Nice to meet you all. I am ronny, a Chinese interested in game design (video game design, though. But I think board game design is helpful in designing mechanisms of video games)
In Chinese, the word 'strategic' and 'tactic' has identical meaning, but it seems that the two words are different in English (or in this forum at least). So my question is, what is the difference between "strategic" and "tactic" in definition or nature?
Thanks :)
Strategic applies to the long term, tactical to the short term.
The difference between strategy and tactics can be described in terms of time-frame, as Zaiga suggested, but also in terms of focus. Here is a quote from Alan Emrich on the subject:
Strategy is immutable; it is a Big Picture look at a problem that focuses upon the entire forest and not individual trees. Military concepts such as objective, offensive, simplicity, unity of command, mass, economy of force, maneuver, surprise, and security represent the timeless principles of strategy. Why do you think Sun Tzu’s The Art of War has been a best seller for thousands of years and translated into every imaginable language? Because it teaches strategy and the lessons of strategy are timeless. They are bound to our very nature as humans.
Tactics vary with circumstances and, especially, technology. If I were to teach you how to be a soldier during the American Revolution, you would learn how to form and maneuver in lines, perform the 27 steps in loading and firing a musket, and how to ride and tend to a horse. Naturally, yesterday’s tactics won’t win today’s wars – but yesterday’s strategies still win today’s wars… and will win them tomorrow and into the future.
~Josh
Tactics are the steps you'll take to achieve your stategy. If the stategy is to shoot down an enemy airplane, then tactics are the steps you employ to achieve that goal.
rd
Sorry for the long post of definitions, but I like to google definitions!
Definitions of Tactic
# A design decision that is influential in the control of a quality attribute response. Tactics tell you what to do in order to affect a quality attribute response measure. Unlike sensitivity points, tactics are independent of any specific system.
www.sei.cmu.edu/architecture/glossary.html
# A limited plan of action based on a conception of how, in a restricted phase of a conflict, to use effectively the available means of action to achieve a specific limited objective. Tactics are intended for use in implementing a wider strategy in a phase of the overall conflict. Tactic represent the tools you use to meet your goals. Tactics can be very small things too, like postering, leafleting, showing a movie, or sending a letter to the school paper. ...
www.canvasopedia.org/content/canvasopedia/dictionary.htm
# specific details or parts of a strategy, and how it can be implemented
www.oup.com/uk/booksites/content/0199274894/student/glossary/glossary.htm
# a method or action for accomplishing an end.
www.for.gov.bc.ca/tasb/legsregs/fpc/fpcguide/defoliat/gloss.htm
# deploying, disposing, and using resources for gaining advantage or success, in order to carry out a strategy. As used in Dr. Tom Gilbert's performance matrix, tactics are the duties required and tools developed in order to implement strategies, and are measured by their cost.
members.aol.com/JohnEshleman/glossary.html
# a plan for attaining a particular goal
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
# Tactics is the collective name for methods of winning a small-scale conflict, performing an optimization, etc. This applies specifically to warfare, but also to economics, trade, games and a host of other fields such as negotiation.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactic
Definitions of Strategy
# scheme: an elaborate and systematic plan of action
# the branch of military science dealing with military command and the planning and conduct of a war
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
# A strategy is a long term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. Strategy applies to many disparate fields, such as: *Military strategy*Marketing strategies*Strategic management*Football strategy*Game theoretical strategy*Economic strategy*Neuro-linguistic programming strategy
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategy
# A strategy in game theory is a sequence of activities and reactions, that fully determine an agents bahaviour in a game or a business situation.The mathematically precise description of behaviour is connected to computer programming and algorithms.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategy_(game_theory)
# a broad non-specific statement of an approach to accomplishing desired goals and objectives.
www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/library/documents/glossary/S.htm
# The general plan or direction selected to accomplish incident objectives.
www.w0ipl.com/ECom/icsterms.htm
# An interesting strategic approach or idea. (Function)
ccs.mit.edu/21c/iokey.html
# In general, the plan or policy for arbitrating between multiple, concurrent requests for the use of a device. Specifically in disk device drivers, the policy for scheduling multiple, concurrent disk block-read and block-write requests.
