ES - seige assault strategy

[Sluggy]

"Mark A. Arnold" wrote:

>     1) Surviving the jump. I was speared in mid-air. I was dead before I
> even hit the ground. 

Similarly, I was killed at the top of the ramp.

> We need to drill this assault with a focus on
> stiffening the arms to keep the shield from floating up into the air as
> the body descends. We need to build a wall on which to practice.

A focus on inter-soldier spacing on the ramp might help, too. I know
that I paused to assess my landing space (wanting not to land on my
comrades) and it was during this pause that I was killed. I died forward
(into the fort), but I believe that my hesitation before jumping lead
the spearman to thrust again and it was this thrust that I fell onto and
caused my injury. (Dr says he doesn't think there is a cracked rib, just
bruising or maybe some separation. He has prescribed muscle relaxers and
NSAIDs)

> We need to get the defending spearmen to
> back off of the wall. 

As was seen in the earlier battles, we now have a reputation as a
powerful force. I fully beleive that part of the reason that we were so
strongly resisted on that end of the fort was simply because the
Trimarian commanders saw three powerful units, The Arthurian Company,
The Talons and The Iron Lance massed on that side of the fort and
supposed (correctly, of course) that we would attack there. Likewise,
they expected a frontal attack with Calontir massing at the front gate.
In hind sight (which always works nicely), I might suggest that
virtually the entire army mass at the front gate. At lay on, move the
engineers and marines to their true attack position, thus misleading the
defenders. As a fort is very well suited for defense, we need to use
every honorable tactic at our disposal.

> Two palisades mounted on a platform 4 feet off the
> ground. An archer behind each palisade -- one shooting while the other
> reloads. 

There are several good configurations for such platforms. Anything that
allows us to put up a constant suppression fire would help tremendously,
particularly to the charging column's right.

Other than parasols, whatever we could do to make the descent into the
fort safer gets my vote. I think that anyone charging over the wall
would be well advised to pursue exceptional ankle support and sole
padding combined with drills drills drills in full armor. The shield
wall defense drills we have done to date have done more to help us
survive the front line than any other single practice. Fort wall attack
drills would do the same.

Sluggy!

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