Soldiers in the Southern Black Kingdoms

[sgstyrsky]

Since we are on the topic of the Black Kingdoms, I was wondering if it can be supposed there are Soldier-class characters among the races of that area.

Their favored class is barbarian, but even barbarian armies require leaders that can organize the troops for combat.

Of course the heavy infantry and cavalry formations would not be available to Southern Black Kingdom soldiers.

What are the thoughts of other people on this?

 

[librarycharlie]

As a GM, you can basically rule any way you please, but organized combat in the traditional soldierly role seems out of character for the Black Kingdoms folk.

The way Howard describes them, they seem a bit undereducated and too undisciplined to choose the soldier's path. The notion of formal military training seems to be absent from their culture, replaced by harsh combative rituals and fending for one's self or tribe as an individual.

This doesn't mean they couldn't be forced into cohesive units, however, by a sufficiently influential and/or dangerous leader.

 

[VincentDarlage]

I disagree. Many primitive societies had secret societies & bands of brotherhood given to more expert warfare, and many African tribes had organized, standing armies, even before the arrival of the Europeans. Both the secret society and the primitive standing army could easily use the soldier class. A soldier is just a fighting specialist, whereas the typical barbarian is a warrior, hunter, gatherer, herdsman, and/or farmer. Certainly there is room for specialized warriors among the primitive tribes - just as there were such things in history.

Hyboria's Finest discusses the use of the Soldier class in the Black Kingdoms.

 

[Aholibamah]

I think that you would have to base that on the size of the nations in question. Howard for instance depicts soldier classes of people from the Black Kingdoms in "Hawks over Shem" who are cavalry. There are also the light cavalry troops attached to Natohk's army in "Black Colossus".

 

[Axerules]

Howard for instance depicts soldier classes of people from the Black Kingdoms in "Hawks over Shem" who are cavalry.

Hawks over Shem wasn't exactly written by RE Howard. REH wrote Hawks over Egypt, it wasn't a Conan story. L. Sprague de Camp rewrote it, changed the hero into Conan and inserted it in the Hyborian Age.

 

[sgstyrsky]

Hawks over Shem wasn't exactly written by RE Howard. REH wrote Hawks over Egypt, it wasn't a Conan story. L. Sprague de Camp rewrote it, changed the hero into Conan and inserted it in the Hyborian Age.

Do you know which book Hawks over Shem is in?

 

[VincentDarlage]

Do you know which book Hawks over Shem is in?

Hawks Over Shem (Robert E. Howard & L. Sprague de Camp) is in Conan the Freebooter (Lancer/Ace), Tales of Conan (Gnome Press), "Fantastic Universe" (October 1955), and The Conan Chronicles Volume 1 (Sphere)

Hawks Over Egypt (Robert E. Howard) can be found in The Road of Azrael (Grant (HC)/Bantam (SC)) and Lord of Samarcand and Other Adventure Tales of The Old Orient (Bison).

 

[sgstyrsky]

Hawks Over Shem (Robert E. Howard & L. Sprague de Camp) is in Conan the Freebooter (Lancer/Ace), Tales of Conan (Gnome Press), "Fantastic Universe" (October 1955), and The Conan Chronicles Volume 1 (Sphere)

Hawks Over Egypt (Robert E. Howard) can be found in The Road of Azrael (Grant (HC)/Bantam (SC)) and Lord of Samarcand and Other Adventure Tales of The Old Orient (Bison).

Vincent,

Awesome! Thanks. I should have expected such a thorough answer from you.

 

[Strom]

HowardWorks (www.howardworks.com) is the largest and most complete bibliographic site on the web for REH.

Here's a list of every REH story (click on the title for publication history):

http://www.howardworks.com/alphastory.htm

 

[Aholibamah]

Howard for instance depicts soldier classes of people from the Black Kingdoms in "Hawks over Shem" who are cavalry.

Hawks over Shem wasn't exactly written by RE Howard. REH wrote Hawks over Egypt, it wasn't a Conan story. L. Sprague de Camp rewrote it, changed the hero into Conan and inserted it in the Hyborian Age.

Interesting. I didn't know that; the edition I have says that it's by REH.

 

[VincentDarlage]

Interesting. I didn't know that; the edition I have says that it's by REH.

Which edition do you have? The Ace/Lancer editions make it very clear on the contents pages.