#3 Stratagem Training Methods

Contents

⚠ Not a school. Presupposes Master (4 points) or above in Stratagem (策略, mapped to Wisdom).

#§ Scent — What Stratagem Cultivation Is

Stratagem is not an external discipline (Military Science · Negotiation) but the depth of one's own thought. Even seeing the same information, only one who sees deeply sees the truth. So Stratagem cultivation is widening the limits of one's own thought.

#§ Law — The 3 Training Methods

#20-05-01. Reading Through the Sunzi Military Classics (孫子武經通讀) — Self-Taught Cultivation · Universal

Cultural origin: a comprehensive reading-through of Eastern Military Science such as the Art of War · the Seven Military Classics · the Jixiao Xinshu. Separate from individual Military Science schools (18-01) — the discipline of the depth of one person reading through all military texts.

Approach: Stratagem Master + a scholar profession or 5 or more sessions of Military Science · Stratagem research + main-profession dan 5 or above.

Main effect [aptitude] — Depth of the Military Classics:

When making battlefield · political decisions, 1 time per 1 session you may ask the GM "which decision is best" (the GM answers).
After use, the PC's own decisions -1 for the next 1 session (risk of dependence).

Achievement narrative: the PC becomes "one who has read all the Military Classics." But there is a risk that their own intuition grows clouded.

#20-05-02. Shogi Master's Thinking (將棋名人思考) — Personal Transmission · Japan · China · West

Cultural origin: the thinking method of shogi · chess · go masters. Seeing dozens of moves ahead. No dojo. 1 to 1 master-to-disciple transmission.

Approach: Stratagem Master + learning from a shogi or chess master + branching to the Renown Title "Shogi Master" becomes possible.

Main effect [aptitude] — Intuition of the Next Move:

In combat, 1 time per 1 combat identify the enemy's next-round action in advance (the GM answers).
After use, your own action in the next round -1 (dispersion of concentration).

Achievement narrative: the PC becomes "one who reads the next move." But at the same time their own free action shrinks — they think too much.

#20-05-03. Islamic Mathematical Meditation (Islamic Mathematics) — Foreign Training · Arab

Cultural origin: the mathematical meditation of Islamic Golden Age mathematicians such as al-Khwarizmi · Alhazen. Algebra (al-jabr) + geometry + astronomy. Understanding the universe through mathematics.

Approach: Stratagem Master + Arab origin or Foreign Adaptation (Arab) + a scholar profession recommended.

Main effect [aptitude] — Intuition of Mathematics:

Distance · time · probability checks +3 (exact calculation).
1 time per 1 session you may ask the GM "what is the success probability of this action?" (the GM answers).
After use, social checks -1 for the next 1 session (the impression of being absorbed in mathematics).

Achievement narrative: the PC becomes "one who has seen the depth of numbers." But they grow distant from people. Branching to the Renown Title "Islamic Scholar" becomes possible.

#§ Design Perspective

3 training-method types: Self-Taught Cultivation + Personal Transmission + Foreign Training.
Diversity of ideas: reading-through (universal) · master's thinking (the next move) · mathematics (the universe) — different ideas of Stratagem.
GM tool: all 3 training methods have an "ask the GM" effect — the PC aids campaign decision-making.

"Stratagem is an external discipline. But inscribing that discipline within oneself is self-cultivation."