biology.ncsa.uiuc.edu/library/SGI_bookshelves/SGI_Developer/books/DevDriver_PG/sgi_html/go01.html
# A startegy is a long term plan for sucess, to achieve an advantage. In force terms this is the key milestones and targets for the coming year. These are based upon the Governments PPAF requirements.
www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/v3/help/glossary.htm
# Describes the differentiating activities an organization pursues to gain competitive advantage. Situated at the center of the Balanced Scorecard system, all performance measures should align with the organization's strategy. Strategy remains one of the most widely discussed and debated topics in the world of modern organizations.
www.balancedscorecard.biz/Glossary.html
# While matching in a dictionary serveral methods for comparing words can be used. These methods are named strategies and include exact match, regular expression match, and soundex match. The available strategies depends on the server, but a special name . can be used to denote a server-default strategy.
www.myrkr.in-berlin.de/dictionary/using.html
# A plan for the conduct of a major phase, or campaign, within a grand strategy for the overall conflict. A strategy is the basic idea of how the struggle of a specific campaign shall develop, and how its separate components shall be fitted together to contribute most advantageously to achieve its objectives. Strategy operates within the scope of the grand strategy. Tactics and specific methods of action are used in smaller scale operations to implement the strategy for a specific campaign.
www.canvasopedia.org/content/canvasopedia/dictionary.htm
# A systematic plan, consciously adapted and monitored, to improve one's performance in learning
www.mdk12.org/instruction/curriculum/reading/glossary.shtml
# A systematic plan.
www.nmlites.org/standards/language/glossary.html
# is concerned with deciding what business an organisation should be in, where it wants to be, and how it is going to get there.
wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/objects/213/218150/glossary.html
# Click here for details.
www.cryer.co.uk/glossary/s/
# in the broadest sense, a specific way in which something is to be done
www.oup.com/uk/booksites/content/0199274894/student/glossary/glossary.htm
# The foundation of a player’s moves. The way to achieve a particular plan. See Plan.
www.jeremysilman.com/chess_glossary/glossary_chess_terms_s.html
# A company's overall plan of development. Corporate strategy can be more formally defined as a comprehensive plan or action orientation that identifies the critical direction and guides the allocation of resources of an entire organization. The strategy is typically a statement about what should be done to ensure prosperity based on the company's vision, values and mission. Besides a corporate strategy, each business unit of a large corporation may have its own strategic plan.
strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/instco-levc.nsf/en/h_qw00037e.html
# The overall, long range plans for the game.
www.geocities.com/allentownchess/terms.html
# An option strategy is one of various kinds of option investments, ie long call, covered write, bull spread, etc.
www.ptisecurities.com/Glossary/GlossaryS.htm
# A course of action to achieve targets.
www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/0/15f5c5045e7a1dd4cc256b6b0002b038
# A strategy is a planned, deliberate procedure goal-oriented (has an identifiable outcome) achieved with a sequence of steps subject to monitoring and modification ( Literate Futures: Whole-school Literacy Planning Guidelines , p. 14)
education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/learning/literate-futures/glossary.html
# The logical framework and set of coordinated decisions linking development goals with the actions required to achieve them. In DRD usage, the proposed strategy, having economic, social, environmental, and spatial components, specifies the major problems to be alleviated and the opportunities to be realized by short- to medium-term investments in specific projects.
www.oas.org/usde/publications/Unit/oea03e/ch13.htm
# In GAME THEORY, a policy for playing a game. A strategy is a complete recipe for how a player should act in a game under all circumstances. Some policies may employ RANDOMNESS, in which case they are referred to as mixed strategies.
www.agsm.edu.au/~bobm/teaching/SimSS/glossary.html
# A set of explicit mental and behavioral steps used to achieve a specific outcome.
www.deeptrancenow.com/dict_r.htm
# Approach taken that will affect the overall direction of the organization and will establish the organization’s future environment.
