Levcomagus is raiding Salisbury.

Players knights are out on patrol.

How do you decide how many knights/footmen/peasants are in the raiding party?


Alternate scenario - Salisbury (PC Knights) are raiding Levcomagus.
Outside of the PC knights, who else would/could go?

My thanks in advance for any suggestions.

MrUkpyr
Et honorem servicium

First, I'm glad that people are viewing the post.
BUT I could really use some assistance by someone replying (grin).

I tailor it to the number of player-knights. I toss knights and sergeants at about a 1:1 ratio at them if I want an even fight. If they should run, double that number.

How do you decide how many knights/footmen/peasants are in the raiding party?

It depends on who is sponsoring the raid
A lone knight would probably rally his peasants to help him. They are no good at fighting, but someone has to carry the loot and herd the cattle.
A baron would send more, likely whatever is considered necessary

The key question is, how do you, as GM, want the encounter to go? Do you want them to beat off the raid? Do you want them to be outmatched for some reason and have to rally other knights and soldiers etc. Do you want a full on border war? All depends on the plot.

NT

Exactly. You can start slow. You raid, get cattle, grain, etc. Bonus to yearly income this year. Were they seen? If so, were they recognized? Do your peasants brag/not keep quiet? If no notice this year, do you continue next year? Same level, bigger? bring more peasants or actual knights?

If met by resistance, do you turn tale and retreat? Do you fight? Do the death? enough to make them flee? If either flees, is there pursuit? Does he take notice and escalates the episode by raiding you back? At what level?

Full border war? Does your liege know? What is your relationship with him versus the other one?

Lot of decisions, lots of role-playing possabilities.

Bob Schroeder

My apologizes, I should have mentioned at the start that I was looking at "The Skirmish of Allington" (KAP 5.0 pg 198-199).

One of my Knights has a fairly high (15+) Battle, and is actively wooing Lady Adwen, so I know he is going to want to prove himself as someone who can "lead knights in battle" since if he gets her he becomes a Banneret Knight.