Editing Tactical Notes for Barstuhl the Tall

Back to: [[Barstuhl the Tall]]


Barstuhl's main goal in a fight is to keep a wall of plate-armoured Fighters/ Clerics facing the foe at all times, preferably where it can retire but not be outflanked and can fight from good footing, above or cover. He conforms with his neighbours in the wall to achieve that. A secondary goal is to maximise the wall's damage output.

Barstuhl is normally in the front rank with hand axe and shield. He throws the axe before contact and switches to sword for melee. If for some reason group is avoiding melee he throws his axe followed by darts and one of two daggers, keeping the other in reserve.

If equipped with a spear, Barstuhl is in the second rank and retains his spear unthrown to use from there. If a flank is exposed, he moves to cover it. If a gap opens in front, he moves to fill it. Once meleed, he drops the spear and switches to sword if he can without serious disadvantage (e.g. without losing a combat round)

Barstuhl only lowers his visor while under intense missile fire.

He stays with the shield wall, unless this would leave a light-armed fellow behind the wall exposed to attack. He doesn't risk himself to protect Sorcerors who put themselves in front of the line.

If a fellow falls and is in danger of being finished off or dragged away by the opposition, he uses his shield and bodyweight to try to push the wall forward so they can be retrieved, calling on others for support. But if that is obviously suicidal, he takes advantage of any distraction the fallen creates to hurt the opposition.

He will not charge in puppet-mode unless he can tell that a plausible number of heavy-armed characters are also committed. A plausible number is whatever would make half the front rank if he joined in. But no pointless death charges.

Running away is harder to judge. He will face a few rounds of fighting (or fighting withdrawal) against a superior foe if that looks like part of a plausible plan to turn the tide of battle. But he won't do it if it means getting outflanked within sight of cover. In case of a general rout he drops gear to get his move up to 9" and runs.

Apart from this, he cooperates as far as he can with 'requests' from others to e.g. 'kneel', 'make way', 'hold this', 'retire', 'forward' etc.

The military oil in his rucksack might help the group retreat.