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Doctrine

In wargaming, the actual practices and procedures of the force which you are playing.
It becomes significant when trying to determine what a historical commander could or would do in a given situation.

Example: a player commanding a French force in an 1809 Peninsular war scenario notices some rough terrain which will impede his formed troops, but which offers no obstruction to men in skirmish order.
Could I – he wonders – brigade my battalion's light companies together, forming a strong force best suited to take advantage of the rough ground?
The question becomes: Did French forces operate in this fashion in 1809? Was it doctrine?

Playing with an eye to the established doctrine of your forces maintains period flavour and historical authenticity.

Original definition 16 January 2015 8:04 AM by Norman D Landings.