Help with mountain (fantasy) warfare?

[Jon_Dahl]

It seems that mountain warfare is not a very simply thing, since in modern times it's usually left for special forces such as Alpini and (disbanded) Alpenkorps. And now it's about fantasy.

I have some difficulty to set up tactics for experienced mountain guerrillas that try to look after some beleaguered men-at-arms in the mountain ranges. It should be noted that these mountains are home turf for these guerrillas. No magic is involved, and these two mountain guerrillas are supposed to be untouchable in these mountains.

I think the best way to scout in the mountains is to lower down to ground level and see the whole mountain from distance. Scouting up from wooded plains the naked mountain is "clear" to see, even though looking upwards you can miss lot of things...

The mountains I mean are something like this:
http://anewway-lifecoach.com/bigstoc...ath_225154.jpg

Crystalmist Mountains, to be precise.

So Summa Summarum:
You and your comrade are Sherpas, and no one can touch you in your mountains. You have no fighting skills or magic, but you know the right stuff. How do you survive?

[Edwin]

No fighting skills? How can you exercise true guerilla warfare without fighting skills?

Anyway, are you asking for roleplaying advice, or mechanical advice?

[Flickerdart]

Lure enemies into avalanches. Lure Yetis by their supply trains. Make underhanded deals with Frost Giants. Employ scorched earth tactics. If the enemy has no food, they can't fight. Then you loot their magic items.

[Ravens_cry]

Well, one difference between fantasy and period equivalent mundane mountain warfare is the portability of the artillery. In most fantasy, wizards and sorcerers are the artillery, and can climb about as well as the average soldier. Lugging cannons and bombards up a mountain is a much more difficult task. This takes away some of the advantages that guerilla fighters would have, as the enemy can be almost as light and agile as they are. They still have the advantage of home terrain and different logistics issues.

[SolkaTruesilver]

When in doubt, remember the Tau's teaching: asymetrical warfare has to be covered in 2 general philosophies:

1- The Killing Blow
2- The Patient Hunter

1) Means that you should strike with surprise and with incredible force at at specific ennemy, a specific target, that is aimed at weakening the whole. But you don't hang around afterwhile to keep going.

2) Means that you have to create circumstances to lure the ennemy where it is at your advantage to engage him. Use bait. Make him afraid. Use convenience. Anything is fair game, until the ennemy actually commit himself into a vulnerable position, and then strike.