posted 16 July 2008 16:41 EDT (US)
With a few traditional proverbs interpreted and related to Medieval 2 Total War, but also applicable for Rome, then described as you can use them in the game, I have greatly enhanced my playing skills and style. I think this selection of carefully-chosen proverbs and the advice within them and their descriptions can do the same for you. Read on and see. Trust me, you won't regret it. Even if the proverbs are Gaelic 
INTRODUCTION:
So you know about many things to do with war and strategy and politics, in the world, and on the battlefield where the world’s future is decided. As the leader of a great nation and thus great armies, decisions are yours to make, emperors yours to break, and a world awaits for your hungry throne to carve in two. You know many keys to many doors in this world which will, together, unlock the door to your objective of conquest and unrivalled power, and military might unprecedented. But what about the shorter route to such things? Why go across the hills when you could follow the path of the river at it winds through? How do you sum up everything about war, peace, diplomacy, command, and power? What is the essence of it all? Can it be put into a few phrases which are the most important key of all? The answer is yes. Here I will attempt to do so, with the help of a few traditional proverbs which indeed help with the art of war and all its outcomes.
The Value of the Well is Not Known Until It Goes Dry:
The meaning here should be obvious. You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. And when it is gone it is only going to be at your own cost, and your enemy’s pleasure. In war, you need to take full advantage of every scrap of land you own, and exhaust everything if necessary. As much as you do not underestimate your enemies, do not underestimate yourself, your armies, or your empire. Or gone they will be, and the well’s value will then be known, but sorely missed.
Two Never Kindled a Fire But Lit it Between Them:
Again, the meaning is obvious, but rarely taken into account. You will probably use allies and defend them as well, but do you ask them to help? Do you truly call upon them decisively when you need it most? Would you return the favour? You will reap no rewards without watering the land that grows them, so if you don’t repay favours and serve your allies as they serve you when you request, you will get nothing besides a closed fist and bitter words.
No Door Ever Closed But Another Opened:
Opportunities are fleeting things. They come, they go, some without realising, some taken by others, and others taken by you. But there is always one to be found. An opportunity collapses, and a new one is born out of it, whether through a power vacuum, a chance your enemies didn’t take, and a chance you took which may just be beginning to bear fruit.
Hold Back Your Dog Till the Deer Falls:
Destroy with what you need to destroy with. Do not overwhelm your opponents, use strategy to bring them down. Numbers are not necessary. Only when your opponent falls do you bring all your weight to bear upon them. Only then is victory assured.
No Man Ever Broke His Bow But Another Man Found a Use for the String:
Extermination yields peace. Occupation yields wealth. Wealth yields peace, and peace yields wealth. Everything has a use. Balance uses with each other and you balance the world on your shoulders with ease.
Nothing Can Get Into a Closed Fist:
Make peace with your enemies defeated or victorious in war. If you remain with your sword drawn, nothing can come of it but bloodshed. If you sheath your blade, even for a second, then you widen your options and can easily gain the advantage or the energy to return to war if you so choose.
The Little Fire that Warms is Better than the Big Fire that Burns:
Sometimes you can go ahead with a large army, and be defeated. Your campaign is over, you are forced back. But if you set alight to a smaller area, but in many places, you do equal damage, divide your enemy, confuse your enemy, and can then gain the upper hand with minimal effort.
A Little Hole Will Sink a Big Ship:
With minimal effort but maximum planning, you can take down an enemy who has it all, and bring their empire crashing down around them with a single decisive strike.
Dig Your Bait While the Tide is Out:
Set your traps and draw up your plans well before it will be necessary to put them to use. Plan your moves. Leave nothing to chance. And when the tide comes in, you will be ready to face it down.
Better a Good Retreat than a Bad Stand:
Do not fight on where victory is impossible. Fall back, and make peace, instead of fighting to the last man where you will gain nothing.
CONCLUSION:
These are the points I have narrowed my playing style down to, and it has worked wonders. You can make perfect sense of out riddles and proverbs with a little interpretation, and then they become your strongest ally. I hope this has been useful. It is no invincibility, but it is a lot closer than working out your own plans is. This guide may have seemed short, but it really is all you need to know whether you are a beginner or veteran or the best the world has ever seen.
