X vs X

I've always been partial to the second diagram here, although I think Shane's consideration in the comments should be remembered.

The diagram is a simplification (and I generally dislike overly-complex diagrams), meant to show relationships between each G and the grade before it and after it when those come into conflict.

E.g., in a 2GW vs 1GW conflict, the 2GW force has positional/proactive advantages over the 1GW force, and the 1GW force is kinetically driven, or reactive, to what the 2GW force does. But in a 3GW vs 2GW conflict, the 3GW has the positional/proactive advantage whereas the 2GW is kinetically driven and reactive to the 3GW force.

The added fillip to this version of the diagram, of separating w/ greater space the two forces with every "up-grade" to the conflict, was intended to suggest not only a) the greater dispersal of kinetics within the conflict, but also possibly b) the greater time frames involved in proaction/reaction.  On the last, I think that whether the diagram successfully shows anything related to time frames may be debatable.

Also, I would note: my use of the term generation -- this is an older post, before "gradient" began to be used -- and the fact that, whatever utility exists in talking of grades or gradients, I still have more interest in considering linear developments and relationships between each "G" than some others currently writing about 5GW.

And: I have never answered, but have often wondered, what precisely the G relationships would be between gradients further apart than +/- 1.  E.g., 5GW vs 3GW or 4GW vs 1GW.  I think we have  had some too-brief statements of principle concerning such conflicts but I am not entirely satisfied with them.