Do you use different grades of soldiers?

[RockJock]

Does your game use different levels of soldiers to represent better, or elite training? For instance the Western Empire Soldier is a big step up from the main book soldier, you also have the Merc, Llorn Red Brigade version, and the Imperial Jansiary as a few examples.

I'm not going for power creep. What I see is a well trained royal guard in Eastern Territories would more likely be the equal of the Western Soldier, while a city soldier in a down on their luck part of the Land of the South Wind would be lucky to match the basic soldier.

Do you do this sort of thing, or just always use the standard main book soldier for everyone except the Western Empire?

[J. Lionheart]

Different levels, HTH skills, equipment, and attributes are where I'll make the differences.

If there's some slob of a town guardsman in a backwater burg, I'll make him maybe level 1 or 2, with HTH Basic, and minimal equipment. Stats will be moderate.

A slightly better soldier, say at a Timiro border fort, or Eastern trade post, I'll make them level 3-4, with HTH Expert, and a good suit of armor, and perhaps two weapons (a main and a backup), plus a shield. Stats will be on the good side, with a bonus possible.

A high quality soldier, like a disputed lands front-liner, or palace guards at a capitol, I'll have be level 5-6, with HTH Martial Arts, good armor, a bonus main weapon, with a backup weapon, shield, and spare equipment or special items for a bit of punch. Stats will include at least one bonus, if not two.

I don't feel any need to change the O.C.C., when there is so much flexibility within the O.C.C.

The difference between a normal Merc and, say, a Llornian Merc, can also be dealt with in terms of XP, skill selection, equipment, and attributes.

[Library Ogre]

You run mercenaries in the most dangerous parts of your battle, because dead mercenaries are free.

[RockJock]

I'm not talking about making a new Occ, just use the existing Soldier, Western Soldier, Merc, Llorn Merc, and Jansiary to represent different qualities. To be honest, the biggest difference between the classes is a few WPS, and HtH skills.

What I'm asking is if you would use a Western Soldier Occ wise to represent a better soldier say in the Eastern Territories as an example. Instead of just say, using a Merc instead of a soldier. You can always just up the level of the NPCs, but sometimes you want better trained, more professional, not necessarily more experienced.

[J. Lionheart]

I'm not talking about making a new Occ, just use the existing Soldier, Western Soldier, Merc, Llorn Merc, and Jansiary to represent different qualities. To be honest, the biggest difference between the classes is a few WPS, and HtH skills.

What I'm asking is if you would use a Western Soldier Occ wise to represent a better soldier say in the Eastern Territories as an example. Instead of just say, using a Merc instead of a soldier. You can always just up the level of the NPCs, but sometimes you want better trained, more professional, not necessarily more experienced.

What is "better trained" when it comes to PF? Is it WP's? Hand to Hand selection? Physical training? All of those are simply skills that can be selected for those you want to have it, and not selected for those who don't. Is it high attributes? Tactical sense? As GM, you can give a soldier high attributes at whim, and can play some folks smarter than others. No other distinction required.

Even a crappy backwater town can have a great soldier, and even a huge professional army can have a bad one. I look at the soldiers as individuals, not as just a flag representing their nation.

I think what you're suggesting is exactly what most of us do - flexibility within the class. It's just that most of us don't narrow it down to "western soldier" "eastern soldier" "southern soldier;" we just look at it as "good soldier" "normal soldier" "bad soldier" regardless of origin.

[Adam of the Old Kingdom]

taken at book value only, the various fighter classes are only different by virtue of the OCC spicific skills.

the Attributes can apply to any Class, the Attribute requirements are never in the bonus area and thus have no mechanical effect, only by GM Fiat.
and may classes, through skill point spend can be upgraded in the core area, HtH type.

the flavour and intent of the OCC should give a measure of were the OCC falls in regards to being better, when compared to it's peers. and the requirements of the regeon also.

mybe you should look at all the fighter classes and see what the common core is. look at mercs and pirates, the least formal trained. then soldier and then some of the special forces from various regions, and knights and officers as a branch at mid point.

you may need to use GM fiat to add years to PC age to represent the training needed. no one needs a 16 year old commando, after basic training and some time spent and then meeting minimum required, it's going to be a 20y/o minimum age.

perhaps a heirachy of armed forces OCCs could be discussed here to guage opinion.

[Eryk Stormbright]

You run mercenaries in the most dangerous parts of your battle, because dead mercenaries are free.

haha very very true, i like the way you think!

[GA]

When I was working on my border Timiro Military company I drew a lineup of 64 NPCs and about 8 support staff. The Company is headed by a Knight OCC and is divided into 2 Platoons of 4 sections (8 men) each. The 1st Platoon Consists of the Command Unit (1/1) which consisted of engineer types and specialists most of which were not a military OCC. They were mostly Scholar types with emphasis in mathematics or came from OCCs in the hinterland books. These guys used light siege weapons in battle. The Light Cavalry (1/2)which was made up primarily of the Noble OCC. The Light Infantry (1/3) which was made up of primarily Soldier OCCs with an emphasis in running and equipped with light armor and weapons. And some formerly retired Soldiers I meade 4 sword and shield 2 crossbowmen and 2 spearmen. These were all soldier OCCs. The 2nd Platoon was more of a mish mash the first section were a bunch of burly mercenaries who fought mainly with polearms and acted as the shock troops of the company, I had some medium infantry who wore chainmail and were mercs as well, experienced but not as physically strong. Most were sword and shield fighters. A section of rookie soldiers which mirrored those from the first platoon. And 8 rangers which functioned primarily as reconnaissaince. The rangers could all fight with bows but they could switch to swords as well.

My point is you can do a pretty god job creating diverse soldiers by the levels, equipment, and training you give them using the available basic classes.