21.11 Location terrain, size and ways for legions to impact.

Terrain types and various informative details about a location can be gleaned by typing SURVEY. It is useful for many of the abilities found in Farming and Labours skillsets but most important is the role played by terrain - and each specific location - in virtually all facets of warfare. See HELP LOCALE for further info on the individual location and its division into nine areas, each compass direction plus the centre-point. Locations vary in size and thus the numbers of legions, the size of equipment, the extent of defences - all these can be affected. A location described as 'underground tunnel' is likely to occupy a smaller space than one known as 'immense field'. Where a location's size affects the sheer volume of legions, equipment and such capable of being held within, the terrain type plays an equally crucial role in defining the extent to which a legion can alter (potentially permanently) the make-up of a locale. The earthy ground of a forest or field lends itself well to the digging of trenches and tunnels, for instance, while a marshland may hinder fast movement but it may prove even easier to dig into, lay mines within, etc.

The simplest terrain alteration method involves the building of fortifications. Fortifications are makeshift defences erected, typically, using iron, rope and wood. These commodities are wrought together in a manner most suitable for defending a locale - the more fortifications constructed, the better defended is a point in the location. Fortifications can be raised and lowered. When lowered they have little impact save occupying some space in the locale but when raised they offer a form of defensive battlement capable of being occupied by troops on one side (augmenting their offensive capabilities) and requiring besieging from the other (by the invading forces) to gradually knock them down (see HELP DESTRUCTION for details on the legion goals/command-orders relevant to laying siege to defensive positions). Fortifications manned with well-trained legions are a formidable proposition for any invading army.

Syntax: ... FORTIFY COMMENCE and FORTIFY CEASE.
Utilising the specialist-skill "buildforts" and a weight of numbers, the legion
thus commanded will set up fortifications. The fortifications will typically
be built in the locale point occupied by the legion but can also (if adjacent
point is sympathetically positioned and devoid of hositle opposition) be erected
in a specific direction or around a suitable target item (such as a siege tower).
Determining where the legion attempts to fortify is done via the FIXATE command
as documented in HELP FIELD. A full list of those targets able to be fortified
can be found in the HELP FORTIFICATIONS documentation.

In most terrain-types you will be able to dig into the ground. Legions are
hardy, often highly skilled operators and, particularly laden with quality
equipment, are able of digging immensely deep

Syntax: ... DIG <depth>, TRENCH <dirn>
Specialist: "Trenches"
Needs: suitable atmospheric type, nothing in the down direction, no
specific blackages preventing digging, equipment helps greatly.

Syntax: ... DIG <depth>, TUNNEL <dirn>
Specialist: "Tunnelling"
Needs: suitable atmospheric type, to be down deep enough already to tunnel
in a direction with sufficient earth above, equipment to shore up tunnel,
equipment is of great help.

Syntax: ... DIG <depth>, MINE <dirn>/HERE
Specialist: "Minefields"
Needs: mine concealment is improved by burying them, or laying them in
unexpected locations, exploded by direct contact or one level per 50 men
depth.

Syntax: ... LEVELGROUND <locale pos> <level>/<dirn>
Specialist: "LevelGround"
Needs: earth and sand, tools for the levelling, sufficient manpower and
filler substance to level out trenches, fill or wall off tunnels or
trenches, etc.

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