Is it better to have a big gun or be a master manipulator? Can someone have a long reign with the power of their words and not their gun?

Perhaps, and I believe this has happened. But in this world "Speak softly and carry a big stick, as a famous man said.

Must be best to quitly having a big gun, being a manipulater aint fun at all as I think

Both of course have their own pros and cons however I've found each to be equally rewarding and enjoyable in their own right.

That said a smart person chooses both at the same time rather than one over the other.

As much as I can't say one is better than the other, you see every so often what happens the next generation with sections of the master manipulators.   Is like a stain is attached on certain names that appear on the streets at stages or in chat, so the question sometimes is do you want to be tarred with that the next few lives if a different regime is in charge?

As for training a gun what was once an art from in the days of no mia's, durdens, bgs etc is now an open access to all.   The truth is there is not a great deal of skill in training a gun anymore just a determination.   The hard part again being people know if you train a gun repeatedly your a possible asset or threat.   

To me both can be  downfall but I would choose the gun as easier to hide the build and growth.

There are quite many manipulators with sad guns I think but best are to be good at both I guess ^^