Words of Wisdom

[Vanya]

I ask you all, noble members of the community (and those that are not so noble too): what words of wisdom have ye that have helped you forge a winning strategy when fighting battles (MP or SP)?

I guess I can get the ball rolling...

When attacking, do so like water...
Very true -- even when using my invincible army...

The pinnacle of military acheivement approaches the formless...
a.k.a. one of the central concepts of Elmarkian theory.

When handling social intercourse with Geishas... it is best to hit Djibouti... and they will love you for it!
(my favorite http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif )

[NARF]

Try not to die.

[Koga No Goshi]

Never be the side without guns. Even if the game ends up being rain, chances are most of the other side brought them too. Many rainy games I've won because I brought 3 muskets and the enemy brought 6.

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Koga no Goshi

Why did you bring 16 Female Ashigaru? Keep clicking weather, they're only strong one week a month.

[Shuko]

Only start the battle when you are ready, there is no one else to blame.

The Book of Five Rings : If you keep your spirit correct from morning to night, accustomed to the idea of death and resolved on death, and consider yourself as a dead body, thus becoming one with the Way of the warrior, you can pass through life with no possability of failure and perform your office properly.

[Ratta Yamamoto]

'A great man must be ambitious for success in everything and every place'

[Ratta Yamamoto]

I've got one that I composed it myself http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

'War is like a game of chess
you have to read your opponent's mind
otherwise you will be dead'
Ratta Yamamoto

http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif He he he. I'm not very good at poem, u know.

Ratta Yamamoto
(Daimyo of Ratta Clan) www.rattaclan.homestead.com (http://www.rattaclan.homestead.com)

[This message has been edited by Ratta Yamamoto (edited 06-30-2001).]

[theforce]

From the Art of Saving Your A S S: If you chop his head before he chops yours, you are victorious.

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Don't use only honour, use theforce, too.
http://darksideclan.fateback.com
Enter the Darkside...

[wasaaabi]

A good rule when playing online--

"Always have an ally in MP games - it gives the enemy someone else to shoot at."

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"This is supposed to be a happy occasion. Let's not bicker and argue over who killed who."

[This message has been edited by wasaaabi (edited 06-30-2001).]

[KumaRatta Yamamoto]

If you fail blame the rout bug!!! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

But seriously i find that most of Sun Tzu's advice applies to strategies(Campaign), not tactics on the battlefield.

KumaRatta Yamamoto (Emissary of the Ratta clan) Come and visit us: www.rattaclan.homestead.com (http://www.rattaclan.homestead.com)

[Kraellin]

when attacking uphill against a superior force and a superior general, bring a change of underwear.

K.

[ElmarkOFear]

LOL Vanya, Yes formless . . what a nice way to put it!! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif I just thought I was sloppy!

[ElmarkOFear]

Kra, you are forgetting one of my major tenets of fighting . . the stinkier the ashi the more likely your enemy is to rout!! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

[Maltz]

Here are my experiences in SP (you can also see many of them in the war story series)

1. Attack.
2. Attack.
3. Attack! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

Whip your dog to simulate a fight

Running like whipped dogs... http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Honour to Clan No Fear.

Visit my resource centre here! (http://terazawa.totalwar.org)
Evil is within us...
http://terazawa.totalwar.org/evil.jpg

[Khan7]

A Word of Wisdom to all you who are obsessed with Words of Wisdom: Sun Tzu is great, the Book of Five Rings is great, study them, blah blah blah. But always keep in mind that your success will never be dependent on how well you know such works-- such works are helpful only in the way they change your own thinking and strategy. Simply being a heck of a scholar is of no help in actual practice-- best example is the Sun Tzu-obsessed Japanese during WW2 (probably every single officer of any rank had read the Art of War at LEAST once, not to mention they're scholar and war theorists), and how their strategy and tactics still sucked like a mother. They basically took just one aspect of Sun Tzu's teachings-- morale and dedication of your soldiers-- and attempted to ride all the way to world conquest on just this one leg. It made their armies hella fighters and a helluva pain to kick out; but stepping back and looking from a purely strategic perspective, the Jap's inflexibility in tactics and strategy, frequent stupidity in tactics and strategy, and refusal shortly followed by inability to upgrade their weapons and equipment, made their overall chances in the war with the US utterly hopeless.

So read Sun Tzu and study history and whatever you want, just watch not to end up like the Japanese.

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Khan7

[Khan7]

Also, for those of you interested in Sun Tzu, settle for nothing but the best! Buy ONLY Samuel B. Griffith's translation, all the others suck. If you dare buy any other translation, I will hunt you down and smack you with a wet noodle!

But for real, go with Sam Griffith, you WON'T be disappointed, he's an awesome scholar.

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Khan7

[Maltz]

To be honest, being a Chinese myself I think the war of art "Sun Tzu" is just something way too general to be applied... There are many good aspects for a victory. All rule of wars are the "expert's" analysis that came after battles!

Same feeling when I stepped in the STW throne room - sometimes I really want to spank the old advisor for saying such nonsense when I am busying checking the strategy map... hehe http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/tongue.gif

[DarkSword]

if u see me run always chase...hehehe...okie maybe not.....
"when routing two opponent chasing is deadly!"

[Kraellin]

ah, but ya gotta like the dutch trader, maltz ;)

K.

[Khan7]

ur problem Maltz is u're trying to apply Sun Tzu specifically and directly.. it's not a manual.. it's general for a reason.. it wasn't meant to be taken very literally.. at any rate it is very good to study and contemplate.. as long as you don't over rely on it..

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Khan7