Questions tagged [warfare]

Use this tag for questions about engagement in or the activities involved in war or conflict, including about military structure, strategy, and particular battles.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
8 votes
0 answers
152 views

Fantasy book about a besieged city

I'm looking for a book I've read in the late nineties, though I don't think it was new at that time. It's fantasy book (orcs, sorcerers, etc.) chronicling the siege of a city. It starts when the city ...
  • 181
13 votes
6 answers
7k views

How can Mars compete with Earth economically or militarily?

I'm into third season now and apart from whole bunch of really, really stupid meme stuff (would use a different word, but...), which I can't peg as inattention to detail or sloppy writing, there is ...
  • 7,190
7 votes
0 answers
104 views

Novel or novella involving a protagonist who travels forward in time and encounters a strange war where the weapons were all color-coded

The main protagonist travels forward in time and encounters a strange war where the weapons were all color-coded. Like, fire weapons were red, etc. The time traveller might have eventually "...
  • 131
10 votes
0 answers
171 views

Humans lose an interstellar war against humorous-looking aliens [duplicate]

This is from an anthology, possibly from the 1950s. The ambassador/general is delegated to a prisoner exchange on an isolated planet. From the illustrations I recall the aliens look like short fat ...
  • 1,478
14 votes
1 answer
1k views

'The Needler' human alien war against the Soetti (sweaty)

This is a story from an anthology, I cannot recall the author but I may have first read it in the 1960's or 1970's. The title actually refers to the protaganists superior, who charges him with solving ...
  • 1,478
19 votes
1 answer
2k views

Uninvolved, non-combatant world devastated by out-of-continuum bombs; seeks end to conflict

From the 70s or early 80s. Set on a world where deadly missiles wink into being, seemingly out of nowhere. They originate from a place, or places, where physical laws are wildly different: there a ...
user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
103 views

What are the logistics behind sending Jaegers into battle?

Logistics is an underrated aspect of warfare and many see it as the most important part about going to war. When the Nazis were making their way into the USSR and were forced to fight in the brutal ...
  • 141
7 votes
1 answer
373 views

Looking for an SF story where Lebanon was the UN's petri dish for war

This story is probably 30 years old. as best I recall, the UN has determined to not work towards eliminating internal strife in Lebanon (which arguably it could do), because they felt it was better to ...
  • 523
7 votes
1 answer
436 views

Short story about humans losing a space war due to having SUPERIOR technology [duplicate]

In the story, an officer describes an ongoing war between humans and aliens. The aliens have less advanced technology so they assume they will easily when. However, the officer remises on how much ...
  • 855
2 votes
1 answer
343 views

Were Malgalad/Amdír and Oropher both slain in the Battle of Dagorlad, or in two separate incidents?

It seems to be generally understood (see the Tolkien Gateway and LOTR wiki articles) that: In the Battle of Dagorlad, Oropher's company fought valiantly but he was slain with the greater part of ...
  • 2,828
6 votes
1 answer
891 views

Why would Craftworld Eldar fight Craftworld Eldar?

I've been talking with some people about difficult-to-justify 40k mirror matchups. After talking about Tyranids (doable thanks to, say, Hydra) or Tau (where Farsight gives a fine precedent) we got ...
  • 1,786
7 votes
1 answer
303 views

Sci-Fi short story: Side with the most advanced technology loses [duplicate]

Looking for an old sci-fi short story where the side with the most advanced technology loses because of unexpected side effects of their high tech. The story is told from the perspective of the ...
8 votes
3 answers
3k views

Harkonnen-Sardaukar casualty ratio discrepancy against the Fremen

"The Sardaukar are excellent fighting men, no doubt of it," the Baron said. "But I think my own legions — " "A pack of holiday excursionists by comparison!" Hawat ...
  • 2,828
7 votes
1 answer
503 views

Book about mages who can harvest magical energy from the environment

I have a vague recollection of a book I devoured while in college; it was from the late 80's or early 90's. I remember that there were two 'classes' of mages, the ones who could harvest magical energy ...
  • 73
9 votes
1 answer
520 views

All the Small Wars at Once

Looking for a SF Short Story I read many years ago. Name (although not exactly sure): "All the Small Wars at Once". I believe it was written by Larry Niven (but not sure). Brief synopsis (as I ...
11 votes
1 answer
278 views

Looking for a short story involving robotic proxy warfare on the moon [duplicate]

War was banished from Earth, and instead operated by proxy on the Moon. Belligerent nations would each send robots (not necessarily androids) to the moon to compete for supremacy in the given conflict....
7 votes
2 answers
2k views

Humans winning an interstellar war against hive-minded aliens due to human nature [duplicate]

I read this story in the mid/late 90's, and I believe it was in a Sci-Fi anthology or a magazine (such as Asimov), so it's possibly much older. Unfortunately, the only details I remember are very ...
  • 5,068
7 votes
2 answers
4k views

Why did Catelyn side with Renly in the War of Five Kings?

