Strategy 11 - Trade Space for Time: The Nonengagement Strategy
Strategy number 11 from Greene's "The 33 Strategies of War". In essence, it is the strategy of retreat.
Mainstream wisdom holds that retreat is cowardly, dishonorable, and shameful. It is the telltale sign of failure and weakness. When you retreat or fail to engage, the enemy has won. Instead, we are encouraged to fight tooth and nail to the bitter end. Even if it means a crushing defeat against superior forces, we're told that we at least "died like a man" as if that is supposed to make up for the fact that you died at all.
In reality, the strategy of nonengagement is a tactic used throughout history by some of the most brilliant leaders of all time. A strategic withdrawal allows the chance to continue the battle on your own terms when and where you decide upon. Some will view you as a coward. But this can be used to your advantage. They will underestimate you and you'll be better able to take them by surprise.
Furthermore, most people are actually rather aggressive by nature. They just may not show it because they doubt their odds of success. Seeing a retreating foe however, they will become emboldened and strike out with all their pent up aggression. And the reality is that this actually makes them more vulnerable because they aren't thinking as clearly.
In that regard, mainstream thinking can also be turned against the aggressor. A man who continues to doggedly pursue a wounded and retreating foe is sometimes seen as a sadist, a loose cannon as dangerous to friends as he is to his enemies. He shouldn't be trusted because he's actually mentally weak and lacks control over his emotions. Few things can destroy morale in a group faster than seeing the alpha male/female acting in a decidedly non-alpha manner.
How does this apply to magic? I think you all can see by now where I'm going with this.
Strategy number 11 from Greene's "The 33 Strategies of War". In essence, it is the strategy of retreat.
Mainstream wisdom holds that retreat is cowardly, dishonorable, and shameful. It is the telltale sign of failure and weakness. When you retreat or fail to engage, the enemy has won. Instead, we are encouraged to fight tooth and nail to the bitter end. Even if it means a crushing defeat against superior forces, we're told that we at least "died like a man" as if that is supposed to make up for the fact that you died at all.
In reality, the strategy of nonengagement is a tactic used throughout history by some of the most brilliant leaders of all time. A strategic withdrawal allows the chance to continue the battle on your own terms when and where you decide upon. Some will view you as a coward. But this can be used to your advantage. They will underestimate you and you'll be better able to take them by surprise.
Furthermore, most people are actually rather aggressive by nature. They just may not show it because they doubt their odds of success. Seeing a retreating foe however, they will become emboldened and strike out with all their pent up aggression. And the reality is that this actually makes them more vulnerable because they aren't thinking as clearly.
In that regard, mainstream thinking can also be turned against the aggressor. A man who continues to doggedly pursue a wounded and retreating foe is sometimes seen as a sadist, a loose cannon as dangerous to friends as he is to his enemies. He shouldn't be trusted because he's actually mentally weak and lacks control over his emotions. Few things can destroy morale in a group faster than seeing the alpha male/female acting in a decidedly non-alpha manner.
How does this apply to magic? I think you all can see by now where I'm going with this.