Warmatrix

Bands and tribes are relatively small groups, ranging from single families to several hundred people. They are most common in nomadic societies, living by hunting, gathering and/or herding, but also occur in sedentary ones that live by fishing, horticulture or agriculture. In prehistory, bands and tribes were very common, but in later ages they have been replaced by agricultural societies in many places. This process was very gradual. Until recently some areas like New Guinea and the Amazon rainforest were wholly tribal and even in the 21st century some people still live nomadic lifestyles, though equipped with modern tools next to traditional ones.
Some tribes were peaceful, quietly living out their lives. These were most common in wilderness areas where population density was low. Where people were more cramped together, tribes tended to be more warlike. They sometimes fought over territory, more often over food and mostly over women. Of course it was the men that did the fighting. Wars could consist of a series of revenge and counter-revenge that could last for generations.
War between tribes could be endemic, but generally was of low intensity, as they could simply not afford to wage total war and annihilate each other. Instead, they settled most disputes by negotiation or threat and used fighting as a last resort. They used a kind of 'ladder' where agression and violence increased with every step, but the ladder could be both stepped up and down. Tribal wars that included actual fighting were almost exclusively made up of raids: surprise attacks with the aim to gain some easy loot. If an attack met serious resistance, it was usually broken off quickly. This does not mean that tribal raiding was for cowards; people did get wounded and killed. For example in traditional Yanomamo society, one in three males met his death in combat.
Tribal societies were very egalatarian, without any significant hierarchy. A chieftain could exert some authority as a war leader, but had to acknowledge the will of his men at all times. The army was made up of all males who were neither too young nor too old or disabled. These men were all part-time warriors.
If they were hunters, they could use their hunting skills in war. Weapons used by tribes reflected their wealth and are usually simple yet effective: spears, slings, bows, maces and axes. Armor tended to be scarce.