Military Science
The art and equipment of war. Its changes and advancements during the ages.
Age of Dwarves
During the Age of Dwarves it was all about crushing weapons and armor. And their development was rapid. Plate armor was quickly discovered, making combat (in most cases) rather long and combatants sturdy. Plate armor is still considered one of the strongest types of armor today.
This super defensive style of the Empire of Dwarovar was then crushed by the overwhelming offense of Green Horde. Bows made of Leather (primarily used by Goblins) were also first seen during this shift, but they were not a factor. The cutthroat / savage style of the Underdark and their cutting / piercing weapons that found all the weak spots had showed that one needs to be able to strike back just as well as defend incoming attacks. Even though they had barely any armor, they basically danced around the sluggish Dwarves of the empire.
Age of Exploration
Mantarhold revolutionized the art of war by introducing tactics, formations, and chain of command. These systems resulted in their armies being much-much more powerful than the sum of their parts. They were not undefeatable, but those that did not adapt quickly fell behind.
Age of Industry
Crossbows and Guns were the first two ranged options that became viable in narrower tunnels and fighting conditions. Even though Bows have been present for a long time (and many armies had at least a few), their presence has never been the deciding factor. However the biggest breakthroughs were Explosives and traps, that were able to cause cave-ins and quickly shift the tides of battle.
Age of Leviathans
Magic has changed everything. Spells have opened combat flexibility to such a high level that it became all about them. Regular Soldiers could still win against Mages, especially in melee combat - in fact it was quite common to have special Mage-slayer squads whose only aim was to identify and eliminate the Mages of the opposing side as quickly as possible.
Age of Civilization
With the disappearance of the monsters there were no longer outside factors to consider. For the first time battles were waged on the Surface, utilizing large, wide, and open terrain instead of tunnels. Explosives and spells affecting a large area became more prominent, and battles brought a lot more casualties than before.
Age of Ruanon
The art of war became sophisticated during the Age of Civilization, nations realized that it was less about numbers and more about exceptionally powerful individuals capable of turning the tides of battle by themselves. Wars became the clash of experienced and exceptional Soldiers representing different sides. The militaries were there to finish things off in case they fell.
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