Star Trek: 4 Reasons William Riker is Starfleet's BEST Strategist

[@stephenboshears4832]

His ability to almost or completely destroy Enterprise every time he is in command is unmatched.

[@SolidAvenger1290]

The same could be said about Captain Apollo's role in the destruction of the Battlestar Pegasus in BSG, where he makes a decision to send the most technological Battlestar into an unnecessary crossfire with the Cylons saving the outdated & yet compromised Galactica. It's good writing from Ron Moore, but tactically speaking, it was awfully similar to Riker's inability to use the strengths of the Enterprize vs. an outdated yet inferior Bird of Prey.

[@MackeyDeez]

Sounds like you been talking to Captain Shaw

[@RRW359]

It's always one or the other.

[@oddish4352]

It's ironic that during BoBW, Riker asks Picard's empty chair "what would you do". But he wins the day by doing what Picard WOULDN'T do.

[@joekerr3638]

The video seems to forget that whole sequence... he asks that question and Guinan says to throw that book away. It is Guinan 's advice and him listening to that advice that saves the day.

[@oddish4352]

@@joekerr3638 It seems to me that whoever wrote the episode wrote it with the intention that Riker would either be leaving or taking over as captain... the entire plot was about Riker's emergence as a great captain, including some lessons he had to learn: Troi making him aware that his place was on the bridge, Guinan reminding him that it was time to throw the book away. And in the end... those lessons learned don't come to fruition. It's one of the episode's few weaknesses.

[@LoreReloaded]

I literally reference that scene saying he talks to civilians and then saying he rewrites the book.. beyond actually showing the scene, I don't think I could have been more explicit

[@karljackson2670]

@1:34 Riker's knowledge of Sun Tzu is pivotal to the climax of the first season episode "The Last Outpost." Yes, Riker has studied Sun Tzu in depth. 🙂

[@matthewluecke3704]

The "Know your enemy and know yourself" quote is used in it.

[@MiamiSunrise]

The first two episodes you related his strategic nature to couldn't have been better picks. Many are more familiar with his Best of Both Worlds amazing performance. The battle simulation is one of my all-time favorite episodes. Riker definitely deserves the respect in this way.

[@oddish4352]

If only the writers had had the balls to have it play out for real. But since they couldn't handle either Picard or Riker losing, they had to ruin the episode with Ferengi.

[@ehandley1045]

I just had a thought while your were talking about the battle of Verdian 3. Riker actually make the best possible option in that situation and that option resulted in the destruction of the Enterprise. If you look at how the enterprise moves in the movie, Riker turns the aft of the ship towards the bird of prey. The rear of the enterprise has less weapons at the back which may make it more difficult to defeat the bird of prey and also make the warp core more at risk but in doing so he’s turning the saucer section into an area that is out of harms way. The saucer section is primarily where civilians and the most amount of officers reside so their would be heavy casualties to have that section of the ship turned to the bird of prey while the shields are being penetrated. So Riker sacrificed the offensive output of the enterprise to protect lives and in doing so unintentionally sacrificed the Enterprise

[@Dawt_Calm]

I am awarding to you the up of thumbs and this algorithm enhancing commentary.

[@tommytwotacos8106]

Data was my favorite officer as a kid. It's such a part of my childhood that I frequently hear where my speech patterns and word choices often reflect the tropes that Spiner and the writers used to characterize Data. When I was studying acting and film making, my favorite character became Beverly Crusher. This was because the more I became familiar with the inner workings of acting and film making, I was very able to see Gates McFadden employing a wide variety of tools in very subtle and brilliant ways to improve her character and the show that she was in. However, now as a more well rounded adult who sees things from a higher altitude than before, Riker is absolutely my favorite character now. This is because he's always the most relatable, and that may also be the quality within Frakes himself that makes him Trek's best director today. He just gets it, and that's what is ultimately important to me now.

