Basics: Aggressiveness and Decisiveness

[MorGrendel]

Aggressiveness and Decisiveness

If you flinch,
If you hesitate,
If you are indecisive,
...you are dead.

The age old adage is to: Be Aggressive, B-E-Aggressive.

What this means is you should not be passive or timid. Take the fight to the enemy; don't wait for the fight to come to you. Don't watch the fight, shape it.

Generally, aggression is good and you need to be throwing shots to kill an opponent. However, every shot does not need to be a kill shot and no shot is worth getting needlessly killed. Talk to those around you; call out if you are throwing high or low. Point out a spot in the line and pound it in tandem. For a Spear or Pole, around 8-10 thrusts every 30 seconds is aggressive. For close-up weapons focus on quick 3-shot bursts every 5 seconds. Before you are burned out, get off the front line.

Be aggressive in blocking as well. A two-man team of Shield and Spear, where the shield blocks for the Spear can unnerve and slowly drive off a line of spears. Spears like to kill the guy who is not looking, as the active blocker keep your head on a swivel and let them know you are watching them. Stay aware and scout them; they will look for a winnable fight, and when they do, jump them. When using this tactic stand a step or two in front of your Spear, so your body eliminates 45 degrees of shots on the Spear. When blocking bring your hand across your body, and turn at the waist; do not open yourself up. You should be able to actively defend 90 degrees, preferably protecting the back of your Spear. You may block deeper than 90 degrees, (and for the most part it's OK to make occasional contact with your Spear's weapon) but avoid bodily contact, as that inhibits the Spear's ability to dodge.

It is possible to be overly aggressive to the point of recklessness; a berserk fighter is a danger to the line as he/she has lost awareness of the supporting team. It can never be about you and your kills; there is no excuse for selfishness. Killing a single opponent is good, but setting up the entire enemy unit to fold and collapse is better. Always evaluate the effectiveness of your aggression.

Aggression is about creating choices, giving you options and forcing you opponent to react. Always try to pair aggression with decisive decision making; relentlessly and deliberately attack to force your opponent to move out of position, to bend upon itself, and then to break into scattered pieces.

Quickness of mind manifest as decisiveness with your feet. Commit to going through an enemy, make them move out of your way, make them back up. Shadow, mirror, counter, and frustrate them. Never relent; keep adding pressure. Expect to follow through; if you find yourself in an unwinnable fight, don't stop, don't look around, and don't back up. Move like water, don't get stuck.

We often say “Speed kills,” but outmaneuvering kills more. Always, simplify the fight, have ready three plays or calls, A, B, and C. For instance:

A - "At" the line
B - Get "Behind" the line
C - "See" through the line

Know your right from your left, and which way you are expected to travel. Know whether you are to peel off or go around. Know what to do if they charge or counter-charge. Know what to do if you get behind the enemy - You must not hesitate.

When you hear the call, go. Be decisive, get in and out alive. Don't zombie-walk into the enemy, don’t hope for the best. Eyes open; see not only what is happening, but how you can position yourself for maximum effect. The reality is usually only one fighter is in the most effective position at any given time, so be attentive to that and support that fighter. A distraction that gets a kill is in many ways better than a quick kill because it allows another fighter to imbed deep into an enemy, drawing blood unnoticed, until it is too late. Swallow your pride, and rack up assists.

Remember, move to a target, not a person. When you reach the target, reassess the flow of the battle. You may need to curb your aggression and decide you need to fight defensively to secure victory. Understand your role, and if you are not sure what you should be doing, ask a veteran.

A final reminder, don’t lose focus on the objective. You may drive the enemy all the way back to their resurrection point - You may kill them a thousand times over - But if getting kills cost you the scenario, then it's not worth it.