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How to do Excellent Fantasy Naval Campaigns Right
Sunfire
CONTENTS
Introduction
In times of war, the army experiences the brunt of the fighting but for those countries who have access to a large body of water like a lake or ocean, there’s a whole another front they have to contend with. If they don’t keep an eye out for potential signs of trouble, they’re likely to suffer an attack they might not recover from. If done right, fantasy naval campaigns have the power to dramatically shift the contours of war towards one side.
Campaigns on the sea operate in a different dimension compared to their land counterparts. For instance, they can only strike areas that are right on the shoreline or in close proximity, they can’t deliver salvos far inland which limits their usefulness in expansive land campaigns. However, they make up for that in other areas and they do so with great aplomb.
Fantasy naval campaigns require a lengthy investment in time. While ships have the capacity to utterly destroy objects, seizing and consolidating their hold on territory takes a lot longer than that. Thus their hold is precarious for a considerable amount of time, a luxury navies cannot realistically afford.
To circumvent this dilemma, when charting their campaigns, navies focus on targets that have the most impact on the war without requiring deep investments in taking over and securing control of the areas they seize. Targets such as cities or major seaside fortresses are instrumental in establishing the campaigns they intend to execute.
The success of all fantasy naval campaigns hinge on the crew who staff the vessels that will be used in said campaigns. Those who know what they’re doing makes it easier for navies to prevail in the areas they’re contesting. Only those with intestinal fortitude can withstand the brutality that is naval warfare.
This is the fifteenth article in the fantasy military series. For more, check out our blog page where we have a plethora of articles waiting for you!
Time and Fantasy Naval Campaigns
War on sea is a wholly different beast compared to that of land. Unlike the latter where months can pass by and the army hasn’t made much progress in terms of its campaign, naval warfare can be short and decisive but only for a short period of time, otherwise it can go on for a bit. Thus, it becomes a protracted affair.
A number of factors make fantasy naval campaigns quite time-consuming. The first is the seasonal temperature range of the world. War at sea occurs in the warm months of the year when the water is easily traversable unlike the cold months when it’s frozen solid or just too cold for ships to be out in the sea. All naval campaigns are crafted with this factor in mind.
The weather patterns of the world is the second driving factor. Violent hurricanes, strong gales, among other weather on the ocean can completely derail a well-planned campaign, forcing the navy to make drastic adjustments. The worst part of it is they come with little to no warning.
Thirdly, though ships wield the power to destroy, they cannot otherwise hold seized territory or conduct a months-long blockade without maintaining adequate supply lines. Invading forces cannot count on the locals of the country they’re at war with to give them the supplies they need to continue applying pressure. They must construct and maintain supply lines which will be constantly under attack.
The fourth and final driving factor for why fantasy naval campaigns take a long time is it takes a while for them to really inflict damage to enemy morale. Blockades persist for months before they can really be effective since enemy ports keep a healthy amount of things in stock. Should a fleet suffer catastrophic damage, it has to limp back to port for repairs which can last for an indeterminate period of time until it can spring back into action.
The Goals and Targets of Fantasy Naval Campaigns
One thing the navy has going for it is all the ships in service boast an impressive amount of firepower. How much damage they do depends on the buoyant vessel in question. More powerful ones can dole out a greater amount of destruction compared to their weaker cousins. All that firepower can be used on a number of targets.
To maximize their effectiveness in the thick of battle, all fantasy naval campaigns prioritize targets that will prove most useful in the goals they endeavor to achieve. One method is to hone in on all major seaside cities and ports. Laying waste to them or knocking them out of commission can pay dividends for the army as it strives to defeat its foes in battle since it has fewer targets (and enemies) to deal with.
Securing control of the sea is a crucial element in many campaigns the navy undertakes. One important step in achieving that is to obliterate all major enemy fleets. The navy will expend resources in locating their whereabouts and then craft a strategy in which to knock them out of the war, thereby opening up new avenues of attacking from the sea freely.
In fantasy naval campaigns that feature treacherous areas like strips of land connected to each other, they’re usually home to a strategic fortress that controls all sea-bound traffic. In some cases, the navy will do a series of missions designed to render it incapable of participating in the war or attempt to take control of it outright.
There’s always the option to utterly destroy land though that’s typically the last resort. It ranges from blasting infrastructure like roads or natural resources such as forests to smithereens. While it’s meant to dampen enemy morale, incinerating the land causes effects that affect the locals and the country it’s in that continue long after the war’s ended.
The Stellar Crew of the Fantasy Naval Campaigns
At their core, military campaigns are about people doing a series of missions that take them from one place to another with the sole purpose of achieving victory. Many campaign victories are the result of people who outworked their opponents and used every single one of their brainpower to prevail in combat.
When it comes to fantasy naval campaigns, the crew of the fleets of ships within the realm all must demonstrate an acute knowledge of the vessels they’re on. They spend practically every waking hour at work doing something onboard, whether it’s repairing the hull, overhauling an engine, or cleaning the deck. The more time they spend onboard, the stronger of a connection they build with the ship and that connection will serve them well when the time is right.
The crew are those that press on despite warnings to the contrary. They know what the ship they’re on is capable of. Additionally, they also sense when the ship is about to reach its breaking point and quickly endeavor to pull back so that they don’t lose it.
Though the captain may sit at the helm, he is merely playing his role in whatever fantasy naval campaigns he is a part of. He places great trust in his crew to see not just themselves but the ship through whether it’s giving chase to an enemy vessel, participating in a blockade, or blasting a foe to pieces. In turn, they trust him to steer the ship through treacherous waters, a sea thick of rival ships, or an area riddled with sea-mines.
Veteran or experienced crews have become accustomed to the violent nature of war. By becoming desensitized to the sounds of battle raging just outside their ships, they can focus on the task at hand, doing their part to ensure that their side triumphs. Moreover, they’re capable of remaining cool which will enable them to make snap decisions that could very well turn the tide of battle in their favor.
Tying it all Together
Fantasy naval campaigns have their moments in the sun. While the bulk of the fighting falls upon the army, the navy gets its moments of glory. It’s especially notable when it secures a significant win such as securing control of an enemy harbor and only such a feat could be made possible through the successful execution of the campaign it developed earlier.
Wars on sea are not a quick affair. They are lengthy and require a deep investment in time in order to accomplish successfully. A whole bevy of factors navies cannot control like the temperature and weather patterns shape and alter campaigns in unforeseen ways, for good and ill.
All parts of fantasy naval campaigns rely on the use of the firepower of the ships of the fleet to help them complete missions. Their firepower enables ships to shred an enemy vessel to bits in a number of seconds, rain fire upon an enemy port or shipyard, and turn pristine landscapes to smoldering char.
Crews are what makes and breaks naval campaigns. Their steadfast courage enables them to forge ahead whether they’re in the thick of battle or in a vicious gale. They’re able to do what needs to be done while remaining cool in the face of danger.
Fantasy naval campaigns are in a niche by themselves but in the hands of the right creator, they can be an effective storytelling device. If done right, they can show a part of the world that doesn’t get seen all too often.
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Thanks for reading this and until the next time,
Sunfire
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