Kinds of War by Jason Newquist

General Types

War of Attrition

Forces attack to destory opposing forces. A question of superior forces and strategy. Very bloody.

Maneuver War

This kind of war is designed to erode the emeny's will to fight. Lots of supply line attacks, and attempts to demoralize and otherwise lower the quality of the ememy's fighting force.

Revolutionary War

The theaters and lines of war are difficult to identify, and it's difficult to even identify the enemy. Guerilla tactics are often employed by the revolutionaries, attacking the government and its leaders.

Propaganda War

Not a physical war, the targets of this conflict are the "hearts and minds" of opposing populaces.

Cold War

A war with little or no direct fighting between the engaging states. Involves states with different ideologies. Activities include spying, espionage, arms escalation.

Civil War

A war defined by its scope: within a single nation-state. Typically, one group defends the status quo while another wishes to implement significant change in the system of government.

Wars with Weapons of Mass Destruction

These wars threaten the survival of the species. Deterrence between the opponents can help contain the use of such weapons.

Terrorist Conflict

Not a kind of war, but a tactic used in many kinds of war. Terrorism is the use of force or the threat of force against civilian populations to achieve political objectives.

Crusade

Jihad. Holy War. A war whose cause is popularly understood to be spiritual, moral, or idealistic in nature, or against something considered to be evil.

War on Drugs

Term from the United States. Refers to a mixture of information dissemination and "national security actions" designed to end a cycle of violence, corruption and usage of illicit substances.

War of Preservation

A core nation state is being attacked by neighboring nations. Victory is defined as eliminating or repelling the invading force. It is possible that the war would eventually be taken to the emeny's home territory, but not required.

Occult War by Tony Lower-Basch

The primary fact of this war is that there is no clear way to distinguish either friends or foes from the unknowing civilian population they mix with. Power is massive, but mostly withheld for fear of compromising the secrecy of active soldiers. Victory is often determined by who discovers their enemy first, since overpowering force can quickly be brought to bear on an exposed actor. This describes both the classical description of such occult wars as the War of the Roses (no, the other one), and many descriptions of espionage missions at their peaks in various points of history.

State of the War

Victory is imminent

The enemy's defeat is all but certain within a short time.

It's going very well

It's not over yet, but victory is likely, if it keeps up.

It's unclear

Each side is winning some battles and losing others. Each side has reserves available, and several different strategies in play.

It's a stand-still

Both sides are skirmishing, but not fighting battles which prove decisive.

Enemy is gaining ground

The enemy has won several key victories lately, and has advanced their cause considerably. Front lines are falling back, and important forces are in retreat. If the trend continues, defeat will be inevitable within the forseeable future.

Defeat is imminent

Losses have been substantial, to the point where it's almost impossible to muster forces sufficient to achieving the original victory conditions.