To kill a man, is to Murder, but when armies fight, it is Warfare. The Tactics used in war vary from that used in a fight, you must account numbers, the battleground, weather conditions, equipment, and must be aware of all movement on the field at all times. You must assess the tactics used by your enemy, and then must decide on the counter tactics to use. Staying one step ahead of your enemy and their tactics is key. You must counter their troop movements with movements of your own, but of course your enemy will be doing the same. :: The stress of battle is a heavy burden, to be aware of so much and command so many men at once is a task most would rather pass up. For some, leading is a chance to test the mind, like wizard drawn to arcane tomes, they crave the chance to prove their mental strength and genius. For others, the thrill of the battle is not enough, they feel alive when all of the battle is in their control, it is a hefty task indeed, but with this book you may just find the confidence and skill to do it! :: First off, know you are not alone, every commander has his lieutenants who in turn have their own men. passing down orders to the lieutenants is a key to running the battle field, you can entrust them with a certain level of freedom and allow them to make their own calls and in turn pass orders down to their men as they see fit to suit the battle. Formations are a part of tactics, having your infantry take up certain formations might mean the difference between life and death when being attacked by calvary. :: Infantry are slow moving and are easily countered by archers who can easily kill a large number of infantry before they even reach them, however certain formations and equipments and tactics can allow even Infantry who would normally be out done by archers to stand a chance. Much as Archers are a counter to Infantry Calvary are fast moving and can close the distance between an archer quickly, as such they can be considered the counter to Archers. Calvary are fast but light calvary is vulnerable to infantry, as the rider can easily be thrown from the horse if the horse is injured or startled. :: Positioning is obviously a very important part of tactics, for example, one would place archers on higher ground so they can see and fire at more ground, opposed to in a valley or canyon. it is also common sense to not give your opponent a huge advantage such as ordering your infantry to march through a canyon where archers could be waiting. :: seige weapons are an entirely different topic, as they can level even the most heavily fortified defences, with little to no effort or casualties. The most common of the seige weapons is the catapult, capable of punching holes in walls, and even defencive lines of infantry. the Ballista is also a deadly seige weapon which excels at killing infantry, Both from the ground or when mounted upon a keeps ramparts. :: A final note, remember to use scouts to report positions and movements on the battlefield, and to be aware of as much as you can. The key to winning is information, knowing more than your opponent, is a major key to victory and can help turn the tide. Even knowing something simple about the battlefield that your enemy does not, such as a side passage, or loose ground can grant you victory! :: I hope this book has been informative, and aids you on your path to becoming a commander, and leader. ~Casamir Lirian, Knights of the North Grand Master.