Thinking about how The Watch is organised, and this is what I came up with. It’s very much an ideal situation, and the actual situation on the ground is going to be quite a bit different from this. But ideally…
The smallest unit is the squad (or patrol), of 6–8 people, commanded by a Corporal.
A platoon is four squads, about 30 people, commanded by a Sergeant.
A company is four platoons plus a “platoon” of specialists, those tending the mules for the baggage train, and all of that. About 150 people, commanded by a Commander (assisted by a few Lt Commanders).
A Watch is four companies, about 600 people, headed by a Watch Captain.
There are larger groups, but that’s for sorting out later.
Works for me!
As a useful addition, many modern commands also have a FIRETEAM, which is half a squad (so 3-4) and is generally one of each role with a squad leader. When missions need flexibility, a squad is split into two fireteams, for example to complete two objectives or hold two positions simultaneously.
From a game perspective, the fireteam is a useful size because it’s generally the amount of players you have at the table for most people’s games. So, this gives you some structure for, say, sending all the NPC squad fill-ins in one direction and the PCs in the other, if you want to zoom in on some relationships (and create drama from the separation), and provide a logistical way for the command to complete multiple objectives that narratively need to happen quickly or are uninteresting for the players (like a long watch where nothing happens).
“Team Able will picket the south tower (where nothing happens tonight but it’d be narratively illogical to leave undefended) and Team Baker will watch the sewer main (where the sneak attack happens).”
Rebecca W Yes! Alternatively, an understrength squad allows for the PCs to do the jobs and some NPC cannon fodder to absorb complications.
Both are good!
Another thought on unit sizes. The company is the “natural” size of a pre-Shadow armed group, representing what a town and its surrounding villages could muster if needed. All one clan, men gathering around the company colours, that sort of thing.
I wonder how much of that applies to the Watch? Perhaps there’s a concerted effort to have Watch members focus on the company as the object of their loyalty to displace their existing ties to clan.