How Large an Army?

[Lyndon]

I'm writing an epic/s&s fantasy novel and my hero's army is fighting the infidels to the north (the 'continent' is basically Iberia in an alternative form, and a bit earlier than medieval times).

Question: How large of an army can my hero lead? Is it unreasonable to have 4 regiments of 1,000 soldiers each? I've been watching The Last Kingdom and the Danes have had 2,000 men ready to attack Wessex. So is 4k too many? Thanks for your thoughts.

[C.A.]

Anywhere between 2 and 4k is reasonable. I think the thing would be to make sure you introduce the reader to the sub-commanders, the men who will be taking orders from the protagonist. In other words, Show the chain of command.

[Lyndon]

Thanks, that does help.

[Mary]

Four thousand sounds eminently reasonable if you raise them from a reasonably large land.

[Lyndon]

This is an update and new question to this thread which concerns my fantasy adventure, Sword of Otrim, which I wrote last year.

(Kind of a sword ⚔️ and sorcery epic although there wasn't much sorcery and the heroic adventure only lasted 45k words lol)

Anyway, all that to say I woke up in the middle of the night with the beginning and ending of Otrim's origin story. I'd known he was a slave during his childhood and that he was rescued, but now I know the why how where when and who of it all.

Now all I have to do is write the prequel tale. Question: would you prefer reading a short story, novella, or a full length novel? Are prequel origin stories of heroes of interest?

[S.E., Gray Mouser (Emeritus)]

I adore prequels.....as long as they shed new light on a mystery-unknown perspective. Length depends on your muse or market.

[C.A.]

If you can do it in 5k I'd say you have the makings of a great prologue. It could really prime the reader for main event.

Getting up around 20k, you might want to make it a full-length novel at the 65-75k mark.

When you add the back story, you may find the need to add words / scenes to Sword of Otrim.

[Lyndon]

good thoughts and advice thank you both