**TACTICAL DECISION GAME DESIGN TEMPLATE**

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Audience** *(Example: ICT5, Single Resource Boss, Division          |
| Supervisor, etc)*                                                     |
|                                                                       |
| At what experience level and/or qualifications will the "hot seat"    |
| leader be.                                                            |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Training Objective / Teaching Points** *(Example: address downhill  |
| line construction, manage an incident within an incident, etc)*       |
|                                                                       |
| Given the scenario below, the players will determine, decide or       |
| practice the decision-making process by ...                           |
|                                                                       |
| Then verbally communicate their decisions to the appropriate          |
| individuals.                                                          |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Scenario: (Convey the information by going from general to          |
| specific)**                                                           |
|                                                                       |
| **[The TDG as a Story.]{.underline}**                                 |
|                                                                       |
| **[a. It is helpful to think of a TDG as a short action               |
| story.]{.underline}** *Set the stage, introduce the characters (in    |
| this case friendly and enemy units), add more and more info (some of  |
| it confusing) and build to a tense climax. But instead of telling how |
| the story turns out, you stop right at the climactic moment and       |
| require the player to finish the story.*                              |
|                                                                       |
| **[b. As with an action story, the idea is to create a suspenseful    |
| situation requiring resolution.]{.underline}**                        |
|                                                                       |
| **c[. As with writing short stories, there is no one way to design a  |
| good TDG. ]{.underline}** *Every writer uses different techniques.    |
| The trick is to find a technique that works. What follows are meant   |
| merely as potential tips.*                                            |
|                                                                       |
| **[PARAGRAPH 1]{.underline}** Information included: Time, date,       |
| location. Pertinent information about you resource staffing,          |
| equipment tools and radios. Current weather conditions, fuel type and |
| condition.                                                            |
|                                                                       |
| **[Start by telling the players who they are so that when they read   |
| or hear the scenario, they know what point of view to                 |
| take.]{.underline}** *For example: :You are the commander of Bravo    |
| Company, 1/5."*                                                       |
|                                                                       |
| **[Tell the players what assets (resources) they have.]{.underline}** |
|                                                                       |
| *Describe the general situation: the terrain, the weather, the type   |
| of enemy (fire behavior) the mission of higher headquarters. Provide  |
| orientation. For example: "The enemy is generally attacking from east |
| to west."*                                                            |
|                                                                       |
| You are\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                       |
|                                                                       |
| [**PARAGRAPH** **2**]{.underline} Convey the local, division and      |
| squad situation. Can be in the form of quotes from characters, radio  |
| chatter.                                                              |
|                                                                       |
| **[Go from general to specific.]{.underline}** If *the problem is a   |
| crew problem start with the fire, the division and the crew.*         |
|                                                                       |
| Describe the general fire situation then specific for division and or |
| location.                                                             |
|                                                                       |
| [**PARAGRAPH** **3**]{.underline} Describe the current tactical       |
| situation. Also included is the final dilemma and the final touch     |
| making it clear a [decision must be made immediately!]{.underline}    |
| Example: "Now what? Lt. Smith, IC Jones?"                             |
|                                                                       |
| [**As specific events occur, describe them                            |
| chronologically**.]{.underline} *The last event described should be   |
| the event which puts the finishing touches on the dilemma; it should  |
| be the thing which makes it clear that a decision must be made.*      |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

**Facilitator's Notes:**

Should provide the facilitator with insight to prepare to execute the
TDG effectively. The notes can include leading or open ended question
designed to draw out the key lessons.

The first sentence of these notes should describe the intent or focus of
the TDGS. For example: *This TDG should focus on the Single Resource
Boss responsibility to utilize lookouts to ensure the safety of their
crew.*

**Fog and Friction:**

**a. [Clausewitz said that friction is the thing which distinguishes
real war from war on paper.]{.underline}** A good TDG, in order to be
realistic, will have [fog]{.underline} and [friction]{.underline} built
into it.

**b. [It will have fog in the form of
uncertainty]{.underline}**[.]{.underline} There are two basic ways to
create uncertainty:

**-Lack of info. Some info is simply missing..**

**-Ambiguity. Info. Is unclear, inconclusive, or even contradictory..**

**c. [It should have friction in the form of things not going as planned
or expected.]{.underline}** A good TDG incorporates a healthy dose of
Murphy's Law: units get lost, communication breaks down, the enemy (fire
or people) does something unexpected, etc.

It is important to remember that the objective is to provide a realistic
scenario. Any fog and friction inputs should reflect reasonably
believable fire environment situations. Good Murphy's Law occurrences
can not only cause friction but drive the TDG forward to the decision
point. Finally, remember that TDGS do not require a execution.

**Open-Ended Questions**

It is important to remember, the majority of the learning is solidified
after the game has stopped. As a facilitator you must learn to teach
through questioning. OEQ's help draw out lessons and decision making
processes during or after AARs.

Asking open-ended questions enable facilitators to accomplish this.

Open-ended questions cannot be answered by YES or NO. These begin with
*who, what where* and *when*.

