Top Ten Generals
By Warren Okuma

There are several lists of top ten generals on the internet, and I enjoy reading them.  I see it as a kind of Rorschach test, kind of like an insight into how the writer thinks.  So here's my ten - enjoy!

1  Alexander the Great

A master of tactics and strategy.  His logistics system was awesome, and he is undefeated, even though horribly outnumbered in many engagements.  He is flexible and manage to defeat the mighty Persian empire to Afghan guerrillas to elephants in India which makes him studied even today.  And he had a crappy doctor.
   
2  Genghis Khan

First unifying the Mongolian tribes, and conquering a huge empire this General makes my number 2 on this list.  Cavalry tactics, pioneered the army ambush (attack, then run away and when the disorganized army pursue, ambush an army), promotion by merit, and the originator of the broke unit spam is specifically why he's here.  Although he is the cruelest sociopath on this list.

3  Sun Tsu

Yet another undefeated general... maybe.  Scary brilliant, and wrote the book on strategy and tactics that is still used today.  And he used charisma as his dump stat.

4  Lycurgus of Sparta

He developed the professional army, and intense training by studying with Cretans.  It's how the best modern armies train, you know, full-time soldiers.

5  Napoleon
He's here because he developed conscription (to make large armies), mobilization, Napoleonic tactics (grand tactics) and brilliant artillery tactics.  Yeah, this is a short entry.

6  Erich von Manstein

The founder of modern armored warfare and schewepunkt, but a corporal forced him to use bad tactics instead.  The corporal was a real dick.

7  Lionides

Leadership and badassery.  Outnumbered over a hundred to one, they held the pass for days.  There was so much arrows, they died in the shade.  Together.  True leadership.

8  Enmebaragesi

The first known empire builder, so showed us all how it's done, and in the end wasn't keen on fishermen.  Try not to be mistake him for noises from someone suffering from a fatal throat disease.

9  Jan Žižka

He brought a tank to a gun fight five hundred years ago.  He used armored wagons laden with light cannon to blast his opponents to tiny bits.  Also, he pioneered the use of pistols, mobile artillery and when he chained up those war wagons together, mobile castles.  Although he did like drums, but not the Black Death.

10  William Tecumseh Sherman

Unka Billy of the American Civil War fame, waged a logistics war against the south eating the south's crops and destroying rail lines that carried goods crippling the south's war making, feeding its troops, and getting ammunition to their troops.  Really didn't like the South burning Fort Sumter or letting his enemies eat.

Bonus not a general person:  Georg Bruchmuller

He codified the way we use artillery today.  Centralized control of artillery, and by knowing muzzle velocity, wind, and other factors made his batteries more accurate.  He's the reason artillery is still the king of the battlefield.



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