[@alannatherson7721]

Lore speaking well of a Starfleet officer? Someone go check on the pigs we got to make sure they aren't flying.

[@Crazy-Chicken-Media]

explains why my feet are cold...

[@Leftists_are_Losers]

Has hell frozen over ?

[@andouille1]

Since Q made the in Universe point on that episode of Voyager about Will Riker it would be otherwise dumb of Lore to say otherwise

[@shanepye7078]

Holy shit, a positive video! Glad to see it. Liked.

[@LoreReloaded]

I do those quite a bit, you'd be surprised to know

[@nicksmith5374]

Well...... he did throw an asteroid

[@VengeanceN7]

Inaros?

[@Skywiser01]

I was just thinking, would have been nice if they included examples of strategy from Picard.

[@Leftists_are_Losers]

Throwing a rock makes you a master strategist???

[@nicksmith5374]

​@Semper-Vs-Tyrannus when all other options are not available. You improvise

[@Leftists_are_Losers]

@@nicksmith5374 so being desperate makes you a good strategist?

[@ExMachina70]

I freaking love the Klingons the more I watch them. They're society is far more complex than I had given them credit for.

[@CaptShriver]

Trial and error and life experience and sitting under great commanders is what made Commander and eventually captain riker such a great military tactician when his role of just being a captain turned into being a captain of a warship during war crisis. Because we all know that the federation is not a military unless absolutely has to be

[@geislar7682]

The whole controversial issue of whether or how much Starfleet is a military really doesn't make sense. Starfleet is as much a military as a modern Coast Guard is. Yes it does perform some military functions especially when the country doesn't have a dedicated navy, but it's primary role is security and societal support in emergencies. They respond to natural disasters, provide aid to maydays, etc. The only role Starfleet does that's not as applicable to today is exploration.

[@shanenolan5625]

Agreed. Imo. Him ss captain in best of both worlds.. we are about to resist. ( picard rescue) is one of the best trek moments ever.

[@badwolf66]

William T Riker was such a big fan of Lore Reloaded that he grew out his beard just like Lore's!

[@ortizguard2816]

Hadn't noticed that!😂😂😂

[@NiveusLepus]

Videos like this are one of the many reasons you're one of my favorite Star Trek youtubers.

[@dant1386]

I so wanted to be William Riker when I was young.

[@HCBailly]

Regarding Veridian 3, when the Enterprise went to the planet, why did they go to there, when their goal was to stop Soran from destroying the star? As they said, since they didn't know from where the probe would be launched, they may not have been able to destroy it before it reached the star. If they went to the star itself, they would have had plenty of time to react.

[@eddominates]

Now Kirk ... Master tactician. He absolutely thrives in those moments like the Veridian III situation.

[@blacktronpavel]

Agree for the most part except for Veridian III battle. In EVERY game where you can customize a Galaxy Class with no shields against a Bird of Prey for that era, the Galaxy wins with ease, usually with an ‘alpha’ strike of all weapons simultaneously. This would imply that Lursa and Betor’s attack was specifically targeting key systems. It the novelization, it’s implied they continued to use Geordi’s visor to be one step ahead. Riker is the man. All he needs is a space rock and to play chicken with a ‘feigned’ collision course.

[@mbpaintballa]

I was under the impression that riker/enterprise didn't fight during the dominion war, they were behind the lines doing diplomatic missions.

[@kronoscamron7412]

Thats the thing about strategy it needs preparation, it needs you to set up traps and lures, needs a setup, its like you unfold a red carpet in front of the enemy, but under that carpet is bear pit, and riker and picard understand this, like almost every episode in star trek that involves a conflict they do that, picard giving the enemy a morsel they cant refuse, appears like a foolish move ,but in the background riker la forge and worf are working on something. I agree riker is strategic and a very good officer and captain.... heck even his refusal to be a captain is a strategic move.

