1948, a Year of Big Changes: 75th Anniversary, National Security Decision Making (NSDM) Panel
Summary:
Panel discusses year of "big deal" stuff that shapes us: Tojo et. Al. executed adds closure to WW2, but Cold War firming, Berlin, Koreas; Gandhi assassination/India; Israel formed, war. NSDM staff.
Description:
Stuff happens, especially in 1948. 75th Anniversary of a year of "big deal stuff, panel reviews key events that continue to shape the world today. Gandhi assassination, India breaking from UK, Tokyo war crimes trials & executions, Alger Hiss/Whitaker Chambers and communist hunting, Truman beat Dewey, Israeli Declaration of Independence, First Arab-Israeli War, Czechoslovakia goes communist, Marshall plan passed, Berlin blockade and airlift, Voice of America jammed, World Health Organization formed, Treaty of Brussels (precursor to NATO), Tito-Stalin split, Malayan Emergency, South and North Korea established, Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Panel discussion by the National Security Decision Making Game staff, featuring Merle Robinson, lead designer and retired DoD analyst, and Captain Mark McDonagh, USN/Ret. formerly at the Naval War College.
American Revolution Crisis, a National Security Decision Making (NSDM) MegaGame
Summary:
What brought American colonists from being loyal British subjects to revolution in 10 years? Role play events leading to Revolution from their perspective. Geopolitical-military RPG by NSDMG staff.
Description:
Historical, fast-paced, crisis-oriented version of the NSDM geopolitical-military-economic RPG. As we observe the 250th anniversary of key events in the American Revolution, it is a good time to reflect on the personalities, agendas, events and energies that drove decisions. From the end of the French and Indian War to the first battles of the American revolution, what brought the colonists from being mostly-loyal British subjects to armed revolt in only ten years? Role play the events leading to the American Revolution from the perspective of key figures. Experience the decisions, the diplomacy, the tensions, the frustrations; and there will be unintended consequences and the occasional unexpected, counterfactual-but-plausible event. A new game variant presented by the National Security Decision Making (NSDM) Game staff, intended to entertain while hopefully teaching something.
American Revolution, Land & Naval Strategy 1775-1783
Summary:
American Revolution, Land & Naval Strategy 1775-1783, Sinews of War#3. Examines land & naval strategies on five fronts: Europe, India, East Indies, West Indies, Americas. By Merle Robinson, NSDM staff
Description:
American Revolution, Land & Naval Strategy 1775-1783, Sinews of War#3. Capstone examination of the land and naval strategies of this "American" war including all five fronts of the conflict (Europe, India, East Indies, West Indies, & all of the Americas). Focus is on historical goals, overall capabilities, national factions & their perspectives. Explores the preconceptions/fallacies held by participants that impacted events, factual/counterfactual choices & challenges. Discusses the military campaigns in each theater, lightly delving into battlefield tactics & addresses the impact of sheer luck on the outcomes. Presented by Merle Robinson, retired DoD analyst 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.
American Revolution, Rebels & Redcoats 1774-1781, Sinews of War#1. Examines levers of power used by Colonials, England, Allies, mercenaries in 1st stage of conflict. Merle Robinson of the NSDM staff.
Description:
American Revolution, Rebels & Redcoats 1774-1781, Sinews of War#1. Examination of the critical levers of power used by Colonials, England, and their Allies and mercenaries through the first stage of the conflict in the colonies. Focus is on the diplomatic, intelligence, military & economics (DIME) of the conflict. Lecture covers how forces were financed, organized, trained, assembled, moved, supplied & commanded. This primarily addresses the land conflict in North America. Presented by Merle Robinson, retired DoD analyst 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.
American Revolution, Worldwide War 1781-1783, Sinews of War#2. Examines levers of power used by France, Spain, Indigenous & International actors in 2nd stage of conflict. By Merle Robinson, NSDM staff
Description:
American Revolution, Worldwide War 1781-1783, Sinews of War#2. Examines the critical levers of power used all participants (e.g. France, Spain, Indigenous & International actors) through the 2nd stage of war in the colonies. This is when the colonial revolt became a World-Wide War. Discusses the stance & involvement of other world powers including Russia, Prussia, Austria, Netherlands & Ottomans. Focus is on the diplomatic, intelligence, military, & economics (DIME) of the conflict. Covers how forces were financed, organized, trained, assembled, moved, supplied & commanded. This primarily addresses land conflict in North America. By Merle Robinson, retired DoD analyst 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.
