April saw me attend MartyCon 2024, where I ran a miniatures wargame intended to test players resolve under uncertain conditions. As leaders in the real world we deal with a distinct lack of information about our competitors motives and objectives. This uncertainty leads to difficult decision making and stress. My players came from all walks of life including engineers, teachers, ex soldiers and bankers. All were thrust into a scenario of limited information where quick decision making was needed to win the game. In this article I describe the game set up and play before looking at three leadership lessons we can draw from the experience.
The Set Up
I designed the game using the Space Weirdos ruleset with players commanding one of six factions battling it out under a giant factory complex set in the underbelly of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Each player had a different primary and secondary objective. These ranged from hunting a demon infused artefact, starting a rebellion and assassinating a rival leader. Below is a summary of each group:
- Inquisition/Sisters of Battle: A formidable force dedicated to rooting out heresy and chaos, armed with faith and righteous fury.
- Enforcers: Tasked with maintaining order and eliminating gang activity, these elite warriors are the enforcers of Imperial law.
- Honor Guard Kill Team: The personal guard of the Imperial Governor, wielding the authority to bring the Mining Guild. They also had a side mission to get rid of the Governors future Son in Law.
- Acolytes of the Red Mist: A mysterious order shrouded in secrecy, rumored to be on the brink of completing an elaborate ritual with unknown consequences.
- Mining Guild: Hard-bitten workers pushed to the brink of rebellion by mistreatment, seeking to assert their rights amid the chaos of civil unrest.
- Scissor Sisters: An influential crime syndicate capitalizing on the turmoil, maneuvering in the shadows to exploit opportunities for profit and power.
Each players team comprised four miniatures with different weapons and abilities. But so many that the game became overwhelming.
I took the role of gamemaster to keep play moving, answering rules queries and making sure everyone was having fun. Of course, this was key in keeping the game running smoothly and allowing for players to try things outside of the normal ruleset.
Space Weirdos
I chose the Space Weirdos ruleset intentionally during my planning of the experience. First, it is very simple, but with enough variety in character skills and weapons to keep things interesting. Secondly, players take turns moving one miniature each. This, and the fact that players can interrupt each others goes with actions made sure that no players were left out twiddling their thumbs. Lastly, movement was completed using a 6 inch stick removing the cumbersomeness and clutter of tape measures.
Everyone around the table picked the rules up easily. This is high praise indeed as most hadn’t played a wargame before. I cant recognize this game enough. In fact, I know my friends and I will be playing this ruleset again in the near future.
Adding Uncertainty
Having read their briefs, each player knew their main objective and main adversary. They also had notes on potential allies. Consequently, there was a base line of understanding around the situation. Encouraging players to communicate by secret notes added extra spice. Creating and breaking alliances as needed. Communications lit up within the first minute of the game, with notes flying between all participants. I quickly ran out of post-it notes and players turned to texting one another.
Now the waters were truly muddied. Who to trust. How to win your objective and how to illicit help in doing so was no longer a straight forward concern.
Game Action
We played for two and half action filled hours. Alliances were made. Motives were guessed at. The ensuing firefight unleashing chaos. Feedback from the players showed how difficult they found working with such unknowns. Enjoyable, but difficult.
One player, found himself getting frustrated at another player, perceived to be a neutral party who seemed to be targeting him. Afterwards it dawned on him that the targeting was the result of an unknown objective. He was of course completely right about that.
The player who eventually won, was double crossed, lost most of their team members, but stayed focused on their objective to pull a win on the very last turn.
Often wargames can turn into straight forward affairs. Not this one. Everyone was second guessing each other right until the end. The debrief at the end created more than a few ah ha moments as pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
Given all this uncertainty experienced by the players, what lessons can we learn from the scenario?
Lesson 1: Flexibility and Collaboration
The game’s setup, designed to pit players against each other amidst uncertainty, showcased the importance of flexibility and collaboration in leadership. One of the players, embodying these traits, adeptly negotiated alliances and adapted his strategy on the fly to help achieve his objective. His willingness to collaborate with unexpected allies underscored the power of flexibility in leadership, demonstrating the value of adaptability in the face of adversity.
Lesson 2: Trust, Betrayal, and the Art of Managing Expectations
As players delved into the fray, trust, betrayal, and the delicate art of managing expectations emerged as crucial leadership lessons. The player running the Sisters of Battle/Inquisition faction, initially sought alliances based on his knowledge of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. However, when his allies turned on each other and betrayal ran rampant, he found himself isolated and betrayed. His assumptions very nearly cost him the game. This experience highlighted the importance of managing expectations and understanding the fluid nature of alliances in leadership scenarios.
Lesson 3: Effective Communication and Information Management in the Face of Adversity
Against the backdrop of clandestine dealings and covert alliances, effective communication and information management emerged as critical leadership skills. Players communicated covertly through notes and smartphones, forming secret alliances and plotting betrayals. This emphasis on information management underscored the importance of access to key intelligence and the ability to convey messages discretely in leadership scenarios, especially amidst the chaos of conflict.
Final Thoughts on Uncertainty
In conclusion, I believe this experience moved beyond that of a simple game. Instead serving as fertile ground for exploring leadership dynamics. Leading the different factions, players not only battled for victory but also honed their leadership skills in the crucible of conflict amidst uncertainty.
I will be sure to use this type of game to explore other leadership themes in the future.