Nature of the Conflict: What is the kind of, and the reason for the conflict in the game. It may be
military, diplomatic, commercial, legal, religious, or a combination there of.239

Nature of the Opposition: The type and nature of the opposition is determined by the overall context of
the game. The opposition can be from the challenges of time, distance, terrain, disaster and resources vs.
the mission or from recalcitrant humans or a combination there of. The intensity of the opposition can
range from the passive resistance of a difficult environment or population to a fully hostile engagement
with equipped and trained diplomats, lawyers, and soldiers.240

Nongovernmental Organization (NGO): A private, self-governing, not-for-profit organization
dedicated to alleviating human suffering; and/or promoting education, health care, economic
development, environmental protection, human rights, and conflict resolution; and/or encouraging the
establishment of democratic institutions and civil society.241

Number of Cells: The number of cells needed in a game is determined by how many separate groups of
players and staff need separate spaces or cells

Number of Sides: The number of sides in a game is determined by the nature of the conflict and the
nature of the opposition being gamed and the number of independent entities who can make decisions and
take independent action that influence the direction of the game. Games can have 1 side, 1 ½ sides, 2
sides or more. The number of sides does not always equal the number of cells.242
• A one sided game is like solitaire:
o The opposition is provided by the situation, the MESL injects, or the results of a pre-gamed
operation. The purpose and objectives of the game do not require a live, thinking
opponent.243

o A one-sided game is structured with players grouped into one or more cells with each cell
gaming, generally, one perspective on an issue. A control group (typically called the White
Cell) provides the “opposition” and uses pre-scripted scenario injects that change the base
conditions or situation of the wargame causing the players to reexamine their thoughts,
perspective or decisions related to the issue being gamed. A variation of the one-sided game
(sometimes called a 1 ½-sided game) involves using scenario injects that are created as the
game progresses (as opposed to pre-scripted) based on the issues with which the players are
wrestling.244

A one and a half-sided game has many variations included but not limited to:
o The game has an embedded “Red” player or team. Red plays the “Devil’s Advocate”
presenting arguments or obstacles to Blue’s plans. This method represents a situation where
Red’s ability to oppose Blue is limited or it is less that the opposition presented by the other
factors such as time, distance or terrain.245 (see Devil’s Advocate)
o It has only one player cell, with the opposition furnished by a control group, but with scenario
injects developed during game execution, versus prescripted, to force the players to wrestle
with specific decisions related to game objectives.246
o It has multiple player cells with the opposition provided by Control. Commonly used in
training or education wargames.247

Two sided games are the basic Red vs. Blue setup. In a two-sided game, players are divided into
opposing cells (typically called the Blue Cell and Red Cell.) Each cell responds to the actions and
decisions of the other cell based on pre-established rules of conduct. A control cell adjudicates
the interaction of the actions and decisions of the cells. The outcome of the interaction informs
subsequent game play. A control group may also use scenario injects to alter the general scenario
during cell activities in this type of wargame.248

A multi-sided game, involves more than two sides and is generally conducted in the same way as
a two-sided game. The rules of conduct for multi-sided games can be significantly more complex
than in a two-sided game due to the number of possible interactions between the various player
cells.249

Each side is normally assigned a color. (See colors) In games with many sides it is easier to give
the cells names instead of colors.