I really feel that the other articles in this theme have missed the most important part: Morale. I’m not talking about when one decided to turn tail and flee a battle; I’m talking about why they show up in the first place.
Why do adventurers fight? Most commonly, they fight for money. Someone promises to pay them for the mission
plus they plan to loot the enemy. Now to
many people, fighting for money is cold blooded and requires a rather
sociopathic or psychopathic personality.
I won’t argue the mental case, but even fighting for money can be rather
hot-blooded.
Why do soldiers fight? For patriotism. Because they know their cause is just. Because their enemy is threatening their
homes, friends and families. Are they
always right? Are the enemy always
evil? Nope. But the generals and rulers must make them
believe that they are on the right side of history and they are the good vs.
the enemy being evil. If the army’s
leaders are unable to do this, the soldiers are going to be far less willing to
go out and risk their lives in the taking of other people’s lives.
That is one of the chief issues between
adventurers and soldiers, and from a role-playing stand point, it is of the
utmost importance. An adventurer or
other mercenary can weigh the odds once the battle is about to begin and decide
if the cost-benefit here is worthwhile.
Is it worth getting into this particular battle or should we just
retreat? But the soldier has to weigh
other factors: If I flee, will that mean
the death of my family? Will people lose
their homes to these savage invaders?
Recent surveys have shown that perhaps one of the most important factors
that they weigh is the question, Will my friends in the unit be killed or
maimed if I am not there to help them.
In many ways, the difference between
adventurers and soldiers is one of cold math vs. emotion. Adventurers can afford to reduce it all down
to how many coins are involved, but the soldiers cannot afford to do that (no
pun intended).
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