Never and I repeat never, say anything about how great YOU are in this attitude of flattery. Avoid any mention of yourself at all, except in the metioning that you can’t believe you are talking to the person. And do this only once, and at the beginning of the conversation, or it will start grinding on the listeners' ears. Instead, go on to your examples of how great the person is, and where you saw them doing some "incredible" thing.

Example: You are a R.I.P in the army. You are in a pub, when the W.O.W of your regiment comes in, and orders a drink, and starts talking to the bartender. You mind your own business, but can’t help overhearing the mention of how your W.O.W’s wife and he had another argument, and that he is feeling somewhat un-needed. You choke on your drink, start laughing uproariously, and sputter about how your W.O.W was taken down by his wife. The next morning, your wife knows about what happened only due to the statistic in the morning paper.

Instead, let’s try another approach.
Your W.O.W walks into the same pub you are enjoying your evening alcohol in. He orders a drink, and starts talking to the bartender. You mind your own business, but can’t help overhearing the mention of how your W.O.W’s wife and he had another argument, and that he is feeling somewhat un-needed. So, at about the time he says "un-needed", you walk over to him and say "Hey, you're so-and-so, aren’t you? Oh my Morgoth, I can’t believe I’m actually talking to YOU! You are the hero of our regiment, you know. We all saw you in the last war, taking on that elf-lord single handedly! (Actually, you say him fetching a Screaming Ringwraith for your G.O.D, but HE won’t deny the Elf-Lord incedent!) You slayed him within two strokes, the final count was... Anybody in the regiment would DIE for the chance to have your prowess, even for just a day! Wasn’t that the same war you saved the G.O.D’s life? Yes, I remember that moment! He was felled by a stray arrow, and you flung off your armor so you could run faster, and rushed him out of battle! What a valiant minion! Can I buy you a drink? Anything for the greatest W.O.W of all time!"

The next week, you find yourself at the head of a regiment of Uruk-Hai, and with your own thrall to fetch you Screaming Ringwraiths!

Of course this result is to be desired. But be careful, practice the art of flattery on smaller things first, and learn all its different aspects, before going for the big stuff!

Written by Aiwendil Khamul