Kalran: Tales of the four nations/Bersaglieri

"Salkoy's elite sharpshooters reporting!"

Tactical Analysis

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History
"As one of the head researcher, and tester, for these prosthesis, I am glad that I am able to help others to return to a normal life. And its thanks to this arm that I am able to embrace my children with two hands."

-Angela Sato, mother of four, one of the head researchers/tester of Aratani cybernetics

Since the First invasion of the Horde, one of the most impressive advances in military technology has been in armour technology. Both personal and vehicle protection have increased considerably in the last age. The Humans beginning to experiment with composites, layering iron, enchanted clothes, and ceramic plates with particular emphasis on crew protection, while the Dwarves use excessively thick steel and adamantine armour with a great deal of compartmentalization, meaning that even a killing blow on a tank or ship will leave the crew unharmed. Even infantry benefit from this armour technology; Defender and Legionnaire units wearing armour that can withstand attacks that would almost certainly have killed them otherwise. There are probably thousands of cases of dwarven or human soldiers taken out of action in battle only to stagger away afterward with just minor wounds.

By contrast, elven war doctrine relies on extreme mobility, both tactically and strategically. Rather than having a concept of "front lines", the Elves strike swiftly at critical points, withdraw against serious resistance, and buy time by giving up ground before regrouping for another strike. Though Salkoy has the population, and fecundity, to theoretically win through attrition, especially if its against the Dwarves, their inherent fragility means that doing such thing would bleed them dry even if victorious. Thus, Elven cavalry, and later on vehicles, were built for speed, first strike capabilities and strategic range, sacrificing a lot of armour in the process. However, as the Volko-Salka war began and dragged on, they were forced to engage on the Dwarves terms, to stand and fight, something the Dwarves excel at.

Elven casualty figures reflect this all too well.

After the war, the city states was staring at a very grim situation; over a half a million veterans with crippling injuries, a gutted military in desperate need of experienced soldiers to support the influx of reserves, and a war debt they must pay off. Fortunately for the Elves, a solution for all three problems was at hand; there had been substantial advances in magical prosthetics, similar to the bulky if efficient diesel powered ones made by the Dwarves. The council quickly commissioned a wizard academy to begin research in making magical prosthetics, and once a breakthrough was made they began to set up mass manufacturing plants and clinics both in the home Island and overseas in Arkalion, especially since the Volksgard Dwarves had isolated themselves after the war. These cybernetics are so good that they can return soldiers that would otherwise have to retire due to their wounds back to service, which goes a long way to stabilising the army, though a bad power efficiency for their prosthetics still plagues their designs.

During trials of these cybernetic veterans to see if they were still fit for service, it was noted that many of the prosthetic replacements lent themselves to particularly good snipers. Tireless arms made of wood and ceramic would stay on a target without flinching, enchanted glass eyes could focus on small targets from kilometers away, and magical legs allowed them to accurately fire even when sprinting. As the statistics started coming back, Salkoy command began to offer substantial benefits for veterans with the right prosthetics to volunteer for sniper duty.

Trivia

 * They are based off the Italian infantry of the same name.