[HoE] Templars

[Abdullah Oblongota <toadpooka@usa.net>]

<<That issue was raised before. Three points, though: 

  1) It tends to require a bit more in the way of tactics, and rules and stuff 
  therein, that don't currently exist in the most vague of ways.>>

I personally agree with this one; strategizing an entire battle plan in the
middle of a game can be agonizingly boring.

<<2) I've never been quite clear on that whole rationale from a practical 
  standpoint. Let's see, me and half of a village of 500 people have been 
  found "unworthy". We've got two choices: A) we can all gang up on this 
  Templar that is "forcing" us to help him and most likely get mowed down by 
  the invading Black Hats (the Templar himself is boasting he doesn't give a 
  rat's ass about us); or B) we can go along with him and fight the Black Hats 
  with SAWs, SMGs, support vehicles, grenades, etc. Hmmm, tough choice 
  there... >>

What's not clear about this rationale?  Remember that the Templars' reputation
is larger than life.  People hear stories about one Templar smiting horrors
one-handed.  They hear Black Hats are coming, and they're pretty sure they're
all gonna die.  But, when they see that ONE Templar, they think they've got a
chance.  That's one reason the Templars don't go around in their tabards all the
time.  Those bad villiagers are going to fight, because now they see a chance
that a few of them are going to make it back.

<<3) I've never been quite clear on this from a internal-logic standpoint. If 
  the "good" villagers aren't willing to stand up and help fight, but want to 
  cower in their bomb shelters, doesn't this make them unworthy from a Templar 
  viewpoint? >>

Well, they hardly let the worthy ones sit in a bomb shelter.  They still fight,
but the suicide missions are manned by the unworthy ones.  The worthy folks dig
moats, fortify the town, and load artillery while the Templar leads the unworthy
to head off the Black Hats at the pass.  Then, when the weakened platoon reaches
the town, they've got to deal with a well-defended settlement whose residents
are well-armed and behind a moat and a 20' wall.  If anyone wants to sit out of
the fight, they do it on the wrong side of the moat.
-- 
From Whom It May Concern,
Richard Ranallo, The Man They Couldn't Hang

Your money talks, but my genius walks
Morticians wait with a shovel and a fork
As detectives trace my hands with chalk
Your money talks but my genius walks.
--They Might Be Giants, "You'll Miss Me"