"PhD in Wargaming" Topic

I am currently supervising 2 PhDs in wargaming related subjects at Bath Spa University (UK). If you are interested in potentially exploring a part time PhD (distance learning) with a focus on military history or intelligence matters, that involves some elements of wargaming, then we are interested in talking to. John Curry (History of Wargaming Project)

Tempting :)

Very.

Ohhh – very very tempting!

If only I had the time. :(

Might be a nice retirement activity in a few years for me

John,

A contact link would be nice.

Jim

A contact link would be nice.

That's part of the 'intelligence matters' :-)

If I had the cash I would head to link or link

You can find me at link

Very interesting – sent email.

Just up the road… shame I'm thick.

Of those who posted a question.
How much time do you spend on the miniatures and how much time do you spend on the games and how much time do you spend on say, several of the following: Historical analysis such as Keegan did, logical analysis of history such as David H Fischer's Historians Fallacies or battlefield analysis such as Griffith's Forward Into Battle?
In a word, how much so called knowledge do you get from the games as differing from the source material be it the US Army Green Books, their military histories of WW2 or David Chandler or Robin Lane Fox?

The one thing I've probably learned from wargaming – as opposed to from all the books I've read – is that I am/would have been a pretty awful general!

Well, here's a thought.
You may be competent but unlucky
What's luck?

I am now supervising 5 PhDs in wargaming, all part time.

Your first test is to find me using google.

Dr John Curry Bath Spa University, wargaming.co

@ Dick B

I like big armies so perforce painting takes a lot of time, but I definitely spend more time doing research than actually playing. My intention is to feed my knowledge into the games; what I learn from the games is about the rules I have to play with.

A few years later, I am now supervising 5 PhDs using wargaming. This includes big gun naval warfare, counter insurgency games, modern tank combat and urban wargames.

And I'm still too thick.

My field of interest is formations and tactics in Antiquity and their application to diceless wargaming, which I'm guessing isn't quite your field of interest.

What jobs are the candidates trying to get?

For some jobs, one needs a degree but its subject doesn't matter – it's just 'proof' of one's intellectual ability. My degree, for example, is Law but my working life was spent teaching English, History, Latin and Mathematics.

If only there had been degrees in Wargaming fifty years ago!

If only there had been degrees in Wargaming fifty years ago!

I agree, but in the end you need to study something which allows you to earn money, so a wargaming degree may not of made my wife happy.

"The one thing I've probably learned from wargaming – as opposed to from all the books I've read – is that I am/would have been a pretty awful general!"

Ditto – and that's before we even discuss the question of appropriate intestinal fortitude! My chateau HQ would not have been 'in the rear', so much as in another country!