Simple proof that the metric system and "powers of ten" systems are not always better than English Standard systems. What do you think?

[SeekerOfTruth007]

IN the military, it is sometimes useful to divide units by numbers other than 2, 5, and 10. Sometimes you want to have 1/3rd of a unit or 1/4th of a unit or 1/6th of a unit do something. In such situations, it is more sensical to build units in groups of 12.

While making the rules for my turn-based strategy board game, I discovered this literally holds true, that "base 12" is more superior for game making than is base 10. I found I can then have 12 archers or 6 pikemen or 4 cavalry or mounted archers per square on the map. Or I could have 3 Knights or 3 Rogues per square, or I could have 2 Canons per square. Maybe If I introduce Naval units, I could have 1 ship per square.

Anyway, as you can see, "base 10" volume per square does not allow the same unit balance as base 12 allows. They are not even "different but equal". In fact, the English Standard system is strictly better for military unit groupings.

[exitseven]

I think the rest of the world needs to get with the program and adopt the standard measurement system. It is inconvenient to have to carry both sets of tools.

[SeekerOfTruth007]

Base 2 is definitely a superior measurement system to base 10. Base 10 just seems easier because we have 10 fingers and 10 toes.

Quantum reality operates in Base 2, Base 3, and Base 4, not Base 10.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[DrPepper12]

Agreed. Base 10 is useful but not the best for some applications. Time works best on base 60 - thank you Sumerians!!

[Anonymous]

I don’t think the English standard system is base 12, or even base anything. But a base 12 system could be useful.

[SeekerOfTruth007]

Well, to further explain what I was doing, to limit how many combat units a player can "stack" on a grid space on the map, I made it hold 12 volume per grid space. I tried 10 first but 10 didn't make sense. So then Archers and swordman occupy 1 volume each. Pikeman occupy 2 volume each. Cavalry and Mounted Archers occupy 3 volume each. Rogues and Knights occupy 4 volume each, and cannons occupy 6 volume each. I have no ships presently, but do have balloons, and they have 4 volume of transport space each, so that they can carry any units except cannons.

The balance simply does not work AT ALL with 10 volume per grid space, no matter how I try to massage the individual units, but it fell perfectly into place at 12 volume per grid space.

[Opinion Owner]

Awesome

[saraupstairs]

The horse moves in the shape of an R.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/oGTX6qlM3Tk

[Redstang88]

I mean if the proof is the made up game you created, then sure

[SeekerOfTruth007]

The real military works that way. That's why a made up game works that way when the game is based on real historical military roles and counter-strategies (mostly).

You cannot send one tenth of a marine to a battle, so the metric's system of being ten times or one tenth times does not help at all. You can send half of a squad of 12, or 1/3rd of a squad of 12, or 1/4th of a squad or 1/6th of a squad or 1/12th of a squad. So there are more ways of dividing a squad of 12 than a squad of 10, which makes it MORE FLEXIBLE and more dynamic and therefore more useful in a wider variety of situations.

[andreasderjuengere]

I fully understand your reasoning:

it makes total sense to pay for a certain product with -say- 17/64th of a dollar :D

...

or to buy two thirds of half a dozen eggs in the supermarket.

Simple proof :D :D :D you said it.

[Anonymous]

It depends on what you’re using it for. For simple measurements like litres and milliliters, milliliters, centimetres, meters and kilometres, it is much more practical than inches, feet, yards etc. simply because it is more intuitive. In terms of military strategy, the units of measurement are only relevant to the strategy employed.