132 replies to this topic

[Batman]

Who do you think is the best person to lead an army into war?

Ned Stark
Tywin Lannister
Brynden Tully
Stannis Baratheon
Robb Stark
Robert Baratheon
Randall Tarly

Feel free to name any that I may have missed.

[Pellaeon]

Randyll Tarly "First in battle": who win a battle only with the vanguard must be a competend military commander, maybe the best in westeros

[Manderly is Boss]

Into a war? Tywin Lannister. Into a battle? Either Randyll Tarly or Ned Stark.

[David Selig]

Aegon the Conqueror.

[Lyanna Stark]

Randyll Tarly, all the way. He's harsh, but fair!

[SeanF]

On the evidence so far, Lord Tywin.  He keeps his nerve, even when defeated, and continues to plan how to win.

[Leviathan I]

Stannis baratheon 100%

[RobertOfTheHouseBaratheon]

Robert, a man that can turn his enemies into his staunchest friends after one night is a man to fear

[James Arryn]

As some have mentioned, there are different kinds of leaders for different kinds of settings. I'll do top 3 for each in terms of who I'd want based on what we know within the time frame of the books;

As an overall wartime leader, ie the administrative leader for an entire war: Tywin Lannister, Brynden Tully, Stannis Baratheon

As a campaign leader, ie not a specific battle, but a specific phase of war: Ned Stark, Robb Stark, Brynden Tully

As a battlefield commander on land: Randyl Tarly, Jon Connington, Robb Stark

As a unit commander or vanguard commander: Adam Marbrand, Randyl Tarly, Jaime Lannister or the Halfhand.

As a naval commander: VIctarion Greyjoy, Stannis Baratheon, eh...tougher...Paxter Redwyne musters a great fleet, but nothing special other than that seen so far. Euron seems good but unreliable. Maybe Asha.

I've left out Robert because its hard to pin down exactly what kind of commander he was. I don't mean in terms of quality...he was clearly inspirational and exceptional...but the stories seem contradictory in terms of how he actually commaded. He's a battlefield commander who leads from the front, but rarely on horse. That's a pretty tough thing to do unless you're defending an established position because you can't see much and your men mostly can't see you. So I need more specifics to characterize him.

Also Jon Snow is rapidly rising as an all-arounder.

Edited by James Arryn, 19 April 2012 - 06:10 AM.

[Pellaeon]

RobertOfTheHouseBaratheon, on 19 April 2012 - 06:01 AM, said:

Robert, a man that can turn his enemies into his staunchest friends after one night is a man to fear

Wich enemie did he turn into his friend?

[Qhorin Halfhand and Yoren]

James Arryn, on 19 April 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:

As some have mentioned, there are different kinds of leaders for different kinds of settings. I'll do top 3 for each in terms of who I'd want based on what we know within the time frame of the books;

As an overall wartime leader, ie the administrative leader for an entire war: Tywin Lannister, Brynden Tully, Stannis Baratheon

As a campaign leader, ie not a specific battle, but a specific phase of war: Ned Stark, Robb Stark, Brynden Tully

As a battlefield commander on land: Randyl Tarly, Jon Connington, Robb Stark

As a unit commander or vanguard commander: Adam Marbrand, Randyl Tarly, Jaime Lannister

As a naval commander: VIctarion Greyjoy, Stannis Baratheon, eh...tougher...Paxter Redwyne musters a great fleet, but nothing special other than that seen so far. Euron seems good but unreliable. Maybe Asha.

Your list lacks Robert.

[Mr Motte]

I'd stay Stannis or Tywin. Both have good track records, and Stannis has managed to do a LOT with a little.

[James Arryn]

Qhorin Halfhand and Yoren, on 19 April 2012 - 06:06 AM, said:

Your list lacks Robert.

Lol, edited to explain omission before I saw your post.

[Jayce]

I would have to say Robb Stark, he has shown that he can win and make sacrifice as well as still plan on how to win, his downfall was that damned wedding!

Otherwise I pretty much agree with what James Arryn wrote.

[James Arryn]

Jayce, on 19 April 2012 - 06:35 AM, said:

I would have to say Robb Stark, he has shown that he can win and make sacrifice as well as still plan on how to win, his downfall was that damned wedding!

Otherwise I pretty much agree with what James Arryn wrote.

Robb and Jon showed tons of potential.

Robb clearly learned from Ned, but in addition to Ned's advanced planning and immediate leaderhip skills he'd added a brilliance with fast-hitting aggressive/decisive moves. I think that part he learned from the Blackfish, but it made a pretty amazing combination.

Putting it all at risk because of a seduction would detract from how reliable you can consider him as an overall war commander, but he was just 15.

Jon's another interesting blend. Again, a lot learned from Ned, but where Robb added the Blackfish's aggression and bold campaign moves, Jon (from where I don't know...) added serious lateral thinking and progressive strategic flexibility. He's not yet good enough that I'd rely on him ahead of any of the guys on the above list in those spheres, but its also amazing that he could be considered for all of them, even overall war commander. His reforms of the NW, his advice to Stannis etc. all show an ability to see the entire field of operations.

Edited by James Arryn, 19 April 2012 - 06:49 AM.

[RobertOfTheHouseBaratheon]

Pellaeon, on 19 April 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:

Wich enemie did he turn into his friend?

I'll have to find the quote but during the rebellion Aerys sent two Lords to supress Robert's forces, Robert defeated their armies and invited them to the victory feast. By the end they had switched sides, stayed loyal to him through the rebellion and both even lost sons putting down the Greyjoy rebellion for Robert.

[David Selig]

Jayce, on 19 April 2012 - 06:35 AM, said:

I would have to say Robb Stark, he has shown that he can win and make sacrifice as well as still plan on how to win, his downfall was that damned wedding!

If you give up 15% of your army to be able to marry the hot girl during a vicious war, you are a terrible war time leader in my book.

Edited by David Selig, 19 April 2012 - 07:03 AM.

[LuisDantas]

It is a toss-up between Lord Randyll Tarly or Brynden Tully.



Stannis and Tywin are both ruthless, which makes them self-destructive.  And it shows.

Robert is too impulsive and easily manipulated.

Ned and Robb will be better, but only because they will avoid the war entirely...

[Ser Elfor the Landstander]

So basically the question is: who would you choose to command your army?

I'd say it's between Tywin Lannister and Stannis Baratheon.

If I had to choose only one, Tywin Lannister.

[David Selig]

What exactly did Tywin do to earn a reputation as a great war leader? He only won the war thanks to the shadowbaby and Tyrion and LF arranging the Tyrell alliance. If not for that, he was screwed.