PAXsims

Conflict simulation, peacebuilding, and development

First Contact matrix game

2 Comments Posted by on 21/10/2023

The First Contact is a matrix game developed by Joseph Chretien and David Runyon as a tool to demonstrate wargaming to students and faculty at the College of William and Mary as they stood up a wargaming club. As such, the goal was to create a strategic, decision-making game that would force the players to think critically while working a global event. The scenario, humanity identifying and contacting an Unknown Alien Culture (UAC), was initially chosen because it would be a fun topic to cover with new wargamers.

You’ll find a description of game development, a playtest report, and the full rules below.

first-contact-matrix-game-article-and-rulesDownload
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2 responses to “First Contact matrix game”

  1. Tracy Johnson 21/10/2023 at 2:07 pm

    If happy after my own playtest, will attempt to run this at OttoCon 2024. (Our theme next year will be space games.)

  2. Tracy Johnson 21/10/2023 at 2:05 pm

    Since user implementation can be fluid, I think it would be cool to use one of the races in SPI’s “Starforce Alpha Centauri”, the L’Chah-Dah or Rame! (Of course if you can’t use the Xenophobes due to lack of alien interaction.)

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