Gaming World War III: Tabletop Armageddon Part IV

1983 was one of the most dangerous years of the entire Cold War. As the year went on, events were taking place, and situations deteriorating on a number of fronts. Life went on as usual, however, it seemed as if the world was moving towards an imminent nuclear confrontation and there was nothing anyone could …

Gaming World War III: Tabletop Armageddon Part III

Ultimatum bills itself as “a game of nuclear confrontation.” While true, the game also includes other aspects beyond the nuclear battle that are important as well. Players choose to lead either the United States or Soviet Union and have to develop their economies in order to invest in, and produce nuclear and defensive weapons. Weapons …

Gaming World War III: Tabletop Armageddon Part I

During my formative years I accepted the popular assumption that a nuclear exchange would mean the end of the world. Mushroom clouds would bloom, and fallout would spread around the world heralding the start of nuclear winter and the end of civilization. It made sense, and films such as The Day After and Threads in …

Gaming World War III: The Conflict Model Part III

All things considered, air warfare is an entirely different species of animal than its land, and sea counterparts when it comes to wargaming. This is especially true when dealing with NATO-Warsaw Pact games set in the ‘80s. The air war that was to be unleashed on the Central Front, and other theaters when the balloon …

Gaming World War III: The Conflict Model Part II

My initial attempt at modeling the air and sea sides of a hypothetical World War III set in 1987 will sound familiar to anyone who has ever worked for a think tank. I took an inordinate amount of data, put together a rough model for air operations in the European theater, ran it through a …

Gaming World War III: The Conflict Model Part I

When I first started giving serious consideration to the idea of creating a hypothetical World War III I understood what I was getting into. It was not going to be as simple as breaking out The Third World War one weekend, playing it, then posting a brief after-action report online afterward. If I was going …

Gaming World War III: War at Sea Part II

The first edition of Harpoon was a general-purpose air, surface, and sub-surface naval simulation. It was a playable game based around graspable rules, and comprehensive information on ships, aircraft, sensors, and weapons systems of the era. The game found acceptance in the commercial wargaming community, and the professional naval community in general. Harpoon also helped …

Gaming World War III: The Importance of the Time Period

The number of NATO-Warsaw Pact wargames produced in the past forty-five years stands as a testament to the longevity and popularity of the genre. Even today, nearly thirty years since the end of the Cold War, new NATO-WP themed games continue to be developed and sold. Used games still command a hefty price on eBay …

Gaming World War III: Introduction

As a young boy growing up in the 80s, the idea of large armies and fleets engaging in titanic battles to decide the fates of nations never failed to get my heart pumping, or inspire my imagination. I played soldier along with the rest of the neighborhood kids. With our trusty plastic toy M-16A1s and …

Odds & Ends

Periodically, I find it helpful  to take a step back for a moment, take in the big picture and get my bearings. I try and determine what’s working in the blog, and what needs to be changed. After that, I make the necessary revisions and move forward again. This blog has become a labor of …