Wargaming: A Hobby?
Initially, as an undergraduate student, having the opportunity to participate in wargames appeared to be lightyears away. For the first part of my tenure at university, I’ve participated in Model UN and CFR simulations, but not an organized wargame with an actual strategic purpose to understanding decision-making doctrine among states. In the summer of 2023, I participated in a wargame revolving around a China-U.S. dispute over Taiwan through the John Quincy Adams Society’s conference, although at the time I did understand the applicability of such a simulation. In Fall 2023, I was fortunate enough to have been introduced to an introductory wargaming course through Near Peer Simulations which solidified my interest in this area. Since then, I have become involved with the activities of Fight Club International, an organization that seeks to “experiment with new wargaming/simulation technologies and methods, and help transition these into common use, changing culture and improving real-world capabilities.” These organizations, and the people within them, have helped me to understand, or attempt to, the value of wargaming and its applications. Through this reflection and my wargaming experiences thus far, I’ve developed 2 prominent, related and not the only, takeaways about the space:
Hobby Wargaming is far more popular than realized
Understanding history is vital
Hobby Wargaming
In my short time pursuing wargaming, I have come across a multitude of practitioners, professionals, and layfolk who enjoy this field. There is a stigma that wargaming can only be pursued by those in the military or who have experience working in the armed forces. This is simply not the case. While the majority of hobbyists and professionals I have interacted with do have experience in the military, both past and present, there is no shortage of civilian wargamers. This point proves to be more significant than some realize, as civilians can provide different observations about simulations and wargames.
When I first began to wargame, I had only played Risk and Axis+Allies. This is not even close to scratching the surface or possibilities for simulations and wargames. In my personal endeavors, I’ve participated in wargames on gaming systems such as ARMA3, while also engaging in more traditional forms of games such as decision forcing cases (DFCs). DFCs are ‘simulations’ where you take the role of a protagonist and are asked to make decisions based on limited information. For example, in recent weeks Kevin Johnston has conducted a DFC on the journey of General Sir Douglas Gracey in post-WW2 Vietnam which has allowed participants to absorb lessons in leadership, trust, diplomacy, and managing a crisis in ambiguity. These structures may not take the form of a traditional wargame, however, they provide a space to understand the thinking and perspective of a vast array of leaders. In short, hobbyists are vital to wargaming, as they bring passion and life to what might otherwise be a job for military professionals.
Understanding History
History is at the root of wargaming. Wars, economic grievances, and territorial disputes are all the result of complex and intertwined stories of political history. This is what military doctrine derives from: how to approach an adversary based on their history and strategies. Obviously, it would be absurd to anticipate someone’s understanding of political tensions in every area of the world and history, in its entirety. However, having a basic understanding of the doctrines of major powers and organizations, such as the United States, Russia, or NATO, can prove to be vital in conducting wargames. Roleplaying as a particular state mandates that the participant’s actions follow what the state might actually do in real life.
Conclusion
I am only an undergrad, and yet, I have had the opportunity to become part of an emerging sector of international and homeland security. I have learned that I am not too young to be a member of this space; the only requirements of wargaming are having passion and wanting to learn from others. Many in the wargaming sect have a niche, or specialty, in a geographic or functional area of military affairs. This allows the field to continue to evolve in a multitude of ways, so as to not remain stagnate. As young people, it is crucial that we continue to involve ourselves in the wargaming space.