Cuban Missile Crisis: tense, some of what we are taught is mythology. Discusses real, potential war triggers and what a war in 1962 would have looked like. Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., NSDM staff.
Description:
RThe Cuban Missile Crisis of 60 years ago has been recognized as the most tense period in the Cold War, perhaps in world history, as the two superpowers stared each other down for several days and nuclear war was potentially one unintended consequence or misinterpreted event away. Today it is heavily portrayed in popular culture, but often told to hype the drama. Discredited mythology often wins over credible historical accounting. What were the real risks, the mechanisms which might have triggered, perhaps literally, a nuclear war? What were the opposing forces, what would such a war have looked like, what would have been the outcome, and what would the fallout, perhaps literally, be today? Presented by Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., physicist and former nuclear submarine officer with 12 years' experience at the Naval War College, on the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
Doomsday Scenario NSDM: National Security Decision Making Game
Summary:
Fast-paced 2-hour version of NSDMG's geopolitical-military RPG in a simple, intense, "friendly" game of international thuggery, intrigue, tricks and mayhem.
Description:
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 promise opportunities for unlimited mischief, unparalleled carnage, and a final result where the living might envy the dead. Presented by the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
Recent drone use in Ukraine & elsewhere. Synergy of drones, robotics and AI. What drones can do, combat, surveillance, auxiliary missions, the way forward. By Merle Robinson, NSDM staff.
Description:
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 we go from here. Presented by Merle Robinson, lead simulation designer and retired DoD analyst, on the National Security Decision Making Game staff. NSDMG team presentations have been enjoyed by more than 30K attendees since 1990, at GenCon, Origins, DragonCon & other gaming, government & educational venues.
EMP history, mechanism, worst-case potential. Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., a physicist with 12 years' Naval War College experience and currently on NSDM staff, separates fact from science fiction.
Description:
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 science fiction. Presented by Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., a physicist with 12 years' experience at the Naval War College, on the National Security Decision Making Game (NSDMG) staff. NSDMG team presentations have been enjoyed by more than 30K attendees since 1990, at GenCon, Origins, DragonCon & other gaming, government & educational venues.
Future of Ukraine & Eastern Europe. A discussion of current events & next five years in Eastern Europe from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. By Merle Robinson of the NSDM staff.
Description:
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. formerly at the Naval War College, both on the National Security Decision Making Game (NSDMG) staff. NSDMG presentations have been enjoyed by more than 30K attendees since 1990, at GenCon, Origins, DragonCon & other gaming, government & educational venues.
The National Security Decision Making Game staff reviews recent changes and things to watch next year, including hotspots: China, Europe, Iran, Israel, Russia, North Korea. What's CNN missing?
Description:
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 that they warrant. Want to know what to expect in the next year? What might happen and what are its implications? What are drivers, what indicators to watch for, and how might events be affected by the U.S. and the West? What potential catastrophes is CNN missing? NSDMG presentations have been enjoyed by more than 30K attendees since 1990, at GenCon, Origins, DragonCon & other gaming, government & educational venues.
Near Future Science-Fiction Crisis NSDM: National Security Decision Making Game
Summary:
Fast-paced version of NSDMG's geopolitical-military RPG. It's the world of today or just a few years from now. You're a key leader in a major nation. You're called in after hours. What's wrong now?
Description:
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, then you're called in after-hours and learn that everything's no longer normal, not by a long shot. Expect anything from crazed dictators, revolutions, space pirates, environmental crises, uncontrolled and malignant artificial intelligence, universal state surveillance, new technologies, genetic breakthroughs, and other surprises in a world that is not quite "as-you-know-it." Presented by the National Security Decision Making MegaGame staff.
Near Future Science-Fiction Crisis NSDM: National Security Decision Making Game
Summary:
Fast-paced version of NSDMG's geopolitical-military RPG. It's the world of today or just a few years from now. You're a key leader in a major nation. You're called in after hours. What's wrong now?
Description:
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, then you're called in after-hours and learn that everything's no longer normal, not by a long shot. Expect anything from crazed dictators, revolutions, space pirates, environmental crises, uncontrolled and malignant artificial intelligence, universal state surveillance, new technologies, genetic breakthroughs, and other surprises in a world that is not quite as-you-know-it. Presented by the National Security Decision Making MegaGame staff.
Near Future Science-Fiction NSDM: National Security Decision Making MegaGame
Summary:
Near-future variant of the geopolitical, military and economic role-playing game. Crazed dictators, space pirates, environmental crises, malignant AI, genetic breakthroughs, and other surprises.
Description:
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, environmental crises, uncontrolled and malignant artificial intelligence, universal state surveillance, new technologies, genetic breakthroughs, and other surprises in a world that is changing before your eyes. Presented by the National Security Decision Making MegaGame staff.
NSDM team's new American Revolution Game. Insights creating RPG model. Essential & flexible factual/counterfactual injects, roles, outcomes, keeping it credible. Moderator Jason Corner, lead designer.
Description:
Discussing NSDM's new American Revolution Crisis MegaGame variant, the NSDM game design team 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 keep outcomes uncertain? When to begin the simulation, and how far to take it? Sensitivity issues with slavery and with relations with Native American nations. Panel will discuss issues of target audience and expectations of their baseline knowledge, background material to present, the balance between politicking and fighting, and how to keep the simulation from going off the rails. Moderated by Jason Corner, lead game designer for the Revolutionary War Crisis game variant, on the National Security Decision Making Game staff.