George S. Patton on War with Comments

Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory.
- George S. Patton

Players: It is essential for leaders to prioritize the enjoyment and progression of the players as individual humans with needs and desires, before accomplishments in the game that have little value. A spirited leader who focuses more on the people, and less on the game, will have achieved victory, regardless of winning or losing in the game itself. To focus only on winning in the game, is to push aside the humanity of the people playing. When players are used as equipment to be thrown away after victory, they will flock elsewhere for enjoyment. Both the mind and heart of the player are intrinsically involved in gaming, and one's enjoyment is crucial in obtaining fulfillment through gaming mediums. Leaders must continually strive to be an architect of this enjoyment.

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Put players in positions where escape is impossible and they will prefer death to flight. They will put forth their greatest effort.

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Guild leaders should not over-tax members, either through the game’s monetary system, or through their time spent playing. Always be aware of the guild’s morale. Keep players continually moving and fighting, and develop wild plans of action.

Players: Most players abhor down-time and times when the action is lackluster. Guild leadership must be aware when there are lulls expected to devise ways to keep players interested. When a leader can keep the action alive, they can rely on the players they lead to be there for them.

Chögyam Trungpa on Decency

"If you are a warrior, decency means that you are not cheating anybody at all. You are not even about to cheat anybody. There is a sense of straightforwardness and simplicity. With setting-sun vision, or vision based on cowardice, straightforwardness is always a problem. If people have some story or news to tell somebody else, first of all they are either excited or disappointed. Then they begin to figure out how to tell their news. They develop a plan, which leads them completely away from simply telling it. By the time a person hears the news, it is not news at all, but opinion. It becomes a message of some kind, rather than fresh, straightforward news. Decency is the absence of strategy. It is of utmost importance to realize that the warrior’s approach should be simple-minded sometimes, very simple and straightforward. That makes it very beautiful: you having nothing up your sleeve; therefore a sense of genuineness comes through. That is decency."
― Chögyam Trungpa

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Attack where the environment is fertile to easily resupply.

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The farther into an enemy’s territory you attack, the greater the resolve of your troops, and there is no force that can stand against you.

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Speed is essential; rapidly take advantage of the enemy’s discord, take unexpected routes and attack where there is no guard.

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Great leaders will take that which the enemy holds dear, and then impose their will upon them.

R.A. Salvatore on Luck

“Luck?" Drizzt replied. "Perhaps. But more often, I dare to say, luck is simply the advantage a true warrior gains in executing the correct course of action.”
- R.A. Salvatore, The Halfling's Gem

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Great leaders know when the advantage is gained by moving, and when to stay still.