[@podemosurss8316]

"A Pakled party and I wasn't invited?!" (Riker arriving to save the day in the LD season 1 finale)

[@xp7575]

Thank you for platforming Venom, I had never heard of his channel before you gave him a shout out in that community post and I've been binge watching him ever since, he's def one of the best Star Trek channels

[@Safety3d]

I still think one of his biggest mistakes during the Battle of Veridian III was letting Deanna drive...

[@gorilladisco9108]

You don't want to hear her talking for the next 40 years about not give her the command and let the Enterprise lost its warp core, do you? Do you?!

[@Safety3d]

@@gorilladisco9108 lol fair point

[@liquidsuspect2469]

you prob mean this as a "wOmAn DrIvEr BaD" joke but fr Deanna did a great job under terrible circumstances getting the saucer down to the planet in (more or less) one piece with limited casualties

[@christiananstes4161]

I read somewhere, maybe wiki that the original draft for first contact was that the borg go back in time to when Leonardo Da Vinci was alive and Picard and Data were on the surface whilst Riker fought the borg on the Enterprise. That situation for Riker would have been very interesting.

[@347Jimmy]

That would have been a very interesting movie on all fronts

[@shankleythebest]

Considering how badly the federation did during the opening months of the war, I think it would be fair to assume that it was the admirals doing all the tactical planning.

[@Mephiestopholes]

Probably one of the best essays.

[@jjb33083]

Never give up your back.

[@qam2024]

One thing always stuck out / confused me about the Best of Both Worlds. There's the whole scene with Guinan imploring him that in order to win against the Borg "He must let Picard go". Riker seems to have been convinced by Guinan and it seems like a pivotal moment in the show but then he immediately turns around and does the opposite and comes up with and executes a plan that solely rest on getting Picard back. I wonder why the writers wrote that scene with Guinan and/or why it was included.

[@disnonn]

Because at that point in time it wasn't entirely clear that Patrick Stewart was going to renew his contract, leaving a very real possibility of having to continue with Riker as Captain.

[@andouille1]

Because in universe, up to that point he kept uttering that’s would captain picard would want to do

[@LJSheffRBLX]

Your channel is a wellspring of entertainment and creativity.

[@ShadowStylez]

When Riker is the 1st officer of the Klingon vessel, he shows a deft hand when it comes to his knowledge of the Klingons and his ability as a superior strategist. Even at the the end when he shows his contempt for the Klingon captain (a completely strategic move), and is struck (HARD), he still manages to retain the upper hand..., as planned.

[@genehunsinger3981]

The Pagh episode brought much joy and laffs.The Klingons laffing and the Riker take'n on 2 females was hallarious.

[@sugartbube]

Riker is probably Star Trek's favorite human outside of Jim Kirk

[@calimann83]

I don’t quit agree with the battle of veridian 3. He had to make a very quick decision with little information. He didn’t know how they where penetrating the shields or whatever they had up their sleeves. A direct attack might have taken out the bird of prey or it could have opened the enterprise to take heavy damage. He chose to flip around and use the drive section to protect the saucer section. This makes sense as the drive should be able to take more hits and doesn’t have as many civilians. He was also protecting the bridge which could have been taken out in one hit. The only criticism I have is not trying to change the shield frequency and not firing aft torpedos and phasers when he had a chance.

[@Palmerrip]

Speaking of the Battle of Veridian III I have to wonder why the full might of a Galaxy-class Starship wasn't used to beat the Bird-of-Prey. After all we see in Yesterday's Enterprise that a couple of phaser shots would destroy a K'vort-class - with their shields up. Personally, if I were a writer for Generations I would have the Duras faction ambush the Enterprise. Why? Look at The Mind's Eye, what would an effect of that drama be? I love Geordi, but this is twice he was used for infiltration purposes...

[@347Jimmy]

Yeah, a full salvo would have wrecked the BoP in short order, even with Big E's shields down Maybe the writers were trying to recreate the "caught with pants down/respond with clever technological counter" from Wrath of Khan, but the ships in this case were too mismatched

[@ryanvannice7878]

If the shows creators wanted a spin off, they could have had one with Riker as captain of his own ship. Don't know that we wouldve gotten any TNG movies, so that probably worked out best.

