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So, you've decided to be a Sperewigend. Welcome to the Riders of Rohan! To help you out in your new position, here is some useful information playing a sperewigend.
Eoreds
The basic unit of the military in the Riddermark is the eored, consisting of 120 Riders, led by an Aethelwigend, Feldmarshal, or Marshal. This is broken down into patrols of 20, each led by a Maegisterwigend. And, of course, the sperewigends are the warriors that make up the rest of the eored. (For more complete information, see +rohelp military for information on the military, and +rohelp titles for information on what each title means.)
Duties
The primary function of a sperewigend is to protect Rohan and its people. However, in times of peace, even nominal peace such as now, not every warrior is needed in muster. Therefore, you have the option of playing a full-time, or a part-time warrior, and having a second profession is encouraged. Other than riding out and fighting, you may be called upon by higher-ranking officers or representatives of the House of Eorl to perform other duties. You can, of course, refuse to do any of them, but remember that you will face the IC consequences!
Etiquette
You may be asking yourself, How do I get into an eored? Basically, you have two options. You can either be a part of an NPC eored, or you can join one with a PC leader. (See +roriders West and +roriders east to see what leaders are currently available). Of you are unsure which would be the best for you, ask an LA for help. There are some basic rules of etiquette that you might want to be aware of for each, though, and each has its pros and cons.
NPC Eoreds
The main benefit of an NPC eored is that it gives you the most freedom in terms of being able to go places and move about Rohan freely, and works especially well if there are no PC eoreds available during your hours. The downside is that it can get kind of lonely, as there's no one else in your eored to play with.
When in an NPC eored, there are a few things you want to remember. The first is that, in combat or anywhere else, you generally shouldn't be posing your whole eored, or even your patrol. If you do feel the need to RP NPCs (and in combat, it's almost essential), please limit yourself to 2-3 NPCs of the same rank. If there is some reason you need to RP your entire patrol or eored or an NPC of higher rank, you may want to check with an LA first.
The second is that, usually unless there is a time of great conflict, you will be riding with just your patrol of 20. They generally have an area that they patrol (West or East, etc) and they don't leave Rohan. This, of course, can be modified in cases of TPs, where everyone might be concentrated in an area that is not normally theirs to patrol. Sometimes you may be out riding with less than your patrol, such as for scouting, escort duty, returning from leave, or a host of other possibilities. Just try to remember... if you set out with your whole patrol and suddenly they aren't with you, or if suddenly you are with less than your whole patrol when you were with all 20, you need to account for the difference in RP.
Thirdly, you are responsible for your eored. Please bear in mind that they as a whole must adhere to the same theme as you as a single player must. So... no disappearing eoreds, eoreds serving Sauron, eoreds made up of women, etc. Please also avoid killing off entire eoreds, or NPC leaders in the eored. A good point to remember is:You cannot RP or emit an NPC of higher rank (maegisterwigend or above, so generally you should also not kill off an NPC of higher rank. All in all, having an NPC eored seems like a lot of responsibility, but it can be very fun and satisfying.
PC Eoreds
The main benefit of a PC eored is that you actually get to RP and interact with other memebers of your eored. Ot also takes the guesswork out of figuring out the whys and hows of an NPC eored. The biggest downside is trying to coordinate times if yours and your leader(s)'s don't coincide.
As with NPC eoreds, there are a few things you want to bear in mind. The first is that you will be given orders by your superiors. This is just a fact of your position. That does not mean you have to follow the order; just remember that there will be IC consequences if you don't. Secondly, again you should only RP 2-3 NPCs tops of the same rank, and not any of a higher rank. Also, please do not make up NPC superiors unless you have cleared it with the leader of your eored; generally he already has those positions filled with NPCs and PCs. Your best bet is to find out to whom you report.
Third, do not join an eored or a patrol without speaking to the leader of it first (ICly or OOCly). Again, check out +roriders east or +roriders west to find out who you need to contact. Let him know you want to be in his eored, and take it from there. Once in an eored, you may be assigned to a specific patrol, or be advised to contact the leader of a patrol. If in doubt, just ask.
Combat
There are already pages and pages of helpfiles on combat, so this will be brief. Combat is done primarily on horseback; hence the name 'Riders of Rohan.' Please remember to pose your horse in combat, even if just to say, "I wheeled my horse about..." Also, we are the best horsemen in Middle-earth, with the best horses. Therefore, please bear in mind that it is rare to fall of or be knocked off your horse. It is also unusual to dismount to fight. The other thing you want to remember, is that we are a well-armed warrior people. Finghting with bare hands is not only rare; it is foolhardy and a good way to get yourself killed. If you have unanswered questions after reading the combat help files, please talk to an LA or a +trainer.
Horses
There is a lot of wonderful information on horses in +rohelp horses, and that is the first place you should go if you have any questions. In Rohan, and especially for the Riders, horses are more than just animals, and more than just a way of getting about quickly. Horses are a way of life; they are as our kin; they are our brothers (and sisters) at arms. At times we depend on them for our very lives. So, take good care of your horse, and try not to kill it, eat it, let it get captured, or give it away. As with most things, if you do, there will be IC consequences.
Conclusion
This is just a guide to help you as a Rider of Rohan. There may be situations it does not cover, or times when you feel an exception needs to be made. If any questions still remain, please feel free to contact an LA about your specific question(s) or situation. Again, welcome to the Riders of the Mark!
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