Main Event: The term applied to the primary wargame to avoid confusion with other smaller wargames
or wargaming workshops in the design and development cycle leading up to the primary wargame.212

Management Game: A simulation game in which participants seek to achieve a specified management
objective given pre-established resources and constraints; for example, a simulation in which participants
make decisions designed to maximize profit in a given business situation and a computer determines the
results of those decisions.213

Manual Games: (also known as board, table-top, or miniatures games)
• Games where physical objects represent the units and the environment and the players manually
move the game pieces.214 (See Combat Results Table, Hex Grid)
• A game in which the forces are represented by models, pins, pieces or symbols, and the
participants move them about by hand on a chart, map, board or terrain model which represents
the area of operations.215

Maneuver Warfare:
• A style of warfare in with the principle method used to gain an advantage over the adversary is
maneuver.
• Maneuver warfare is a way of thinking in and about war that should shape our every action. It is a
state of mind born of a bold will, intellect, initiative, and ruthless opportunism. It is a state of
mind bent on shattering the enemy morally and physically by paralyzing and confounding him,
by avoiding his strength, by quickly and aggressively exploiting his vulnerabilities, and by
striking him in the way that will hurt him most. In short, maneuver warfare is a philosophy for
generating the greatest decisive effect against the enemy at the least possible cost to ourselves—a
philosophy for “fighting smart.”216

Matrix Game:
• A game where a matrix is arranged with Red strategies, R1, R2, etc. along the top, Blue strategies
, B1, B2, etc. and so on along the side, with quantitative or qualitative payoffs from the point of
view of Blue inside the boxes. This allows Blue to determine a course of action that will
guarantee a minimum payoff regardless of the strategy that Red chooses. Red can arrange a
matrix from with payoffs from his point of view. This idea of the matrix is based on John von
Neumann’s game theory 217
• Chris Engle in 1992 created and published “The Matrix Game.” “In a (Engle’s) Matrix Game,
actions are resolved by a structured sequence of logical ‘arguments’. Each player takes turns to
make an argument, with successful arguments advancing the game, and the player’s position.”
There are systems and options available on how the arguments are presented and adjudicated.218

Mechanistic Combat Model: One that involves the mechanical removal of forces on a one-for-one basis
until some pre-determined level or ratio is reached. Used by H.G. Wells in his 1914 book, “Little
Wars”.219

Miniatures Wargame: Type of wargame played on a 3d model of terrain with 3d representations of the
engaged forces.220

Model:
• Proportional representation of reality.221
• A physical, mathematical, or otherwise logical representation of a system, entity, phenomenon, or
process.222
• A description of characteristics, behavior or structure.223
• A static, to scale representation of reality. Examples include equations, scale maps, a small 3d
version of a larger object.224

Modeling and Simulation (M&S):
• The discipline that comprises the development and/or use of models and simulations.225
• The use of models, including emulators, prototypes, simulators, and stimulators, either statically
or over time, to develop data as a basis for making managerial or technical decisions.226

Moderator: Control team member in a player cell who keeps the players on task.227 (See Facilitator or
Cell Leader)

Monte Carlo Technique:
• The use of a chance device to determine the outcomes of chance events, or to approximate a
probability distribution that is difficult or impossible to compute.228
• A method of adjudication that attempts to replicate the spectrum of outcomes plausible in the real
world. For example, if Red has a 50% chance of shooting down each of 10 Blue aircraft under
Monte Carlo adjudication a random number is generated for each shot. The most frequent
outcome is that 5 aircraft will be adjudicated as being shot down, but occasionally all or no
aircraft will be adjudicated as lost.229

Morale:
• Willingness of a force to continue its assigned mission. May or may not be addressed in a specific
wargame.230
• In manual or recreational gaming, the tendency to “fight to the last man” is countered by morale
rules. For board games, a two-sided token may be used: one side indicates the combat power of
the unit when at full-strength, while the flip side indicates a “shaken” or “reduced strength”
status. For miniatures games, most rules include either percentages of remaining troops, or
specific events that would trigger a “morale roll.” As with other dice-based adjudication
applications, the table of effects is (theoretically) based on an analysis of actual results from the
conflict in question.231

Move 0 (Zero):
• First move of some wargames, used to deploy forces and otherwise prepare for the beginning of
hostilities. Move 0s can also familiarize participants with procedures, software and each other.232
• A game move used to train or familiarize the game staff and players with new or complex
procedures or concepts or both. When used Move 0 is always the first move. 233

Move-Step: A design consideration where predetermined time periods are selected for game play,
following which game time is advance to another predetermined time period. Move-steps permit time
jumps to focus on specific aspects of an unfolding scenario related to game objectives.234

MSEL (Master Scenario Event Lists):
• A MSEL contains actions to be taken to stimulate exercise staff groups or functions that are not
capable of being modeled in a simulation. A MSEL “inject” is the introduction of actions from
the list by a control group into the scenario.235
• Chronological listing of scripted events that generate activity in specific functional areas in
support of exercise or wargame objectives. In a functional exercise or a one sided wargame, the
MSEL drive the play. In a full-scale exercise or two or more sided wargame, the MESL
supplements and influences the direction of play when necessary. MESL’s come in two formats: