Garlean Military and Armament

So I was just thinking about this the other day, but why is it that all the Garlean soldiers we see are armed with swords, axes, bows and the like? We have seen that they have amazingly advanced technology, stuff that could challenge even what we have today, but their soldiers are armed like they are straight out of Lord of the Rings. The only exceptions to this seem to be the higher ups, from officers all the way up to Gaius, and the ones that are lucky enough to pilot a Magitek Armor. Does anyone have any explanations for this?

I seem to recall from 1.0 that most of the forces being used to invade Eorzea are conscripts from the colonies/Ala Mhigo. They may not trust the rank and file with advanced weaponry. Also its possible that magitek is 1) expensive to produce 2)difficult to produce or 3)difficult to operate or some combination thereof.

Naria is correct - it's stated in both 1.0 and ARR that the bulk of the Garlean military's front-line forces are conscripts drafted from the nations they've conquered (specifically, Ala Mhigo, but other subject nations are also used as a source of troops).

Accordingly, the regular 'grunts' wield basic weapons like swords and bows, even armed with magic (which is the clue they're not real Garleans - native-born Garleans are naturally poor at using magic - hence their reliance on technology), because they're considered expendable - why waste precious money and resources on someone that's just going to end up as cannon fodder anyway?

Hence magitek weapons like gunblades are usually reserved for the 'elite' troops or officer ranks like the centurions, tribunes like Livia and Nero, and the Legatee like Gaius, as these positions would definitely be limited to those of 'native Garlean' birth, with some exceptions (like Rhititayn being not Garlean born, but rising to a position of authority within the military).

Thanks for the replies, I guess I missed the bits where the composition of the armies was stated. It makes a lot more sense now, although Im curious if any of the legions are primarily or at least mostly composed of native born Garleans with magitek weaponry. I understand that Garlemand is a relatively small nation itself, with the majority of its population being foreign born, so it may be that they simply dont have the numbers to fill out a full legion. Was there any difference between the XII Legion and the XIV Legion? I only started playing relatively recently so I didn't play at all during 1.0. It makes sense to me that the XIV legion at least would be very welcoming of levies from conquered territories, as Gaius strikes me as a man who doesn't care where one was born and instead values ability and dedication to the Empire, which from the reaction Rhitahytn to some lines from Gaius, is something of an anomaly within the Empire

Well, we've only really seen two specific Garlean legions so far in both 1.0 and ARR (the VIIth, led by Nael van Darnus, and the XIVth, led by Gaius van Baelsar), and troops for both seem to follow the will of their commanding Legatus (especially in the case of the VIIth, who even with Nael being 'killed' still zealously threw themselves into battle against the Alliance at Carteneau without a commander, simply acting according to his general will that is, 'cleanse' the 'savage lands of Eorzea from it's taint').

Of course the VIIth was virtually completely annihilated in the Calamity, with any survivors presumably absorbed into the XIVth so it's possible any specific differences they had would have been lost in the adoption of their new posting.

I remember it mentioned somewhere in the old 1.0 forum (now archived) that there is in fact fourteen separate Garlean legions incidentally, or rather, was given the now loss of both the VIIth and XIVth in Eorzea.

As has been said we only know about the VII and XIV legions in any amount of detail, so we don't know if there are any legions that are purely Garlean. If there are any, it would be the I (the emperor's legion) is the most likely and I wouldn't be surprised if even it has conquered peoples in it.

The naming of the units could be an interesting point of discussion. Two of the unit descriptions that I remember, are descriptions of types/styles of Roman Gladiator. Not Legionnaires. Hoplomachus and Secutor...

Morituri te salutamus?

It's true. The unit members are named after gladiator types, based on their weapon.

Eques - lance.
Laquearius - axe.
Hoplomachus - sword
Signifier - staff (THM)
Secutor - fist weapons

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Enkidoh

Hence magitek weapons like gunblades are usually reserved for the 'elite' troops or officer ranks like the centurions, tribunes like Livia and Nero, and the Legatee like Gaius, as these positions would definitely be limited to those of 'native Garlean' birth, with some exceptions (like Rhititayn being not Garlean born, but rising to a position of authority within the military).

---

While it's never specifically stated, Livia's few comments regarding her background seem to suggest that she's also not a native-born Garlean. Her vague comments, including her final words, suggest that she lost everything at some point when she was much younger. A likely explanation is that she lived in one of the countries that the Garleans invaded, was left destitute as a result, but managed to work her way up to her present position.


However, it's also noted in one conversation that Gaius's trust in competent non-Garlean subordinates is unique.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Melinia

While it's never specifically stated, Livia's few comments regarding her background seem to suggest that she's also not a native-born Garlean. Her vague comments, including her final words, suggest that she lost everything at some point when she was much younger. A likely explanation is that she lived in one of the countries that the Garleans invaded, was left destitute as a result, but managed to work her way up to her present position.
However, it's also noted in one conversation that Gaius's trust in competent non-Garlean subordinates is unique.

---

And if you really want to take it a step further, it's heavily implied that Livia has some SERIOUS daddy issues. Like… wow. SE's kinda messed up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by A_Magical_Unicorn_Rider

And if you really want to take it a step further, it's heavily implied that Livia has some SERIOUS daddy issues. Like… wow. SE's kinda messed up.

---

Not just implied. Nero flat out states that her thinking is clouded because she's in love with Gaius.

