Battlefield control [Archive] - Wizards Community

Battlefield control [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Bowmore
11-29-06, 07:23 PM I've seen this term thrown around a few times in various threads, especially fighter discussions, but I must confess I don't know what it means.

Is it about controlling enemy movement, preventing them from moving around you? Is it about keeping enemies where they are? Someone please enlighten me! :embarrass
dengarbountyhunter
11-29-06, 08:09 PM Okay, anything that impedes your enemies' movement is battlefield control. Anything that makes them be where you want them to be (via obstacles, spells, etc.) is battlefield control. Putting a tight formation of spearmen at a strategic location on a battlefield control is obviously battlefield control.

Anything that helps you in combat and that is (more or less) tied to movement enters the general category of "battlefield control".

Scattering caltrops, pouring (lit) oil on a particular square, causing an avalanche in a tight mountain passage, making good use of Attack of Opportunity-related feats, digging moats, using movement-impeding spells like web are all examples of battlefield control.
Bowmore
11-29-06, 08:13 PM THANK YOU for the very concise and detailed explanation, as well as the great examples. This thread may die in peace now.
oracle71
11-29-06, 08:47 PM As I understand it, battlefield control is manuvering your units, or characters, to take advantage of the environment and terrain, and your oponents' weaknesses, so that you end up with a tactical advantage.

For some historical examples:

At the battle of Agincourt, the French brought armored knights. The English brought their lightly armored bowmen. But the English drew the French forces into a narrow valley with a marshy ground, preventing the French from using their knights effectively. Hence, the English win, even though they are outnumbered, simply because it was too hard for the French to move.

At the battle of Thermopylae(sp?), the Persians are marching down a narrow valley, when they meet the Spartans, who are blocking the valley. Even though the Persians outnumber the Spartans by about 30 to 1, the Spartans are much better fighters. The Spartans made sure that the Persians couldn't outflank them, and they used thick shields to render the Persian archers completely ineffective, nullifying the Persian's strength. The Persian only win because they were shown a path around the pass, and they were finally able to use their superior numbers.

More recently, think about the U.S Army storming Omaha beach in WWII. The Germans layed down minefields, barbed wire, sharpened steel spikes and concrete bunkers to hinder an amphibious landing. In order for the GIs to land, they had to avoid the mines and spikes, forcing the boats to stay in the water longer, giving the German artillery more time to destroy them in the water. Then, the GIs had to exit the boats, but they were forced to do so in only certain locations where the German gunners had already zeroed in on with their machine guns. Then, to take out the machine gun nests and artillery batteries, they had to take the time to cut through or blow up the barbed wire, all while being continually fired upon while lying on a mostly open beach.

In all of these cases, one party moves their forces so that their enemy has to attack under adverse conditions. Sometimes, it's about preventing the enemy from moving where they want to, or attacking they way they want to. Sometimes, it's about making them move to where you want them to be.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bowmore 11-29-06, 07:23 PM	I've seen this term thrown around a few times in various threads, especially fighter discussions, but I must confess I don't know what it means. Is it about controlling enemy movement, preventing them from moving around you? Is it about keeping enemies where they are? Someone please enlighten me! :embarrass
dengarbountyhunter 11-29-06, 08:09 PM	Okay, anything that impedes your enemies' movement is battlefield control. Anything that makes them be where you want them to be (via obstacles, spells, etc.) is battlefield control. Putting a tight formation of spearmen at a strategic location on a battlefield control is obviously battlefield control. Anything that helps you in combat and that is (more or less) tied to movement enters the general category of "battlefield control". Scattering caltrops, pouring (lit) oil on a particular square, causing an avalanche in a tight mountain passage, making good use of Attack of Opportunity-related feats, digging moats, using movement-impeding spells like web are all examples of battlefield control.
Bowmore 11-29-06, 08:13 PM	THANK YOU for the very concise and detailed explanation, as well as the great examples. This thread may die in peace now.
oracle71 11-29-06, 08:47 PM	As I understand it, battlefield control is manuvering your units, or characters, to take advantage of the environment and terrain, and your oponents' weaknesses, so that you end up with a tactical advantage. For some historical examples: At the battle of Agincourt, the French brought armored knights. The English brought their lightly armored bowmen. But the English drew the French forces into a narrow valley with a marshy ground, preventing the French from using their knights effectively. Hence, the English win, even though they are outnumbered, simply because it was too hard for the French to move. At the battle of Thermopylae(sp?), the Persians are marching down a narrow valley, when they meet the Spartans, who are blocking the valley. Even though the Persians outnumber the Spartans by about 30 to 1, the Spartans are much better fighters. The Spartans made sure that the Persians couldn't outflank them, and they used thick shields to render the Persian archers completely ineffective, nullifying the Persian's strength. The Persian only win because they were shown a path around the pass, and they were finally able to use their superior numbers. More recently, think about the U.S Army storming Omaha beach in WWII. The Germans layed down minefields, barbed wire, sharpened steel spikes and concrete bunkers to hinder an amphibious landing. In order for the GIs to land, they had to avoid the mines and spikes, forcing the boats to stay in the water longer, giving the German artillery more time to destroy them in the water. Then, the GIs had to exit the boats, but they were forced to do so in only certain locations where the German gunners had already zeroed in on with their machine guns. Then, to take out the machine gun nests and artillery batteries, they had to take the time to cut through or blow up the barbed wire, all while being continually fired upon while lying on a mostly open beach. In all of these cases, one party moves their forces so that their enemy has to attack under adverse conditions. Sometimes, it's about preventing the enemy from moving where they want to, or attacking they way they want to. Sometimes, it's about making them move to where you want them to be.