Infinity Wars now btw?
>>44295368
WAR OF THE MOLE PEOPLE.
>small but prosperous country that maintains its power by non-military means like economic or religious hegemony
>keeps contingency of old-timey musketeers for internal security and keeping up appearances
The Vatican comes to my mind. Why bother with a full-fledged military when you have millions of followers around the world that would flip their shit if you were attacked?
>>44303071
I think it is safe to assume OP meant militarily powerful.
>>44303638
Yeah, but where's the fun in that?
>>44302908
Well for one the overseers are still complete bullshit. Entire flying army is balanced my arse. Not to mention you have to grind for overseer, sleeper, and exile starter decks. Starter decks are mostly shit anyway in PvP.
>>44295368
WW1 in spess? It's more plausible than you might think.
Automated laser turrets replace machineguns, so being aboveground is suicide. The fusion reactors that enable the lasers, railgun artillery, etc also make underground tunnel-boring machines practical, and the tunnels become the new trenches.
Extremely powerful armor makes most bullets useless. Special technology only aplicable to melee weaponry develops (think vibroswords or power swords or some shit). Pistols are caried around for dealing with unarmored combatants (the armor is REALLY expensive). The shields are thicker and more powerful than the armor, so can be used to block more powerful guns and explosives.
Can't do much to make sword and board useful in modern setting without needing to make modern guns useless against it.
![1301357972453[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/rDt3tYK.jpg "1301357972453[1].jpg")
>>44295075
>I guess they use tanks to drive close to the enemy then hit them with their swords.
>implying that this is unrealistic
>>44295057
Ironically this was basically what happened in the iron age - shields and decent armour ended the dominance of ranged weapons (bows and slings) and allowed melee combat to become dominant
>>44295001
Decent Armour basically
- long range fire is unlikely to penetrate, you have to get close in to target weak spots. Honestly can't see swords though
>>44295001
>Modern armor has a protective barrier (through material, forcefield, etc) that deflects initial kinetic damage.
>Top scientists work for years to seek a way to stop this. They look into bullets that will "doubleshoot", drilling bullets, sticky heat bullets, etc, anything to make the initial shock of the impact last long enough to get past the initial kinetic blocker.
>Janitor walks in
>"Why not just use a sword?"
