"Listen well my brothers, for I have important words to say unto you this day. The enemy that stands before us is countless beyond numbering, and strong with the false energy of Chaos. Yet we will break this foe as easily as a flawed boulder, that though it is large and appears strong, splits asunder with but one tap of the craftsman's hammer."
— Chaplain Xavier, before the Battle of Kilgrom's Krag 147/M40, Warhammer 40,000
Sylvia pulled her armored shoulders in toward her body, smiling like she had been given a warm blanket on a cold night. "I felt another power. Not greater, but closer. More active. More alive. And just as alien. I never knew what it could have been, but my Lady Wanda was kind enough to explain it. Do you know what that power was, Warlord?"
Not for the first time today, Ossomer was lost. "I do not."
She smiled and closed her eyes. "It was Lord Hamster with an idea."
— Erfworld, regarding Parson Gotti
"I have no desire to march through the streets with an ax or a hammer, meeting my foes in the flesh. My path is the far greater one. I shall meet them in spirit and crush them from afar, devouring them by the hundreds and the thousands."
— Gul'dan, Warcraft
"But fortunately, Thanos's most dangerous weapon is his mind. It is entirely in the planning. All battles are won or lost before ever the first blow is struck. Execution is mere formality."
— Thanos, Infinity Abyss
Wanda: N' you cannot win.
Parson: I can! Perfect warlord, remember? You didn't listen!
Wanda: You... are not the perfect warlord. Your plans... f-fail.
Maggie: Mm.
Sizemore: That is true, Warlord.
[Parson stares at them in shock]
Parson: Holy crap, guys! Plans do fail. "Perfect strategy" does not mean one perfect flawless genius plan! It doesn't mean you never lose!
Look, you've taught me a lot, so let me teach you something, k? This is strategy. First... you have a goal. Then, you list objectives in support of that goal, in order of importance.
Then you weigh the costs and accomplish the most you can, however you can. Without even fighting, if possible!
You've got bluff, subterfuge, diplomacy... lotta time it's just "watch what the enemy's doing, and hit him where he's weak and you're strong."
But, y'know... he's doing the same to you. And you can't be strong everywhere. So sometimes you fall back where he's stronger, and sometimes you do lose. But you roll with it. Yes you plan, okay? But the enemy won't follow your plan. So the trick is to be fluid, hit him on the fly, define his choices... watch for opportunity, like when he boops up. You have to know more than he does about what's going on.
Parson: I can! Perfect warlord, remember? You didn't listen!
Wanda: You... are not the perfect warlord. Your plans... f-fail.
Maggie: Mm.
Sizemore: That is true, Warlord.
[Parson stares at them in shock]
Parson: Holy crap, guys! Plans do fail. "Perfect strategy" does not mean one perfect flawless genius plan! It doesn't mean you never lose!
Look, you've taught me a lot, so let me teach you something, k? This is strategy. First... you have a goal. Then, you list objectives in support of that goal, in order of importance.
Then you weigh the costs and accomplish the most you can, however you can. Without even fighting, if possible!
You've got bluff, subterfuge, diplomacy... lotta time it's just "watch what the enemy's doing, and hit him where he's weak and you're strong."
But, y'know... he's doing the same to you. And you can't be strong everywhere. So sometimes you fall back where he's stronger, and sometimes you do lose. But you roll with it. Yes you plan, okay? But the enemy won't follow your plan. So the trick is to be fluid, hit him on the fly, define his choices... watch for opportunity, like when he boops up. You have to know more than he does about what's going on.