[@damocles8417]

Ok, here it is,… You know what it is Lore? I don’t hate you. I’ve seen every one of your videos for fuck knows how many years. I’m 41 years old. I’ve been watching Star Trek since I was 7, in 1989. Captain Picard was my grandfather. He was the perfect man to aspire to. My father, coincidentally, looked almost exactly like Jonathan Frakes. His best friend called him “Commander Riker”. My early childhood was a storm, but Star Trek gave me something I never knew existed. I saw Utopia, before I was 10. Can you imagine growing up after that? Joining the military, getting your degree, getting married, having kids, buying a house, getting divorced, and then wonder to yourself… are my expectations of the world unrealistic? I often get angry at people, actual real people, when they fall short of my expectations. The goodness of a person or a people is not in their perfection, it’s in their recognition of their faults. By the way, I like your channel more for philosophical discussion, but I like Venom Geek Media’s channel more for the drama and typical British stoicism.

[@donovanbradford8231]

I will agree Riker is one of the best strategists in Star Fleet part of which I feel is because he is always leadung away missions throughout his many years serving as first officer on board the Enterprise D as the old saying goes nothing beats experience. Now while Riker is perfect he is better at combat overall than Picard given he has bested Picard more than once. For me Riker is on par with Captain Kirk because Kirk's abilities were second to non many times he was out gunned and still able to pull victory from the jaws of defeat yet sadly everyone has their Kobayashi Maru Picards came at the Battle of Maxia, Riker's was in his final confrontation with the Duras Sisters, and Kirk's was against Khan and the conflict over the Genesis Torpedo.

[@347Jimmy]

Can we all just agree it was Tom Riker at Veridian III?

[@GamerFromJump]

The first time the shields were penetrated, the immediate reaction should have been to rotate the modulation. I mean, they came up with that _specifically_ to get around the Borg ability to penetrate shields; why they no use it here?! Of course, these are the same people who didn’t immediately nullify all clearances and codes of a high-level officer when he was captured by terrorists.

[@quoniam426]

Bad writing for ST Generations, having fought the Borg, the Enterprise crew knew about shield and weapons modulation rotation. The only reaction needed would have been to rotate shield modulation and it would have been game over for the Bird of Prey. As for prepared strategies go, Grand Admiral Thrawn could look upon Riker as a good recruit to train to an even better level, I'm sure. The fact is that Thrawn could adapt in tactical situations as well with method. The only blindspot Thrawn has is the totally unknown and unforeseen hat trick.

[@giladpellaeon1691]

So Riker is essentially TNG's Batman.

[@michaelcalico8702]

King of like The Last Outpost as well.

[@entropy11]

casual mechwarrior online drop. Didn't know you played.

[@juangalton999]

I love Mech Warrior myself

[@beepboop204]

cuz of the beard right

[@CinnamonKnightEntertainment]

I'm torn, I agree with your proposal about Riker, other than he occasionally let's his emotions get the best of him. But also the fight in generations actually felt so "golden age" trek it hurt. Deffinately seemed the best try to save as many people on the ship as possible and avoiding an odyssey level frontal assult with everything blasting away(rip odyssey). He deffinatly seemed to fall back to his non wardog training in this case.... suprise, try to withdraw, get science solution, pray, hopefully win if it isn't the borg....

[@travisgames6608]

I always hated, Remember the Hathaway episode. It would have made more sense to have Picard on the Hathaway, since it is a Constellation class and he is definitely familiar with that class. More so than with the Galaxy class.

[@andouille1]

You forgot outmaneuvering two Sona’ ships and lighting metreon gas on the fly (the original riker maneuver?) he didn’t prepare for that either.

[@drahcir8402]

Riker, knows more about klingons than Worf does.

