@galdred.bsky.social
Developer/Handyman of Zodiac Legion, a tactical-RPG in which you lead an order of arcane knight, set in an era of returning magic.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/812910/Zodiac_Legion/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/812910/Zodiac_Legion/
But we can fill the gaps with magic, or choose what we want to represent!
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
But we can fill the gaps with magic, or choose what we want to represent!
Now let's address the part about the limits of our sources:
We have very little documentation about formation combat in armor:
- Chroniclers who wrote about battles didn't see them
- Knights who were into writing typically wrote about chivarly rather than fighting.
We have very little documentation about formation combat in armor:
- Chroniclers who wrote about battles didn't see them
- Knights who were into writing typically wrote about chivarly rather than fighting.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Now let's address the part about the limits of our sources:
We have very little documentation about formation combat in armor:
- Chroniclers who wrote about battles didn't see them
- Knights who were into writing typically wrote about chivarly rather than fighting.
We have very little documentation about formation combat in armor:
- Chroniclers who wrote about battles didn't see them
- Knights who were into writing typically wrote about chivarly rather than fighting.
As for the attrition/exhaustion factor, that's why we decided to represent our dungeons as a single protracted battle, instead of a series of micro engagements.
●spending time resting allows other enemies to ready themselves
●Enemies will also engage the player on their own
●spending time resting allows other enemies to ready themselves
●Enemies will also engage the player on their own
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
As for the attrition/exhaustion factor, that's why we decided to represent our dungeons as a single protracted battle, instead of a series of micro engagements.
●spending time resting allows other enemies to ready themselves
●Enemies will also engage the player on their own
●spending time resting allows other enemies to ready themselves
●Enemies will also engage the player on their own
As for weapon variety, I said one hander sucked against plate armor, BUT they allow you to carry a big shield, which makes protecting these vulnerable characters, like archers or mages much easier!
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
As for weapon variety, I said one hander sucked against plate armor, BUT they allow you to carry a big shield, which makes protecting these vulnerable characters, like archers or mages much easier!
You don't always need to penetrate armor to kill the knight inside, or wound him.
As for our legendary knights:
Geoffroi de Charny: killed as the French formation was broken at Poitiers
Jacques de Lalaing: killed by a cannonball shot.
Bayard: killed by an arquebus.
As for our legendary knights:
Geoffroi de Charny: killed as the French formation was broken at Poitiers
Jacques de Lalaing: killed by a cannonball shot.
Bayard: killed by an arquebus.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
You don't always need to penetrate armor to kill the knight inside, or wound him.
As for our legendary knights:
Geoffroi de Charny: killed as the French formation was broken at Poitiers
Jacques de Lalaing: killed by a cannonball shot.
Bayard: killed by an arquebus.
As for our legendary knights:
Geoffroi de Charny: killed as the French formation was broken at Poitiers
Jacques de Lalaing: killed by a cannonball shot.
Bayard: killed by an arquebus.
Let's talk about Agincourt...
- Not everyone wore plate
- Most men-at-arms were defeated in melee
- A good part of them were captured (then executed)
- In a way, the strength of the longbow was forcing the enemy to attack :
"it takes but a single bush to break their ranks"
- Not everyone wore plate
- Most men-at-arms were defeated in melee
- A good part of them were captured (then executed)
- In a way, the strength of the longbow was forcing the enemy to attack :
"it takes but a single bush to break their ranks"
![About Agincourt…
Many contributing factors on top of longbows vs plate:
Not everyone wore plate
Good terrain
Exhaustion
Formation
“And for that reason, a foot battle should never advance; it must always await its enemy infantry close by. For when they are marching, they are not all of equal strength and cannot keep their formation—it takes but a single bush to break their ranks.”[…] “An army that marches out against another is defeated unless God grants it His grace.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:e2hdygtrfce52qvyhqhjnyrd/bafkreigrfe6al3p46dtmixohvdelnie77bhebzuyhqfynml224sbkvj6qq@jpeg)
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Let's talk about Agincourt...
- Not everyone wore plate
- Most men-at-arms were defeated in melee
- A good part of them were captured (then executed)
- In a way, the strength of the longbow was forcing the enemy to attack :
"it takes but a single bush to break their ranks"
- Not everyone wore plate
- Most men-at-arms were defeated in melee
- A good part of them were captured (then executed)
- In a way, the strength of the longbow was forcing the enemy to attack :
"it takes but a single bush to break their ranks"
That is why we made melee support central in the game, both in attack and defense.
It also stacks with a flanking bonus when you have opponents on all sides.
