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2019/12/19 02:42:11
Subject: The "Art of War" and how it relates to Wargames
Hey there Dakka! Over on my youtube channel, I've just released a video (the first in a series) examining "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu and relating it to wargaming. I thought I'd share it over here, as I thought many of you might enjoy it! I'd be very pleased to know what you think!
Enjoy!
2019/12/19 04:40:45
Subject: The "Art of War" and how it relates to Wargames
* Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy. Thus the army will have food enough for its needs. - Bring your own models, but also try to borrow some of your opponent which he will later miss. Also, steal opponents' food. Him being hungry will decrease his comfort and awareness.
* The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. - Pull some strings or take action to make your opponent not be able to attend the battle. Or be the ultimate cheesemonger and bring only the cheesiest units to the table and tell him how you will blow him off the table at the end of the 2nd turn.
Honestly after all the years of hearing about the Art of War I was quite disappointed at how basic a document it was when I read a translation of it. In the end I put it down to two core reasons
1) So many of its lines of advice have been spread around in media for years. So much of it isn't actually "new"
2) It was never a military document and instead was more like an advisory pamphlet for an Emperor to get a very basic overview from their military commanders.
You can see this in parts of it where it talks about the virtues of retreating (something a God Born Emperor might consider a height of failure) and other elements clearly designed to try and open the mind of someone who is a supreme ruler, but who likely lacks any real world military understanding.
BobtheInquisitor wrote: It’s been a while since I read it, but wasn’t the main point of The Art of War that you should never, ever play a matched points game?
Yeah. I think it's right around the stanza that commanders should always seek to roll well with their dice.
2019/12/19 14:07:34
Subject: The "Art of War" and how it relates to Wargames
BobtheInquisitor wrote:It’s been a while since I read it, but wasn’t the main point of The Art of War that you should never, ever play a matched points game?
That is quite right!
Hawky wrote:* Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy. Thus the army will have food enough for its needs. - Bring your own models, but also try to borrow some of your opponent which he will later miss. Also, steal opponents' food. Him being hungry will decrease his comfort and awareness.
* The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. - Pull some strings or take action to make your opponent not be able to attend the battle. Or be the ultimate cheesemonger and bring only the cheesiest units to the table and tell him how you will blow him off the table at the end of the 2nd turn.
I think you've got quite the right idea! While I probably wouldn't be suggesting to steal anyone's food
Overread wrote:Honestly after all the years of hearing about the Art of War I was quite disappointed at how basic a document it was when I read a translation of it. In the end I put it down to two core reasons
1) So many of its lines of advice have been spread around in media for years. So much of it isn't actually "new"
2) It was never a military document and instead was more like an advisory pamphlet for an Emperor to get a very basic overview from their military commanders.
You can see this in parts of it where it talks about the virtues of retreating (something a God Born Emperor might consider a height of failure) and other elements clearly designed to try and open the mind of someone who is a supreme ruler, but who likely lacks any real world military understanding.
I'm sorry you had a negative experience with Art of War. It sounds like perhaps it was a case of something being over-hyped in your mind before you ever actually got around to experiencing it. I can safely say though that in just the first chapter (which is in the video) that there's already some good stuff to take in for miniatures wargaming!
2019/12/19 14:42:07
Subject: The "Art of War" and how it relates to Wargames
The art of war still bears reading, and if you take the dryness, Machiavelli's The Prince.
It is how the world works to this day. Be it business, finance, wargamming, or politics.
It is the literal HOW and WHY. The methods discussed are still in use today and if you want to be a business magnate you will be executing the art of war and the prince, every single day.
Neutran Panzergrenadiers, 
Ostrakan Skitarii Legions, 
Order of the Silver Hand
That is quite right!