it.csumb.edu/departments/data/glossary.html
# in investments, the selection of a mix of investments in different asset classes in order to achieve specific investment objectives. Factors contributing to an investment strategy include time horizon and risk tolerance.
www.pbucc.org/pension/tools/glossary.php
# A plan or method including options and priorities towards the achievement of a defined goal or objective.
www.undp.org/rbec/nhdr/1996/georgia/glossary.htm
In Chinese, the word 'strategic' and 'tactic' has identical meaning
Hi, Ronnyay, and welcome to the BGDF!
I find your statement interesting. Since language defines thought, I find it strange to hear Chinese has no defined distinction between the two concepts, given the deep and subtle thinking that has been applied to military matters for thousands of years. Perhaps there is a different distinction made, and there are two new concepts (niether exactly tactics or strategy) from Chinese that might be interesting to English speakers?
I have a few questions along these lines, if you don't mind.
First, in books on Wei Ch'i, how are the player's overall planning methods referred to (meaning "strategy")? Is this term different than the reactive, turn-by-turn choices players make as the situation on the board develops ("tactics"), or is it still the same word? I wonder if there isn't some special Wei Ch'i jargon that might be of use to you, given that books have been written about the game for almost three thousand years.
Also, in the writings of Sun Tsu, is the single word used throughout, or was there some other character in the original, whose use has since been lost to modern Chinese? I'd imagine historical sources might have specialized words that have since fallen from common use, and would be interested in whether this was true.
Again, welcome to the forums! I, for one, would be interested in hearing more from you!
Hi Ronny,
There have been some excellent but complicated thoughts so far. I think of the difference this way:
--To win an individual battle, you need to think about tactics.
--To win a war, you need to think about strategy.
An example: in the 1941-1945 Pacific War, Japan took out Pearl Harbor. This was a strategy to eliminate the US navy. But they had to think through tactics, like when to attack, how, and so on.
I hope that helps.
Since language defines thought, I find it strange to hear Chinese has no defined distinction between the two concepts, given the deep and subtle thinking that has been applied to military matters for thousands of years.
For a number of articles about the "no word for X == unable to grasp the concept of X" issue, see the end of this Language Log post.
zaiga wrote:Strategic applies to the long term, tactical to the short term.
Thank you!
So, it is correct to say that "tactic + tactic + tactic + ... = strategy" ? or in order words, "tactic is a subset of strategy" ?
I don’t think of it as "tactic + tactic + tactic + ... = strategy".
Tactics are the actions you take. Strategy is the reasons you take the actions.
Tactics are very tangible and most of the time you can create a top down "tactical" representation of situation and armed with your strategies you can plan which actions to take.
- Dwight
Continuing the off-topic part of the discussion, while language may not define thought, it certainly reflects culture. I would argue, for instance, that the concept of schadenfreude, taking pleasure in others' misfortune, is certainly present in both English-speaking and German-speaking cultures, but the fact that there's a reasonably-common word for it in German and none in English means it's likely that German-speaking cultures are more consciously aware of the idea.
When it comes to translation, though, things are a bit more complicated because if you use a given translation dictionary as a reference (or a translator), you're assuming that the compilers of the dictionary actually understand all the subtle distinctions between all of those words in both languages, whichis unlikely, or that the listed most-common translation is necessarily appropriate in your situation.
But I'm just avoiding work. :)
-- Matthew
This is a common misconception perpetuated by the media. Language does not define thought. Someone once formulated a theory that language might define thought, and a few more scientists said "That's a really elegant theory!", and then they tested it and found no relation to reality.
What media? Who formulated this theory you're dubunking? Who thought it was elegant and tested it? Where are the results of their tests, upon which you base your objection? I love linguistics, and would be interested to know.
