It's always a special moment for a designer to see their game on the shelf of their local game store. It's the culmination of a long journey. So please share your photos of Littoral Commander below. I would love to see them! π
#wargaming
@labyrinthdc
@FoundationDietz
#Wargame
RAFFLE! With my Littoral Commander
#wargame
sold out, I'm putting up a signed copy to a lucky winner! Just LIKE and RETWEET by June 22, midnight EST.
And those who have a copy, drop your photos playing the game to show what people can look forward to. π
#wargaming
RAFFLE π Like, retweet, and follow between July 17-19 (midnight EST) and you can win a signed copy of my SOLD OUT Littoral Commander
#wargame
. May the odds be ever in your favor. π
RAFFLE π Like, retweet, and follow by March 31 (midnight EST) and you can win a signed copy of my Littoral Commander
#wargame
. May the odds be ever in your favor. ππ²
Clear Sight Picture
#Marines
assigned to the
@15thMEUOfficial
conduct a live-fire deck shoot aboard the
@usnavy
amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, April 6.
The 15th MEU is currently embarked aboard the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group conducting routine operations.
#BlueGreenTeam
I've been nominated for the Faculty and Staff Career Champions Award at Georgetown University -- for having a "meaningful impact" on the careers of students. Honestly, I initially thought they emailed the wrong person. It's still sort of surreal honestly.
My Littoral Commander
#wargame
with the
@FoundationDietz
is off to the printer! It's been such a wild, exciting, & exhausting journey.
If everything stays on track π€, the games will ship out in a few months -- hopefully by the end of the year. Thank you all for being patient.
From its inception, I designed my "Littoral Commander: Indo-Pacific"
#wargame
to help educate Marines on the future of warfare &
#FD2030
at the tactical level. So it was a special honor to be able to discuss the game and it's ongoing use in the Corps with the
@CMC_MarineCorps
. π§΅
One of my students designed "Open Windows," a game where Putin must fill his inner circle with loyalists while the West attempts to infiltrate spies in his ranks. Suspicions are everywhere and people will end up defenestrated. πͺ It is such a great game.
HEXWAR will be designing a digital version of my Littoral Commander
#wargame
-- which will be used for professional military education at Marine Corps University. This is part of the university's growing library of educational
#wargames
! Keep an eye out for it. π
#wargaming
Peter Perla, the pioneer of professional
#wargaming
, passed away last night. Peter indelibly shaped the wargaming profession - from writing the seminal book on wargaming to leading the field for decades. He will be terribly missed - both as a colleague, mentor, and friend.
In grad school, I had a signed job offer with State Dept through a specific program to get young talent into the building... It took me over a year to get a call back to start, despite countless emails etc.
I know I'm not alone, who else has struggled to enter public service?
Listening to older folks discuss talent recruitment and retention in DoD -- I realize the massive generational gap. They simply do not understand the numerous hurdles, improbable odds, and the sheer cost for young professionals to enter public service.
Me: "Mom, I won a teaching award from Georgetown!" *sends photo*
Mother: "Award is bigger or money. That's just paper."
Me: "Thanks, Mom."
You're never too old to be brutally humbled by your Korean mother. π
It was a honor to serve as the editor for newly published
#wargaming
book -- FORGING WARGAMERS: A Framework for Professional Military Education published by
@MC_UPress
. This volume strives to begin a robust discussion about wargames & PME. 1/xπ§΅
Link:
Everyone is talking about the
@CSIS
#Taiwan
wargame. So let me share some thoughts as a
#wargame
designer and analyst on how to "interrogate" a wargame. Context is key. A thread π§΅. 1/x
My Littoral Commander
#wargame
has fully been funded!!!
Thank you all for supporting this project -- from sharing the news to donating copies to military units. I promise to keep you all updated as the commercial version progresses!
#wargaming
Link:
My Littoral Commander
#wargame
with the
@FoundationDietz
is shipping out to pre-orders! This has been a long three year journey from conception to publication. Special thanks to everyone who has supported, contributed, and advocated for this game and its educational vision. π§΅
Repeat after me...
Military exercises are NOT wargames.
