The great Sun Tzu
Having picked up Sun Tzu to take to the beach (yes, I never switch off from tactics) I have been going over his chapter on estimates.
What Sun Tzu is talking about here is using the information you have about your enemy to make some calculations beforehand and to draw up your plans accordingly. In this way you maximise your strengths, while exploiting your opponent’s weaknesses.
Now in wargaming we have HUGE amounts of information on our opponent, yet rarely use them
We normally know the exact composition of our opponent’s forces. And, if we are refighting an historical scenario, we also know their dispositions.
You are never going to get these advantages in real warfare, yet we often completely overlook these gift horses and just settle down to roll some dice.
Spend 30 minutes before the battle formulating a plan. Look at where the opponent is weak, examine his troops types, analyse the terrain, make calculations based on move distances and weapon ranges. And don’t forget to focus on the mission you have been provided with.
Also, you want to spare a bit of time to throw your opponent a curve ball. If he is going to be going through calculations as well, how can you deceive him and confuse him? How can you set up a feint attack, lay an ambush, or send troops off on a flanking march?
By following through these lines of thinking you gain a massive advantage on your opponent, who has spent his 30 minutes playing with his dice, eating a burger and talking about the game on TV last night.
As Sun Tzu says: “With many calculations one can win; with few one cannot.”
It really is that simple.
So next time you stare at your monitor or stand over a wargames table, do a little bit of calculation and see the results for yourself.
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