In the episode Garden of Bones (season 2, episode 4), Catelyn sides with Renly instead of Stannis even though Ned supported Stannis. Extract video here. Stannis: "It is strange to find you beside ...
  • 4,917
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

Why did Robert and Rhaegar fight at the Trident instead of down south in the Stormlands?

Since the first book, it's said that Robert Baratheon defeated Rhaegar Targaryen at the Trident. I can't figure the timeline from when Rhaegar was hiding in Dorne with Lyanna, then went to the ...
  • 4,917
11 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can't remember short story, post-apocalyptic retaliation

In the story, there has been a war, and 'the other side' has won it decisively. There's some kind of long-term consequence for the losing side, disease or nuclear fallout, and it's implied that the ...
  • 119
2 votes
1 answer
167 views

Intergalactic war Weapons designs Flaws [duplicate]

Very short story about engineering problems with weapons development in an intergalactic space war. Force field, matter shrinking technology. Taught in engineering design programs.
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

Why was the Separatist army so weak?

Correct me if I am wrong (please provide evidence that if I am wrong, provide a battle that the Separatists win during the Clone Wars era) but it seems to me that they never win any battles against ...
35 votes
1 answer
5k views

Why did Humperdinck want to start a war?

We know that Vizzini was paid by Humperdinck to start a war between Florin and Guilder. What made Humperdinck want to go to war with Guilder?
  • 1,169
22 votes
2 answers
7k views

Why did Stannis emerge victorious against Wildling host?

In-universe, why would The King Beyond The Wall only bring barely a thousand men with him? Out of universe, probably so that Stannis could defeat him and start his war in the north. Stannis and his ...
  • 235
10 votes
3 answers
769 views

Are there examples of the Empire fighting itself?

Background: I am trying to find some evidence for a request I would like to make to the developers of the Star Wars Commander game. Currently the only match-ups possible are Rebel versus Empire. ...
  • 1,187
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

Elite troops and Single Combat in Westeros

We know personal skills are not that important in a medieval battle. Discipline was one of the two crucial aspects of almost all medieval battles, the other being numbers. In fact, this is something ...
user avatar
25 votes
2 answers
3k views

Where do the regions of Westeros appear to align as of the season 6 finale?

Based on a previous question, my understanding is that there are 9 regions of Westeros subject to the rule of the Iron Throne, from Dorne joining up to Cersei killing Robert. With whom does [insert ...
  • 3,706
3 votes
1 answer
160 views

Civilisation battles enemy along time-warped front. May be fighting itself [duplicate]

City is involved in a very long war along a front which is subject to some kind of warping, such that you can never actually get there—just fire through it. At the end, protagonists suggests that the ...
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

Why did only a portion of Mance Rayder's army attack The Wall?

When the King beyond the wall attacked the wall why did he only send around a 1000 men if he had a 100,000?
  • 41
9 votes
2 answers
417 views

Trying to find a book about a soldier that ends up fighting forever

Looking for a story about a soldier from around 1990 to the 2000's. It was about a soldier that came home from a war and didn't fit in. so the army offered him a deal. He was to go into some sort of ...
  • 880
9 votes
5 answers
3k views

Why didn't the Capitol besiege District 13?

This looks like it might be inspired by this question, but in fact it's been on my to-ask list for months. In the novel Mockingjay and the film adaptation Mockingjay Part 1, the Capitol and the ...
  • 133k
10 votes
1 answer
499 views

1960s SF novel with sub war, telepathy, dolphins, recreational drug that makes you sick, then cures you for fun

I've clarified the details and added a few things I've remembered since first asking the question. I hope that helps someone figure this out. I'm trying to recall a short novel probably from the ...
  • 4,581
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

Why do Hoster and Edmure Tully not rally their forces?

Raiders swoop in from the Westerlands, emboldened by Tywin's promises of sweet, sweet loot. Robb Stark calls his banners. What do the noble lords of Riverrun do? Disband their forces along the entire ...
  • 1,749
5 votes
1 answer
606 views

What was Herman Munsters' role when he fought in World War II?

