2011-03-31: Protecting People

[The Comment Golem]

Discussion thread for Protecting People

[mediocrates]

Why do I get the impression that she's going to try to come back and help anyway?

[Slamlander]

Rebellion quelled!

I'm staying right by your side.

Hehe, Jon's a gonner. Yes, he knows exactly what he signed up for and why.

Escorting the civilians will be dangerous too.

For the record, both jobs are equally dangerous. Splitting forces like this is questionable. Sarine's taking all of the big guns, hoping that the civvies can get through on stealth. This could be one of those times when the main force just barely survives only to find out that the civvies have been slaughtered by Ensigerum flankers, making the whole excersize moot.

If the goal is to sneak the civvies to safety then the chance of failure is large. Note that Sarine is sending the Heliomancers with the civvies as well. Heliomancers are untested against Ensigerum.

Note: Rear Guard strategies only work when you know exactly where the enemy is coming from and you have a semi-secured corridor for your non-combatants. Without that, you are better off keeping your forces together. Ian has enough to do a simple englobement. Alternatively, Ian can do enough to pin Sarine's main force down while he sends flankers after the civvies.

I need Sara with me.

Which is going to get us a Sara v. Anita face-off.

Paedos will take on Ian while the rest of the main force takes out zombies and Ensigerum main force (including the Sara v Anita fight). The Heliomancers will face Ensigerum flankers. I suspect that Ian will have difficulty controlling his zombies from too far away and therefore will not send zombies with the Ensigerum flanking column.

Things are going to get really cute when Meji shows up with the reinforcements.

Why do I get the impression that she's going to try to come back and help anyway?

When the shit hits the fan, Misa is going to be up to her eyeballs in combat. Be careful what you wish for ...

[Graybeard]

For the record, both jobs are equally dangerous. Splitting forces like this is questionable. Sarine's taking all of the big guns, hoping that the civvies can get through on stealth. This could be one of those times when the main force just barely survives only to find out that the civvies have been slaughtered by Ensigerum flankers, making the whole excersize moot.

If the goal is to sneak the civvies to safety then the chance of failure is large. Note that Sarine is sending the Heliomancers with the civvies as well. Heliomancers are untested against Ensigerum.

Note: Rear Guard strategies only work when you know exactly where the enemy is coming from and you have a semi-secured corridor for your non-combatants. Without that, you are better off keeping your forces together. Ian has enough to do a simple englobement. Alternatively, Ian can do enough to pin Sarine's main force down while he sends flankers after the civvies.

ANY strategy is highly dubious here. That is a fundamental part of a We Are Totally Screwed tactical situation.

This said, I'd try to do exactly what Sarine is doing. The only thing that's clear is that the status quo is going to get everybody killed. Doing something else is absolutely mandatory. Is there a better "something else" than trying to get the civilians out of Praenubilus Astu while the fighters make a last stand? I don't see it.

I also approve of the way Sarine has handled Misa here. Getting her to (relative) safety while communicating the idea that she's actually valued and valuable ... that's what a friend would do. Too bad it's unlikely to matter.

I need Sara with me.

Which is going to get us a Sara v. Anita face-off.

Good catch. I'd been expecting a Sarine vs. Anita face-off that goes badly for Sarine until force majeure arrives, maybe in time to save Sarine, maybe not. But yeah, this is more likely.

[Anthony]

For the record, both jobs are equally dangerous. Splitting forces like this is questionable. Sarine's taking all of the big guns, hoping that the civvies can get through on stealth.

Actually, hoping that the big guns can keep the enemy busy enough that they don't have time to go after (militarily ineffective) civilians.

Note: Rear Guard strategies only work when you know exactly where the enemy is coming from and you have a semi-secured corridor for your non-combatants.

If they can aggressively engage Ian's forces (not sit and wait to be attacked) they can keep enemy forces off the civilians by being too dangerous to ignore.

Without that, you are better off keeping your forces together.

Ian kinda likes explosions and falling buildings; the risk of being collateral damage is large.

Ian has enough to do a simple englobement.

I don't get the impression that there are really that many Ensigerum.

Alternatively, Ian can do enough to pin Sarine's main force down while he sends flankers after the civvies.

True, but will he? I'm pretty sure that killing Viriadors is more interesting to him than killing either random civilians or Heliomancers. Kinda depends whether he realizes that the civilians are headed for an actual way out, rather than just another hiding place.

Now switching to rules of drama:

Which is going to get us a Sara v. Anita face-off.

I'm inclined to bet on both Jon and Sara v Anita; they both have issues with her. Sarine probably also engaging Ian, faceless unnamed Viriadors vs faceless unnamed Ensigerum will likely result in lots of dead Viriadors, Heliomancers (1 named (Captain Aphel), 2 with faces (Lieutenant who asked questions at briefing, Lieutenant who's organizing here)) probably win but take losses.

[4uk4ata]

Ok, so I might have been slightly wrong regarding Misa's reaction. Slightly.

On a different topic, who thinks Meji will make one heck of a dramatic entrance? I am talking "Flying through/ramming through with an airship while standing at the prow, saying "The cavalry... has arrived" level dramatic, here.

[No One]

"No Misa, you can't come with me on the suicide mission. But to make it up to you, let me set off all these death flags for you."

[gambit3le]

We're getting dangerously close to a "nobody gets out of life alive" ending to this story.

[Sareth]

Really? I got dibs on Misa's virginal elf corpse.

[Graybeard]

Really? I got dibs on Misa's virginal elf corpse.

I think Ian's going to beat you to it.