fandomhigh | Macro-tactics, Monday

"Scaling back from the more obviously practical things," Kerrigan said, eyes darting around the class, challenging anyone to even think of the weekend. "We're going to be starting in on resource management. Because it doesn't matter how much firepower you personally have - if you haven't got money, food, or water, you are SOL. The first thing you're going to need to do if you go to war is figure out exactly how much you're going to be out on food and water, blankets and tents. The more men you employ, the more resources you're going to be out on. Sometimes, that's an argument towards keeping on a smaller, cleverer force."

Or you could just go Zerg and acquire an endless supply of dispensible labour, but... "So that's number one." She wrote it up on the blackboard. "Secondly, what guns do you have at your disposal? How much is it going to cost you to manufacture enough for your entire army? If you have specialist units, how much does their equipment cost? Thirdly, transportation costs - are your guys walking, or do you have some form of transportation that's more effective but costs you more? Fourth - communications. One of the most important resources at your disposal. How much cash are you going to lose on making sure you can stay in contact with all your man? And, of course, everyone's favourite fifth: R&D. Are you going to attempt to create new weapons to more quickly overpower the enemy, or will you be pumping all of your money into your standing forces, and hope simple numbers will overwhelm any attempts at creativity from the other side?"

She tapped the blackboard. "All of these things you have to consider before you go to war," she said. "And all of them define the strategy you're going to use. Think long and hard about what you're good at, and how much money or other resources you've got at your disposal. Nobody wins a war with nothing."

"Now, I want you all to pick a partner. Talk about what makes your people strong, what you'd focus on when engaging in a war. What points would you have to spend on, and what points would you cut at? And remember: bad prep can lose a war. Good prep doesn't necessarily win it. Get to it."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Like you have a lot of cash.

Leia Organa

Prince Alexander of Daventry

Emma Frost

Faramir

Cally

Karla

Lion-o

Blackagar Boltagon

Shane Gooseman

James of Krondor

Try not to talk amongst yourselves too much, lest you arouse the annoyance of the evil alien.

Leia listened with interest. She had plenty of resources on Alderaan. The problem was being able to use it without drawing attention and arousing suspicion.

Cally was pleased to hear communications listed as an important resource. It was here that she had an advantage -- at least in the technology of her own time, and the theory behind what to do with it should be applicable to most situations.

Find a partner. What strategies would work best with your people's strong points? What would that mean for your cashflow? Could you even have that much in terms of finances, hypothetically speaking?

Cally had her datapad set up in front of her as she waited for a partner, but she wasn't doing much with it beyond tapping out a list of things that Auron, should it ever go to war, wouldn't have. Given the chances of that happening, it probably wasn't the list she should be making, but how could you imagine what resources might be needed for someone else's resistance group that might not even exist yet?

Any war with any nation or entity more modern than the Midkemia back home would end in disaster. Self-propelled wagons that could carry dozens of soldiers, weapons that would pierce most armors, and instant communications that did not rely on birds or line-of-sight.

He made several lists. One against a foe of similar technology, outlining estimates based on available funds, territory held, and targets. One against a more modern foe with superior weapons and numbers; this list was painfully short. Another against holding a superior force in siege, regardless of weaponry.

Arutha (and his brothers) would state that the best war is one not fought. James would debate that idealist perspective against anyone asking.

When they've pinged in.

Today was really not the best day to bother Emma, as she was still very much on-edge from the weekend.

And yet, there Karla was, bothering Emma. Wherein 'bother' meant 'handing over a cup of coffee while looking concerned.'

"Hey," she said quietly.

"Trying to curry favor with the TA, darling?" Emma joked, accepting the coffee. "It's not going to stop me from dragging you shopping for a Homecoming dress, come time for the dance."

"I've got last year's dress in my closet, still," Karla pointed out. "It fits and everything!"

Because that was going to get her out of shopping. Right.

"You don't get to wear last year's dress," Emma sighed, shaking her head. "That's simply not acceptable. Don't you want to surprise Warren and take his breath away?"

She was not above appealing to Karla's vanity.

Damn you, Emma. Damn you.

"Do you think I can?" she asked, a bit wistfully. "I don't suppose I can get you to promise not to make comments about the length of the dress I choose?"

"I have to make a few comments during the selection process, but I promise to be good once you've chosen one," Emma replied. "But in return, you have to at least try a few of the shorter ones on. Is that fair?"

Edited 2010-10-04 20:16 (UTC)

"That's fair," Karla sighed, knowing that she was actually getting a pretty good deal. "We should bring Sookie along, too. She can be our tie-breaker."

Even if she also approved of scandalously short dresses.

"Males have it so much easier. Suits always look good."

"We could always put you in a cute lady's suit," she teased, focusing on the idea of clothes over trauma. "I'm sure you'd look adorable."

"You, me, and Sookie. It's a date."

Karla would rather talk about whatever it was that had made Emma so upset, but she'd be happy to chat about shopping instead if that made Emma feel better. Especially in class, when talking about Emma's Issues in Public shut her down faster than almost anything else.

"You know you're going to have to schedule snack breaks, right?" Karla checked. "Shopping is only bearable on a full stomach."

"I'll feed you, even if you'll eat the street vendors out of house and home," Emma promised.

Karla didn't know, and she didn't need to know. Emma brushed a light touch of assurance against her mind, giving her a lopsided half-smile.

"I'm funding their children's future!" Karla protested. "It's my civic duty!"

Karla returned the smile, not entirely believing the assurance, but willing to forgo pushing. As long as Emma was mostly all right, Karla could drop it.

"I like the gyros," she added, mangling the pronunciation.

She's there. And looking fairly serene.

Dear LJ: Behave.

Macro-tactics, Monday

Sign In

Re: Sign In

Re: Sign In

Re: Sign In

Re: Sign In

Re: Sign In

Re: Sign In

Re: Sign In

Re: Sign In

Re: Sign In

Re: Sign In

Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Re: Listen to the Lecture

Pair Up and Discuss

Re: Pair Up and Discuss

Re: Pair Up and Discuss

Talk to the TAs

Re: Talk to the TAs

Re: Talk to the TAs

Re: Talk to the TAs

Re: Talk to the TAs

Re: Talk to the TAs

Re: Talk to the TAs

Re: Talk to the TAs

Re: Talk to the TAs

Re: Talk to the TAs

Re: Talk to the TAs

Re: Talk to the TAs

Re: Talk to the TAs

Talk to the Teacher

OOC