Woods Fighting

[Aiden]

Because Winter War is the soonest event I should be attending, and because I've heard its all woods battles I was wondering if there are any pointers anyone has on woods battles. The only woods battles I've ever done have been duels. Whats the ideal equipment to have for woods battles? What's some tactics I should use/prepare for? Etc.

[Syrus]

A fast flanker loves the woods because trees can stop swords...

[Mawr]

Grow eyes in the back of your head. Also, be mindful of your surroundings and where your opponent is moving. Don't bash someone against a tree, for example. We'll just end up feeding you to the alligators.

Use the trees and foliage to your advantage. Find terrain that will slow down the enemy while they approach you.

[Bushi]

I would be wary of archers and polearms. Anything with range that can occupy difficult terrain is good for this senario. A little less likely would be javs and rocks, but I wouldn't be suprised to see some. Constantly move, but move as quietly as you can, and listen for any noise caused by movement around you.

[Aiden]

so the fights at WW involve sneaking around. How big are the areas we play. Curious as to the amount of sneaking done before fights happen.

[Vokor]

not very big at all but a lot of fun

[Zzyzx]

Yeah, we've had a couple of people eaten by alligators. Torquil, Fenris...

(luckily they signed waivers)

[Mawr]

(luckily they signed waivers)

The Southern Marches Motto is: "Hey, you signed a waiver!"

[glorfindel]

put a shrubbery on your head and pretend to be a tree. then when the enemy turns their back to you, kill em.

[debuenzo]

basically just be aware of your surroundings

know where the other team is....and know where your own team is

.....and dont get legged on a trail not traveled much....youll be there for awhile (w00t)

[Domoviyr]

I personally think that there are two drastically different types of fighting: head-on-head field fighting and guerilla warfare. Each of these requires the use of their own types of tactics.

Head-On-Head Field Fighting is what happens when you have a wide open space with plenty of room to manuevre. The goal is to break your enemies unity and to kill them without decreasing your own. The bigger and better organized the group, the better it does at field fights. Larger weapons are often prefered for incredible offense, as are large shields for protection. Arrows tend to be the most effective missile because they have a longer range and decreased rate of deflection then the javie.

Guerilla Warfare (like the kind often used in Woods Battles) is another matter entirely. Where field battles are often decided by sheer brute force, a certain level of cunning is needed to excell in a guerilla situation. The goal is to isolate your enemy and kill him quickly without him being able to call for reinforcement and to fade into the forest as if you were never there. Lightning speed and efficiancy are the most favorable qualities here. It is beneficial to operate in small, well organized groups (after all, small groups are more manageable and better at sneaking than larger ones). Small weapons and shields practical for swift, silenct movement are best in this scenario. I find javies to be of specific use in this arena for they are not only useful as missile weapons (often close-range is all that is possible) but they can be good hand-to-hand weapons as well. The efficiancy of arrows strictly depends on the terrain, open forests meaning that arrow work well, and heavily vegetated forests being a hinderance to arrow usefulness.