And how realistic are they?
In: 14
1 wrestler from each team starts the match inside the double rings surrounded by a steel cage. They fight for the first 5 minutes and then there’s a coin flip. The team that wins the coin flip gets to send another team member into the match, and that team gets a 2vs1 advantage for 2 minutes. Then the other team sends a man in to even the odds for 2 minutes. The 2 teams keep alternating sending people in until all 10 men are in the match. Then the “Match Beyond” begins, and the only way to win is to make someone on the other team submit or surrender. And it works for settling a score and selling tickets to a wrestling show.
So there are lots of different kinds and levels of wargames.
Planning wargames: The folks who make the plans to fight other countries sit down with some of the folks with in depth knowledge our military and logistic capabilities, with some specialists in the other countries that might be involved on either side. A scenario is presented to the decision makers, and they essentially take turns saying the US would do this, then the specialists work out likely responses and outcomes.
Exercise wargames: We simulate a battle or part of battle and practice against our country’s forces making use of another countries tactics.
International wargames: We play a multi day battle or aspect of battle (maybe just air or just land or just naval) with some participants from allies forces.
Look up the Rand Corporation. Simulation is a big part of wargaming and they have been involved for quite some time.
Here’s an example:
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-swedish-sub-ran-rings-around-us-aircraft-carrier-escorts-2021-7
Submarines vs aircraft carriers, but all the sub has to do is pull off an attack run undetected, i.e. get in torpedo range and positively ID their target and its location. Meanwhile the carrier just has to correctly locate the sub while its within weapons range.
Basically, they do everything up to the point where someone pulls a trigger, and then they get on the radio and yell “bang, you’re dead”.
I was a forward observer for an armoured brigade for about eight years. When we did our major war gaming exercises, all the vehicles – tanks, HMMWVs – were turned into giant laser tag vehicles by adding sensors to the outside of the vehicles and installing lasers on, for example, tanks’ main guns. The same was done with smaller gear for every person by attaching sensors to our body armour and helmets and attaching lasers to our rifles.
When I was a boot Marine stationed in Okinawa, we went on this giant field op to South Korea. We went on these transport ships and there were a whole bunch of us and a whole bunch of gear.
Being in comm, one of my jobs was to set up the command tents where all the officers are practicing their jobs (fires, logistics, air, ground combat, and the CO).
About a week in I came in for my shift where I basically sit around until someone needs help with their computer or phone or the big presentation screens. on One these screens there were two groups of Xs in different colors superimposed on a map of the area we were in. These Xs were being moved around by the commanders depending on their orders. “Supply convoy, move to location Y” “fireteam A move into position B”, that type of thing. Being a boot, I thought this was the entire operation.
When we got back to Oki, I was drinking with some grunts (infantry) who said they also just returned form Korea where they were doing a field op too. All of a sudden I realized the THEY WERE THE Xs ON THE BOARD. I was like “Hey! I saw you guys as Xs on a big board being moved around by officers in the CoC!” Which was news to them as they had never been in a command tent.
And that is how some war games are played.
So first assemble your minis. Then you decide the paint scheme for them. Next you let them sit around for months as your pile of shame until you break down and spend a month painting them. Then you hate yourself for not being as good as the painting guides on YouTube. Finally you show up at your game store and find out there’s no one to play because everyone just plays Warhammer and you bought into the wrong game.
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