Future Tech Advice and Assistance Thread [O.O.C.]

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

I was wondering if anyone had advise on how to determine just how many soldiers and all that I would have, is there a calculator online to help or what?

[Bentus]

I was wondering if anyone had advise on how to determine just how many soldiers and all that I would have, is there a calculator online to help or what?

I don't stick to it religiously, but I found this which says 2% of the world population today is part of an active military. This fit what I needed fairly well so just used that as a base line

If I had to hazard a guess, I'd recommend taking a modern country which you'd say is closest to what you'd like your nation to be like (bar the future tech of course) and use some stats from that as a rough guide. Interested in how others would use it though, and it's definitely not a calculator-rigour type method.

[Auman]

I was wondering if anyone had advise on how to determine just how many soldiers and all that I would have, is there a calculator online to help or what?

You can never go wrong with a million.

[Feazanthia]

I was wondering if anyone had advise on how to determine just how many soldiers and all that I would have, is there a calculator online to help or what?

For practical purposes, I go with a general "As many as I need for the story at hand."

For factbooking purposes (which really are just fluff), it really depends on a ton of factors. Tech level, how much automation you use, imminent threats (real or perceived), whether or not your have a martial tradition in your civilization, surface combat doctrine (unless "soldier" means "ground personnel, space personnel, support personnel, administrative staff, etc"), how much territory you need to cover, etc.

[Arcerion]

Aight. Time for another of my Great Legions. As before, we have the Gold Hammer Guards, or the GHG as coined by Thrashia. After taking Said comments I created this: GHG 2.0. Basically an updated and more beefed up Mäanpal.

Now, for an airmobile unit. The Redhawk Legion is probably one of my favourites. This specific Mäanpal structure is designed to have transports, an attack craft group, and the obvious attached headquarters and logistics units. Keeping in mind that the 3rd Lance in Höofstuks 1-6 is the crew. Once I get feedback I'll make it all pretty.

So, FTAAT, thoughts on this unit? Have enough firepower? Any questions? Suggestions?

Edit: Redhawk Legion. I'm an idiot and forgot to link the unit. There we go.

[Auman]

To be honest, if you are interested in getting detailed TO&E for your military, two legions aren't going to cut it all by their lonesome. The Aumanii Army has eighteen divisions of all types, each individually detailed with brief write ups of their history... And that's not counting the independent brigades, paramilitary groups, air force, navy and the space fleet.

Is your army just the two legions? How many men are in a legion? How does it break down organizationally?

[Thrashia]

To be honest, if you are interested in getting detailed TO&E for your military, two legions aren't going to cut it all by their lonesome. The Aumanii Army has eighteen divisions of all types, each individually detailed with brief write ups of their history... And that's not counting the independent brigades, paramilitary groups, air force, navy and the space fleet.

Is your army just the two legions? How many men are in a legion? How does it break down organizationally?

He mentioned in his original post the sizes of his legions. They're each about a 3rd the size of a modern day army group.

viewtopic.php?p=20882553#p20882553

[Arcerion]

To be honest, if you are interested in getting detailed TO&E for your military, two legions aren't going to cut it all by their lonesome. The Aumanii Army has eighteen divisions of all types, each individually detailed with brief write ups of their history... And that's not counting the independent brigades, paramilitary groups, air force, navy and the space fleet.

Is your army just the two legions? How many men are in a legion? How does it break down organizationally?

I think I have something like 60+ legions. Around ten Great Legions, basically those that have received commissions from the Emperor for honorable or exceptional conduct or actions.

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

I was wondering if anyone had advise on how to determine just how many soldiers and all that I would have, is there a calculator online to help or what?

For practical purposes, I go with a general "As many as I need for the story at hand."

For factbooking purposes (which really are just fluff), it really depends on a ton of factors. Tech level, how much automation you use, imminent threats (real or perceived), whether or not your have a martial tradition in your civilization, surface combat doctrine (unless "soldier" means "ground personnel, space personnel, support personnel, administrative staff, etc"), how much territory you need to cover, etc.

So if we figure out exactly what factors match, could we conceive a reasonable size for my military size?

