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Aegon the Unworthy · 17th September 2007, 06:53 PM

Ahh here we go....you put a Dany/Stannis comparison right in my wheelhouse by using the word "tactical"....

First and foremost one minor point of clarification....the word tactics refers to small direct engagements, whereas strategy refers to the large campaign direction kind of stuff. For example, Stannis moving all his troops north to the Wall was a strategic decision, choosing to utilize his heavy calvalry in a pincer movement was a tactical decision. Or more appropriately, Robb was a tactical genius and a strategic idiot.

The first rule of warfare is and always shall be "All Warfare is deception". Everything else stems from that. No thats not a Charlie Sheen quote from Wall Street...Stannis couldnt grasp that on either level. His assault on KL was as by the book as it could be....control the river with a flotilla, move his men across on his "boat bridge", besiege the city. There was no planning for contingencies. Storms End was the same way. No creative thinking. No attempt to deceive in the slightest way.

Tactics are a different matter entirely. Stannis does understand what it takes to engage the enemy, by the book. The simple rock-paper-scissors considerations of warfare he gets (that would be things like pikes beat light calvary, light calvary beats archers, archers beat pikes etc). But still lacks that creative spark that separates the men from the boys. Of those that we've seen Robb is by far the most creative on a tactical level.

Dany on the other hand does have a certain cunning. We saw it with the selling of the dragons, we saw it with the manipulation of the mercenaries, we saw it with the decision to send Belwas out to face the champion....she has a undeveloped sense of cunning. So the question becomes, can she plan a campaign? Or actively command an engagement with the enemy? The answer to both is no. In both regards I would pick Stannis, but that is clearly only true at the present. Dany has a tremendously higher ceiling of ability and as it stands with the right mentoring she has made excellent strides.

Regret using the word tactical yet?

17th September 2007, 06:53 PM	#72 (permalink)
Aegon the Unworthy Opinionated Procastinator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 714	Re: wheres she going to land? Ahh here we go....you put a Dany/Stannis comparison right in my wheelhouse by using the word "tactical".... First and foremost one minor point of clarification....the word tactics refers to small direct engagements, whereas strategy refers to the large campaign direction kind of stuff. For example, Stannis moving all his troops north to the Wall was a strategic decision, choosing to utilize his heavy calvalry in a pincer movement was a tactical decision. Or more appropriately, Robb was a tactical genius and a strategic idiot. The first rule of warfare is and always shall be "All Warfare is deception". Everything else stems from that. No thats not a Charlie Sheen quote from Wall Street...Stannis couldnt grasp that on either level. His assault on KL was as by the book as it could be....control the river with a flotilla, move his men across on his "boat bridge", besiege the city. There was no planning for contingencies. Storms End was the same way. No creative thinking. No attempt to deceive in the slightest way. Tactics are a different matter entirely. Stannis does understand what it takes to engage the enemy, by the book. The simple rock-paper-scissors considerations of warfare he gets (that would be things like pikes beat light calvary, light calvary beats archers, archers beat pikes etc). But still lacks that creative spark that separates the men from the boys. Of those that we've seen Robb is by far the most creative on a tactical level. Dany on the other hand does have a certain cunning. We saw it with the selling of the dragons, we saw it with the manipulation of the mercenaries, we saw it with the decision to send Belwas out to face the champion....she has a undeveloped sense of cunning. So the question becomes, can she plan a campaign? Or actively command an engagement with the enemy? The answer to both is no. In both regards I would pick Stannis, but that is clearly only true at the present. Dany has a tremendously higher ceiling of ability and as it stands with the right mentoring she has made excellent strides. Regret using the word tactical yet?