Child soldiers, what the hell?

FantasySniper·7/3/2017, 7:36:05 PM·4 votes·978 views

It just doesn't make a lick of sense.

Noxian by birth, Kayn and others like him were conscripted as child soldiers, a cruel practice employed by only the most devious commanders of the empire. Ionian compassion was a weakness to be exploited—their warriors would hesitate before striking down a supposed innocent. Thus, barely able to lift the blade he had been given, Kayn’s first day in battle was also expected to be his last.

What part of this is an effective strategy? Send cowardly cannon fodder for the split second reaction time that they haven't even been trained to use? At least in modern war, they use a stupid-simple suicide-bomber method or point and shoot a universally powerful firearm. This... was just bad writing to make Kayn seem unreasonably talented.

19 Comments

Solideus7/3/2017, 7:54:23 PM14 votes

Keep in mind that they were sent out-in-nowhere to fight villagers, not army soldiers. And it wasn't a military goal, it was to terrorize the Ionians.

Overlord Forte7/3/2017, 7:49:38 PM8 votes

It's effective against Ionians because of their moral values giving them pause. This same tactic may be effective against Demacians for the same reasons. It does, however, ruin your future crop of soldiers and cause massive logistical problems over the long term. Whatever 'devious' commander elected for it here was going more for moral shock value than anything strategic probably. Zed's observations affirm this just as much.

Versions of this tactic, both with literal children and otherwise, is prevalent in our own history. Cats were wielded against the Egyptians, who wouldn't fight on the chance they'd hurt something so very sacred. The brutality of war quickly mandated they change their views on that matter, though.

Hellioning7/3/2017, 9:17:11 PM3 votes

Because Noxians killed the lore team's family and they swore revenge.

Warlord Dienekes7/3/2017, 10:29:08 PM2 votes

Medieval armies regularly recruited 11-12 year old peasants to stand in the spear line, and mercenary bands regularly highered them. Youngest I have heard was 6, for the mercenary band thing.

I haven't read the lore but there are a few reasons for this:

-An infantry formation is more about getting people to stand in a block. Anyone can do it provided they can survive the marching, pair them with a veteran who won't run away. It's a legitimate way to boost your numbers

-the enemy will probably feel terrible about fighting a child

-easily exploited for cheap labor

SolarisCorvus7/3/2017, 7:49:11 PM2 votes

I think its supposed to use the enemies morality against them because for some people no matter what the circumstances they would never go all out against a child and would be reluctant to kill them. Also the amount of time the suprise would give noxians enough time to attack the enemy unprepared.

Craxsian7/3/2017, 8:04:24 PM2 votes

If this were with another story, it would be interesting, but in Kayn's case... It seems that is only made in order to earn more badass-ism level.

Wrathof3007/3/2017, 8:55:41 PM2 votes

The objective wasn't to use the children to kill the Ionians, the children were merely a distraction for the main troops to slaughter the Ionians in the confusion.

Decrit7/3/2017, 8:00:33 PM1 votes

Remember, ISIS is doing this right now

OurLestrade7/3/2017, 7:43:00 PM1 votes

I'm pretty sure that in Riven's old champion insight thing it was the other way around, with Ionians using kids against the Noxians. That's the funny thing :P I suppose there was Taliyah as another child soldier thing, but that's a pretty corny trope.