[Jelarais]

So, I need some advice about my shield tech. I had this idea for a Cyclonic Barrier, which would work slightly differently than most shields. Instead of just taking the punishment until they fail, like ST shields, or absorbing the energy until they can't anymore, like EVE shields, these would move the energy/projectiles around the ship via a constantly rotating field of energy. While they wouldn't last forever, obviously, the idea behind it is that since it's only deflecting rather than blocking the energy/projectile (just like parrying vs blocking in a swordfight) they could take more punishment than the average shield. Any thoughts, disagreements, input?

[The Fedral Union]

So, I need some advice about my shield tech. I had this idea for a Cyclonic Barrier, which would work slightly differently than most shields. Instead of just taking the punishment until they fail, like ST shields, or absorbing the energy until they can't anymore, like EVE shields, these would move the energy/projectiles around the ship via a constantly rotating field of energy. While they wouldn't last forever, obviously, the idea behind it is that since it's only deflecting rather than blocking the energy/projectile (just like parrying vs blocking in a swordfight) they could take more punishment than the average shield. Any thoughts, disagreements, input?

A shield is a shield, as long as its not invincible why does it matter? That hardly comes up in the middle of an rp, tbh most tech doesn't come up in an rp. That said you can use magentics to do something like that, they've created magnetic black holes .. (if that makes sense)

[SquareDisc City]

On military size, as good a place to start as any is to pick a modern nation that's not the USA and copy the percentages of that.

On shields, I think many will use the idea of deflecting rather than outright stopping incoming fire. If you have both types the deflecting type might be stronger. One thing to think about would be where those deflected shots go.

[The Legion of War]

On military size, as good a place to start as any is to pick a modern nation that's not the USA and copy the percentages of that.

On shields, I think many will use the idea of deflecting rather than outright stopping incoming fire. If you have both types the deflecting type might be stronger. One thing to think about would be where those deflected shots go.

But what if you are a nation that places great emphasis on war? Then could you go with the USA as a basic template?

[Auman]

Big militaries are always a good place to start, bro. The USA is a good template because they have examples of just about every kind of thing that is expected of a modern armed force.

Given the populations that we tend to work with, though, having a well rounded knowledge of military organization from as many sources and eras that you care to learn is always a fine idea.

The Aumanii Armed Forces, for example, is roughly equivalent to the United States military... It's not enough to defend the entire realm, though, so I have each colony raise a national guard for defensive purposes. For each colony, I take inspiration from a different fighting force, modern or historical.

You may want to consider that for the sake of having some variety in your military formations, because standardization isn't easy to pull off on the planet Earth... So it won't get much easier on alien planets either.

[SquareDisc City]

But what if you are a nation that places great emphasis on war? Then could you go with the USA as a basic template?

I would still advise looking to a different country. Israel perhaps.

The point is that the US military is very, very abnormal. It should not be taken as the template for a typical nation, but often it is because it's what most players are most familiar with. I'd venture that nobody in NSFT can claim to be in a similar position to the USA (ie a sole dominant superpower), and it's near-certain that nobody asking the question "how big should my military be" is in that position.

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

But what if you are a nation that places great emphasis on war? Then could you go with the USA as a basic template?

I would still advise looking to a different country. Israel perhaps.

The point is that the US military is very, very abnormal. It should not be taken as the template for a typical nation, but often it is because it's what most players are most familiar with. I'd venture that nobody in NSFT can claim to be in a similar position to the USA (ie a sole dominant superpower), and it's near-certain that nobody asking the question "how big should my military be" is in that position.

What would you advise I should specifically consider?

Especially since that for what almost counts as a centuries time span I have been highly militarized because of severe paranoia of alien life. (And its going to slowly creep back anyways in a few years anyways)

[The Akasha Colony]

I would still advise looking to a different country. Israel perhaps.

The point is that the US military is very, very abnormal. It should not be taken as the template for a typical nation, but often it is because it's what most players are most familiar with. I'd venture that nobody in NSFT can claim to be in a similar position to the USA (ie a sole dominant superpower), and it's near-certain that nobody asking the question "how big should my military be" is in that position.

Israel is even more abnormal. For one, how many other nations basically get their military bankrolled by a large, wealthy superpower, and are surrounded by enemies who would literally want them wiped off the face of the Earth? Israel's current military would look very different if it didn't get so much aid from Western countries, especially the United States.