It wasn't my point that there's no concept for X. As FastLearner points out (correctly), the idea of a distict word for a concept elevates that concept above those meanings that are merely implicit. Meaning by implication is difficult for non-native speakers to grasp without immersion in the culture of a language. Certain languages, based on syntax and grammar, most certainly do lend themselves to certain types of concepts or descriptions. The idea that every language is just a code that carries the same information as every other is totally wrong.
The fact that there's no explicit, distinct word for strategy or tactics in modern Chinese does have relevance, but not in the black or white form described above. It question isn't whether there's an understanding of the concept of strategy or tactics, but rather that the common use of this Chinese word refers to a concept somewhat different from our understanding of tactics and strategy.
Chinese may have a definition for a concept that is similarly offset from either strategy or tactics, and that it might be interesting to learn what it is. Words do indeed represent thoughts; if not, how do you explain the need for specialized jargon? This is why languages borrow from one another. When there isn't a handy compact way of delivering an idea, speakers must use a cumbersone definition, and why come up with a word when there's a perfectly good one in use by someone else?
As people who like the think about and create games, tactics and strategy are important concepts. Isn't it possible there are others out there, too?
In the gaming world, I think the main difference between tactic and strategy is a matter of scale. Tactical is for lower scale combat, strategy is for higher scale combat.
If I take some video game examples that take palce in china ( to stay in theme), Romance of the 3 kingdom would be a strategy game because you are managing a war from an high level. You do not manage all units individualy. You give orders and you receive feedback on the result.
While tactical would look more like Kessen 3 or Dynasty Warriors: You control a squad of soldier and give them orders. You are awared of the higher level strategic plan, but you are on the field and control only a unit.
For board games, Axis and allies would be a strategy game, but War Hammer miniature would be tactical because you manage the action of each soldier.
Even if it is just a matter of scale, the strategic and tactical way of thinking are completely different. Not all people will be good at both these task.
In the GURPS RPG system, there are 2 skill : strategy and tactic.
For ship combat, either in space or on sea, tactical would mean controling all the actions of 1 ship. While strategy would mean controlling a fleet or coordinating many fleets.
I disagree. I mean, yes, there are "tactical level" boardgames and "strategic level" boardgames, though generally these are wargames and not boardgames as the term is commonly used, but individual games still have strategies and tactics.
In El Grande, for example, you might choose a strategy of getting lots of second place scorings instead of many (or even any) first place scorings. This means you'd need to implement some very specific tactics that will keep you fairly spread out and present in otherwise-ignored territories. You probably wouldn't put a lot of guys in the Castillo because that, more often than not, is for taking a surprise first place somewhere, but you might put just enough to ensure second place wherever you'd like. Another tactic might include using the special cards to focus on eliminating just one or two of another player's pieces from a territory rather than trying to overwhelm someone. Etc. You've got an overall strategy, and you make tactical moves to enable that strategy.
In Puerto Rico the most common strategies are "Shipper" and "Builder," and each has very specific sets of tactics you'd use to realize those strategies. The surest way to lose in Puerto Rico to experienced players is to pick one of those strategies and set yourself up for it but keep making tactical decisions that enable the other one.
The best boardgames, at least from thse gamer's perspective, allow for multiple possible strategies to winning, each of which will require certain tactics to implment.
-- Matthew
Thank you for all the replies! I can't believe my dumb question can recieve so many comprehensive and excellent responses!
After reading all the replies, I come to an understanding that there are many vocabularies for the concept of "strategy" in Chinese but none for the specific concept of "tactic". In Chinese vocabularies, "strategy = tactic = plan = 策略" and they have no clear cut boundary.
See below searches on "tactic" and "strategy" from a chinese dictionary. Note that both search ends with an answer "策略"
http://hk.dictionary.yahoo.com/search.html?q=1&s=strategy
http://hk.dictionary.yahoo.com/search.html?q=1&s=tactic&Submit=+%ACd%A6r+
For the questions from Hedge-o-Matic...
