Full Version: the art of war
erm...i'm still stuck not knowing what is the difference between orthodox and unorthodox tactics, could anyone shed some light on this?
Unorthodox tactics is just another way of saying doing something that is unexpected. They are effective because the enemy does not know how to defend against as he never thought about it in the first place.
There is a grey area as what is considered orthodox and what is unorthodox. I believe in the really really ancient past, even something as simple as flanking the enemy can be considered as unorthodox. But as the practice becomes more common, it becomes just another othodox tactic that you are expected to use and the enemy would certainly have prepared for.
This is not limited to inventing new tactics. Rehashing old ones as long as the enemy doesn't expect it is still the same.
There is a grey area as what is considered orthodox and what is unorthodox. I believe in the really really ancient past, even something as simple as flanking the enemy can be considered as unorthodox. But as the practice becomes more common, it becomes just another othodox tactic that you are expected to use and the enemy would certainly have prepared for.
This is not limited to inventing new tactics. Rehashing old ones as long as the enemy doesn't expect it is still the same.
QUOTE(li shi min @ Nov 21 2006, 05:58 AM) [snapback]4862581[/snapback]
erm...i'm still stuck not knowing what is the difference between orthodox and unorthodox tactics, could anyone shed some light on this?
The answer posted by Wujiang is perfect.
You may observe an example in the "Weaknesses and Strengths chapter of "The Art of War' where Chu-ko found himself left to defend a city with only a very small force.
Ssu-ma learned of the situation and said to himself, now is my chance to attack and he arrived ready to attack.
The defense mounted by Chu-ko was very unorthodox ...........he ordered his troops to silence their drums, to stay out sight and opened the four gates , swept and sprinkled the streets.
Ssu-ma saw this, suspected a trap and led his army in haste away to the mountains.
Chu-ko prevailed and never expended one arrow, or lost one man. Such is the value of the unorthodox
QUOTE(Wujiang @ Nov 21 2006, 04:10 AM) 
Unorthodox tactics is just another way of saying doing something that is unexpected. They are effective because the enemy does not know how to defend against as he never thought about it in the first place.
There is a grey area as what is considered orthodox and what is unorthodox. I believe in the really really ancient past, even something as simple as flanking the enemy can be considered as unorthodox. But as the practice becomes more common, it becomes just another othodox tactic that you are expected to use and the enemy would certainly have prepared for.
This is not limited to inventing new tactics. Rehashing old ones as long as the enemy doesn't expect it is still the same.
There is a grey area as what is considered orthodox and what is unorthodox. I believe in the really really ancient past, even something as simple as flanking the enemy can be considered as unorthodox. But as the practice becomes more common, it becomes just another othodox tactic that you are expected to use and the enemy would certainly have prepared for.
This is not limited to inventing new tactics. Rehashing old ones as long as the enemy doesn't expect it is still the same.
How does one rehash old tactics into something new?
He knows his settings in terms of time, space, specific environmental settings, resources, etc.
He may add or subtract a step. He may even multiply a sequences of tactics or divide them.
Then he focuses on the ease of use and quality execution.
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