[The Ben Boys]

I would still advise looking to a different country. Israel perhaps.

The point is that the US military is very, very abnormal. It should not be taken as the template for a typical nation, but often it is because it's what most players are most familiar with. I'd venture that nobody in NSFT can claim to be in a similar position to the USA (ie a sole dominant superpower), and it's near-certain that nobody asking the question "how big should my military be" is in that position.

What would you advise I should specifically consider?

Especially since that for what almost counts as a centuries time span I have been highly militarized because of severe paranoia of alien life. (And its going to slowly creep back anyways in a few years anyways)

I would still advise looking to a different country. Israel perhaps.

The point is that the US military is very, very abnormal. It should not be taken as the template for a typical nation, but often it is because it's what most players are most familiar with. I'd venture that nobody in NSFT can claim to be in a similar position to the USA (ie a sole dominant superpower), and it's near-certain that nobody asking the question "how big should my military be" is in that position.

Israel is even more abnormal. For one, how many other nations basically get their military bankrolled by a large, wealthy superpower, and are surrounded by enemies who would literally want them wiped off the face of the Earth? Israel's current military would look very different if it didn't get so much aid from Western countries, especially the United States.

I concur. In fact, I'd scrap looking at any nation in the modern world and instead look at the numbers from 1935-1945. Seeing as modern world militaries are ridiculously expensive to build and maintain in proportion to their actual need, they are usually too large but of substandard quality (Russia) or too small with increasing quality (Britain, France; their use of carriers and 4.5 generation fighters brings them above and beyond most powers). Honestly, the U.S. is an anomaly because it's both large and of substantial quality, but has no real competitors in a conventional war (though the rise of other 5th generation fighters does put a curb on some of it).

The WWII numbers especially bring in a host of factors: large amounts of mobilization, actual competition between the powers (something lost in in the modern world), and large-scale industrialization. Plus their easy to dig up. I used the USN force levels during this time period as a template for my space navy.

•USN Ship levels, 1886-2011
•Infodump of WWII statistics (includes both force levels of the major powers-sans Pacific-and losses of men, ships, and aircraft; good reference)
•Population statistics in 1939 with losses; use to cross-examine the above source (and good for figuring out numbers in general)

Let me know if this is helpful.

[Derscon]

I would still advise looking to a different country. Israel perhaps.

The point is that the US military is very, very abnormal. It should not be taken as the template for a typical nation, but often it is because it's what most players are most familiar with. I'd venture that nobody in NSFT can claim to be in a similar position to the USA (ie a sole dominant superpower), and it's near-certain that nobody asking the question "how big should my military be" is in that position.

What would you advise I should specifically consider?

Especially since that for what almost counts as a centuries time span I have been highly militarized because of severe paranoia of alien life. (And its going to slowly creep back anyways in a few years anyways)

If you're highly militarized and xenophobic, China - Qing dynasty to the modern age - is going to be your best bet for a RL template(secondary Japan post-Meiji restoration). The combat ability of your force, though, is going to depend on the ratio between how long you've been a xenophobic militarized nation over how long it's been since you've actually had a military engagement with an alien force. The smaller this number, the less effective your military is going to be.

[The Fedral Union]

Yeah, the term Super power in NSFT is either in the eye of the beholder or more likely nonexistent. (The one glaring reason being SENSE OF SCALE.. FT/space is huge..)

As for the personnel you need in the military? Yeah that depends on the logistics chain, the current state of readiness or need for personnel, situations abroad. Or if your threatened. Most of the UTA's "massive military" is shored up in reserves, we've not fought in so many decades we don't need to keep massive standing fleets or armies.. Doesn't mean we don't; keep things on the backing.. It just means the amount of active personnel is smaller as opposed to reserve.

I keep my ground forces as X.. In number, there is likely never going to be a reason, or thread to mention a more specific number.. Unless its in a tech manual or factbook. The other thing is, wielding a massive military can be expensive, and the logistics are a bit daunting. While the UTA has things in place and we can sure as hell fund it if we need to .. It doesn't mean it will be cheap or easy, then you get in to the issue with mobilization time.

[The Ben Boys]

What would you advise I should specifically consider?