[@icecold9511]

Work knows the mythology more than reality.

[@khartog01]

The enterprise should never be alone, it's called star Fleet, for a reason. Another should have supported the flagship.

[@DragoonMS]

Soooooo...in a sense, Riker is basically Star Trek's equivalent of a cross between James T. Kirk...and Batman.

[@ChrisM-hx9kv]

Audio seems to not be working for me on this video. Any tips on how to make it work?

[@LoreReloaded]

Refresh the page is all I could suggest. Maybe a comp restart?

[@pdbouie]

New Police motto: To wear protection and serve dat ass!!. She is an informant, and he was just taking her report. Yeah, that's what it is!!

[@nhoegler]

It makes sense. He is a long distant descendant of Bruce Wayne

[@trustin.p9504]

So who would win a war game, Riker or Cisco. Given both Had adequate prrep time. I'd pay a dollar to see that.

[@peterouspensky7794]

With enough prep time Riker could be God, like Batman

[@Ideo7Z]

With enough prep time, Riker's strategic genius wins. He's also into dangerous women. Soooo, he's Batman of the federation.

[@Greedyjama]

of course he is, every section 31 agent must be

[@mujinn_]

I think Riker only failed in the movie Generations because the writers wanted a new ship. Can't just give them a new ship they can all transfer to peacefully, no no no. The old one has to be destroyed and in the most unlikely of situations.

[@PMMcIntyre]

Yeah, that whole sequence pissed me off. They took a competent character and made him incompetent. The real Riker would have done what the older Riker did in Insurrection and Season 3 of Picard, either using the environment to his advantage or slugging it out by throwing a literal asteroid at his opponent.

[@347Jimmy]

​@@PMMcIntyre just remembering that he outguns his opponent enough to wipe the floor with them (even starting with his shields down) would have been sensible But far less of a climactic battle 😂

[@michaelkotcher5491]

I like the fact that the bird of prey used intelligence and unexpected tactics to bring down a superior opponent. Kind of like an aged submarine fighting an aircraft carrier.

[@SolidAvenger1290]

@@PMMcIntyre basically Ron Moore did a BSG Captain Apollo Pegasus moment for Riker in Generations just to have good writing for fans but from a Vulcan & logical standpoint a poor tactical decision by both characters

[@arbjbornk]

The destruction of the 1701-D and Kirk's death by bridge fallage makes Star Trek V's writing almost look good.

[@jamoecw]

the problem is that a character can only be as smart as the writer. cloaked ships and with most, if not all, ships keeping their shields down when not in danger means that they should get one good shot off and if that shot hits something vital then the ship is toast with no reaction. if targeting is a problem then use the transporter. this means any sort of thinking when facing a cloaked ship is almost always a fail. the remote access for a training scenario seems odd, as in why would that be an option versus deadlier stuff that might make more sense.

[@Aggrosk8]

Riker is Batman basically

[@violetlight1548]

Riker has his moments, but he's no Grand Admiral Thrawn (nobody in the Federation, or that 'verse, could match him).

[@MackeyDeez]

Riker should have been had his own command.

[@marcusisgod2592]

Kirk and sisko beg to differ.

[@The280TimesTriviaChannel]

5:47 Data wasn't on Riker's ship

[@LoreReloaded]

He was a spy working for Riker

[@The280TimesTriviaChannel]

ohh.. well spotted ;P @@LoreReloaded

[@jasonritner9662]

So what I hear you saying is that Riker is basically Batman... with enough Preptime he can beat anyone 😉

[@SystemParanoia]

Ryker, king of prep.. Like batman 😅

[@MrBottlecapBill]

I always laugh when star fleet vessels are under attack and they stand around issuing orders and making plans while NOT simultaneously shooting back. You can do both at once! lol.

[@rmcdudmk212]

Oh no Lore said complinetry things about Riker. Que the triggered haters. 🤣

[@theindooroutdoorsman]

Was your source a glass pipe with a bulb on one end?

