The Urban Calculus
The Urban Calculus (TUC) is more a playable systems model rather than a conventional wargame. It allows players to examine and consider some of the linkages between what is happening in the urban battle(s) and what the effects are on the civilians, infrastructure, society (of all combatants), global opinion and government will. The “game” is really there to help to get people to look at, consider and discuss the model and to think how the values in the model/game might vary for different past and future urban conflicts.
The game uses standard decks of cards (at least 2) rather than dice to introduce levels of uncertainty, and the map/board has been designed so that the model values can be written using a dry-wipe pen and changed from game to game – or even mid-game if someone makes a good enough argument! The game needs about 50-100 cubes (or similar counters), and ideally about 20 larger/different counters to represent stacks of 5 cubes.
Initially 4 scenarios have been developed for TUC:
- An introductory scenario - a relatively balanced potential conflict with the defender heavily invested in success
- An asymmetric scenario – where not all parts of the model exist, and some linkages may be non-existent
- Two linked alliance scenarios, one with an army defending its own city, and one where another one country is helping to defend the city.
There is also a TUC Evolved version which replaces the abstract "Strategic Actions" with a set of specific capability cards in order to give players a better of the sort of actions being represented.
The aim with TUC is very much to allow people to modify not just the values on the linkages between the different factors and capabilities, but also to modify the core model to reflect their own needs and concerns.
TUC is available as print-and-play, a playable PowerPoint, and on Tabletop Simulator. Play time is about 30-40 minutes, and the game is designed for 2 players, or two teams of 2.
Downloads available are:
- TUC Flyer
- TUC Print'n'Play Zip
- TUC Print'n'Play Instructions
- TUC Rules
- TUC QRS
- Blank TUC Game Map
- Playing TUC on TTS
- Link to TUC on TTS
- TUC Playable Powerpoint
Since this game is one of the key games for my PhD I am keen to collect formal feedback on play. If you'd like to participate then either just email me at david@burden.name, or read and complete the following forms (all online) to confirm your participation and to document your plays:
If you've got any questions or comments about Rubble Town, or would like a demo game with me just email me at david@burden.name.
Here are a few pics of TUC in play, physically and on TTS.
