Quote Originally Posted by oxybe View Post
a level 10 wizard with no tactical talent? highly doubtful.
Agreed, all PCs will have competence roughly equal with their [power] level.

plus, not every fighter is tactical genius or even trained in tactics nor should it be expected for them to be.
Agreed, not all PCs are competent in the same way.

Our theoretical fighter could just as well be a thug who's strength attracted lesser thugs just as easily as him being actual Sun Tsu II
And if there is anyone in the world who can beat someone who by all reason and logic should win it is a street thug who has climbed to the top.

On Realism vs. Verisimilitude: I agree but I don't even have much to add.