fandomhigh | The Art of War, Week #7 [Period 3, Monday]

As the students entered today, they would see the following text scrawled on the chalkboard in Ghanima's neat handwriting:

In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them; conceal your dispositions, and you will be safe from the prying of the subtlest spies, from the machinations of the wisest brains. How victory may be produced for them out of the enemy's own tactics--that is what the multitude cannot comprehend.

All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.

Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.

"While the joys and effectiveness of a direct attack should never be underestimated, it is important that you do not forget the importance of being devious," Ghanima began briskly. "Tzu often admonishes us to make ourselves unassailable, to maintain a secure position if at all possible. However, even the most secure location can be overcome. "

"'If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch,'" she recited. "'All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve.'"

"So, what ways can you think of to conceal you motives? When is it to your advantage to do so, and when is it a disadvantage?" Ghanima grinned and gestured to the boxes set on tables around the room. "I want to see how well you've been paying attention."

[OOC: The OCD is in the house! Go forth!]

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With a diversion!

Ella of Frell

Jo Harvelle

Lee Adama

Yamanaka Ino

Liir Thropp

Savannah Levine

Agnes Nitt

Ben Skywalker

Adam Park

Reno

Harvey Dent

Tony Foster

Tahiri Veila

Alice Liddell

Jaina Solo

Teyla Emmagan

Eve Levine

Ronan Nolan

Edmund Pevensie

Myn Donos

It's short, but that's probably a good thing after a week off.

Lee didn't jot any notes down during the short lecture but he did pay attention.

Ino was in a Bad Mood.

But the lecture still got her attention, even while she glowered at her notebook.

Liir sighed.

He wondered just how much this lesson might come to use in his machinations.

Agnes took notes. Good notes.

- What are some good methods you can think of to obscure a plan of attack?
- What if you are from a culture where such actions are considered 'dishonorable'?
- If you are pursuing a relationship with someone, be it romantic, platonic, or business, is it morally acceptable to conceal your true ambitions? If so, when and why?
- Do you feel Tzu's mandate not to repeat successful tactics is overly paranoid or accurate?

"Decoys?" Lee suggested. "Put out a few fake plans and let them circulate. If you throw out like five or six or something, the enemy won't know which one's the right one and they can't guard against everything."

To the next question, he said, "Sometimes you've gotta do the devious thing to get things done, culture or not. In the end, it'll be the most beneficial."

"Emotional manipulations," he said thoughtfully. "Push buttons until the other person can't see anything but red. Play to how you're perceived one day and defy it the next, which I suppose could answer the last question. Make unlikely allies. Tell no one. Kill anyone you have to who might have seen it.

"And if you're from a culture where such actions are dishonorable, I should think that would only work better. The victor writes the history, after all."

"Play to stereotypes," Agnes answered. "If people think they know what to expect from you, they won't notice if you do something different. If your culture thinks it's dishonorable... well, then that needs to be factored into your decision. If you win the battle but lose the support of your people, you're kinda screwed." She shrugged. "And he does sound overly paranoid, I think -- there has to be some sort of middle ground between becoming predictable and always reinventing the wheel, doesn't there?"

"Everyone's always trying to manipulate you," Ben said. "The sooner you realize it, the less often you'll get played."

Ben's universe wasn't a particularly nice one.

"And repeating tactics is just stupid. Take the old tactic and do a new spin on it. They'll never see it coming."

"Blatant misdirection," said Jaina, who'd gotten quite a bit of experience here over the weekend. "It doesn't even need to be something as simple as lying, just lead them to believe you're going one way when you were just waiting for them to turn around so you could get one up on them."

Get in groups of two or three, and wage war!. If you feel up for an added challenge, get a group of four, and play two-on-two. Manage your alliances carefully, least they shift without warning.

Liir wasn't really familiar with board games, but the dice looked promising. That said, he was happy to wait for anyone else who might want to play.

Ben was staring at the board with a slightly manic gleam in his eyes.

Once he pings in.

Reno was there, doing an admirable job concealing how truly hung over he was.

He wasn't doing nearly as well concealing the weird bouts of almost-giddy and then somber that flicked across his face, unfortunately.

She's here, both before and after class.

You know, if we want to end the world today, I'm cool with that.

The Art of War, Week #7 [Period 3, Monday]

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Listen to the Lecture!

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Class Discussion: Subtlety and Secrecy

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Group Activity: Risk

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Talk to the TA

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Talk to Ghanima

OOC