Also the vast majority of these activities are annual, regularly scheduled, and not new to anyone working in the field.
Everyone is preparing for war:
- China war games amphibious assault on Taiwan
- Taiwan war games Chinese invasion
- U.S. + Allies host "Olympics of war games"
- China + Russia largest joint military exercises
- North Korea fires ballistic missiles
The Indo-Pacific Powder Keg π₯
It is official. My Fleet Marine Force
#wargame
will be published by
@FoundationDietz
. If you're interested in a preorder, you can back the game at the Dietz website (below). Thank you all for your support through this difficult process.
PROFESSIONAL WARGAMES DO NOT PREDICT THE FUTURE. Wargames can be powerful tools for analysis & education. Helping players build critical thinking, adaptability, exposing them to a wide range of scenarios, highlighting troubled areas, producing insights, & more. A thread. 𧡠1/x
At the
@USMCMuseum
today,
#wargaming
the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir during Korean War with
@ian_tb03
and
@littlewarstv
! The wargame on the table is inexplicably connected to the history featured on the walls. If you've never visited this museum, you're missing out.
PLAYTESTERS NEEDED! π¨ I'm compiling a series of micro
#wargames
on modern Indo-Pacific security issues. The topics are wide ranging -- including civilian evacuation, anti-piracy operations, FONOPs, and election influence. If you're interested, let me know! π² RETWEET PLEASE 1/
MG Donahoe defended and supported his Army teammates from vicious online harassment. This IG report only demonstrates "Army values" are really weak platitudes.
NEW: The Army Inspector General said that while MG Pat Donahoe's defense of servicewomen in light of comments made by Fox News' Tucker Carlson was "potentially admirable," it brought too much "negative publicity," according to the report we obtained.
The recent
@washingtonpost
article on Ukraine highlights both the strengths and weaknesses of
#wargaming
. It can provide an experiential venue for players to dynamically tackle hard problems. But like other methods -- it can be the victim of meta dynamics & biases. A thread 𧡠1/
Sometimes I wonder if all my sweat & blood poured into
#wargaming
is worth it -- if it is even moving the needle. But then I see Marines discovering wargaming through Littoral Commander. And tell myself to "row harder, lean in -- because it does matter, and there's more to do."
The first batch of my Fleet Marine Force (FMF)
#wargame
is about to hit select
@USMC
units! FMF is a tactical & educational - focused on the Marine Littoral Regiment and naval campaigning in 2040. DM me if you want a copy for your unit/command.
#wargaming
This playthrough video of my Littoral Commander
#wargame
shows the Taiwan Straits Beachhead scenario. US forces must sink PLAN amphibious ships as the PLANMC attempt to secure a foothold on the island.
π· Credit to
@nbsp1618
.
#wargaming
On my latest trip to Japan, I found this beautiful little gem of a
#wargame
-- Crisis Now: Senkaku Showdown. It is a Japanese commercial wargame where US & Japanese forces repel Chinese PLA forces from seizing the Senkaku islands.
Now I just need to find a translated rule book.
Listening to older folks discuss talent recruitment and retention in DoD -- I realize the massive generational gap. They simply do not understand the numerous hurdles, improbable odds, and the sheer cost for young professionals to enter public service.
Designing something special with
@TheKrulakCenter
. A high-tactical educational wargame for the
@USMC
operating forces set in 2035. A little glimpse behind the curtain. Who wants to see more?
#wargaming
A Marine I served with in Iraq texted me this photo of his son playing my Littoral Commander
#wargame
. They learned the game together as a family.
I cannot tell you what this means to me. I'm not crying. π
Thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday today. I forgot about it until folks reminded me of it. So I wanted to say thank you and I appreciate all of your kind words. π
To celebrate, I sent six free copies of Littoral Commander to units all around the world. π
Most grad students write final papers. My students design original educational wargames. This game, one of four unique designs, is specifically supporting
@USACGSC
-- part of a pilot to design games for PME institutions.
#wargaming
Do you have a wargame you want for your class?
Ray Stevenson has had many iconic roles, but as an old HBO Rome fan, nothing will stop me from pointing at the screen and shouting "Oh shit! THE Titus Pullo??" whenever I see him.