First, in books on Wei Ch'i, how are the player's overall planning methods referred to (meaning "strategy")? Is this term different than the reactive, turn-by-turn choices players make as the situation on the board develops ("tactics"), or is it still the same word? I wonder if there isn't some special Wei Ch'i jargon that might be of use to you, given that books have been written about the game for almost three thousand years.
As far as I know, in Wei Ch'i, there is no specific term about planning method. Instead, it has many jargons for some specific moves (or can I call them "tactics"?) such as connecting your chess diagonally to shut down potential invasion is called "尖" (kosumi - english terms in Wei Ch'i are originated from japanese).
Also, in the writings of Sun Tsu, is the single word used throughout, or was there some other character in the original, whose use has since been lost to modern Chinese? I'd imagine historical sources might have specialized words that have since fallen from common use, and would be interested in whether this was true.
Modern Chinese is a lot different from ancient Chinese. Although the pronounciation does not change a lot during the ages, the meaning of each character change a lot. And so, except those ancient Chinese experts, no Chinese can read the original version without additional material. So I may say most of the the words in Sun Tsu have been fallen from common use except the shape of letter. By the way, Sun Tsu had not invent any new terms or charcters.
Again, welcome to the forums! I, for one, would be interested in hearing more from you!
Thank you! :)
In the gaming world, I think the main difference between tactic and strategy is a matter of scale. Tactical is for lower scale combat, strategy is for higher scale combat.
If I take some video game examples that take palce in china ( to stay in theme), Romance of the 3 kingdom would be a strategy game because you are managing a war from an high level. You do not manage all units individualy. You give orders and you receive feedback on the result.
While tactical would look more like Kessen 3 or Dynasty Warriors: You control a squad of soldier and give them orders. You are awared of the higher level strategic plan, but you are on the field and control only a unit.
For board games, Axis and allies would be a strategy game, but War Hammer miniature would be tactical because you manage the action of each soldier.
Even if it is just a matter of scale, the strategic and tactical way of thinking are completely different. Not all people will be good at both these task.
For ship combat, either in space or on sea, tactical would mean controling all the actions of 1 ship. While strategy would mean controlling a fleet or coordinating many fleets.
Based on your examples, I wonder whether a game is "strategic" or "tactic" is a flavor problem rather than a game mechanism problem. For example, if a piece represents one soldier, the game is "tactic" ; if a piece represents 5000 soldiers, the game is "strategic" ??
If not, then how to adjust a mechanism to be more "strategic" or "tactic"? Are they two extremes on a continuum? Or are the two mutually exclusive?
Based on the examples, I wonder whether a game is "strategic" or "tactic" is a flavor problem rather than a game mechanism problem. For example, if a piece represents one soldier, the game is "tactic" ; if a piece represents 5000 soldiers, the game is "strategic" ??
I think that this last example is a bit confusing. Scale of the game has little to do with whether the gameplay is tactical or strategic. A tactical move is one that is made for immediate advantage, and a strategic move is one made for a potentially greater advantage, but the effect of the advantage is not seen for a longer time. Typically tactical moves can be considered stand alone - each tactical move has a clear short term purpose. A strategic move is meaningless by itself - you would need to consider the other stratgic moves made before and afterwards to see the reason for the strategic move.
This is why strategy is useful to players - it hides the intent of the move from the opponent since only the player making the move really knows why the move is advantageous. However a clever opponent may be able to infer the reason behind a strategic move.
Even simple opponents are likely to see the reason behind a short term tactical move once it is made (even if they had not noticed the possibility of such a move beforehand).
I think the General has put it nicely. Let me try another way:
"Strategic actions promise victory tomorrow. Tactical actions prevent defeat today."
The 5 W’s are Who, What, When, Where, and How right. Tactics are the “How” and Strategy is the “Why”.
Tactical actions are “How” you are going to move across the field with out getting shot. Strategy is “Why” you need to move across the field. Why it is important.
- Dwight
Strategy is macro, tactics is micro.
