option short side said:
I just hope the writers can at least craft a coherent story how Rick and crew defeat the Saviors. Alexandria and the Hilltop don't even have weapons. The Saviors are well armed and I guess number between 80-100 and they are fully motorized
Evaluation of Potential Friendlies and Enemies:
I. Friendlies (to include potentials).
Alexandria.
Number: Perhaps a dozen legit fighters.
Strengths: Leadership, Rick and subordinates willing to take initiative based on understanding the objectives. Extremely experienced fighters who can be brutal and tactically innovative. Morale, in terms of willingness to follow leadership into combat, is now high.
Weaknesses: Almost completely unarmed.
The Hilltop.
Number: Perhaps half a dozen potential fighters.
Strengths: Jesus is an excellent fighter with proven infiltration capabilities that make him a combat multiplier.
Weaknesses: Poor leadership. Pacifist in nature. Completely unarmed. Inexperienced to combat.
The Kingdom.
Number: Unknown. I get the impression 2 to 3 dozen potential combatants.
Strengths: Loyal to charismatic leader. Well armed.
Weaknesses: Inexperienced to combat. Pacifist in nature.
Women's Enclave Number: Maybe ten or so potential combatants.
Strengths: Well armed. Would rate fighters as mid-level experience but not exceptional combatants.
Weaknesses: Fractured leadership. Lack of commitment to combat. Pacifist in nature.
II. Enemies.
The Saviors Number: Estimated 100 potential combatants.
Strengths: Exceptionally well armed and equipped. Singular command and control that does not have to combine disparate groups to succeed. Massive advantage in numbers and resources.
Weaknesses: Morale under controversial strongman leader is questionable with potential defections likely along with deliberate sabotage of efforts (e.g. the release of Daryl). Most troops are not genuinely loyal to the man or the cause, though a few may be. Subordinate leaders likely lack the initiative to take independent action without prior consultation with Neegan. The potential for intentional fratricide (i.e. "fragging") in this organization is high once it appears things are not going to plan and that the strongman is vulnerable. Ego of leader may cause judgment errors.
III. Analysis. Much depends on gaining the alliances of The Kingdom and perhaps the Women's Enclave, if only because these groups may have the capacity to arm the members of Alexandria and The Hilltop. Further, a unified front in denying the enemy resources is essential. Still, for any plan to succeed the element of surprise is required. The enemies ability to predict the actions of the Friendly forces (e.g. the various routes in the disastrous effort to transfer Maggie to the Hilltop) is disturbing in this regard. A frontal assault, even of the combined elements of Friendly Forces, plays into the Savior's strengths and is unlikely to succeed. Some sort of asymmetrical warfare must be used to prevail. Removal of the strongman leader is a high priority for without him the organization may collapse and unravel. The ideal plan draws him, and other leaders, into the open before he is tipped off to be on his guard. A surprise attack that kills him and a few other leaders may abolish the organization.
