"Would the World be Better If World Leaders were Wargamers?" Topic

OK just make it Yes or No to avoid "thin Ice" and name calling but would the world be better if its Leaders Played wargames. Clue Hitler did not play Risk as a Kid.

No, most definitely no!

Cheers.
Rod Robertson.

No.

Now, if your question had been "Should world leaders read Flashman before they invade Afghanistan…" I would have a different answer.

It would be different. National leaders tend to make certain mistakes wargamers avoid. Entering into a war without checking the victory conditions or having a strategy for example. But please consider the overall bloodthirstiness of wargamers. I am not sure the world would be better for being run by the sort of people who would ruin an army in pursuit of a 10% chance of victory.

Hahaha we'd all be dead within twenty minutes.

A huge NO!

As I recall (dangerous), in the 1960s Rand pitted civilians vs military in a variety of Cold War scenarios about how each "side" reacts to developments. The civilians were faster on the nuclear trigger.

Might be a marginal benefit in that people who have played these games KNOW that a perfectly sound strategy can go catastrophically wrong with a single dice roll.

And the GOOD GUYS (oneself, in most people's minds) are not guaranteed to squeak out a victory. Sometimes things go bad, then worse, then just downright nasty.

But overall?

Hard to tell… I've played RPGs where people want to roll initiative when they meet a shopkeeper…

Have you never heard a player use the phrase, "Take off and nuke it from orbit"?

Not sure it would be different. For every one that is cautious and hesitant because things go horribly wrong at the roll of a die, there is another that goes against sound tactics anyways to get the epic win.

Russ Lockwood – I could believe that. Those in the military better visualize the effects because they have been trained to attempt to overcome them and keep fighting.

Was it during those same sets of scenarios that also saw a resistance to go nuke even in the most desperate circumstances just because they did not want the perceived moral judgments of, "being first?"

I really hate all of these "X would be better if Y were in charge" things. For all of them the answer is no.

It's 10:00 and everyone is itching to go home, so Roger decides to charge everything.
No. I don't think so.

I believe you have found the formula for everlasting peace.

Well, we've been at war for thirty-five years now. We're about to start our second round, which will begin the approach of our forces into contact. Anyone object to a five year break for snacks and to hit the bathroom?

I bet Putin plays a great game of Warhammer

Maybe every session of the UN Security Council should start with a game of Diplomacy?

No. Imagine the arguments about the rules.

It seems that many of them already attempt to play Settlers of Catan on a grand scale.

No.

No! They would play the game and then think that it wasn't such a big deal to loose all of your figures due to a stupid maneuver!

Yes, because they would all weigh 300 lbs. and wear huge backpacks to the World Leader Convention arms sales. That would at least slow them down until we could all get away.

No. Wargames figures are not people – too much chance that this idea would cross over to the 'real' situation.

IIRC, Winston Churchill had an extensive collection of toy soldiers which he commanded in games against his brother. It certainly inspired his father to get him a commission in the army.
How useful his experience of toy soldier games and charging the Fuzzy Wuzzies at Omdurman was in being Prime Minister during WWII, however, must remain doubtful…

I'm trying to imagine a UN meeting where everybody is a fat guy with a beard, pony tail and a ratty old Sepultura t-shirt :D

I bet Putin plays a great game of Warhammer

My guess is with a real warhammer.

Based on some of the views expressed on these pages life would be "interesting" and probably short, but plenty of new glassy car parks after it all for the cockroaches to enjoy :)

"Okay, Vladimir, this time, we'll invade Crimea and you get to lead the UN in condemning us…"

Yes

I know a lot of BAD wargamers, but that also holds true for those who do not game. On average, inept people play less (strategy).

They already ARE war gamers.

Only they use real lives and other peoples property.

HAHA -NOOO.
Just using the people that post here -you should come to the conclusion that the answer is a overwhelming NO!!

Unless of course I was one and then it would be great (for me and my "enlightened equals and followers").
Like now but on a much bigger scale.lol