Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin Episode 3 Discussion

Phaetons_Folly said:
The worst thing about having a character who is called a genius at something is that the author isn't a genius at that task. Ikta isn't really that great, so the only way the anime can make him seem like a genius is to have everyone else be idiots. At least the author bothered make sure there is no concept of science in that world, but even that is a weak explanation. Hopefully the show gets better when it looks at the operational and strategic levels of war as opposed to the tactical.

Zefyris said:

Fortunately, the author of that work actually understand military strategies and tactics. Ikta proves it very well this episode in class. Just like Spice & wolf (for economy) that you like, Alderamin's author clearly knows his subject for military tactics and strategy. There is actually very, very few anime up to today that talked about military and can be said to have an author knowing his/her subject on that point.

Also, he's not called a genius anyway.

Phaetons_Folly said:


The author's understanding of military tactics is extremely basic. It feels like it comes from a person who has read Sun Tzu and has played a bunch of Total War games. This is even more apparent in how this anime combines various different portions of human military history for their tactics. There are much better ways for them to fight with the equipment they have, but that isn't happening.

Zefyris said:

Actually, no. It's your understanding of their equipment that is lacking. That and in some episode, very poor way from Madhouse to put in image the strategies.

Phaetons_Folly said:


I study Military History. I have learned how warfare and tactics have evolved over the years, and the strategies various countries and individuals have employed. You are correct in saying the author is familiar with military strategy and tactics, but the details of the anime shows a lack of a deeper understanding.

The equipment soldiers have and their level of training is the greatest determining factor in what tactics they will use. The tactics shown do not make sense considering the weapons they posses. They use air rifles in tandem with crossbows, and the female lead uses swords. Artillery math is mentioned in a future episode, but no artillery piece has been shown. They fight in line formations, but they're organized in too small of units to make it work. There are so many conflicting aspects of this anime that something always appears wrong when its shown.

I can't say too much about the strategy because we're never given enough information to make a judgement on the matter. We mostly hear Ikuta's conclusions and the anime just shows he's right. My problem with his conclusions is that they sound like hindsight observations. Strategic decisions are easy when you have all the information about an event, but people who make those decisions never have that luxury. Ikuta is fortunate that the story ensures all his predictions come true.

Zefyris said:
And if you read back what I'm saying, I'm not telling you that you don't have knowledge about military of our world, I'm telling you that you don't know their equipment and level of technology in alderamin world, and that's why you're wrong.
-They're so low in technology that they don't even know black powder.
-the sword wielding troops (fire troops) are CAVALRY units. You should know that line formations are vulnerable to cavalry charges.
-It is no wonder Crossbows are still used. crossbow are still used because
1) air guns have a very low range to begin with (40m at best, 20m for precise aiming)
2) only wind spirits can make air guns work, which mean, any soldier that doesn't have a contract with one but with a light spirit instead for example will not be able to use one.

-Artillery maths are used. Simply, their artillery (air canon, that is shown afterwards if you've seen more recent episodes) has very short range once again.

-the size of one unit is 40 soldiers.
One reason requiring so much more in our history was the SLOW RELOAD of muskets. however, air guns do NOT have a slow reload. A musquet could only fire once every 20-30sec at best in lines formations, but a air gun is several times faster.
Also, one unit do not move alone, they're organized in bigger units encompassing those smaller ones on the battlefield. if you're fighting in plains, you won't have one unit of 40 standing alone stupidly, but far longer lines or squares like formation depending of the circumstances. Do not compare the size of a mock battle between students or of a skirmish in moutains with a battle happening in larger area.

Also, Ikta didn't had any "prediction" that were necessary to become true.

Phaetons_Folly said:


If they are so low tech then the dominant weapon would be the spear, and the most powerful would be an armored horseman. 20m is so close that they would pretty much be in melee combat at that point. I could understand mixing air rifles with spear formations as was done in the 1600s with the spear having a higher percentage of the formation. Cavalry should be dominating the battle field, and using infantry with cavalry would be effective in breaking infantry squares.

The reason you have more people is that it gives a distinct advantage. 80 men will almost always be 40 men if everything else is equal. The push would be for armies that are as large as can be managed. Junior officers would also have very little say in tactical actions, because that would reserved for those higher up. The development of autonomous platoon sized elements was a revolutionary concept first demonstrated by the Prussians in the Franco-Prussian War. However, that strategy only became viable when the rifle became powerful enough. One would expect they would be fighting as regiments and no smaller.

Ikta's omniscience is in line with many other anime of a similar vein, so that's more of a general criticism. Other anime have had much more annoying characters with that trait.