Wargaming Small Wars (merged thread)

**aktarian** · 10-14-2005

Originally Posted by Steve Blair

That's why you use traditional RP techniques, and bring out the computers for modeling combat. Computers are a tool to facilitate the game, and not the game itself.

I understand what you are saying but you'll still have troubles with "rules" and even model itself. You do something and rules say you win. Fine, but in real life it might not work that way. Specially when you are dealing with nonconventional war/terrorism.

Plus you can really calculate reactions. Let's say you kill some number of enemy. Will rest surrender or raise those killed into martyrs and fight even more fiercly? If you create jobs for locals will this help you with creating image that you really have their best interests at heart or will workers be targeted and jobs themselves used to spy on you?

So you can write rules "If you do this this happens." Well, in real life it might not.

It might work if other side is played by somebody who has experience in such conflicts and if rules are flexible.

**Steve Blair** · 10-14-2005

With RP that's exactly what I'm talking about. You have a controller or group of controllers and then a number of teams taking the role of various sides within the game (insurgents, military forces, civilians, relief organizations, and so on). You could use computer systems to handle some of the paperwork and interaction, but the bulk of the effort would be in the hands of people. Rules within RP deal with methods of interaction, not the interaction itself. The game itself would be based on a time model, with results tabulated at the end of that time.

I personally have designed RP rules systems and done extensive modifications on existing systems. Such systems can and do work well for 'modeling' these kind of events. What is needed mainly is a flexible mindset and the willingness to use computers as calculators and mechanical helpers and not the main basis for the game.