Feudal Troop Types

Hârnic & CGI References

Crossby, N. Robin. HârnPlayer A Player's Guide to HârnWorld. Blaine: CGI, 1994

Freemen/Urban Militias:

• "At the manorial level, the lord and his yeomen police the fief, and if some great danger threatens the fief, they will organize and lead the peasant militia."
• "On most manors, one or two special freeholders called Yeomen exist. Each yeoman holds 60-120 acres in return for providing the services of a man-at-arms for 30-60 days per year. Yeomen assist with policing and defense of the fief, and perform other duties the lord and they agree upon."

Crossby, N. Robin, Dalgliesh, Tom and Holtz, Eric. BattleLust Mediæval Battle System. Blaine: CGI, 1993

Freemen/Urban Militias:

• "Unarmored foot are rare in standing armies. They are most often found in Militia Formations. Such troops can be expected to wear ordinary clothing and to be equipped with non-standard and/or homemade weapons. They are generally unpaid, but must be provided with support if used in the field."
• "Yeoman – A commoner who holds land, usually from a landed knight, in exchange for military service. He functions as a man-at-arms to his liege. Most are seasonable warriors and are the equivalent of regulars in standing armies. There is a rising trend among yeomen to adopt and master the longbow."
• "Militia – Notoriously inept and poorly equipped warriors, available for defense of their district only."

Professional/Mercenary Troops:

• "Typically light footmen wear incomplete leather and are equipped with a spear, shield, and a knife or dagger. Light foot are the fundamental troop type, and form the bulk of most standing armies."
• "A medium footman usually has better weapons, most likely a spear, shortsword, shield, and better armor – some scale, perhaps some mail. All or most of his body is protected by at least leather armor. Medium foot are nearly always better trained and more expensive – their arms and armor represent a considerable investment rarely wasted on ordinary troops. Most medium foot are found in guard units to important personages or in elite sub-units of larger formations."
• "Heavy foot is relatively rare since most people do not like walking with heavy armor and weapons. Most heavy foot encountered in the field are dismounted knights. They have good mail and padding from head to foot, and may have spot pieces of plate, including a good helmet. The only permanent heavy foot found on Hârn are found in the armies of Azadmere."
• "The commonalities are men-at-arms, usually full-time soldiers of simple birth. They are supported from the Order's treasury, but may not get wages. Most are footmen, but some orders can muster a company or two of mounted foot or a squadron of light horse. Non-commissioned officers are of this rank."

Crossby, N. Robin, King, Ed and Sgammato, John. Kingdom of Kanday. Blaine: CGI, 2004

Freemen/Urban Militias:

• "Fiefs can muster a militia force roughly equal to the number of households for defense only."

Professional/Mercenary Troops:

• "Major settlements also have a permanent garrison attached to the keep or castle; assume one company (20 men) per keep, and two companies (40 men) per castle."
• "The two permanent armed forces in Kanday are the Royal Guard and the Order of the Checkered Shield. The king obtains military forces from the feudal levy and mercenaries."
• "The Royal Guard is an elite force responsible for the protection of the royal household. It is composed of two squadrons of knights and three companies of men-at-arms."

Crossby, N. Robin, King, Ed and Sgammato, John. Kingdom of Kaldor. Blaine: CGI, 2004

Freemen/Urban Militias:

• "The feudal levy consists of knights and yeomen who hold lands in exchange for military service of 30-90 days per year. Typically, each manor provides one knight (heavy or medium horse), one squire (medium or light horse), and a number of yeoman that varies by troop class and Gross Acres."
• "Light Foot (LF) = Gross Acres ÷ 300"
• "Medium Foot (MF) = Gross Acres ÷ 600"
• "Fiefs can also muster a militia force roughly equal to their households for defense only."

Professional/Mercenary Troops:

• "Major settlements have a permanent garrison of light foot ... Some lords prefer medium foot or shortbow in place of light foot. Many lords foresee conflict over the pending succession and few garrisons are understrength."
• "The Low Guard is of four companies of well-equipped medium foot."
• "The Army of the Chelmarch is a permanent force of four companies: one medium foot, one light foot, one shortbow, and one light horse."
• "The Army of the Oselmarch is a permanent force of one company of light foot, one company of medium foot, and two companies of elite light horse."