Vlad Drakov's biases
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 1:22 am
There's been a lot of talk recently about Vlad Drakov's aversions to firearms, magic, etc. as coming purely from personal bias/outdated codes of honor/etc. basically- irrational ideas. However, I would like to argue that these biases have some basis in rationality (based on the data available to Drakov) and may even provide a function.
First of all, let's look at Drakov's background. He's a mercenary captain, which means his job is to go kill people/win battles- referred to as a "henchman", meaning doing what he's told. As such, the core of his company are fighters- canny and very elite/well-trained fighters, but men-at-arms nonetheless. He comes from Hith, a place dominated by evil clerics, necromancers, and other spellcasters. One of the big reasons he wants to be king is to prove he can be just as legit a bigwig as they are, having been disrespected and looked down upon for all of his life.
Drakov also comes from Krynn, a place where firearms are not well known. Coming to Ravenloft is really his first exposure to them. Even Drakov's domain is a Medieval domain with technology predating (and therefore, alien to) firearms. Now, when Drakov comes to Ravenloft, pretty much all of the domains around him that aren't ruled by spellcasters are ruled by fops and other people Drakov disrespects. Guns played not an insignificant role in defeating his troops.
From Drakov's perspective, it would make sense that, given that all the weakling-ruled domains somehow tenuously hang on given the use of firearms or magic, that these forces might result in similar forces taking over Falkovnia if introduced. And to a certain degree this is objectively true. Drakov's strategy is based upon well-trained, elite fighters (with some walls of poorly armed civilians to serve as cannon fodder.) D&D rules notwithstanding, guns are relatively cheap to make and easy to learn. Hence, if you let the commoners get a hold on them, the commoners might have something to hope with (and thus resist Drakov's decrees or even get a fop into power like all the neighbors.) Similarly, relying on magic puts you at risk of encountering a foreign agent or group that might one day displace you.
So basically, if i take into consideration the above, Drakov is not that irrational for sticking to his guns on not using guns or magic. From all the in-world evidence he could see, I think Drakov made a fairly understandable decision.
First of all, let's look at Drakov's background. He's a mercenary captain, which means his job is to go kill people/win battles- referred to as a "henchman", meaning doing what he's told. As such, the core of his company are fighters- canny and very elite/well-trained fighters, but men-at-arms nonetheless. He comes from Hith, a place dominated by evil clerics, necromancers, and other spellcasters. One of the big reasons he wants to be king is to prove he can be just as legit a bigwig as they are, having been disrespected and looked down upon for all of his life.
Drakov also comes from Krynn, a place where firearms are not well known. Coming to Ravenloft is really his first exposure to them. Even Drakov's domain is a Medieval domain with technology predating (and therefore, alien to) firearms. Now, when Drakov comes to Ravenloft, pretty much all of the domains around him that aren't ruled by spellcasters are ruled by fops and other people Drakov disrespects. Guns played not an insignificant role in defeating his troops.
From Drakov's perspective, it would make sense that, given that all the weakling-ruled domains somehow tenuously hang on given the use of firearms or magic, that these forces might result in similar forces taking over Falkovnia if introduced. And to a certain degree this is objectively true. Drakov's strategy is based upon well-trained, elite fighters (with some walls of poorly armed civilians to serve as cannon fodder.) D&D rules notwithstanding, guns are relatively cheap to make and easy to learn. Hence, if you let the commoners get a hold on them, the commoners might have something to hope with (and thus resist Drakov's decrees or even get a fop into power like all the neighbors.) Similarly, relying on magic puts you at risk of encountering a foreign agent or group that might one day displace you.
So basically, if i take into consideration the above, Drakov is not that irrational for sticking to his guns on not using guns or magic. From all the in-world evidence he could see, I think Drakov made a fairly understandable decision.