Re: [DL] Glorietta Pass

[Kirk Monsen <munchwolf@yahoo.com>]

--- phadris <phadris@mciworld.com> wrote:
> A bunch of good stuff about western battles <

I wanted to thank you for your post.  It's been a
while since I've studied history and I had forgotten
the basic premise of most historic wars:  The key to
winning the battles laid in keeping supplies.  It is a
simple, yet easily overlooked aspect.  I had planned
on having a having an adventure with a major Southern
incursion into the North through the west, yet
something about it was nagging me, so that's why I had
posted the idea here for feed back.  You're wonderful
essay pinpointed the flaw in the idea.  The ammount of
Southern troops needed for such an event would surly
not go unnoticed, and to get a large portion of
northern troops to leave the forts to chase after
indian attacks most likely wouldn't happen, they would
send smaller parties.  It would be a difficult
undertaking with too many risks, and most likely they
would have to retreat anyway.

Realistically I don't see anyone trying such a feat,
but cinematically it works.  I could imagine a rogue
southern general with his own agenda taking such a
risk if he was after something valuable, but what
would be so valuable that he would risk it?  A major
artifact?  Eternal life?  Manitou in his head shouting
"Red rum, Red rum"?


It's interesting.  A few weeks (months/years) ago
there was a discussion of whether characters should be
penalized because they were more intellegent
(charming/verbose) than their players and should act
accordingly, yet no one piped in about the same unfair
standard held up against Marshals.  A major villian
might be more intelligent (charming/verbose) than the
Marshal and would not overlook the dumb holes in his
plans that the Marshal creates and the players abuse.

Has that happened to anyone here?  The players
encounter the major villian, discover his dastardly
plan, and look him in the eye and say, "That's the
dumbest thing I've heard, you could have done this,
this, and this instead, and taken over the world
already."  No, this hasn't happened to me, but I have
had some local sounding board types help me out when
I've come up with some extremely hairbrained ideas,
and they showed me the flaws in my plans.  That is one
thing I like about this list; it makes a good sounding
board.  Even if the exact question isn't answered,
there's enough to spark me in the right direction.

Quick kudos to all who have helped other Marshals in
tight spots, and another kudos (again) to phadris for
his wonderful post.

-Munch Wolf


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