I was researching the Munsters as I build a Lego Munsters diorama for Emerald City ComiCon. According to Herman Munster's Wikipedia page, he fought in World War II. Herman married Lily, and ...
6 votes
1 answer
3k views

How long did the War of Five Kings last?

The Five Kings are: Robb Stark - The King of the North Stannis Baratheon - Robert's younger brother and legitimate heir Renly Baratheon - The youngest Baratheon who decided to proclaim himself king ...
  • 59.4k
2 votes
2 answers
5k views

Why did the Empire not put their Stormtroopers in camouflage when they were stationed on Endor?

Playing the Star Wars: Battlefront game, there is a level set on the forest moon of Endor. On this map, the Rebel forces have a massive advantage: they are wearing camouflage. Used correctly, this can ...
  • 506
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Which war did Frank Bryce injure his leg in?

It is said that Frank Bryce, the gardener for the Riddle house, injured his leg during the "war". Frank Bryce was the Riddles’ gardener. He lived alone in a run-down cottage on the grounds of the ...
  • 82.9k
11 votes
1 answer
692 views

Help find name and author of science fiction story about robots taking over all aspects of war

I read this short story a while ago. It described a futuristic war fought by robots. It featured a team of some sort of military elite going in an underground train (which broke on the way) to their ...
  • 213
2 votes
1 answer
125 views

Book title about mutant humanoid slugs post apocalyptic vs air force?

I am trying to find a book series from the 80-90s whose main character talked about practicing "yuwinitsu" or you win when it suits you. It was post nuclear with a war between humans and mutant slug ...
  • 29
7 votes
1 answer
981 views

Has the Galactic Empire ever conducted large scale ground battles?

The Galactic Empire was at its prime after the end of the Clone Wars and prior to the Battle of Endor. The Battle of Jakku saw most of the Imperial Navy, Army & Stormtrooper Corps committed and ...
  • 34.1k
-6 votes
1 answer
540 views

Why do clones just run into battles and get shot at and just keep shooting?

Why do they do keep on showing when getting shot at? Why do they also run into battles without taking cover?
13 votes
1 answer
3k views

Modern military jet goes back to World War I

Looking for title and author of a short story. A pilot of an (American?) near-future military jet and his machine find themselves back in time on an airfield near the front line in World War I. The ...
  • 9,920
6 votes
0 answers
598 views

Which real-life battles did Captain America fight in?

Over the years, due to various retcons, Captain America seems to fought in practically every single battle in World War II. Is there a list of the real-life World War II battles Steve Rogers of the ...
  • 66.6k
15 votes
5 answers
6k views

What was the largest death count in Star Trek?

In Star Trek they face many trials, wars, battles, what was the single worst catastrophe the federation faced, in reported casualties? Was it the battle of Wolf 359, an engagement in the Dominion war, ...
  • 65.9k
2 votes
1 answer
592 views

A short story about a soldier in the future

Looking for a short story about a soldier in the future on a mission. At a certain point he bites down on a banana shaped capsule under his tongue and the drug accelerates his metabolism for the ...
13 votes
2 answers
3k views

How did the clones land at the battle of Geonosis?

In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, we see the Cavalry (warning: TVTropes link) arrive in the form of the clone army led by Master Yoda. However, just a few scenes later as Dooku is ...
10 votes
1 answer
624 views

Name of short story about soccer-like game

I am looking for the name of a short story by a renowned sf writer where world violence and wars were eradicated by introducing pacific soccer-like competition around the world. But, as time passes, ...
  • 103
22 votes
3 answers
5k views

Why didn't the Alliance destroy The Reavers?

In Serenity, we learn that So my question is, why didn't the Alliance destroy them? There were fewer than 30,000 Reavers and the Alliance had a much larger military. We also learn that So why did ...
  • 66.6k
4 votes
2 answers
270 views

Characters exiled from Earth return home, fight against an organisation controlling the Government

I don't know many of the details, here's what I do know: The book was written in 1999 or earlier. I'm thinking probably earlier, like 80's. From what I remember of the beginning, I think the book is ...
  • 71
2 votes
1 answer
973 views

Earth boy goes to a magical fantasy world when he sleeps

Boy is on Earth but when he sleeps he goes to a different world. Both worlds' stories carry on over the book and they connect at the end. It starts with the boy in a monastery and in a small apartment ...
  • 31