Profiling the old gang

With the introduction of the many new and cool features and units, it’s easy to forget about the old gang. For you guys who are new to Castle Raid (and for the veterans as well) we would like to give a brief recap of the old units, which are still very much to be reckoned with.

We decided to do a profile of each of the soldiers, complete with interviews and everything. However, we all know that there’s only one way to do a proper interview, you have to actually talk to people. So, we got up from our chairs, put on our outdoorsy stuff and headed towards the training grounds.

George.

George, just George?

Yes, George.

Aha, I see, and what do you do?

What do you mean what do I do?

(takes a sip from his mug)

Are you drinking on the job?

(long pause)

I am not not drinking, and even if I were, I’m not on duty right now, as my father used to say.

(takes another sip)

I just saw you training a group of novices in advanced sword fighting techniques with sharpened swords ten minutes ago.

Aha, but I wasn’t not drinking at the time…

Plus the blades aren’t that sharp anyway, and with this heavy armour, I’m close to invincible.

(bangs his right hand against his armoured chest while smiling delightfully)

Ok, let’s move on then.

I have nothing more to say.

(George walks away swinging his sword shouting something to someone in the distance)

I see, well thanks for the uhm… “interview” George.

Sir.

I’m sorry of course, what’s your name Sir?

I’m Sir Eldricht II, descendant of the great house of Wickerhall.

Ok, and uhm, have you seen many battles Sir Eldricht?

Of course, I have been serving in the Union army for ten years to the day.

Yes of course I can. It was back in the good old days. Before there was any talk of strange and unnatural alliances between folk that shouldn’t have anything to do with one another to begin with.

Anyhow, it was on the day of the great battle, which I know you’ve heard stories of before. It was not yet midday and we were preparing our horses as we always do before battle. It’s very important to take good care of your equipment you see.

I see. What happened next?…

Well, you know that feeling when you know something is not quite right, but you can’t put your finger on it?

Hmm, maybe.

Well, turns out I was right. I had forgotten to put on my spurs, you see. I was this close to going into battle with nothing but my sabatons.

(Sir Eldricht laughs obtrusively and demonstrates with his thumb and index finger how close it was that he actually rode into battle without his decorative golden shoe ornaments)

That must have been really terrifying for you.

Indeed. Luckily, my squire ran and fetched them for me in due time, so catastrophe avoided.

Well, thank you for sharing this experience with us, it’s surely one for the books.

My pleasure.

(Sir Eldricht continues tending to his previous engagement and grants no further attention)

I am a man of great integrity and will divulge no such highly personal information.

(The anonymous archer looked nervously over his shoulder. After briefly scanning the surroundings, he began to look a bit more relaxed and formed his lips into what could be interpreted as the beginning of a smile)

You see, I’ve made it a habit of mine never to reveal more information than necessary to people I don’t know… However, there’s something about you that I can’t put my finger on.

I’m glad you feel that way. How come you’re sitting alone over here, away from everyone else?

Oh well, there’s an explanation for that too.

You see sir, between the drunkard footmen of the army and the knights already high on their horses when standing on the bare ground, there’s no place for any weaponry pride and sophistication. It’s not just about who can deal the hardest blows or who can take the most punches to the head before falling over.

(takes a dramatic pause)

It’s about the art of tactical fighting. Being able to hurt your enemy when he has no chance of hurting you back. Dealing attacks that seem to come from nowhere and quickly retreating out of harm’s way. This is why we archers prefer to keep to ourselves you see.

I understand. Can I ask you what, in you opinion, is the greatest weakness of this army today?

That’s easy. Sophistication and diversity.

Feel free to expand…

Well, if I must. The greatest problem is the same as it’s always been. We are either on or off, and there’s nothing in between. Either we are running frantically towards the enemy with a full barrage of force, or we’re struggling to even dispatch soldiers to keep the enemy at bay by our doorstep.

We need to think differently, with a more tactical approach. And most of all, we need diversification of skill. Soldiers that can withstand a great deal of damage but don’t cost an archer’s years pay in upkeep every day; special purpose trained soldiers that can deal tactical strikes where it hurts our enemy the most; soldiers that can conjure up forces which cannot be matched with steel or wood.

(the archer suddenly shudders and goes back to a more nervous state of mind, looking over his shoulder once again)

I’ve said too much, be away.

(waves his hand in a fending off manner)