fandomhigh | Diplomacy, Relationships & Tactics: the Art of War [Tuesday, Period 1]

As the students entered this week, they would see a passage on the board:

Sun Tzu said: We may distinguish six kinds of terrain, to wit:
(1) Accessible ground
(2) entangling ground
(3) temporizing ground
(4) narrow passes
(5) precipitous heights
(6) positions at a great distance from the enemy.

"Terrain. Which I am sure you are all dreadfully sick of hearing me talk about," Ghanima announced cheerfully as soon as the last student was seated. "However, if you do not know where or how you stand, in any battle, you will lose. I cannot stress this enough. It doesn't matter if you're facing a troop of Sardaukar on Salusa Secundus, or trying to make dinner plans with a cranky significant other. If you cannot understand the terrain under your feet, you will find yourself on the wrong end of a metaphorical or physical blade."

"This all goes back to what we discussed that first week of class, "'Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt.' To know your soldiers, you must know yourself. You must be able to assess both the capabilities of your fighting force, and your own ability to command them in terrain before you. If you cannot give the soldiers what they need, even the most elite squad in the Empire can fall against a small handful of women and children." Not that Ghanima would know. At all.

"First, however..." Ghanima's blue-on-blue eyes sparkled with mischief. "Your belated homework. Was anyone successful?"

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Victoriously! (or not, depending on your week.)

It's short, but take notes, pass notes, whatever tickles your fancy.

Tell us how your assignment went!

[OOC: It did not have to be an actual played-out post, handwaved is acceptable, as long as you have the permission of the player of the character you conned into dinner.]

"Let's talk about the Tzu's classifications of 'ground,'" Ghanima said smoothly, "and try and sort them out into interpersonal situations you may be involved in. What sort of event might be called 'accessible ground'? How about a 'narrow pass?'"

"The funny thing about terrain," Ghanima said, "is that it can shift without warning. What was a dry creek-bed may suddenly become a flash flood. Entangling ground may shift to become a narrow pass. You cannot count on your battlefield staying the same, and this is especially true when dealing with other people."

"Negotiation, however, is startling efficient in bringing parties to a common ground, where your 'battle' can be on more equal terms."

Nevermind that Ghanima's personal idea of 'negotiation' was simply manipulating the other person until they came around to where you wanted them.

"Which is why, this week, you will be in groups of two or three. You will spend a minimum of forty-eight hours together over the next week. It does not have to be consecutive, although you may try and power through the assignment if you wish. However, you must spend time together, and each chunk of time must be at least four hours in duration."

"Whenever possible, you will visit your teammates' places of employment, and, if it is acceptable to their other teachers, attend classes with them. You will probably get on each others' nerves, and hate me before the exercise is over. However you will learn, hopefully, how to negotiate. Where and when are you spending time together. What is for dinner? What aspects of your lives are off-limits? In the process, you'll learn more about your classmates, practice your negotiation skills, and quite possibly learn new things about yourselves."

"Find a partner or two. Good luck."

Trebor remains with his Auntie Alice this week, until Ghanima can be sure the pollen has cleared the air, but she is here before and after class to answer questions.

IT IS SNOWING AGAIN. TODAY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GLORIOUS THUNDERSTORMS.

Anakin Skyalker

Arden Finch

Well, Arden had treated Graham to dinner in celebration of his knight-hopefulling, and Dean had paid for her dinner, but she wasn't sure either of those counted?

Oh no. Arden looked around at the other members of the class, trying to figure out who to team up with.

Diplomacy, Relationships & Tactics: the Art of War [Tuesday, Period 1]

Sign-In #12

During the Lecture

Homework!

Discussion: Metaphorical Ground

Lecture II & NEW HOMEWORK

Talk to Ghanima!

ooc

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Re: Lecture II & NEW HOMEWORK

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