fandomhigh | Battle Tactics and Strategy; Thursday, Fourth Period [01/25].

Walking into the classroom that week, the students should be able to quickly discern what the lesson would be about just by looking at how it was set up, and, if not, then perhaps you may be needing this class far more than Ignis believed he could help you with.

Because the desks were arranged in a way that they were paired up with a chess board on each one. He did wait a moment, right after the bell went off, for everyone to decide if they were just going to claim a spot at one of the table straight away, or just wait a moment before relegating them to the fate of probably having to combat whoever ended up across from them, and then he began.

"Anyone even slightly familiar with the game of chess," he stated, "should know that it is, indeed, an incredibly logical follow-up to a discussion about order of battle. It is, after all, an abstract game almost entirely build to strategy and planning and moving units with particular roles and specifications across a field with one ultimate goal: to capture the king. And while chess seems to have a remarkably impressive influence across the multiverse, we will take a moment to go over how to play the game and discuss the various pieces and perhaps a few common tactics to employ, which will hopefully serve as a refresher for those of you already familiar with the game, and a point of inspiration and instruction for those who may be learning of it for the first time or have only a passing exposure to the game. Then, of course, you will find yourself a worthy opponent or two, time permitting, and face off.

"I'd like," he added, "for you all to pay particular attention to the ways in which your opponent is playing, as well as being mindful of what strategies you employ yourself. There is a good chance it will be a topic of heavy discussion next week, but today? It's all just about the game."

His smile suggested, of course, that nothing was ever all about just the game, and it lingered, for just a moment, before he began to divulge the lesson.

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And even though he had set himself up for a comment like that first, Ignis had to admit to himself that he didn't think much about it beyond just rather throwing it out there to see if Liliana caught it, and then finding himself mostly just too pleased that she had t o really come up with a truly superior retort.

Thus only proving the point, really. Which stirred just a little harder in his chest now, softened some of the crookedness out of his grin as he simply answered, "Always."

There was, however, a moment, not of hesitation, but more like a small catch of intrigue as his head tilted slightly. "I'd have thought, though, that'd you'd appreciate the opportunity for a change of pace."

He realized, after he said it, that it might be construed a bit, like fishing for a compliment, although, really, he was fishing for something else entirely.

Just in time, too, as the treaties did not make provisions for the ironic, self-effacing, or wry varietals, as those stores were abundant and full long before the accord was reached and documents signed and thus, would never have passed inspection and would not have counted towards quota.

"Why?" Liliana said, her attention setting up the (vastly inferior) board, of course, as this was simply a conversation with no deeper meanings or subtext at all. "Mr. Scientia, surely you have discovered that while novelty is all well and good and certainly has its place, when it comes to things that truly matter - like a good game of chess - the fun comes not from breezing through new opponents, but in finding one that offers you not only a thrilling game, but one you can delve into and explore, learning one facet of how they play just in time for them to reveal another, keeping you fascinated and delighted as the game itself has changed though the participants have not." She looked up, arching a brow at him. "Or has that not been your experience...?"

"Oh," said Ignis, who, hearing even the soft touch of the pieces being set up on the (unquestionably inferior) board, had moved to the desk and already pulled out one of the chairs, "an opponent well-studied will inevitably prove to be one far more rewarding than one that may come and go with but fleeting regard. Though, it's interesting..."

With that, he sat, taking a moment to send his hand out to find the edge of the board, and, after that, to determine what pieces she had set up already and which ones might be left for him to assist with.

"...that you mention how the game itself has changed, but that's not necessarily true, now, is it? The strategies, the tactics, the plotting and planning, surely, but it is still, fundamentally, the same rules, the same pieces, the same moves, just ordered differently...."

"Well," Liliana said, handing over several pieces for him to set up on his own side of the board, "far be it for me to tell the chef his business, but couldn't one say something very similar about cooking? Take a soufflé, for instance. The same rules, mostly the same ingredients, generally prepared the same way, but with those few changes to ingredients, you have an entirely different dish. Sweet or savory, a meal or a dessert...even a plain soufflé served differently - say, sugared with a side of ice cream, versus with a rich gravy over a thick cut of meat and sautéed vegetables - can change your appreciation of the dish entirely. Is it the same thing? Well, yes. So sayeth pedantry, at least. But pedantry struggles against actual experience, I've often found." She gave him a cheeky smile and, as she'd taken the white pieces for herself, moved her first pawn. "B3."

Battle Tactics and Strategy; Thursday, Fourth Period [01/25].

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Battle Tactics, 01/25.

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Battle Tactics, 01/25.

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Battle Tactics, 01/25.

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Battle Tactics, 01/25.