This post, from the riding thread, gave me a devilish idea.

Suppose as a city member of a certain rank, you could command up to 8 guards to follow you. Then, if you were in the same room (or perhaps within a couple rooms) of a member of a citty or commune yours had declared war on, they would attack, perhaps even persue to the area boundary limit unless you called them back.

Now I know some common objections will be raised to this, but hear me out:

This would allow for battles, serious ones. High ranking city and commune leaders could attatck even other cities/communes, marching in with guards. Let's face it, it ups the stakes of a war and makes war more warlike, and less "raid" like with a few skilled individuals. Guards could also target enemy guards, leading to an interesting invasion/battle idea. If the person who they were following died or left the area, they would "retreat" back to their city, either instantly or by actually walking back perhaps.

It would impose serious power and gold sinks on cities and communes during wartime, making wars more costly and less likely

In doing so, it both adds realism from a mechanics sense and adds realism in that constant war becomes a bad idea, like in real life. Under the current system, constant war is just annoying, not really damaging.

What do people think? It would be easy to code I'd imagine.

not a bad idea but theyd have to downgrade guards again

maybe they could create soldiers, and guards would remain the same and only be able to remain in the land they guard?

ooo good idea doubt many other people will like it though

It's a possibility, but I think some people suddenly think of Aetolia's War system, and cringe a little (I thought it was ok.. but just ok).

War is good, but we need a VERY V.E.R.Y. well designed system, or else we'll all be crying for years to come.

Interesting idea, but I wouldn't really like more things to worry about. I shudder to think what Daevos and the like could do with 8 aggressive mobs with him.

I'd like to see this more developed - something more like the Faethorn Battle meets the Nomads vs Mesa conflict. How the whole conflict thing is on-going, and you can actually take place in the battle.

Weaken and Empower would actually be worth using then.

I agree with Kalo though. I think Lusternia could take this very far if it were ever in the making.

Definately, I'd like to see war system but it really needs to be well thought-out.
That, and the real army with ranks and stuff, so we wouldn't need clans like Midnight Legion, it'd be already there in the system.

That's exactly what I'm thinking actually. I love that battle, it really feels like you're surrounded by it.

*shrug*

I think the administration should consider something like this