Here is a link for a good read about Game Theory and the concept of strategy.
http://www.sfb504.uni-mannheim.de/glossary/game.htm
A sub link of that webpage talks about strategy, you can find it using the link below (or look at the other webpage for the word strategy):
http://www.sfb504.uni-mannheim.de/glossary/strategy.htm
Not sure about others, but this topic has me a little concerned now. I am no longer sure about my own opinion or position on the relationship of Strategy and Tactics.
For some reason my brain wants these two things to be mutually exclusive, but yet I dont see it that way.
From what I see Strategy seems to be a preset plan of choices that a player will use to make their decisions in a game. Even prior to actually playing the game, a player may determine a Strategy to use during the game. And the strategy might change as a result of new information uncovered during game play.
As for Tactics, it is just a set of in game actions or choices made during the game that help a player to actually realize their overall preset Strategy.
So I guess if you look at from a 100,000 ft view, Strategy is the high level plan of attack for how a player might play the game. While from a 1 foot view, their actions or tactics are how they actually play the game to realize their overall strategy. (yeah I know zaiga already stated this in a very SMALL post, Strategy is macro, tactics is micro, but hey I like to ramble on about everything!!)
Ugh, not sure who started this thread, but thanks! You sparked a little part of my brain, maybe now the rest will turn back on!!!
Maybe this example helps (maybe it just adds to the confussion):
In a given game, you might want, at certain stage, let your rival get some advantadge to lure him into an ambush. So your tactics will seem as benefitial to your rival, but that would be just part of a bigger strategy to win the game.
Think of strategy as what is your plan to win the game, and your tactics as the steps you will need to take to reach that goal. Strategy will, to some extent, define tactics, but the current state of affairs will also have a huge influence on your tactics. Not so much on your strategy which might remain the same in spite of the ups and downs you might experience through the game.
That doesn't mean that you can't change your strategy, but it is much less influenced by particular events.
Let's say your goal is to go from home to work. You set a traveling strategy: take the less traveled streets, or the main avenues, or go jumping from roof to roof like Spiderman. Now, whatever strategy you choose, you will have several tactic decisions to take, which will depend a lot on when you arrive where, who else is there, what the other people is trying to do, etc. If you decided to go through the main roads, but find a road blocked, you don't need to change your original strategy, you just need a tactical decision: how to avoid the blocked road before you return to your planned route. That's tactics. If you repeatedly find that the main streets are blocked, you might come to the conclusion that your strategy was wrong, chage strategy, and try to reach your destination through less traveled roads. That's strategy.
Now, if your goal weren't just to go from home to work, but to have a long and happy life, what used to be strategy in my previous example would be just a tiny tactic decision. Strategy is about the big picture, tactics are about the details that make that big picture possible.
Strategy is the painting, tactics are the brush strokes. :-)
Seo
I love this thread. Its a new metagame coming up with more ways to say the same thing.
Heroscape (miniatures in general) are very tactical type games with little strategy.
Chess has both, large amounts tactical thought, and even larger amounts of strategy.
Tikal has both.
Puerto Rico is only strategy.
- Dwight
Puerto Rico is only strategy.
- Dwight
Really? Having never played, I can't argue, I just can't seem to imagine a game with just strategy, and no tactics. Is it just that there's so little player interaction?
Xaqery wrote:
Puerto Rico is only strategy.
- Dwight
Really? Having never played, I can't argue, I just can't seem to imagine a game with just strategy, and no tactics. Is it just that there's so little player interaction?
PR is a game where every turn you look at your overall goals and you look at what the other players have accomplished. You then make a choice from a list of actions that will help you the most and or hurt the others the most.
Now is this tatical or stratigic? When I wrote the above set of examples I thought it was stratigic because you are as often as you can progressing long term goals and this sound stratigic to me. Also there is no tangible interaction between the players.
What do you think?
To answer your question Hedge, The game has very little player interaction. Mostly the game is interactive in that when I choose an action from the list given me, I am also removing that choice from your list of possible actions if you go after me.
