Is "The Elementary Evil vs You /Wights/ Rooting Henry's troops out" ready for reopening

Question

The Elementary Evil vs You /Wights/ Rooting Henry's troops out

They said it was too story-based and broad. Good thing I had that GoT fanfiction idea that instead of season 7, the Night King just dug a tunnel beath the wall, infiltrated Westeros and began a guerilla war on large-scale. It was a nearly perfect fit for Henry, also heavily limiting the scenarios in which the zombies would be encountered. I trimmed back Henry's backstory as well, just enough for people not to nag me about it in the comments.

And no feedback since.

Is the question ready for reopening? If not, why?

Answer 1

I put a comment on the minimum list of conditions and questions_z that would have to be answered before a reliable answer on tactics could be given - based on my experience planning law enforcement and military operations. Even with all that information - developing tactics in a vacuum is likely to be opinionated, involves many circumspect decisions, and is otherwise extremely difficult to build on just a single event. Hence, why the military does operational planning then tactical planning then mission or course of action (COA) planning then develops orders (orders are what the individual units use).

The current and continuing problem with the question is: it is looking for the overall strategy^a and tactics needed to win a war (that very top level planning) and that is just a wide open subject. If you don't understand the military difference between strategy (operational) and tactical, I'll expand¹:

1. Strategy/Operational Planning - far-reaching broad plans: The strategy in later parts of OIF was:
   • "to simultaneously defeat and contain insurgency elements and address root causes using comprehensive military efforts"².
2. Tactics/Tactical Planning - are far more specific, there we decide the event specific directions to be given to units (and are based on the operational objectives or strategy)³, high-level examples of these can include:
   • "seek & destroy missions (with targets given or areas assigned)"
   • "selecting areas to provide aid, such as food or medical attention, to"
   • "cordon and search (again would contain specific entity or object being searched for)"
   • "develop diplomatic and economic relations with [important] town by _______"
3. Developing COAs and orders would just break this down to smaller and smaller units and even more specific actions.

The problem with operational, strategic, planning is: it requires a discussion. And SE is just not built for discussion - its a one question/one answer model. So we come to my suggestion to make it a question that fits in WB/SE model - change it to focus on either only a single battle, single type of operation, or single element of the strategy. Or, basically:

1. split the question so it is only asking about a single "good zombie trait"
2. describe that trait and some of the other planning elements (not the story)
3. give the criteria on how a good answer to that single question will be determined
   • do not focus on "best tactics" but working tactics
   • for instance, requiring established military or historic tactics as a base.

Then (as you find you need): wash, rinse, and repeat for each additional trait in separate new questions. I would also suggest asking the question on the sandbox first as tactic problems are simply hard to write within the model of WB/SE.

_{1: I provide my own experience here but if you need more depth see US Army Strategist Sukman's piece on these two planning elements}

_{2: From one of the guides they gave me - cover & first few chapters were burnt up so don't know which it was originally}

_{3: Totally from memory but I heard it enough I should have it memorized}

_{a: The question of whether strategy should even be a tag is a separate one. As there are very few non-closed/on-hold or even questions with accepted answers in that tag because of the difficulties I state here.}

_{z: The question that comment was attached to is now deleted but the list is now attached to the strategy tag so I've linked to it instead}

Answer 2

what tactic should these squads employ to reliably defeat zombies

1) That was a long read. It could have been much more concise. Too much information is being delivered in narrative rather than simple bullet lists. Long questions are regularly seen as poor questions. Please remember that the all-volunteer force you're inviting to respond is sharing their limited time. Please respect that and be as concise as possible.

2) We're frequently asked "what tactic(s) should X use against Y?" and the questions are regularly closed. Tactics are, by definition, circumstantial (too story-based). What resources, weapons, forces, logistics, geography, climate, disposition-of-the-enemy, etc., etc., etc., are available to me? All those and more are part of deciding a tactic.

Please remember, worldbuilding (on-topic) is about systems and rules. Storybuilding (off-topic) is about circumstances, choices, and plot. We're here (e.g.) to help you develop the characteristics of your races. We are not here to help you write your story.