Selected Resources

Brynen, Rex; Fisher, Tom; and Mouat, Tom. 2017. The MaGCK User Guide. The Game Crafter.
• Introduction to matrix game technique, available as downloadable pdf or as part of the Matrix
Game Construction Kit (MaGCK) produced for Dstl (UK MoD). Additional information at
https://paxsims.wordpress.com/magck/

Burns, Shawn, ed. 2015. War Gamers Handbook: A Guide for Professional War Gamers. Newport:
Naval War College.
• Substantial overview of wargame design, development, execution, adjudication, data collection,
and analysis. Available at: https://usnwc.edu/Research-and-Wargaming/Wargaming/Publications-
and-Journals

Caffrey, Matt. 2019. On Wargaming: How Wargames Have Shaped History and How They May Shape
the Future. Newport: Naval War College Press.
• Comprehensive (445pp) survey of modern professional wargaming, including discussion of
wargaming techniques. Available at: https://digital-
commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1043&context=newport-papers

Curry, John; Engle, Chris; and Perla, Peter. 2018. The Matrix Games Handbook. History of Wargaming
Project.
• Discussion and application of matrix gaming techniques.

Connections UK, http://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk.

• Website of the annual Connections (UK) professional wargaming conference. Extensive resources,
including slides and audio/video of past presentations.

Connections US, https://connections-wargaming.com.

• Website of the annual Connections professional wargaming conference (US).

Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre. 2017. Defence Wargaming Handbook. London: UK
Ministry of Defence.
• Introduction to wargaming to support education and training, planning and executive decision-
making. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-wargaming-
handbook

Downes-Martin, Stephen. 2014. “Your Boss, Players, and Sponsor: The Three Witches of War
Gaming,” Naval War College Review 67(1).
• Discusses three sets of senior stakeholders critical to the success of a game but with the power to
affect negatively its quality: the game director’s superior; senior players; and the sponsor. Available
at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol67/iss1/5/

Downes-Martin, Stephen, website, https://sites.google.com/site/stephendownesmartin/home

• Much of interest in the Publications and Downloads sections.

Longley-Brown, Graham. 2019. Successful Professional wargame: A Practitioners Handbook. History of

Wargaming Project.
 • Extensive discussion of wargaming approaches and techniques, with guest contributions.

Military Operations Research Society, Wargaming Community of Practice.

https://www.mors.org/Communities/Wargaming
• The MORS Wargame CoP explores the use professional games as a tool for analysis and education

Mouat, Tom. Matrix Games, http://www.mapsymbs.com/wdmatrix1.html

• Extensive free resources on matrix gaming.

PAXsims, http://www.paxsims.org.
• Extensive resources on conflict simulation and other serious games. Includes information on
Connections North, Canada’s annual professional wargaming conference:
https://paxsims.wordpress.com/connections-north/

Perla, Peter; McGrady, ED. 2011. “Why Wargaming Works.” Naval War College Review 64(3).
• Very important discussion of the importance of narrative engagement in wargames. Available at:
https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1578&context=nwc-review

Perla, Peter. 2012. The Art of Wargaming: A Guide for Professionals and Hobbyists. History of
Wargaming Project.
• Reprint edition of Perla’s 1990 book, considered a classic work in the field of professional
wargaming.

Sabin, Philip. 2014. Simulating War: Studying Conflict Through Simulation Games. London:
Bloomsbury
• Useful text on wargame design for researchers and students.

Strong, Paul. 2017. “Wargaming the Atlantic War: Captain Gilbert Roberts and the Wrens of the
Western Approaches Tactical Unit.”
• The Western Approaches Tactical Unit undertook some of the most consequential wargaming of
WW2, developing key anti-submarine tactics and teaching many thousands of Allied naval
personnel. WATU is an excellent example of triangulating research with other (qualitative and
quantitative) research techniques, and then quickly mobilizing findings to inform both doctrine and
ongoing military operations. It was also predominately staffed by woman—many of whom had no
prior military, maritime, or gaming experience. Available at
https://paxsims.wordpress.com/2017/12/20/wargaming-the-atlantic-war-captain-gilbert-roberts-
and-the-wrens-of-the-western-approaches-tactical-unit/

Wasser, Becca, 2019. “I Run War Games. Too Often, I Am the Only Woman in the Room.” New York
Times Magazine, 26 September.
• Introduction to the challenges of diversity in the professional wargaming community. Available at:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/26/magazine/woman-war-gaming.html

Weuve, Chris; Perla, Peter; Markowitz, Michael; Rubel, Robert; Downes-Martin, Stephen; Martin,
Michael, Vebber, Paul. 2004. Wargame Pathologies. Alexandria: CNA.
• Extensive discussion of what can go wrong during wargames, and why. Available at:
https://www.cna.org/CNA_files/PDF/D0010866.A1.pdf