This playthrough video of my Littoral Commander
#wargame
shows the Taiwan Straits Beachhead scenario. US forces must sink PLAN amphibious ships as the PLANMC attempt to secure a foothold on the island.
π· Credit to
@nbsp1618
.
#wargaming
The Littoral Commander team is already working on the sequel game for the European theater. This is one of our playtest maps by
@CascadiaMac
for the Danish Straits.
The LC Europe aims to explore the future ARG MEU & Army MDTF. Who's interested or has data for us?
#wargaming
Meet Nathalie, the
@GUWargaming
treasurer and budding game designer. She is working on a handful of micro game designs and is learning to teach and facilitate games.
#wargaming
One of my biggest
#wargaming
pet peeves is when senior leaders (both civilian and military) want a
#wargame
on a complex topic in 2 hours or less - in like 2 weeks. You want a briefing, not a game.
If you want to wargame, do it properly. Devote the time & people required. π§΅
I made handmade wood prototype counters for "Littoral Commander Baltic." They are perfect to playtest scenarios and fine tune the gameplay. Currently, I'm focused on getting feedback from regional subject matter experts and wargamers.
#wargaming
For the official capstone
#wargame
, Staff NCOs are playing my Littoral Commander as part of their Career School at the College of Enlisted Military Education in Quantico.
This was the vision, the ambition, the hope when I first designed this wargame. Unreal to see it.
#wargaming
The advanced copy of my Littoral Commander
#wargame
was on the table for the first time!
Due to my crazy schedule and last minute fixes on my part, the production was delayed. I know lots of people are eager for their copies, but I ask for your patience.
@FoundationDietz
1/
Being called the "Taylor Swift of Wargaming" is hilariously awesome. π Huge thanks to the Connections UK
#wargaming
community for being an amazing host and teaching me so much. Looking forward to future collaborations!
A sneak peak at the ongoing development of the digital version of my "Littoral Commander: Indo-Pacific"
#wargame
for the MCU Wargaming Cloud! Digitized by Code Wizards & HEXWAR, this initiative aims to increase accessibility of the game across Marine Corps
#PME
.
#wargaming
Earlier this week, I sent a prototype version of my "Littoral Commander Baltic"
#wargame
to colleagues in Europe for some playtesting with professionals. Not every day you get an handmade artisan wargame in the mail. π
I cannot wait to hear their feedback!
#wargaming
All the conference contributors, including the students who facilitated their
#wargames
, received an amazing set of custom challenge coins from Rear Admiral Luis del Carpio of the Peruvian Navy. The challenge coins spin to work as d10 dice!! How awesome is that?!
To give guest lectures on educational
#wargaming
at the
@NavalWarCollege
-- the cradle of US wargaming was a special honor. Big thanks to
@CuriousTalcat
& the whole NWC faculty for so generously hosting me. I look forward to my next visit. π
What is your favorite commercial
#wargame
map?
For me, the Empire of the Sun map is absolutely gorgeous in it's simplicity and cleverness in it's orientation. It is sleek and utilitarian. I love it. Share your favorites below.
#wargaming
"Friedrich" is one of those simple, elegant game designs I wished I designed. I love this game because it is so utterly concise in its vision and execution -- honed to a razor sharp design.
#wargaming
A CNA colleague living in Japan introduced me to "Aircraft Carrier Ibuki" -- a manga about the JSDF fighting the PRC in the Sakishima Islands. Instantly added to my reading list.
Increasing
#wargaming
literacy in the defense community requires accessible
#wargames
. CALLSIGN is a
@CNA_org
microgame designed to introduce people to key concepts in wargame design. Download it for free π.
π Link:
The next installment in my Littoral Commander
#wargame
series -- Littoral Commander Baltics -- explores the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The game will feature new mechanics and cards so I'm very excited about this. π SO GO FUND IT!
#wargaming
The "Indo-Pacific Micro Games" I've been working on with several promising designers is almost ready! The initial box will have 14 games exploring topics like piracy, sortie generation, FONOPS, COIN, influence ops, and more! The idea is to provide accessible educational games.