Wargame Design Practice

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Why do Generals roll dice? Wargaming has evolved from its origins as a tool for military education to a multi-faceted field exploring climate change adaptation, IUU Fishing, AI competition, international migration, and much more, alongside its use in National Security contexts. Come learn about the modern world of wargaming. Play the games Leaders, Statesmen and Generals use to better understand the present and future. No previous gaming experience necessary! This course aims to equip students to understand the abilities and limitations of wargaming and prepare them to design professional games themselves on a topic of their choosing. With rising uncertainty and rapid technological progress around the world, both civilian and military continue to turn to Wargaming to inform decision-making across the US Government. From RAND's nuclear wargames underpinning Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) to the 2020 Pandemic response, this course will cover wargaming’s history and modern applications. This course will cover the philosophy and practice of designing professional wargames for policy or military audiences and lead students through taking a game from a sponsor request to a functional prototype. In-class lectures and facilitation of different professional and commercial games will prepare students for the semester-long project of designing a playable wargaming prototype.