It also stacks with a flanking bonus when you have opponents on all sides.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
That is why we made melee support central in the game, both in attack and defense.
It also stacks with a flanking bonus when you have opponents on all sides.
It also stacks with a flanking bonus when you have opponents on all sides.
Combat of the thirty: Similar set-up, but with 30v30 in Brittany:
- 4 French and 2 English down after hours of fighting
- They decided to take a break
- Then after a French squire remounted and managed to break the English formation, the battle was almost instantly over.
- 4 French and 2 English down after hours of fighting
- They decided to take a break
- Then after a French squire remounted and managed to break the English formation, the battle was almost instantly over.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Combat of the thirty: Similar set-up, but with 30v30 in Brittany:
- 4 French and 2 English down after hours of fighting
- They decided to take a break
- Then after a French squire remounted and managed to break the English formation, the battle was almost instantly over.
- 4 French and 2 English down after hours of fighting
- They decided to take a break
- Then after a French squire remounted and managed to break the English formation, the battle was almost instantly over.
Montendre was an arranged 7v7 during the HYW.
- The English chose to double-team DuChatel.
- This freed Archambauldde Villar assist Karonis against the English leader, Robert de Scale, who got quickly killed by a blow to the head.
- That allowed to "roll" the remaining English.
- The English chose to double-team DuChatel.
- This freed Archambauldde Villar assist Karonis against the English leader, Robert de Scale, who got quickly killed by a blow to the head.
- That allowed to "roll" the remaining English.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Montendre was an arranged 7v7 during the HYW.
- The English chose to double-team DuChatel.
- This freed Archambauldde Villar assist Karonis against the English leader, Robert de Scale, who got quickly killed by a blow to the head.
- That allowed to "roll" the remaining English.
- The English chose to double-team DuChatel.
- This freed Archambauldde Villar assist Karonis against the English leader, Robert de Scale, who got quickly killed by a blow to the head.
- That allowed to "roll" the remaining English.
Let's now zoom out a little, and see how fights between groups would turn out. In groups, grappling becomes much harder, unless you end up being isolated.
Medieval battles could take hours, so exhaustion was a pretty severe issue! Morale collapse was also how most battles ended.
Medieval battles could take hours, so exhaustion was a pretty severe issue! Morale collapse was also how most battles ended.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Let's now zoom out a little, and see how fights between groups would turn out. In groups, grappling becomes much harder, unless you end up being isolated.
Medieval battles could take hours, so exhaustion was a pretty severe issue! Morale collapse was also how most battles ended.
Medieval battles could take hours, so exhaustion was a pretty severe issue! Morale collapse was also how most battles ended.
However, grappling is more complicated to animate, so we are still looking for a good way to represent/abstract it.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
However, grappling is more complicated to animate, so we are still looking for a good way to represent/abstract it.
So we are working on adding new alternate thrusting attacks for our 2 handed weapons, to let them thrust into the gaps of armor.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
So we are working on adding new alternate thrusting attacks for our 2 handed weapons, to let them thrust into the gaps of armor.
Here are some of the techniques showcased in the footage and their fencing treatise equivalent:
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Here are some of the techniques showcased in the footage and their fencing treatise equivalent:
Actually, grappling was very important, BUT it required some setup. Our knight, Jacques de Lalaing, managed to disarm an opponent and drive him away until the referee took pity of him and stopped the duel
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Actually, grappling was very important, BUT it required some setup. Our knight, Jacques de Lalaing, managed to disarm an opponent and drive him away until the referee took pity of him and stopped the duel
But I need to remind everyone that blunt weapons were NOT a magic can opener! You had to basically hit the head (or hand) with a strong blow, jam the point in a joint, or find a way to grapple your opponent to the ground with it.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
But I need to remind everyone that blunt weapons were NOT a magic can opener! You had to basically hit the head (or hand) with a strong blow, jam the point in a joint, or find a way to grapple your opponent to the ground with it.
So, that is what we are doing in the game:
In a way, poleaxe is the offensive choice, while sword is more defensive, and halberd works better when supported.
In a way, poleaxe is the offensive choice, while sword is more defensive, and halberd works better when supported.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
So, that is what we are doing in the game:
In a way, poleaxe is the offensive choice, while sword is more defensive, and halberd works better when supported.
In a way, poleaxe is the offensive choice, while sword is more defensive, and halberd works better when supported.
As for weapon selection:
Just take a poleaxe(it was the most popular weapon for knights on foot)!
Sword (the long and pointy variant) is also a reasonable choice, but you don't want to use a one hander.
Also, French knights typically used shortened lances.
