VCOW2025

During the COVID pandemic, it was not possible for Wargame Developments to run its annual conference, COW (Conference of Wargamers). As this is a central element to what the group does, it was decided to stage a virtual conference (hereinafter known as VCOW or the Virtual Conference of Wargamers). This was done using Zoom … and it has now become part of the group’s annual calendar of events.

VCOW2025 took place over the last weekend, and the programme looked like this:

Friday 7th February

• 16.30 to 17.30: Wake Island: A virtual battlefield tour of the Alamo of the Pacific.
• 19.00 to 19.15: Welcome & Introduction
• 1915 to 20.15: Midway: A presentation about World War II aircraft carrier operations and tactics in the Pacific.
• 20.30 to 22.30:
• 1 Hour Hex & Counter: This session featured a simple hex and counter wargame of modern brigade/divisional level combat.
• A Government For Syria: This was a quick-play matrix game about forming the Syrian Government which will take over from the transitional government in March 2025.
• A Nip In The Air: A card-driven game about Japanese bomber crews taking part in attacks on Wake Island.

Saturday 8th February

• 10.00 to 11.00:
• Lessons From Gaming WMD: This was a talk/discussion about the ways in which WMDs have been wargamed since the development and deployment of the first WMDs many decades ago..
• Two Cruiser Engagements: This session looked at two professional computer simulations of two cruiser actions.
• 11.15 to 13.15:
• Matrix Game Simulation: A session that looked at the way in which advances in Large Language Models (AI) will impact upon matrix games.
• Casualty Clearing Station/Medevac: This session examined the treatment of contemporary battlefield casualties.
• Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, I'm So Keen To Fight Tojo: A session about the planning of the USN's first offensive operation against Japan.
• 14.30 to 16.00: Drones And How To Wargame Them: This was a workshop/discussion session on how drones are transforming warfare, and ways in which they can be incorporated into wargames.
• 16.15 to 18.15:
• Vertical Urban Wargame: A game that examined fighting in a modern city environment.
• Paris, May 1968: A matrix game that looked at the events in Paris in 1968 that almost toppled President Charles DeGaulle
• 20.00 to 22.00: Ne Obliviscaris: This was a game about the experiences of young officers in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders during World War II.

Sunday 9th February

• 10.00 to 11.00: Article 5: This was a committee game about NATO dealing with a crisis.
• 11.00 to 12.00: An Introduction To Cyberwarfare: A lecture that considered historical case studies, current practice, and the future of cyberwarfare.
• 12.00 to 12.15: Conference Closes

It was an excellent conference, and generated lots of interesting discussions and game design ideas.

Please note that this event was only open to members of Wargame Developments ... so if you want to take part in VCOW2026, you will need to join!