Boston Tea Party as a root of the Revolution. The basis for event. What were the causes, what happened that night, and what were the consequences. Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., on NSDM staff.
Description:
Roots of revolution: on the 250th anniversary of the 1773 Boston Tea Party, part of a multi-year National Security Decision Making Game staff lecture series on key events in the American Revolutionary War. This examines the Boston Tea Party, in context of events affecting American & English discontent with affairs in the colonies, including the outcome & aftermath of the French & Indian War (the Seven Years War), English policy of restricting westward expansion, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Tea Act & other taxes. Lecture will go on to discuss the escalating violence in Boston in particular, the conditions that led to the Tea Party, the Tea Party itself, & the outcome in terms of the direction that Anglo-American affairs took. Presented by Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., with 12 years' experience at the Naval War College, on the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
The story is generally told to stress drama or harangue over reactors, loose with facts. This gives the physics & engineering. Capt. Mark McDonagh, physicist, retired nuclear sub officer, NSDM staff.
Description:
What really happened at Chernobyl? What we see in miniseries and documentaries largely steers clear of technical details, or worse, was written by someone overly fond of exploring the drama but clueless on the physics, nuclear engineering and radiological details. Then there are activists, often clueless as well, who exaggerate the description of the damage and the potential consequences to their own ends. This lecture attempts to separate the science, engineering and actual facts from the drama and activist demagoguery. It describes the Chernobyl reactor design, including its advantages and its vulnerabilities in light of other nuclear reactor mishaps. It goes on to describe what went wrong and why. Presented by Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., a former nuclear submarine officer and physicist with 12 years' experience at the Naval War College, now on the NSDMG staff.
Sci-Fi variant of the geopolitical-military-economic RPG set in the 1960s. You're a superpower leader. Just history as we know it, but then some peculiar things happen. Fix it. Or exploit it.
Description:
Geopolitical, military and economic role-playing game. Take senior leadership positions in the US, USSR, UK, Israel, Red China or Cuba, dealing with domestic and international events. Scenario: it's 1961. But the future isn't set. It's all history up to this point. But then, these strange things start to happen. Deal with them. Do you feel up to the job? Can you achieve your goals? Can you achieve your nation's goals? Can you duck-and-cover? New issues and problems in every game. Presented by the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
Contemporary NSDM The Cutting Edge of Europe Scenario MegaGame
Summary:
Geopolitical-military-economic RPG, players taking senior positions in a real nation. Scenario: War in the East. Fate of Russia, Ukraine, evolution & role of NATO in 21st Century. Good luck with that.
Description:
Geopolitical, military and economic role-playing game. Players take senior leadership positions in a real-world nation. Here's the game: You players are the politicians. You over there, you're the Cabinet. You folks over by the big maps are the Generals and Admirals. Here's your country; you've heard of it, it's not fictional, it's real, and so are its problems. The scenario is: War in the East. Play real world groups dealing with Ukraine, the fate of Russia, entry of new NATO members, disputes between NATO members & events in the near east. Examine the background, choices and circumstances available to deal with domestic & international challenges. Presented by the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
Contemporary NSDM: National Security Decision Making MegaGame
Summary:
Geopolitical-military role-playing game, players taking senior positions in a real nation. It's the world of today. Here are the real issues, and some big problems looming. Can you fix it? Start now.
Description:
Geopolitical, military and economic role-playing game. Players take senior leadership positions in a real-world nation. Here's the game: You players are the politicians. You over there, you're the cabinet. You folks over by the big maps are the generals and admirals. Here's your country; you've heard of it, it's not fictional, it's real, and so are its problems. The scenario is: it's the world as you know it today. Here are the real issues. Here are some big, looming problems. Fix them. Start now." Do you feel up to the job? New countries, issues and problems in every game. Presented by the National Security Decision Making MegaGame staff.