tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post6131206458260650794..comments2024-03-28T03:10:23.679-07:00Comments on Polemarch: Wargame EntrenchmentThe Polemarchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10958736917525649927noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-24150451500361180272013-06-25T00:57:58.554-07:002013-06-25T00:57:58.554-07:00Yes, and the problem with the reductionist approac...Yes, and the problem with the reductionist approach is that it misses something of the overall problem, meaning that our testing cycle has to be endless.<br /><br />I do think we massively underestimate the issues of shock, flank attacks and so on. At one WW1 battle (Arras, I think, a rather late one) the initial bombardment meant that the German MGs and artillery did not open fire until 5 minutes after the infantry had gone over the top, by which time the positions were already overrun (and the artillery was shooting at an empty British front line).<br /><br />Five minutes is a lot of shock; but then accounts from civilian disasters also suggest that some things just happen slowly when entirely unexpected events take place. The Polemarchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958736917525649927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-84002321114608977242013-06-21T07:34:04.466-07:002013-06-21T07:34:04.466-07:00Yes, well reasoned. We judge not just the rule but...Yes, well reasoned. We judge not just the rule but the effect of the concept of morale in real life by looking at effect and outcomes. So in wargaming rules we can try to model it as a discrete entity without understanding it by studying the evidence for causes and effects, or we can model the effect without treating it as distinct from other aspects. (for example WRG vs DBA)<br /><br />In the end the result can be judged either by how well they support our theory or on how closely they reflect or reproduce historical observations . The trick then is how well they predict future events. Although in this case I've heard from vets that its still disorienting and scary to be surprised from a flank you thought was secure.Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04053555991679802013noreply@blogger.com