------m------m------
(o o)
(~)
Monkey beats bunny. Please put Monkey in your signature to prevent the rise of bunny.
m0n|<3yz r 2 pwn n00b
So you know about many things to do with war and strategy and politics, in the world, and on the battlefield where the world’s future is decided. As the leader of a great nation and thus great armies, decisions are yours to make, emperors yours to break, and a world awaits for your hungry throne to carve in two. You know many keys to many doors in this world which will, together, unlock the door to your objective of conquest and unrivalled power, and military might unprecedented. But what about the shorter route to such things? Why go across the hills when you could follow the path of the river at it winds through? How do you sum up everything about war, peace, diplomacy, command, and power? What is the essence of it all? Can it be put into a few phrases which are the most important key of all? The answer is yes. Here I will attempt to do so, with the help of a few traditional proverbs which indeed help with the art of war and all its outcomes.
The Value of the Well is Not Known Until It Goes Dry:
The meaning here should be obvious. You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. And when it is gone it is only going to be at your own cost, and your enemy’s pleasure. In war, you need to take full advantage of every scrap of land you own, and exhaust everything if necessary. As much as you do not underestimate your enemies, do not underestimate yourself, your armies, or your empire. Or gone they will be, and the well’s value will then be known, but sorely missed.
Two Never Kindled a Fire But Lit it Between Them:
Again, the meaning is obvious, but rarely taken into account. You will probably use allies and defend them as well, but do you ask them to help? Do you truly call upon them decisively when you need it most? Would you return the favour? You will reap no rewards without watering the land that grows them, so if you don’t repay favours and serve your allies as they serve you when you request, you will get nothing besides a closed fist and bitter words.
No Door Ever Closed But Another Opened:
Opportunities are fleeting things. They come, they go, some without realising, some taken by others, and others taken by you. But there is always one to be found. An opportunity collapses, and a new one is born out of it, whether through a power vacuum, a chance your enemies didn’t take, and a chance you took which may just be beginning to bear fruit.
Hold Back Your Dog Till the Deer Falls:
Destroy with what you need to destroy with. Do not overwhelm your opponents, use strategy to bring them down. Numbers are not necessary. Only when your opponent falls do you bring all your weight to bear upon them. Only then is victory assured.
No Man Ever Broke His Bow But Another Man Found a Use for the String:
Extermination yields peace. Occupation yields wealth. Wealth yields peace, and peace yields wealth. Everything has a use. Balance uses with each other and you balance the world on your shoulders with ease.
Nothing Can Get Into a Closed Fist:
Make peace with your enemies defeated or victorious in war. If you remain with your sword drawn, nothing can come of it but bloodshed. If you sheath your blade, even for a second, then you widen your options and can easily gain the advantage or the energy to return to war if you so choose.
The Little Fire that Warms is Better than the Big Fire that Burns:
Sometimes you can go ahead with a large army, and be defeated. Your campaign is over, you are forced back. But if you set alight to a smaller area, but in many places, you do equal damage, divide your enemy, confuse your enemy, and can then gain the upper hand with minimal effort.
A Little Hole Will Sink a Big Ship:
With minimal effort but maximum planning, you can take down an enemy who has it all, and bring their empire crashing down around them with a single decisive strike.
Dig Your Bait While the Tide is Out:
Set your traps and draw up your plans well before it will be necessary to put them to use. Plan your moves. Leave nothing to chance. And when the tide comes in, you will be ready to face it down.
Better a Good Retreat than a Bad Stand:
Do not fight on where victory is impossible. Fall back, and make peace, instead of fighting to the last man where you will gain nothing.
These are the points I have narrowed my playing style down to, and it has worked wonders. You can make perfect sense of out riddles and proverbs with a little interpretation, and then they become your strongest ally. I hope this has been useful. It is no invincibility, but it is a lot closer than working out your own plans is. This guide may have seemed short, but it really is all you need to know whether you are a beginner or veteran or the best the world has ever seen.
(o o)
(~)
Monkey beats bunny. Please put Monkey in your signature to prevent the rise of bunny.
m0n|<3yz r 2 pwn n00b
