What kind of martial classes do you think the Nymians had?

[Transient_Shadow]

Just kind of curious. Based on evidence you've found do you think the Nym's only had marauder style soldiers or did they have an assortment of classes?

[CaesarCV]

From what information we have, Nym seems actually rather unique among the primary nations in the War of the Magi in many ways. One of the most significant is how they are the only ones described as making a significant (and highly effective) use of mundane soldiers. They are also described as 'tiny' rather repeatedly, but still managing to hold their own against the larger powers, albeit in a primarily defensive role. This is in contrast to the Ampadori and the Mhachi, who primarily fought through animated Constructs and summoned Voidsent respectively. The Royal Marines were presumably primarily Marauders, judging by how Alka Zoka seems to be able to utilize their teachings, even before he had the expert training of one Halga Tolga.

That being said, they presumably did have fighters of other classes. The preponderance of daggers among the Tonberries imply they probably used them as weapons to some degree, with even the ones aiding the player against Bitoso utilizing them. Additionally, Nym was known as a naval powerhouse, so they probably had some sort of effective ranged weapons in addition to their magic. Similarly, weapons such as knives, cutlasses, and others well adapted to naval warfare can be expected. Additionally, I could imagine many other specialized weapons being used against Mhachi voidsent, or hammers and the like if they ever fought Ampadori constructs. As for current player FFXIV disciplines, it's more unclear. They are direct disciplines with an established history (Gridanian archery, Bloodsands training/experience, etc) so they probably wouldn't be identical. But there are probably similar fighting styles to many. Between their skilled martial fighters and the support of their scholarly magics, the Nymian Royal Marines were known to be a small but extremely effective fighting force.

[Connor]

I might be wrong but I'd assume the Nymian military was primarily made of Marauders like you said, with Scholars 'forming the backbone'. I think many of the classes we encounter didn't exist at the time Nym was around in the same capacity they do in modern Eorzea. Black Mages were dominant in Mhach, White Mages in Amdapor and the Scholars in Nym. With magic being so dominant at the time, particularly when drawing ambient aether as opposed to personal aether, I don't think martial classes would have featured much in any of their militaries

We know from the 60-70 job quests that knowledge of other martial classes doesn't seem to be something was willingly. For example, the White Mages were interested in analysing the way Scholars cast their spells (mentioning inscriptions on the Scholar robes you find) when they managed to capture one, which does suggest that alternative martial styles, at least in terms of magical ones.

That said, it's certainly possible that they had archers, foot soldiers with swords, etc, but they wouldn't be similar to their counterparts in modern Eorzea

[Mysterysword]

The preponderance of daggers among the Tonberries imply they probably used them as weapons to some degree, with even the ones aiding the player against Bitoso utilizing them.

I personally wouldn't put any stock in the idea that tonberries using daggers = Nymians using them. Tonberries holding daggers (really a chef's/butcher's knife, not a dagger) and a lantern is simply a part of their design, and it's been a part of them since their first appearance in the series, way back in FF V.

I'm not disputing that the Nymians had knives of any sort, but whether or not they used them extensively in a commonly-known fighting style? I don't think so.

[Jyera]

I might be wrong but I'd assume the Nymian military was primarily made of Marauders like you said, with Scholars 'forming the backbone'.

This was the feeling I got, too; I think they made up for their small numbers through the exacting organisation and tactical ministrations of Scholars. The game puts as much or more emphasis on Scholars as Nymian military commanders, mechanically interested in strategy, as it does on their methods of treating wounds and diseases. Which, I really have to say, is extremely cool. The MRD-type melee specialists seem like they were reasonably common too.

As for Tonberries and knives... I almost have the cringeworthy suspicion that those are more like scrap shivs than standard weapons, given their state of permanent internment and confiscated belongings (like the aforementioned capture of the SCH in the 60-70 quests).

[CaesarCV]

Yeah...the knife thing was a bit of a reach. Maybe I shouldn't have said it. They did seem to rely far more on elite troops than massive armies like the other two nations, which is interesting to note.

[Ametrine]

Nymian knife combat arts = proginators of the Rouge fighting style found in Limsa??

But no, I understood it as their army being composed of the perfect synergy of powerful healers backing powerful tanks. Although, there is credence to the theory the utilized mechanical weaponry to bolster themselves as the Wanderer's Palace is chock full of clockwork that's still active to this day.

[CatStarPrime]

If your enemy utilizes ranged attacks, you'd better also utilize ranged attacks. Unless you've got tech/magery/terrain which neutralizes the efficacy of ranged attacks.

See also: Battle of Agincourt

[Mysterysword]

Unless you've got tech/magery/terrain which neutralizes the efficacy of ranged attacks.

That's what SCH magic does. Note that Louisoix, Alphinaud, and Alisaie have all been shown, in cutscenes, casting a spell that looks similar to Sacred Soil (Louisoix's range being much larger) and that is capable of tanking Bahamut's attacks. Of course, the spell they used probably wasn't Sacred Soil itself, but something similar.

[CatStarPrime]

It's unlikely something like that could be sustained throughout a battle, at platoon and squad level. I can see "Adloquiams for everyone!" for shock attacks / charges but to keep a shield up across 200 yalms of open terrain, under arrow/bolt/ballista/rain of fire barrages? Well, it's possible, given all our uncertainties, but still.

What about an enemy who prefers cavalry as shock troops? Again, unmounted infantry is at a severe disadvantage - even Royal Nymian Marines - if the terrain allows. Mountain Divisions?