It sucks how little SE went over the commander's backstories. Hearing Rhititayn portray his nation joining the Garlean empire and Livia's love for Gaius (I assume) made me want to know more.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Melinia

Not just implied. Nero flat out states that her thinking is clouded because she's in love with Gaius.

---

And even more so, Gaius takes advantage of this.

Hence the scene before you enter Castrum:

Gaius: "You. My quarters… one hour."

And then Livia just nods and heads off.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Enkidoh

legions

---

While we haven't been formally introduced to them, there are members of the other Legions present out in the other Castrums in the world. XIVDB has the 1st - 5th Cohorts listed, as well as the 7th and 8th. I would assume each Cohort is a smaller section of each respective Legion.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Orophin

While we haven't been formally introduced to them, there are members of the other Legions present out in the other Castrums in the world. XIVDB has the 1st - 5th Cohorts listed, as well as the 7th and 8th. I would assume each Cohort is a smaller section of each respective Legion.

---

Roman legions were made up of 10 cohorts named first to tenth cohort. Garlean cohorts would most likely be the same (except possibly the number per legion), so those are 1st-8th cohorts of the XIVth legion.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by finiteHP

Roman legions were made up of 10 cohorts named first to tenth cohort. Garlean cohorts would most likely be the same (except possibly the number per legion), so those are 1st-8th cohorts of the XIVth legion.

---

Yes, but as we're about to go all military-history badass on ourselves, you'd say that was the IDEAL Legion. As you know, realities, funds, troop availability, commander's preferences all acted to see that the ideal 10-cohort legion was a very rare Eagle, just like a Centurion rarely commanded *just* 100 troopers :)

I still wonder why the Garlean field troops are named after Gladiator types... it may mean nothing, I know, but there IS a big philosophical difference in a battle-ready legionnaire with gladius, pilum, and verutum; and fighters trained to die gloriously for entertainment in an arena.

That implies that Garlemand trained them in any way, and didn't just deal with insurrection by taking all the willing and able fighters and throwing them into the Armies to keep them under watchful eye. They could promote certain, actually capable and suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, members of the subjugated in order to KEEP them down by giving them false hope of becoming part of the greater nation. Hope is morale, morale keeps people from rebelling, rebellion is put down by burning everything and everyone down to unborn children, then salting the earth and poisoning the wells.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gornotck

That implies that Garlemand trained them in any way, and didn't just deal with insurrection by taking all the willing and able fighters and throwing them into the Armies to keep them under watchful eye. They could promote certain, actually capable and suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, members of the subjugated in order to KEEP them down by giving them false hope of becoming part of the greater nation. Hope is morale, morale keeps people from rebelling, rebellion is put down by burning everything and everyone down to unborn children, then salting the earth and poisoning the wells.

---

I heard something like this once…

http://youtu.be/FFvN2y9PI3s?t=1m3s

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gornotck

That implies that Garlemand trained them in any way, and didn't just deal with insurrection by taking all the willing and able fighters and throwing them into the Armies to keep them under watchful eye. They could promote certain, actually capable and suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, members of the subjugated in order to KEEP them down by giving them false hope of becoming part of the greater nation. Hope is morale, morale keeps people from rebelling, rebellion is put down by burning everything and everyone down to unborn children, then salting the earth and poisoning the wells.

---

You're pretty much on the right track - version 1.0 had an Echo-scene where the player saw Garlean soldiers rounding up Ala Mhigan children and brainwashing them into zealously hating the beastmen and the Primals - within moments the kids go from scared orphans into anti-beast men zealots, and are then taken by the soldiers back to a waiting Garlean airship, their fates unknown, but presumably they're then taken into the military and trained as soldiers.

Having said that, not all Garlean troops are brainwashed or even believe their dogma - remember Dest the marooned Garlean Juggernaut pilot in Eastern La Noscea? All he wants is to save up enough money to return to his wife and family on Othard, as he hates the military and doesn't follow any of Garlemald's ideologies - suggesting he was forced into the military against his will and simply did what he had to do to survive, and that being marooned gave him an opportunity to escape Garlemald's attention without reprisals.

This also explains why he simply didn't just return to Castrum Occidens - they probably would have reprimanded him, maybe even executed him, for 'insubordination' or some other trumped up charge. Unfortunately though, he seems to be more the exception than the rule when it comes to Garlean troops shown in the game.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Enkidoh

Snip

---

There is probably a mandatory conscription, with a punishment of imprisonment or worse execution.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gornotck

They could promote certain, actually capable and suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, members of the subjugated in order to KEEP them down by giving them false hope of becoming part of the greater nation.

---

Except that what we learn about Gaius and his subordinates seems to suggest the opposite. Gaius's non-Garlean subordinates actually seem to be pretty much unique within the Garlean forces, largely due to the racial prejudices of the Garleans. That also further suggests that Gaius himself is meritocratic to a degree not present within most of the Empire. On the one hand, he and his subordinates needed to be stopped. On the other, it seems almost a shame to be forced to kill what appears to be the one Garlean in a position of power who isn't hindered by the racial prejudices of his countrymen.

I also find it ironic that the one subordinate to survive the bloodbath (Nero), is also the one who is potentially the biggest disaster waiting to happen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by finiteHP

Roman legions were made up of 10 cohorts named first to tenth cohort. Garlean cohorts would most likely be the same (except possibly the number per legion), so those are 1st-8th cohorts of the XIVth legion.

---

Thanks for the education, apparently I should have done some more research. :)