Especially since that for what almost counts as a centuries time span I have been highly militarized because of severe paranoia of alien life. (And its going to slowly creep back anyways in a few years anyways)

If you're highly militarized and xenophobic, China - Qing dynasty to the modern age - is going to be your best bet for a RL template(secondary Japan post-Meiji restoration). The combat ability of your force, though, is going to depend on the ratio between how long you've been a xenophobic militarized nation over how long it's been since you've actually had a military engagement with an alien force. The smaller this number, the less effective your military is going to be.

And no matter how militarized you are that still doesn't mean that you're going to have a large standing army. Nazi Germany didn't fully mobilize its population or industry until around late 1943 because the expense wasn't worth it (or so it was percieved by the Nazis). Russia is considered a highly militarized country in the modern world, as well as Israel, but neither maintains a large standing army unless they are at war (though admittedly large reserves). Part of the reason why my nation has been fighting a massive galactic war for the past three RL yeads is because I have a plausible excuse to have a large military, which dwarfs my peacetime army tenfold.

[Derscon]

If you're highly militarized and xenophobic, China - Qing dynasty to the modern age - is going to be your best bet for a RL template(secondary Japan post-Meiji restoration). The combat ability of your force, though, is going to depend on the ratio between how long you've been a xenophobic militarized nation over how long it's been since you've actually had a military engagement with an alien force. The smaller this number, the less effective your military is going to be.

And no matter how militarized you are that still doesn't mean that you're going to have a large standing army. Nazi Germany didn't fully mobilize its population or industry until around late 1943 because the expense wasn't worth it (or so it was percieved by the Nazis). Russia is considered a highly militarized country in the modern world, as well as Israel, but neither maintains a large standing army unless they are at war (though admittedly large reserves). Part of the reason why my nation has been fighting a massive galactic war for the past three RL yeads is because I have a plausible excuse to have a large military, which dwarfs my peacetime army tenfold.

Good point. It's a bit daunting to think of just how much of a drain a standing army can be, especially one mobilized. Paranoia is expensive.

[The Fedral Union]

UEG if you want a "calc" Here is one But I will note calcs mean little in general FT rping, I or you or some may use some numbers there as guidelines or not for certain things, but they often do not reflect the reality that is FT. Mostly they were made for MT. I digress, its there to use to guide if you subscribe to it but yeah one cant push numbers from there on anyone in FT.

[Imperial and Federal Union of States]

But what if you are a nation that places great emphasis on war? Then could you go with the USA as a basic template?

I would still advise looking to a different country. Israel perhaps.

The point is that the US military is very, very abnormal. It should not be taken as the template for a typical nation, but often it is because it's what most players are most familiar with. I'd venture that nobody in NSFT can claim to be in a similar position to the USA (ie a sole dominant superpower), and it's near-certain that nobody asking the question "how big should my military be" is in that position.

The thing about the American military is more that it's built around expeditionary warfare, rather than advancing along a landward frontier or defending the homeland. No one in NS has the US's level of power, but the basic ideas of the American military are quite useful in an NS environment. I'm not sure how well it'd translate into FT though, given how disparate everything will be.

I'd warn against using Israel as a template, if only because Israel's geopolitics are near unique and you won't be able to really pursue them unless you match its position. Israel is a small nation, with no strategic depth, that is surrounded by hostile neighbours, and has said global hyperpower providing it support. The Israeli military is built around these facts, and unless your nation finds itself in a similar position, using the Israelis as an example is a bad idea. Remember, the Israeli military--when fully mobilised--is actually unsustainable, as the manpower draw would cripple the Israeli economy very quickly.

So be careful about using Israel as a basis.

[The Legion of War]

I see. Thank you or the advice.

My nation considers itself to be constantly surrounded by the "Xeno threat", when in reality any large immediate threat has been wiped out. Of course, space is huge so the Legion likes to use that by saying "there are still aliens out there who want to wipe us out"!

So it's more of a perceived threat, meaning that my nation doesn't truly resemble Israel's situation (you know, since they always have beef with Hamas).

Someone mentioned a China dynasty as an example (I'll look it up on my own), but what of Nazi Germany. They were all about the "master race", but did this have any influence in their military?

The more extreme in the Legion tend to have a "human master species" ideology.