Podcast - The Wargame

A recent podcast made by Sky News, find it on your favourite player.

It details the players’ actions during a one day wargame, representing a Russian attack against the UK, and the British response.

Overall I liked the gentle introduction to the setting and the terms - that this is explicitly aimed at the general public as an introduction to the format and/or the situation, rather than to a set of wise elders nodding sagely at each other while they all tut about the same things in unison. As you’d expect from a journalist with her experience, Deborah Haynes gives clear and timely explanations from the start - and never long enough to distract a more experienced listener. I liked the scenario - as good as it could be when you’ve brought everyone together for a subject-specific wargame, so players know they’re probably reacting to intentional prompts rather than a misunderstanding of innocent events.

A few vague comments about the progression of events, more for those of you who’ve listened to it than not. While it’s not really possible to “spoiler” the decisions I do think it’s good to go into it not knowing the dilemmas faced:

• Good introduction to the format and the thinking.
• During the game it feels like the British are scrabbling through a junk drawer of bits, finding what they can, rather than a well organised response.
• Arguably the point about under-funded Defence is overplayed, whereas it’s clear from the scenario, it is well-made.
• I liked how things escalated, although there’s usually more misunderstandings between two completely separated teams.
• I liked that the scenario was realistic, in that it wasn’t “fair”.
• I was disappointed not to hear about any rolls or calculations, or judgement about results. I’d be interested to learn how the results of attacks were resolved.
• And while it’s good to hear the players, even people at this level, have distracted conversations about whether they should use an armament they’ve spent so much money on, it’s kind of disappointing too.

And lastly, should you listen? Definitely if you’ve any interest in the subject, it’s well put together, but it’s much more about the scenario than the methodology. If you’re familiar with the methodology there’s not a lot here, but it’s an interesting and well made programme nonetheless.