Who Would Make a Good Warlord?

[kato13]

This list

http://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-famous-warlords/referencepage=1

seems to show that being a military person, or a religious or political leader is the most common pre-warlord occupation.

[Targan]

Always thought there was something megalomaniac about you Targan

My online gaming name for the last decade has been Monomaniacal. I think that says it all

[SionEwig]

Pretty much anyone who has been in any type of leadership position could be a possible good warlord. It's more the person rather than what they have been. A possible off the wall one could be an experienced youth group leader. Or a park ranger, forrest ranger type.

[Apache6]

I've GM'd a local Sheriff in a southern county who 'grew' almost unwillingly into a warlord as other elements including the state and local elected officials proved incapable of providing order and/or security. His intention was to protect his county and ensure justice. This certainly has historic precedence.

As does the wealthy cattle baron, minor or farmer hiring protection that eventually grows into a 'militia' of its own. This scenario has occurred in Columbia where "FARC" guerrilla (originally a Marxist group) have basically become the security force for drug growers, who have then grown to control significant portions of real estate, has occurred in recent history.

In many cases the difference between a militia band, a contract security force and a warlords army might be almost semantic. In all cases, the truth will be colored by the intent, beliefs, perceptions and propaganda of the various speakers.

If he is my enemy, I might call a a charismatic and effective leader of a county militia, a warlord, gang leader, or warcriminal... Of course if he's in my pay or doing my bidding he's a brave defender of the helpless. If I'm a single mother who is being protected, I might call him a hero or even willingly 'my lord' and be proud of his successes.

[pmulcahy11b]

[QUOTE=SionEwig;60784]Pretty much anyone who has been in any type of leadership position could be a possible good warlord. It's more the person rather than what they have been. A possible off the wall one could be an experienced youth group leader. Or a park ranger, forr

I've been a forest ranger in Virginia. Some will never listen to you, especially kids on a field trip. A forest ranger would better be a specialist asset to a warlord.

[Raellus]

There's a somewhat interesting German film called The Wave (that, at least, is the American English title) about a high school teacher who conducts a simulation/social experiment with his students on the topic of totalitarianism. I don't want to give too much away but things spiral out of control pretty quickly.

[Bullet Magnet]

While people in certain occupations may be more likely, I think anyone with a sharp mind, tenacity, and the ability to persuade, could potentially become a warlord in a T2K situation.

Think of Tina Turner's character in 'Thunderdome'. It's been a while since I've seen that movie, but I seem to recall, in one scene, she's talking to Max & asks him what he did before their world went charcoal. Then she talks about her life back then, and as I recall, she was nothing special then (I don't recall exactly what). She was a "nobody", worked a crap job. Then, the "boom", and after that, she clawed her way to "the top", running Barter Town.

It's all about getting an opportunity, and being able to see the opportunity, and knowing how to seize the opportunity.

[SionEwig]

I've been a forest ranger in Virginia. Some will never listen to you, especially kids on a field trip. A forest ranger would better be a specialist asset to a warlord.

Well, some people are not going to listen to someone in any of the professions mentioned in this thread. And kids on a field trip, especially to the wide open spaces, do tend to be had to get the attention of. Nonetheless, a park ranger or forest ranger could still become an effective warlord, at least in the right circumstances (just like any profession could).

[Adm.Lee]

A charismatic university professor perhaps Possibly one who has studied / taught certain periods of history that may have given them some knowledge / insight that may prove useful in the T2K World For example, someone who is a subject matter expert on the medieval World may attempt to use their knowledge to recreate some sort of feudal State with themselves at its centre

If not a professor, a university president/chancellor/provost/whatever-- someone used to holding power, who's got some cachet in the community outside the university, perhaps as a former professor or judge.

Heck, combine it with politician-- a former mayor or governor, now univ. professor/president. I think most US states and cities might have a law prohibiting too many back-to-back terms as chief executive, so a "retirement" to State U., located in the capitol, might be a nice way for Popular Governor X. to sit out the four-year term of his handpicked successor (or opposite party opponent) in the Governor's Mansion.

