Naval analyst and wargame designer/analyst. Center for Naval Analyses US Naval War College (lead analyst, GLOBAL 2008) A guy who volunteers too much

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2 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Who am I? Naval analyst and wargame designer/analyst Center for Naval Analyses US Naval War College (lead analyst, GLOBAL 2008) A guy who volunteers too much Why am I here? See guy who volunteers too much To give an overview of some of the ways wargames go bad, and some examples

3 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Caveats My opinions only! Not the opinion any past, present, or future employer Not the opinion of my hosts Where you sit is where you stand (i.e., I ve been warped by my experiences) This is an overview One could write a book on this or at least a chapter Not how to design a game (but related, no?) Still a work in progress (this is a snapshot )

4 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Outline Introduction (we re almost done with it) Background and methodology Elements of a game Game pathologies, by the elements Some concluding thoughts

5 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Background and methodology Wargame Pathologies, by Weuve et al (Sep 2004) Transforming Naval Wargaming project at CNA (2004) Decided to focus on the elements of a game (Perla 1990), with some additions Simple yet powerful Mirrors/merges into design process Today s talk Overview of each of the areas (NOT exhaustive!) Specific illustration(s) of each pathology (NOT exhaustive!) Real-world examples, most from personal experience

6 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Elements of a game (from Perla) Game elements (from Perla 1990) Objectives Scenario Database Models Rules and Procedures Participants ( players ) Infrastructure Analysis Culture & Environment Audience Executing Authority CW additions in italics Types of Participants Players Controllers Observers Other Participant roles Designers Analysts

7 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Objectives The objectives are simply what the sponsor is trying to get out of the game SMART: Specific, Measurable, etc. is a good start Signed off on by the sponsor Failure mode: Pre-ordained outcome The one about the report quoting the sponsor

8 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Scenario Sets the context for decision-making Should include beginning state, desired end state, and player s mission Failure mode: Ignoring political consequences The one where the student destroyed NATO

9 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Database Quantitative information, used by players and controllers to make decisions (and as inputs to models) Failure mode: Information is insufficient to support player or controller decisions The one about MC02

10 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Models Lookup tables and/or mathematical expressions (manual or computer) that accurately reflect important processes Failure mode: models are too complex to actually be used during the game The one about the contractor s spreadsheet

11 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Rules and procedures Rules for running the game, including Sequence of Play Adjudication How models and database used Failure modes: Unrealistic exploits The quick one about the unrealistic schedule The one about the Vieques game

12 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Participants Lots of different types of participants (players, controllers, observers, SMEs) Failure mode: Wrong player for the job The one where the player told us we forgot someone The one where the admiral was playing a different game See Rules of Play by Salen and Zimmerman

13 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Infrastructure Hardware, software, facilities, and supplies Failure modes: Failure to have a plan B The one about the lead analyst deleting the files The one about the wargame on the DDG

14 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Analysis The process whereby game experiences (play and outcomes) are turned into useful knowledge Failure mode: Lack of an analysis plan The one about having to do a report after all

15 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Culture and environment Games take place within a cultural and environmental context Real-world considerations which affect (limit) game design and play Largely impossible to eliminate; can only be documented and compensated for Failure mode: Not understanding the culture skewing the game play or results The one about MC02 (again)

16 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Audience Non-participants who will be interested in the game and/or game analysis Failure mode: Knowledge of larger audience inhibits game play (this is why wargames have non-attribution rules!)

17 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July Executing authority Two authorities to worry about The sponsor Your chain of command Failure mode: Lack of support and unrealistic expectations The one about the boss re-writing the analysis plan

18 Some concluding thoughts Get the sponsor to agree to things in writing Be realistic Plan for failures Document the process You can never have too many office supplies Things to read The Art of Wargaming, by Peter Perla (1990) Wargame Pathologies, by Weuve et al (Sep 2004) Wargame Pathologies Checklist, by Weuve Rules of Play, by Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman Towards a Calculus of Scenarios, by Carl Builder, (RAND, 1983) Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / July

19 Weuve, Wargame Pathologies / August Questions? Weuve s Ramblings v Title slide: Wargamers in Luce Hall, US Naval War College, 1914