games-pc empire earth Manuel D’Utilisation
Warfare
102
C
HAPTER
VIII
W
ARFARE
Warfare, as a formal practice, has existed for thousands of years. Weapons and tactics have
changed through the centuries, but the central purpose has not. We fight wars to establish
superiority, to decide which clan or country or civilisation is the dominant. Combat, of
course, is not the only way to settle such questions. But it is certainly the most widely prac-
ticed method of any used by “Civilised Man.”
changed through the centuries, but the central purpose has not. We fight wars to establish
superiority, to decide which clan or country or civilisation is the dominant. Combat, of
course, is not the only way to settle such questions. But it is certainly the most widely prac-
ticed method of any used by “Civilised Man.”
Military Advances
Many kinds of weapons – and warriors to wield them – have evolved throughout the history
of warfare. In Empire Earth, military progress takes two forms. The first is characterised by
those incremental improvements that make an existing weapon or combatant more effective.
Improved training and drilling techniques, updated equipment, better workmanship, cheaper
manufacturing processes, and the lessons learned in combat have all produced noticeable
results on the battlefield without fundamentally affecting the nature of battle. The
development of armour before firearms provides an excellent example of gradual progress.
of warfare. In Empire Earth, military progress takes two forms. The first is characterised by
those incremental improvements that make an existing weapon or combatant more effective.
Improved training and drilling techniques, updated equipment, better workmanship, cheaper
manufacturing processes, and the lessons learned in combat have all produced noticeable
results on the battlefield without fundamentally affecting the nature of battle. The
development of armour before firearms provides an excellent example of gradual progress.
Early armour of leather or padded cloth countered dull weapons effectively, but offered little
defense against the first fine-edged swords. To address this problem, small overlapping
“scales” of bronze were sewn on to the cloth. The transition from bronze to iron, coupled
with improved smelting and casting techniques, led to additional innovations such as chain
mail. Made of interlocking iron rings, chain mail armour was time-consuming to produce,
but afforded better protection than scale mail against slashing attacks. Iron, however, had an
impact on sword design as well, allowing blades to be longer, thinner, sharper, and stronger.
A thrust with a fine iron sword could force mail rings apart. Plate armour solved the problem
of thrusting attacks, but covering joints with plates presented a difficulty – gaps in the armour
were necessary to allow the wearer to move. An undercoat of mail usually filled these gaps,
but did not altogether eliminate the vulnerability. The evolution of traditional armour
ultimately reached its pinnacle during the 14th Century once articulated joints of overlapping
plates were perfected and steel superceded iron.
defense against the first fine-edged swords. To address this problem, small overlapping
“scales” of bronze were sewn on to the cloth. The transition from bronze to iron, coupled
with improved smelting and casting techniques, led to additional innovations such as chain
mail. Made of interlocking iron rings, chain mail armour was time-consuming to produce,
but afforded better protection than scale mail against slashing attacks. Iron, however, had an
impact on sword design as well, allowing blades to be longer, thinner, sharper, and stronger.
A thrust with a fine iron sword could force mail rings apart. Plate armour solved the problem
of thrusting attacks, but covering joints with plates presented a difficulty – gaps in the armour
were necessary to allow the wearer to move. An undercoat of mail usually filled these gaps,
but did not altogether eliminate the vulnerability. The evolution of traditional armour
ultimately reached its pinnacle during the 14th Century once articulated joints of overlapping
plates were perfected and steel superceded iron.