[@LoreReloaded]

I don't get the reference

[@shanehudson3995]

​@LoreReloaded He's asking if you found your information in a crack pipe.

[@LoreReloaded]

@@shanehudson3995 oh... that's pretty low effort there..even for a KZbin comment

[@shanehudson3995]

@@LoreReloaded Yeah, I'm a bit unclear on it myself.

[@xp7575]

​@@shanehudson3995m3th pipe, not cr@ck

[@Reepicheep-1]

"He wouldn't!" "Yes, he would."

[@jamesdietz29]

Riker is "Space Batman".

[@MarkTCard]

Strictly speaking, Riker is a tactician., not a strategist. Tactics win battles; Strategy wins wars.

[@johnnelson7192]

Rotate shield frequencies. Commence rapid fire with all weapons on full. We have children aboard.

[@sampson1582]

Riker was no womanizer, he was a ladies man.

[@Mn-yh2bp]

I don’t think you actually understand the difference between strategy and tactics. You’ve come close, but not quite. Every example you gave would be an example of tactics. Any single engagement would be an example of tactics, even large fleet battles like operation return, regardless of how the planning for that engagement was done. Even decisions like whether or not to engage in operation return or whether earth, baituzed, or Vulcan gets the larger, defensive fleet still wouldn’t be strategic decisions. they are an intermediate level known as operational. Strategic decisions take place at such a high level, they may or may not even involve the military they may only involve the intelligencer diplomatic services. I can only think of one on screen strategic decision that takes place in Star Trek, and then to that you could argue either way for them being strategic or operational. The first which is definitely strategic would be the decision to mind the Bajoran wormhole. It’s the kind of international incident decision made at the highest levels. This government is doing something we don’t like we will stop them if it means war, so be it, it probably took a vote of the Federation Council to get approved. The two unless certain about would be Starfleet’s decision not to send reinforcements to deep space nine when the dominion attacked it, instead sending those forces to attack dominion shipyards, and last the decision to send the infiltration team to blow up the catcher sell white storage facility.

[@ortizguard2816]

Riker just needed to play some Halo, learn from the Master Chief himself! 😂😂

[@shanenolan5625]

Womaniser ? Dont blame the player play the game . Klingon ( hes no coward ) riker killed him in generations. He was on the bird of prey . ( weapons officer) we're cloaking. ( what ? ) riker ( fire ) although riker didn't know that.

[@sirhenry9313]

Your incorrect Lore. StarFleet completely missed it....he's *still* assigned to the Enterprise E making diplomatic overtures during Insurrection, which is during the Dominion War. Guess they thought Sisko and his pimp-hand had it covered

[@Rajalord27]

The only exceptions could be Kirk and Picard

[@LoreReloaded]

Not Picard.. Kirk maybe

[@richard77231]

"Riker is a brilliant strategist when given time to prepare"...so you're saying Will Riker is Batman? 😅

[@emperorofscelnar8443]

And yet the USS Titan NCC-80102 was denied a legacy.

[@crippletime]

Algorithm comment

[@paszmaty]

he's pretty hot

[@seannemo8076]

Now explain why Riker is the _worst_ officer in Starfleet...

[@JOECURR1488]

No other officer...was ever involved in anything.. Oi...vey

[@LoreReloaded]

I said that ?

[@JOECURR1488]

@@LoreReloaded You do a good video. Unfortunately you aren't saying anything that needs to be said. 🇮🇱Wars🇮🇱Trek Muun Ferengi And nobody thinks. CLARK KENT PETER PARKER BRUCE WAYNE Arent European names

[@JOECURR1488]

I see everything.... I NOSE....EVERYTHING LIKE MY LIST?

[@archades115]

I agree that Riker is an excellent strategist. However, I do not think that Riker is a good tactician. And those are two different things.

[@LoreReloaded]

I agree

[@jameslaumand3686]

Because he su