Please don’t take this too seriously. This is just a fun write-up while I think about making better tournament ships. Having fun is key. :)

Quotes and ideology adapted from translations of Shinmen (Miyamoto) Musashi’s, The Book of Five Rings (1667)

The true Way is to fight with your opponent and win, and this should not be changed in the slightest.

To enjoy aesthetics and be creative for the sake of creativity is Play. To win a game with points and value sportsmanship is Competition. To enter a life or death fight against an opponent is Combat, and for this an understanding of the martial arts is necessary. What is most basic is overcoming your opponent.

Do not have preferences.

The warrior prepares for himself the various weapons and must determine the proper use of those weapons. There must be an understanding of the advantages of each one. Choose weapons based on need, with the understanding of associated costs. Choose factions based on advantage, and a specific goal for defeating the opponent. Do not intend to rely on anything. Designs should stand or fall on their own merit, not personal preference. Discard what is unnecessary or wasteful. Keep what is useful, and increase your understanding. Without imitating others, you should use what is appropriate based on your understanding.

1. Think without any dishonesty.

2. Touch upon all the arts.

3. Know the Ways of all factions.

4. Know the advantages and disadvantages of everything.

5. Develop a discerning eye in all things.

6. Pay attention to even small things.

7. Do not involve yourself with the impractical.

 

Know the rhythm of contact.

Distance is key. Maintaining distance can be achieved with movement, or by not moving. One should seek to maintain the proper distance to apply damage. Long-range gun ships maintain range to best inflict and avoid damage to their opponents. Conversely, Troll ships maintain range by not moving, and allowing the opponent to introduce himself to damage. The AI will try to maintain proper range based on equipped weapons and position of thrusters. Speed is a way of maintaining distance and avoiding damage, but speed for the sake of speed minimizes that ability to inflict damage. Countering speed with a Troll-ship design is a valid tactic, as a runner style ship will not run if there is no chase. A proper understanding of your ultimate goal should be maintained. You should investigate this thoroughly.

Consider yourself lightly: Consider the world deeply.

Know your opponent. Evaluate what strengths potential opponents posses, and seek to counter them. Practice in defeating your opponents and improving designs. If one cannot defeat an opponent in practice, survival in a tournament will not happen. Seek designs to test against, do not simply defeat your own creations. Impassively evaluate all options.

It is wrong to be inflexible.

Your best weapon is not a weapon. It is the ability to adapt. Training to defeat a single opponent will leave you at a disadvantage against another. Maintain your own tournament of the best designs. Test continuously and evaluate survival. Seek even small improvements and keep records whenever possible. You should investigate this thoroughly.

Knowing collapse.

Understand when you see a flaw, however minor. The AI will be irrational. It is essential to recognize collapse, both in your designs, and in your opponents. Reproduce these instances as much as possible to use them to your advantage. Does the ship freeze when attacked by drones? Does it charge instead of evade? Is it turning instead of aiming? Is the AI attempting to move in a direction there are no thrusters for? These things should be observed and understood. You should investigate this thoroughly.

This is the true Way.

A warrior has no confusion in his mind and is never lazy at any moment in the day. He polishes the two hearts of his mind and his will, and sharpens the two eyes of broad observation and focused vision. He is not the least bit clouded, but rather clears away the clouds of confusion. Know the meaning of this, and make staightforward your foundation. Practice a broad spectrum of the game, and understand it correctly and clearly. This is the way to overcome your opponent and raise your voice in victory.