Re: mechanics of surprise

gleichman wrote:
> It works even when (and especally when) the defender is weaker, such
> as SF teams (typically a dozen men or less) breaking free of ambushers
> greatly outnumbering them with much higher firepower.

The relevant measures of 'stronger' aren't just numbers, but...

> The key is training, teamwork, action under pressure, tactics, etc.
> Under pressure, most people screw up. The core concept than is to
> apply pressure and take advantage when they screw up.

....exactly the things you list above. (In game terms, special forces 
guys would typically be quite a bit higher level than their enemies.) My 
original claim was that a successful ambush confers a significant 
advantage, enough that it's likely to be decisive if the forces were 
otherwise fairly evenly matched; that doesn't imply ambush is the 
ultimate tactic capable of automatically defeating even a better-trained 
enemy.

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