Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules

In a message dated 10/26/02 8:08:36 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
Scott.Holder@... writes:

<< Subj: [WarriorRules] More on Beserkers
Date: 10/26/02 8:08:36 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: Scott.Holder@... (Holder, Scott <FHWA>)
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I would be very interested in reading the specific source that goes into
gory
detail about how Beserkers "fit into" the overall schema of a Viking army.

I ask this because my sources (and like all things, I'll be the first to
admit
I don't have every book on the subject) don't go into specifics regarding
eve
ry nuance of Beserkers. It *is* clear that they fought in their own units,
mo
st often referenced as being directly under control of the leader/king or
figh
ting closely with the more elite forces, again being in what I read to be
segr
egate units. We took a fairly liberal reading of this in allowing Beserk
deta
chments to be associated with Warrior units. However, going the next step
(al
lowing simple mixing of Beserk element(s) in other units in order to
simulate
a scattering of Beserks mixed throughout the front rank of said other units)
i
sn't something I've been able to find a direct reference to. Again, this
issu
e can be revisited down the line if specific references can be provided that
a
re fairly precise in their characterization of what we want to model.

This is why you see Berserks modeled in DAW List #27 they way they are
modeled
. I encourage folks to bring up these kinds of questions if they can do so
wi
thout insulting me:) Otherwise, I'll just hit the delete key.

Scott
List Ho


>>

My reading on berserkers is admittedly from novels. In "Rolf Kraki's Saga"
by Poul Anderson, the berserkers are limited to the king's bodyguard, and are
small in number (12). The rest of the army hated and avoided them. Anderson
read the sagas in the original language, but I do realize that his first duty
was to put food on the table for his family!
Well, even if this is true, it would be a sad Viking army with no berserkers
in it, wouldn't it? :>)
Perhaps the sagas would have the answer. Perhaps they should be only allowed
in skirmish games. But then, they are too much fun to leave out of a Viking
army.

John the OFM

[scott holder]

I would be very interested in reading the specific source that goes into gory
detail about how Beserkers "fit into" the overall schema of a Viking army.

I ask this because my sources (and like all things, I'll be the first to admit
I don't have every book on the subject) don't go into specifics regarding eve
ry nuance of Beserkers. It *is* clear that they fought in their own units, mo
st often referenced as being directly under control of the leader/king or figh
ting closely with the more elite forces, again being in what I read to be segr
egate units. We took a fairly liberal reading of this in allowing Beserk deta
chments to be associated with Warrior units. However, going the next step (al
lowing simple mixing of Beserk element(s) in other units in order to simulate
a scattering of Beserks mixed throughout the front rank of said other units) i
sn't something I've been able to find a direct reference to. Again, this issu
e can be revisited down the line if specific references can be provided that a
re fairly precise in their characterization of what we want to model.

This is why you see Berserks modeled in DAW List #27 they way they are modeled
. I encourage folks to bring up these kinds of questions if they can do so wi
thout insulting me:) Otherwise, I'll just hit the delete key.

Scott
List Ho

[Chris Bump]

In a message dated 10/26/2002 10:04:14 AM Eastern Standard Time,
Scott.Holder@... writes:

> I encourage folks to bring up these kinds of questions if they can do so wi
> thout insulting me:) Otherwise, I'll just hit the delete key.
>
> Scott
> List Ho

Scott,

You ignorant Slut! ;^)
I just couldn't resist.
Chris