Tahiri Veila (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
weetuskenraider) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2016-03-23 09:58 am
weetuskenraider) wrote in fandomhigh2016-03-23 09:58 am
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Diplomacy, Relationships, & Tactics: The Art of War, Week 11 [Wednesday, Period 2]
"Sun Tzu got a little bit complicated on us in this week's chapter," Tahiri noted once class was assembled. "Early in the semester, we talked about the importance of understanding the terrain you're dealing with; in this chapter he goes into more detail about advantage and disadvantage when it comes to the different kinds of terrain."
She moved toward the board, picked up a marker, and wrote down the name of each kind as she continued talking. "First off there's accessible ground; there's nowhere to hide, and nothing to trip up your enemy, so you want to be the first one in position and ready to go. That's the best kind of advantage you can get for yourself. Next there's entangling ground: once you get out, trying to get back in again is like swimming up a waterfall, so you've got to decide whether it's worth the risk when you can't make a tactical retreat. Temporizing ground's where you want to goad your enemy into making the first move because doing so would put you at a disadvantage. Narrow passes?" She grinned. "Pretty self-explanatory, and while you want to occupy them in force you definitely don't want to be the one trying to come through them in that situation. Precipitous heights, also self-explanatory, and you've probably heard the expression 'has the high ground' to refer to someone who has the advantage, because that expression seems to be multiversal. Finally, there are positions at a great distance from the enemy: fine if you don't want to fight, but if you do you haven't done yourself any favors camping that far away."
Sun Tzu had clearly not taken hyperspace jumps or planet-sized super weapons into account.
"On top of that," Ghanima said crisply, "Are the six calamities from faults
for which the general is responsible. These are: flight, insubordination, collapse, ruin, disorganization, and rout."
"Jedi Veila and I have often emphasized that these tactics can be applied to physical, or emotional engagements, but terrain is always both physical and mental. You cannot separate the one from the other."
Tahiri nodded. "You'll find part of that has to do with morale, which means by extension that your choices when it comes to terrain will help determine how you, as the general, will need to take those six calamities into consideration. Deserting might not be an option for your troops on entangling ground, for instance, but that doesn't rule out the possibility of them refusing to follow orders. Or, say, you're trying to draw the enemy out into making the first move, because you know they've got a weakness you can exploit if they do. What if one of your lieutenants decides they're sick of waiting around and sends a squad in early, or does that because of poorly organized communication?"
"Morale doesn't just apply to your troops in an engagement, it applies to you, as well," Ghanima said. "Does part of you resist this path? Insubordination. Are you having trouble putting your plans right? Interior disorganization. Even your opponent may -- will -- struggle with the same things."
"This is a lot to think about," Tahiri added with an apologetic smile. "We know. So we're going to turn the rest of this period over to you: how do these principles best apply to you? Think this over on your own if you prefer, or discuss with your classmates if you'd rather."
She moved toward the board, picked up a marker, and wrote down the name of each kind as she continued talking. "First off there's accessible ground; there's nowhere to hide, and nothing to trip up your enemy, so you want to be the first one in position and ready to go. That's the best kind of advantage you can get for yourself. Next there's entangling ground: once you get out, trying to get back in again is like swimming up a waterfall, so you've got to decide whether it's worth the risk when you can't make a tactical retreat. Temporizing ground's where you want to goad your enemy into making the first move because doing so would put you at a disadvantage. Narrow passes?" She grinned. "Pretty self-explanatory, and while you want to occupy them in force you definitely don't want to be the one trying to come through them in that situation. Precipitous heights, also self-explanatory, and you've probably heard the expression 'has the high ground' to refer to someone who has the advantage, because that expression seems to be multiversal. Finally, there are positions at a great distance from the enemy: fine if you don't want to fight, but if you do you haven't done yourself any favors camping that far away."
Sun Tzu had clearly not taken hyperspace jumps or planet-sized super weapons into account.
"On top of that," Ghanima said crisply, "Are the six calamities from faults
for which the general is responsible. These are: flight, insubordination, collapse, ruin, disorganization, and rout."
"Jedi Veila and I have often emphasized that these tactics can be applied to physical, or emotional engagements, but terrain is always both physical and mental. You cannot separate the one from the other."
Tahiri nodded. "You'll find part of that has to do with morale, which means by extension that your choices when it comes to terrain will help determine how you, as the general, will need to take those six calamities into consideration. Deserting might not be an option for your troops on entangling ground, for instance, but that doesn't rule out the possibility of them refusing to follow orders. Or, say, you're trying to draw the enemy out into making the first move, because you know they've got a weakness you can exploit if they do. What if one of your lieutenants decides they're sick of waiting around and sends a squad in early, or does that because of poorly organized communication?"
"Morale doesn't just apply to your troops in an engagement, it applies to you, as well," Ghanima said. "Does part of you resist this path? Insubordination. Are you having trouble putting your plans right? Interior disorganization. Even your opponent may -- will -- struggle with the same things."
"This is a lot to think about," Tahiri added with an apologetic smile. "We know. So we're going to turn the rest of this period over to you: how do these principles best apply to you? Think this over on your own if you prefer, or discuss with your classmates if you'd rather."
Talk to the Teachers [AoW, 3/23]
Re: Talk to the Teachers [AoW, 3/23]