Date of Award

5-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Game Design

Department

Game Design

First Advisor

Jeremiah Ratican

Second Advisor

Ben Fulcher

Third Advisor

Geremy Carnes

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to create a support application for a tabletop wargame currently used for training and scenario simulation by the United States Marine Corps. The EXPO OPS Companion is meant to enhance the capabilities of the White Cell/table director, the unbiased third party responsible for running adjudication for the EXPO OPS Tactical Wargames System. EXPO OPS TWS is “…a table top wargame covering contemporary and future conflict at the platoon, company and battalion level. It is a wargame toolkit that enables wargaming scenarios in the 2020 to 2030 timeframe. The design centers on plans and decisions at the low tactical level with an emphasis on combined arms. A Marine Expeditionary Unit and Brigade is the centerpiece of the design.” (EXPO OPS TWS Rules V1, 2022). This project aimed to enhance the White Cell’s capabilities through the development of a proof-of-concept application which will:

  • Calculate engagement results.
  • Track units’ resources.
  • Provide quick access to EXPO OPS rule set and guidance.
  • Be portable and low maintenance.
  • Have a user-friendly interface.

The application successfully calculated engagement results based on the ruleset provided in the EXPO OPS Tactical Wargame System rule book and in conjunction with input from the faculty advisors. This enabled the White Cell to focus on other aspects outside of calculating engagement results. The application also tracked individual units’ current force size, ammo, morale and any other attribute deemed important; this allowed for more complex scenarios to unfold while relieving the White Cell or players from having to manually track this information. Additionally, the application has a quick reference guide to the EXPO OPS rule book and the potential for quick access to Marine Corps Publications, especially those on tactics. The application was designed to be self-contained with an easy-to-understand graphical interface, allowing for seamless use for new users.

Wargaming is extremely vital to training the next generation of military officers. One of the main issues of pure virtual wargaming, or computer simulations, is that it is bound by the limits of the program it operates in. One of the limits of pure tabletop wargaming is it can become overly burdensome to track all the individual modifiers that might go into an engagement. This proof-of-concept application is an attempt at creating a hybrid solution to bring the best of both worlds. This application aims to create a limitless wargame, bound only by the imagination and creativity of those executing it and backed with the capability to track and analyze information quickly and reliably.

Download

Share

COinS