When to attack

[Zoompet]

Given the best set of circumstances, when is the best time to attack, and what are the most important factors to consider?

[Arkcon]

Originally posted by Zoompet:
Given the best set of circumstances, when is the best time to attack, and what are the most important factors to consider?

Hmm. Interesting question. So many variables. OK, I play this way -- after the AI opponent has declared war. 'Course, I've been preparing for this eventuality and intend to carry it to the bitter end - their destruction and my occupation of their territory.

Helps to know what targets to hit. You can probe their defenses with a sacrifice ship. You can learn what weapons they field by observing what happens to satellites of yours they encounter.

[ October 11, 2002, 19:36: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

[Puke]

Sun Tzu and The Prince both have direct applications in SE4. I tend to favor the latter over the former.

[Fyron]

The Prince?

[Captain Kwok]

Fyron - both are references to older battle tactics and foreign relations stuff.

[Zoompet]

Originally posted by Puke:
Sun Tzu and The Prince both have direct applications in SE4. I tend to favor the latter over the former.

Which one said "don't attack until you can sweep 100 points of mines."

[Arkcon]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
The Prince?

Il Principe , The Prince, by Nicolo Machiavelli. From which we get the term machiavellian -- success by any means necessicary.

I've already quoted Sun Tsu once, let me see, something from The Prince ...

OK, well, everyone building masses of weapon platforms would do well to read Chapter XX - Are Fortresses, And Many Other Things To Which Princes Often Resort, Advantageous Or Hurtful?

For a quote how about...
"a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil. "

"Hence it is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity. "

{Thank you Project Gutenberg, I gave my peguin copy away}

[ October 11, 2002, 00:21: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

[Fyron]

Ok... that is what I was thinking The Prince was.

[Taera]

Does someone have a link to full translation of Sun Tzu's book and Prince, too? I have one Sun Tzu's translation but its rather puny...

[Fyron]

I used to have a link to Sun Tsu's book. I think I got that link from the old EZ Board Hypercomm Central.