Deception

I've been reading more Sun Tzu's Art of War.  I still haven't made it past his first chapter "Laying Plans" because I've been meticulously reading and researching the introduction, background, and commentary.  Having studied at a military academy, I've been through multiple Military Strategic Studies courses, but Art of War always comes to mind before anything else.

A certain passage really hits the nail on the head pertaining to EVE. 

"All warfare is based on deception.

Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.

If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him.  If he is in superior strength, evade him.

If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.

Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere (before) the battle is fought...Thus do many calculations lead to victory."

This is why I don't take it personally when people spy and awox.  Although I may call them fuckbois when we get blue-balled, I respect their use of deception and guerrilla tactics to suck our resources. Another thing they have done well is take advantage of our ally's "choleric temper".  

J-Space is full of deception.  When you're able to attack someone, you try to appear unable by utilizing POS location, ship traits, scanning alts, and the limitations of d-scan.

Bait. Simple enough.

If your neighbor is in superior strength, roll that hole.

"Making calculations in our temple" means to me experimenting with fleet comps.  Playing with EFT and Pyfa.  Mastering wormhole mechanics.  Gathering intel and utilizing Tripwire.  Being willing to scan.  Personally, I enjoy scanning down chains and observing active wormholers, sitting 100km off their POS watching them re-ship, making permanent notes in Tripwire about their activity, weighing the possibilities of catching them or inviting a fight. Fun stuff.

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If you haven't seen the new Mad Max movie, you should.  Imagine the movie Waterworld, except it's the desert instead of the ocean.  Imagine the Fallout New Vegas setting, with the factions battling over water and gasoline in custom-made muscle cars with weapons.  Tom Hardy is badass as expected, and Charlize Theron is smokin' as expected.

And if you haven't checked out Kerbal Space Program recently, they're out of Alpha and 1.0 has been released.  I've been playing the campaign and it's been satisfyingly difficult.  I'm currently trying to either send a mission to the ice caps of Kerbin for a soil sample or go to the mun.  I'm in need of science points, but the parts limit of 30 imposed by my vehicle assembly building is making it difficult for me.  And I can't upgrade unless I get more money...but my only active contract is achieving 2.5 km/s speed, which I imagine will be done in a nice elliptical orbit.

Zaqq's Talos Roam vid (boring, but fit is cool)

HK hits some Goons

Aim High,

-Smitty