Open-ended questions are those that encourage people to talk about
whatever is important to them. They help to establish information, and
increase understanding. When asking open-ended questions one must be
ready and willing to listen to the response.

**TACTICAL DECISION GAME DESIGN FORMAT**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Audience** (Example: ICT5, Single Resource Boss, Division Supervisor,
  etc.)

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Training Objective / Teaching Points** (example: address downhill   |
| line construction, manage an incident within an incident, etc.)       |
|                                                                       |
| Given the scenario below, the players will determine, decide or       |
| practice the decision-making process by ...                           |
|                                                                       |
| Then verbally communicate their decisions to the appropriate          |
| individuals.                                                          |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Scenario: (Convey the information by going from general to          |
| specific)**                                                           |
|                                                                       |
| **[PARAGRAPH 1]{.underline}** Information included: Time, date,       |
| location. Pertinent information about your resource staffing,         |
| equipment tools and radios. Current weather conditions, fuel type and |
| condition.                                                            |
|                                                                       |
| You are \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                              |
|                                                                       |
| **[PARAGRAPH 2]{.underline}** Convey the local, division and squad    |
| situation. Can be in the form of quotes from characters, radio        |
| chatter etc.                                                          |
|                                                                       |
| **[PARAGRAPH 3]{.underline}** Describe the current tactical           |
| situation. Also included is the final dilemma and the final touch     |
| making it clear a [decision must be made immediately!]{.underline}    |
| Example: "Now what?                                                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Facilitator's Notes:** Should provide insights necessary to prepare |
| and execute the TDG effectively. May include notes on sand table set  |
| up, important questions to ask etc.                                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Fog and Friction:** The intent of fog inputs is to create uncertainty
  by lack of information an ambiguity. Friction comes in the form of
  things not going as planned or expected.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Follow up and Open Ended Questions:** Open ended questions let the
  facilitator probe the players thought process to explain his/her
  rationale. These questions are best used post exercise (during and
  after the AAR) Identify open ended questions specific to your scenario.
  Example: "What was your main concern with your plan?"

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

**TACTICAL DECISION GAME SKETCH MAP**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

**POSSIBLE TDGS SCENARIO TOPICS**

The following is a list of problems, dilemmas, and issues commonly
experienced in the wildland fire community. As a designer/facilitator of
TDGS and STEX you can develop scenarios by applying the Who, What, When,
Where, Why, and How axiom to any of the following situations. *For
example*: "Anchor Points + Where = Dilemma \_\_ Where do you place the
anchor point?" Then simply fill in the situational details.

**Tactics**

+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| **Line                |                       |                       |
| Construction:**       |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| -   Anchor Point      | -   Leap Frogging     | -   Under Slung Line  |
|                       |                       |                       |
| -   Downhill Line     | -   Fingers or        | -   Taking the fire   |
|     Construction      |     Islands of Fuel   |     Direct            |
|     (Downhill Line    |                       |                       |
|     Checklist)        | -   Spot Fires        | -   Unburned fuel     |
|                       |                       |     between you and   |
| -   Line With         |                       |     the fire (DMZ)    |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| **Firing:**           |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| -   Resources         | -   Firing Fingers    | -   When to fire      |
|     (type/quantity)   |                       |                       |
|                       | -   Holding           | -   Firing Sequence   |
| ```{=html}            |                       |                       |
| <!-- -->              |                       |                       |
| ```                   |                       |                       |
| -   Who's doing it?   |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| **Engagement:**       |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| -   Spot fire         | -   Fire approach     | -   Negotiating       |
|     approach          |                       |     assignments       |
|                       | -   Properly refuse   |                       |
| ```{=html}            |     risk              | -   Report on         |
| <!-- -->              |                       |     conditions        |
| ```                   |                       |                       |
| -   Levels of         |                       |                       |
|     engagement:       |                       |                       |
|                       |                       |                       |
| > \- Continue full    |                       |                       |
| > engagement          |                       |                       |
| >                     |                       |                       |
| > \- Hold in place    |                       |                       |
| >                     |                       |                       |
| > \- Change tactics   |                       |                       |
| >                     |                       |                       |
| > \- Disengage and    |                       |                       |
| > withdrawal          |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+

**Resource Member/Boss**

+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| **Personnel:**        |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| -   Crewmember Quits  | -   After hours       | -   Drinking/Drugs    |
|                       |                       |                       |
| ```{=html}            | -   Personal          |                       |
| <!-- -->              |     emergencies       |                       |
| ```                   |                       |                       |
| -   Injuries          |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| **Medical:**          |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| -   Protocol          | -   Communicating     | -   Rescue            |
|                       |                       |                       |
| ```{=html}            |                       |                       |
| <!-- -->              |                       |                       |
| ```                   |                       |                       |
| -   Securing the      |                       |                       |
|     scene             |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+

**Operational**

+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| **Resources:**        |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| -   Moving vehicles   | -   Movement of       | -   Which resources   |
|                       |     troops            |     for what          |
|                       |                       |     assignment        |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| **Air Operations**    |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| -   Standard target   | -   Air attack        | -   Describing        |
|     description       |                       |     location          |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+

