How do war games work?
War games are simulations of military operations that involve two or more opposing forces, using rules, data, and procedures designed to depict an actual or assumed real-life situation, and they work by employing a combination of field exercises, command post exercises, and analytical models to train military officers, study potential conflicts, and recreate historic battles. The realism of live maneuvers is countered by the economy of abstract simulations, allowing for a range of training and research applications, from recreational games to military strategy development.
Understanding War Games
War games can be played for recreation, to train military officers in the art of strategic thinking, or to study the nature of potential conflicts.
Key Components of War Games
A typical war game has three major components: a map, a set of units, and rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a war game?: A war game is a strategy game in which two or more players command opposing armed forces in a hypothetical simulation of some military operation.
- How are war simulations done?: Military simulations range from field exercises through computer simulations to analytical models.
- How does the US conduct war games?: The US conducts war games through two components: field exercises and command post exercises.
- Does the military have war games?: Yes, a military exercise, training exercise, or war game is the employment of military resources in training for military operations.
- Is war games accurate?: The accuracy of war games depends on the research and data used to develop the game, as well as the realism of the simulation.
- How did war become a game?: War games originated as a way to simulate and study military operations, and have evolved over time to include recreational and educational applications.
- How to do a war game?: The objective of a war game is to win all of the cards, with the deck divided evenly among players and each player revealing the top card of their deck in a “battle”.
- Do generals play war games?: Yes, generals and senior officers use war games and simulations to plan and execute military operations.
- What is the only way to win the war games?: According to the 1983 movie WarGames, the only winning move is not to play, as nuclear war leads to global annihilation.
- What is the format of war game?: A war game typically has three major components: a map, a set of units, and rules.
- Does the US Army use simulations?: Yes, the US Army uses simulations and virtual military equipment to train soldiers and plan military operations.
- How do simulation games work?: Simulation games are designed to mimic real-world activities, such as fishing or operating a business.
- How does the military use simulation?: The military uses simulation to train soldiers, plan operations, and study the nature of potential conflicts.
- What is a war game simulation?: A war game simulation is a simulation of a military operation involving two or more opposing forces, using rules, data, and procedures.
- What is the highest card in war?: The Ace is the highest card in a war game, with nothing beating an Ace and no other card beating a 2.