BRCS:Chapter six/Armies and warfare

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War is a matter of vital importance to the state; a matter of life or death, the road either to survival or to ruin. Appraise it in terms of the five fundamental factors: doctrine, politics, terrain, weather, and the commander.
Doctrine is to be understood as the organization of the army, the gradations of rank among the officers, the regulations of supply routes, and the provision of military materials to the army. Politics are those things that cause the people to be in harmony with their ruler so that they will follow him in disregard of their lives and without fear of any danger. Terrain means distances, and refers to whether the ground is traversed with ease or difficulty and to whether it is open or constricted, and influences your chances of life or death. Weather signifies night and day, cold and heat, fine days and rain, and change of seasons. The commander stands for the general's qualities of wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage, and strictness.
These five fundamental factors are familiar to every general. Those who master them win; those who do not are defeated.
- The Art of War

Political realms often resort to warfare to settle their differences. Military forces and fortifications are crucial assets of any domain. A domain that is unable to field sufficient defense becomes an easy target for opportunists. On the other hand, a domain that supports an army beyond its means will quickly deplete its treasury. Thus, a working knowledge of warfare and the management of military assets is essential for any successful regent.
The BIRTHRIGHT mass combat system is a role-playing aid. It is designed to be easy to learn and focuses on opportunities for character actions and story advancement. It is not designed to necessarily provide the level of complexity appropriate for a complete war-gaming system. Players seeking a fully functional war game are encouraged to consider using any of the many excellent published war-gaming systems.
The BIRTHRIGHT mass combat system are two levels of resolution: Strategic warfare and Tactical warfare. The strategic rules provide mechanics to represent military intelligence, and the movement of armies on a weekly basis. The tactical rules are used to resolve specific conflicts between opposing armies located in the same strategic area.

• Military units
  
• Managing military assets
  
• Strategic warfare
  
• Tactical warfare