Wargaming Design Course in cooperation with Naval Postgraduate School

The 19th century was a period of intellectual curiosity that enabled the merging of science, mathematical theory, and military strategy to develop a series of unprecedented military simulations of war. These simulations were designed to immerse players in the realities of conflict, incorporating representative terrain, models, and the latest mathematical and scientific theories. What followed was a century of further development and widespread adoption by the world’s great powers of wargaming as a method to train and educate military leaders.

Wargaming is a craft—a combination of art and science. It is a dynamic representation of conflict or competition in which people make decisions and respond to the consequences of those decisions. The benefits of conducting a wargame, as opposed to relying solely on modeling and simulation, go beyond an organization’s ability to augment analytical efforts and gain insights into complex problems. In a wargame, all participants—designers, players, and analysts—can viscerally learn from the process, its execution, and the mistakes made along the way.

From 10 to 16 May 2025, the NATO Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence (NATO MW COE), in collaboration with trainers and mentors from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, successfully conducted the Advanced Wargaming Design Course.

The course was attended by 14 participants from various units and nations, including representatives from Croatia, Poland, the United States, and Slovenia.

The first part of the course focused on the fundamentals of wargame design, while the second part involved the enhancement and further development of existing wargames.

Participants were divided into three working groups, each tasked with developing and analyzing a specific operational problem through a custom-designed wargame scenario. Over the course of seven days, they revisited basic wargame design tools and learned to model both strategies and tactics related to DDA scenarios and the dynamics of war.

They gained a deep understanding of the rules and mechanics, as well as their connections to NATO doctrine, which influence gameplay. Through their wargames, participants developed innovative strategies and solutions for complex situations and experimented with modifying existing rules and mechanics to create new experiences.

The course was designed to enhance capability and knowledge across multiple areas, including research, design, development, execution, analysis, and reporting. It also fostered collaboration and communication among participants through group-based activities.

As part of the course program, participants visited historical World War I battlefield sites in Slovenia, including Kobarid, the Sveta Gora tunnels, and the Sabotin trenches and front line. The visit provided deeper insights into past military tactics, particularly those employed in mountain warfare.

The course culminated in a practicum, during which participants were divided into teams to develop and execute their own wargames, each addressing a designated analytical or educational problem. Throughout the exercise, they analyzed and adapted their tactics in response to specific in-game situations, enhancing their decision-making processes, as well as their strategic planning and execution in complex scenarios reflective of current NATO operational and tactical challenges.

These wargames can be conducted at the tactical, operational, or strategic levels, making them suitable for audiences across the full spectrum of command. Tailored to specific learning objectives or operational outcomes, each wargame is designed to align with the appropriate level and purpose, ensuring relevance, realism, and effectiveness for all participants.