When dealing with roleplay balance, one major problem is the size of armed forces. There are too many examples of "next gen fighters", "quantity-over-quality strategies", "ready-for-war populace" and "futuristic military", all of which sacrifice realism for no roleplay fun in return. Thus, the primary motive of this survey is to find out just how technologically advanced YOUR military is. Now, not everyone is a military nerd like me, so most probably don't know what a 'Tooth-to-Tail Ratio' is. And, I can't really blame you. So, let's begin.
Every military has a number of combat units (tooth) and logistical units (tail). A military obviously needs the tooth (soldiers, tanks, jet fighters) but is also needs the tail (medics, repair units, supply convoys, tanker planes) to support the tooth. The 'Tooth-to-Tail Ratio' finds the proportions between these two parts. A ratio tilting towards the 'tooth' paints a massive military which is also severely lacking in technological advance. A ratio tilting towards the 'tail' paints a very small military with modest technological advancements at the minimum. An equilibrium would put a military just ahead of World War 1 levels.
HISTORICAL EXAMPLES
US Military in the Statesian Civil War: 37-1
Russian Military in the Ukraine: 1-1.1
Indian Military in 2023: 1-5.5
US Military in Iraq: 1-8.1
Now that we have established what a 'Tooth-to-Tail Ratio' is, it's time the roleplay community is given a voice. What is the tooth-to-tail in your nation? That is the entire point of the survey, after all!
Replies
Around AT 1840's, it was all-time high 46-11.8, during the Great War it was on an average 11-5.6 ratio
After the end of the Conflict, the ratio was 27-13, and during the MUB negotiations, the Arghilian government has agreed to lower it to 3-2.2