Merle Robinson
Discussing NSDM’s new American Revolution Crisis game variant, the lead designer will discuss insights gained in creating a model of the event for roll playing purposes. What historical figures to include, to amalgamate, or to exclude? What historical events to plan as inserts, what to leave out, what counter-factual events to stimulate game play and […]
One German observer remarked that the attack on Dieppe was “Too small for an invasion, too big for a raid.” What factors were involved that led to the launching of this raid by British, Canadian and American forces? Inter-Allied politics, personal ambitions, Intelligence operations, and other issues all contributed. What went wrong (a lot), what […]
Find out how a near-future World War Three situation can become fast and deadly. Bring your imagination for a freewheeling game of international war/peace where you vie for power as decision-maker within your nation and the world in a near-future scenario. Political, Military, Nuclear, Biological and Cyber capabilities all are part of the fun. We […]
Find out how a near future World War Three situation can become fast and deadly. Bring your imagination for a freewheeling game of international war/peace where you vie for power as decision-maker within your nation and the world in a near-future scenario. Political, Military, Nuclear, Biological and Cyber capabilities all are part of the fun. […]
Lecture discusses recent history of drone use in Ukraine and other theaters. Describes synergy of drone use with advanced robotic and artificial intelligence. What drones can do under the right conditions. Drone units, drone carriers, drones for combat, drones as wingmen and combat support for piloted combat aircraft, for surveillance and for auxiliary duties. Where […]
Electromagnetic Pulse, or EMP, has become a favorite boogieman of authors and screenplay writers depicting apocalyptic scenarios. But what is the real history and what is the potential for EMP weapons, terrorism and attacks? What is the mechanism and what affects the damage done? Lecture attempts to separate the facts, engineering and science from the […]
A discussion of the current events and expectations over the next five years in Eastern Europe from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. Covers lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war, consequences of the war, and the changing view of European security. Presented by Merle Robinson, lead simulation designer and retired DoD analyst, with Captain Mark McDonagh, USN/Ret. […]
An overview of emerging tools, approaches, and fields that are entering into current and future military conflicts. Presenter: Merle Robinson of the National Security Decision Making, Inc staff.
Lecture. Learn how to get a historical or contemporary period wargame published by Decision Games. What are the design guidelines, playtesting, artwork, and legal aspects of submitting a prototype? Presented by “Doc” Cummins of Decision Games.
Overview, analysis and insights on current and near-future world affairs. This panel discussion and seminar, the signature event of the National Security Decision Making (NSDM) Game staff, explores current, and potential future, problem areas around the world. Want to know what to expect in the next year? What might happen and what are its implications? […]
Continued discussion of current military/political/economic topics of interest/concern, analysis and insights on current/future world affairs. This seminar led by the National Security Decision Making (NSDM) Game staff, explores current, and potential future, problem areas around the world. Want to know what to expect in the next year? What might happen and what are its implications? […]
Overview, analysis and insights on current and near-future world affairs. This panel discussion and seminar, the signature event of the National Security Decision Making Game (NSDMG) staff, explores current, and potential future, problem areas around the world with a focus on domestic/international areas they feel deserve may not have gotten the attention from the media […]
The James Webb space telescope (JWST) was launched December 25, 2021 after years of work. Learn about the intricate engineering of the JWST, designed to view objects 100x fainter than Hubble can. We’ll discuss the telescope’s planned missions including observing the oldest and most distant objects in the universe and of characterizing the atmospheres of […]
Lecture: An overview of the impact of Logistics from ancient times to today with a view to how wargames have handled the subject poorly or well. Presented by Dr. George F. Nafziger (Captain/USN, ret.), author of many Napoleonic and Military History books.
Militaries throughout history have had a vested interest in keeping their communiques secrets. This lecture will provide an overview of mechanical and electromechanical cipher machines from the Civil War through the Cold War, such as the Vigenère cipher, rotor ciphers based on the German Enigma, and the Hagelin pin and lug machines. The role of […]
In space, no one can hear you scream, but everyone can see you fly. The geography of warfare in space is dominated not by distances as most would think, but by delta-v and sensors. How everything we know about fighting on the land, sea, and air won’t help us in space. What is up there […]
Near-future, 2-hour crisis-oriented variant of the geopolitical, military and economic role-playing National Security Decision Making MegaGame with futuristic and science fiction elements. Take a senior leadership in the US, China, Russia, or other major power, facing a world crisis that might be tomorrow’s real-world headline. It’s the world almost as you know it, everything’s normal, […]
Near-future, 2-hour crisis-oriented variant of the geopolitical, military and economic role-playing National Security Decision Making MegaGame with futuristic and science fiction elements. Take a senior leadership in the US, China, Russia, or other major power, facing a world crisis that might be tomorrow’s real-world headline. It’s the world almost as you know it, everything’s normal, […]
Near-future variant of the geopolitical, military and economic role-playing National Security Decision Making MegaGame. Players take senior leadership positions in a real-world nation. Explore the boundaries between science fact and science fiction. Experience world crises and experience mysterious events in this futuristic scenario. Deal with world challenges. Expect anything from crazed dictators, revolutions, space pirates, […]
Geopolitical, military and economic role-playing game. Players take senior leadership positions in a real-world nation. Here’s the game: You players are the politicians. You over there, you’re the Cabinet. You folks over by the big maps are the military leadership. Here’s your country; you’ve heard of it, it’s not fictional, it’s real, and so are […]
Geopolitical, military and economic role-playing game. Players take senior leadership positions in a real-world nation. Here’s the game: You players are the politicians. You over there, you’re the Cabinet. You folks over by the big maps are the military leadership. Here’s your country; you’ve heard of it, it’s not fictional, it’s real, and so are […]
Wargames are as old as civilization, and perhaps older. This is an overview of the development of wargaming from ancient times to the End of World War II. Part 1 of How Wargames Have Shaped History and How They May Shape the Future. Presenter: Colonel Matt Caffrey (USAF, ret.), the “Dean” of Air Force Wargaming […]
Wargames are as old as civilization, and perhaps older. This is an overview of the development of wargaming from the End of World War II to today. Part 2 of How Wargames Have Shaped History and How They May Shape the Future. Presenter: Colonel Matt Caffrey (USAF, ret.), the “Dean” of Air Force Wargaming and […]
It has been said the foundations of science are observation and classification. Together they enable the forming of hypotheses that enable later applications. This focuses on the utility of wargames, and varied approaches, to wargaming. Part 3 of How Wargames Have Shaped History and How They May Shape the Future. Presenter: Colonel Matt Caffrey (USAF, […]
The end of the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union returned the state of Russia as a player in the international system. Led by Vladimir Putin, Russia has attempted to forge for itself a dominant position in that system. This lecture looks at the goals and motivations of Russia under Putin and […]