Just take a poleaxe(it was the most popular weapon for knights on foot)!
Sword (the long and pointy variant) is also a reasonable choice, but you don't want to use a one hander.
Also, French knights typically used shortened lances.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
As for weapon selection:
Just take a poleaxe(it was the most popular weapon for knights on foot)!
Sword (the long and pointy variant) is also a reasonable choice, but you don't want to use a one hander.
Also, French knights typically used shortened lances.
Just take a poleaxe(it was the most popular weapon for knights on foot)!
Sword (the long and pointy variant) is also a reasonable choice, but you don't want to use a one hander.
Also, French knights typically used shortened lances.
Part 2: Weapons and techniques
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Part 2: Weapons and techniques
In ZodiacLegion, we use two layers per body part, each with its own encumbrance, coverage, and armor values. Any parts can be combined, and some — like the arms — have different chances of being hit depending on whether the attack is melee or ranged.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
In ZodiacLegion, we use two layers per body part, each with its own encumbrance, coverage, and armor values. Any parts can be combined, and some — like the arms — have different chances of being hit depending on whether the attack is melee or ranged.
Some games did cover armor in a detailled way already.
For instance, Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead does simulate both coverage, armor, and limb specific encumbrance.
store.steampowered.com/app/2330750/...
For instance, Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead does simulate both coverage, armor, and limb specific encumbrance.
store.steampowered.com/app/2330750/...
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Some games did cover armor in a detailled way already.
For instance, Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead does simulate both coverage, armor, and limb specific encumbrance.
store.steampowered.com/app/2330750/...
For instance, Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead does simulate both coverage, armor, and limb specific encumbrance.
store.steampowered.com/app/2330750/...
As for the cost, plate was not more expensive than chainmail to make, but chainmail was very common while plate was new, and it required better infrastructures to make, so it was more of an availability issue.
The cheaper alternative was brigandine.
The cheaper alternative was brigandine.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
As for the cost, plate was not more expensive than chainmail to make, but chainmail was very common while plate was new, and it required better infrastructures to make, so it was more of an availability issue.
The cheaper alternative was brigandine.
The cheaper alternative was brigandine.
Even though armor doesn't hamper mobility as much as in most medias, it does tire the wearer relatively fast, with an average +60% Oxygen consumption.
Knights needed to choose between having their face protected, OR seeing their surrounding and breathing comfortably.
Knights needed to choose between having their face protected, OR seeing their surrounding and breathing comfortably.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Even though armor doesn't hamper mobility as much as in most medias, it does tire the wearer relatively fast, with an average +60% Oxygen consumption.
Knights needed to choose between having their face protected, OR seeing their surrounding and breathing comfortably.
Knights needed to choose between having their face protected, OR seeing their surrounding and breathing comfortably.
In the game:
Margin of success = Attack roll - defender score
Then we check the body part hit
- Each part has an outer and an inner layer, which can be bypassed if margin>coverage
- we check penetration vs the armor of the active layer at this location, and calculate damage.
Margin of success = Attack roll - defender score
Then we check the body part hit
- Each part has an outer and an inner layer, which can be bypassed if margin>coverage
- we check penetration vs the armor of the active layer at this location, and calculate damage.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
In the game:
Margin of success = Attack roll - defender score
Then we check the body part hit
- Each part has an outer and an inner layer, which can be bypassed if margin>coverage
- we check penetration vs the armor of the active layer at this location, and calculate damage.
Margin of success = Attack roll - defender score
Then we check the body part hit
- Each part has an outer and an inner layer, which can be bypassed if margin>coverage
- we check penetration vs the armor of the active layer at this location, and calculate damage.
Armor would negate 100% of cutting damage, not 5 points or whatever. It still had weaknesses, though. Also, impacts to the head with an appropriate weapon could stun or even kill a knight.
But none of these were easy to achieve against a moving target.
But none of these were easy to achieve against a moving target.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Armor would negate 100% of cutting damage, not 5 points or whatever. It still had weaknesses, though. Also, impacts to the head with an appropriate weapon could stun or even kill a knight.
But none of these were easy to achieve against a moving target.
But none of these were easy to achieve against a moving target.
This poleaxe duel, from Jacques de Lalaing went to 55 blows before the referee stopped it, because armor offered superb protection. And they were not even making their weapons especially safe, as he got his gauntlets, nerves and veins pierced (in another duel).
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
This poleaxe duel, from Jacques de Lalaing went to 55 blows before the referee stopped it, because armor offered superb protection. And they were not even making their weapons especially safe, as he got his gauntlets, nerves and veins pierced (in another duel).