- Dwight
Now is this tatical or stratigic? When I wrote the above set of examples I thought it was stratigic because you are as often as you can progressing long term goals and this sound stratigic to me.
Puerto Rico is a game that has a good mix of tactical and strategic choices. An example of a tactical choice would be deciding to ship Corn first instead of Coffee, because then player X is forced to ship Coffee, and you keep your Coffee which you then can sell next turn when you take the Trader.
An example of a strategic choice is to choose a Tobacco plantation instead of a Coffee plantation, because the player to your right already has Coffee, which you know might hurt you in the long run. Most of the building choices are strategic as well.
There are a lot of strategic choices to make in Puerto Rico, but juggling the selection of roles can sometimes be very tactical.
Also there is no tangible interaction between the players.
Depends on what your definition of "interaction" is. You could also say that Puerto Rico is all interaction as every role you take affects other players.
PR is a game where every turn you look at your overall goals and you look at what the other players have accomplished. You then make a choice from a list of actions that will help you the most and or hurt the others the most.
Now is this tatical or stratigic? When I wrote the above set of examples I thought it was stratigic because you are as often as you can progressing long term goals and this sound stratigic to me. Also there is no tangible interaction between the players.
What do you think?
Well to me this would be neither. A strategy or even tactics to me are something that can be predefined, you plan a strategy and you apply tactics(or actions) that make your strategy *become real*. Though I guess tactics do not have to me predefined, though that is how the word is actually defined.
So I guess, I would say if you are faced with a *new* unknown decision to make, and you have to decided upon an action at the exact moment you faced with this new unknown, how could it be a tactic or strategy?
And I would also add that the decision you make, might be a tactical one. And might be the *best* tactcial decision you can make to attempt to make your predefined strategy occur, but since it was not predefined it truely does not fit either description.
(Please understand that I in no way believe what I just wrote, this whole conversation is a bit odd. And I tend to take things to literal, which clouds the simplicity of this subject).
Ok,
Those that are interested I just realized that wikipedia has some info on what is called "Chess Tactic". Here is the link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_tactic
It gives some good input toward our discussion here. And it also help me realize one of my personal issues with both tactic and strategy. If this informaion is *true*, a tactic is NOT a single move. It is a short sequence of moves (or actions), that will result in some gain.
I think this would apply to most games. Since many games will be based on various short sets of moves or actions (thus a set of actions or a players tactics).
This also means there is a lower level to the concept of tactics and strategies, I guess action or move?!?! Not sure what it would be, but a singlular event such an action or a move.
Puerto Rico is one of the richest player interaction games ever. 90% of everything you do directly affects at least one other player. One difference that may make it seem less interactive is that effects of your actions may take a couple of player turns to be clearly felt, but it's a game of playing a few turns ahead (at least), trying to make solid tactical decisions to realize your strategy.
Very freaky, this thread! And enlightening to see the differences in perspective!
-- Matthew
And it also help me realize one of my personal issues with both tactic and strategy. If this informaion is *true*, a tactic is NOT a single move. It is a short sequence of moves (or actions), that will result in some gain.
I think this would apply to most games. Since many games will be based on various short sets of moves or actions (thus a set of actions or a players tactics).
This also means there is a lower level to the concept of tactics and strategies, I guess action or move?!?! Not sure what it would be, but a singlular event such an action or a move.
I think that's a resonable way to describe it, yeah, though in the form of "one or more." You've got a strategy, which is realized through tactics, which are enacted via one or more moves. I think it's quite game dependent, that in a game like chess moves are very, very granular, and so it's really a series of moves that make up a tactic. There are other games with very rich actions where a single move can also be enacting a tactic, and plenty of games in-between. IMO.
-- Matthew
Rene and Matthew are both right Puerto Rico is or can be both stratigic and tactical.
Also there is no tangible interaction between the players.
- Dwight
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Thank you!
So, it is correct to say that "tactic + tactic + tactic + ... = strategy" ? or in order words, "tactic is a subset of strategy" ?