I don't know of anyone like this in the '90s, but Ohio's Gov. Jim Rhodes was governor for 2 terms, sat out the 1971-75 term and returned to the Statehouse 1975-83, since the law was "no more than 2 consecutive terms as governor". He ran again in 1986 for a 5th term, but lost. He wasn't a university president in between, but someone else could have done it. Someone with that kind of longevity would have a lot of influence over state office-holders, local politicians, and even police and militia appointments.

Woodrow Wilson went from Princeton Univ. president to NJ governor to US President.

Alternately, cities don't usually have such restrictions, so a mayor who had been re-elected over and over could have deep roots into patronage and power, to become a warlord.

[James Langham2]

There's a somewhat interesting German film called The Wave (that, at least, is the American English title) about a high school teacher who conducts a simulation/social experiment with his students on the topic of totalitarianism. I don't want to give too much away but things spiral out of control pretty quickly.

Possibly more accessible is the English novel of the experiment by Michael Rhue.

[Raellus]

Thanks, James, I'll check that out.

Quite a few of the replies to my original query re-listed the usual suspects. I guess I was hoping for some subtlety and/or a little authentic humanity- in other words, something not already portrayed in popular media ad nauseum. We all know the archtypes- they're easy to identify, familiar, comforting even, but to seasoned post-apoc warriors such as ourselves, they're also becoming rather trite, colorless, and clich.

For a case study in subtle, nuanced humanity and the creation of a real-life warlord, let's look at history's most notorious example. Physically, he was unattractive and less than average by most metrics. His one defining physical feature became iconic only after his ascension to power. Prior to that, it was fairly commonplace and wholly unremarkable (unless you were familiar with early American cinema). This man's early career goal was not something associated with martial/political leaders of men. He suffered failure, professionally and personally, on several occasions. He did serve in the military during wartime, in combat, with distinction, but his unit-mates didn't think much of him. He certainly wasn't warlord material at that point in his life. He spent time in prison. He wrote a book that not many people at the time bothered to read. He had at least one serious romantic relationship, although many suspect it was never properly consummated. There are second hand reports of some kinky pseudo-sexual behavior. He was fond of little children (although, apparently not inappropriately) and doted on his dog. He surrounded himself with other unattractive people who could well have been described by their contemporaries as losers. All in all, this is not a description of your typical warlord as portrayed in popular media.

If he hadn't been a master manipulator, with a gift for public speaking, myth-making, inspiring intense personal loyalty to himself in others, and unleashing these followers' potential for committing great evils, none of us would ever have heard of Adolf Hitler.

[James Langham2]

Actually it is interesting looking at the published modules:

good guys - civil leaders
bad guys - ex-military

I know this is a simplification but it is understandable really. Actually warlord is a kind of biased term...

I like the concept of the reluctant warlord forced by circumstances.

[Bullet Magnet]

Actually it is interesting looking at the published modules:

good guys - civil leaders
bad guys - ex-military

I know this is a simplification but it is understandable really. Actually warlord is a kind of biased term...

I like the concept of the reluctant warlord forced by circumstances.

Rather than 'interesting', I think a more appropriate adjective would be 'stereotypical'. After all, this has been the belief our masters in Hollywood have been ordering us to follow since the 1960s.

[rcaf_777]

I would think that anyone can be a warlord given the right set of circumstances.

In the aftermath of the TW 2000 nuclear strikes many people who hold leadship postions could find themselves becoming a warlords.

Why cause in time of crisis people look for leaders and seek there help.

A Military Officer could find that when face with frighten soilders and civilians, them begin issues orders that make him a warlord

The same could be said of any Law enforcement Officer, or Mayor or any community leader.

[James Langham2]

Rather than 'interesting', I think a more appropriate adjective would be 'stereotypical. After all, this has been the belief our masters in Hollywood have been ordering us to follow since the 1960s.

one of the problems with stereotypes is that they have a basis in reality to begin with...

Actually I am reading a short history of the wars in the former Yugoslavia and that lists a few pre-war professions of warlords. I will try and type them up when I have a minute.