**ICS**

+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| **Logistics:**        |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| -   Moving vehicles   | -   Ordering supplies | -   What to order and |
|                       |                       |     quantity          |
| -   Spike camp        |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+

**Doctrine:**

+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
|                       |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| -   LCES              | -   Communicating     | -   Lookout protocol  |
|                       |     (area             |                       |
| -   Escape Routes     |     description)      | -   4 Options after   |
|                       |                       |     trigger point is  |
| > \- Positive safety  | -   Safety Zones      |     reached:          |
| > margin              |                       |                       |
| >                     | > \- Estimating flame | > \- Continue full    |
| > \- Escape time      | > height              | > engagement          |
| >                     | >                     | >                     |
| > \- Estimating fire  | > \- Distance         | > \- Hold in place    |
| > spread              | > separation          | >                     |
|                       |                       | > \- Change tactics   |
|                       |                       | >                     |
|                       |                       | > \- Disengage and    |
|                       |                       | > withdraw            |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+

**[TDGS/STEX Facilitation Checklist]{.underline}**

**Pre-Game**

+---+------------------------------+----+-----------------------------+
| W |                              |    |                             |
| h |                              |    |                             |
| i |                              |    |                             |
| t |                              |    |                             |
| e |                              |    |                             |
| B |                              |    |                             |
| o |                              |    |                             |
| a |                              |    |                             |
| r |                              |    |                             |
| d |                              |    |                             |
| I |                              |    |                             |
| n |                              |    |                             |
| f |                              |    |                             |
| o |                              |    |                             |
| r |                              |    |                             |
| m |                              |    |                             |
| a |                              |    |                             |
| t |                              |    |                             |
| i |                              |    |                             |
| o |                              |    |                             |
| n |                              |    |                             |
+---+------------------------------+----+-----------------------------+
| G |                              | Sp |                             |
| e |                              | ec |                             |
| n |                              | if |                             |
| e |                              | ic |                             |
| r |                              |    |                             |
| a |                              |    |                             |
| l |                              |    |                             |
+---+------------------------------+----+-----------------------------+
|   | Fire Name                    |    | Skies                       |
|   |                              |    |                             |
|   | Date                         |    | Air Temperature             |
|   |                              |    |                             |
|   | Time                         |    | Current Wind                |
|   |                              |    |                             |
|   | Other                        |    | Fuel Characteristics        |
|   |                              |    |                             |
|   |                              |    | Elevation                   |
|   |                              |    |                             |
|   |                              |    | Slope%                      |
+---+------------------------------+----+-----------------------------+
| T |                              |    |                             |
| h |                              |    |                             |
| i |                              |    |                             |
| n |                              |    |                             |
| g |                              |    |                             |
| s |                              |    |                             |
| T |                              |    |                             |
| o |                              |    |                             |
| H |                              |    |                             |
| a |                              |    |                             |
| v |                              |    |                             |
| e |                              |    |                             |
| R |                              |    |                             |
| e |                              |    |                             |
| a |                              |    |                             |
| d |                              |    |                             |
| y |                              |    |                             |
| B |                              |    |                             |
| u |                              |    |                             |
| t |                              |    |                             |
| D |                              |    |                             |
| o |                              |    |                             |
| n |                              |    |                             |
| ' |                              |    |                             |
| t |                              |    |                             |
| H |                              |    |                             |
| a |                              |    |                             |
| n |                              |    |                             |
| d |                              |    |                             |
| O |                              |    |                             |
| u |                              |    |                             |
| t |                              |    |                             |
| Y |                              |    |                             |
| e |                              |    |                             |
| t |                              |    |                             |
+---+------------------------------+----+-----------------------------+
|   | Role player's name tags      |    |                             |
|   |                              |    |                             |
|   | Identify role players        |    |                             |
|   |                              |    |                             |
|   | Identify "hot seat"          |    |                             |
|   | player(s)                    |    |                             |
|   |                              |    |                             |
|   | Your TDGS sheet              |    |                             |
+---+------------------------------+----+-----------------------------+

+---+------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| o |                                                                  |
| u |                                                                  |
| r |                                                                  |
| S |                                                                  |
| a |                                                                  |
| n |                                                                  |
| d |                                                                  |
| T |                                                                  |
| a |                                                                  |
| b |                                                                  |
| l |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| E |                                                                  |
| x |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| r |                                                                  |
| c |                                                                  |
| i |                                                                  |
| s |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| O |                                                                  |
| n |                                                                  |
| T |                                                                  |
| h |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| T |                                                                  |
| a |                                                                  |
| b |                                                                  |
| l |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
+---+------------------------------------------------------------------+
| O |                                                                  |
| r |                                                                  |
| i |                                                                  |
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| n |                                                                  |
| t |                                                                  |
| P |                                                                  |
| l |                                                                  |
| a |                                                                  |
| y |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| r |                                                                  |
| s |                                                                  |
| W |                                                                  |
| i |                                                                  |
| t |                                                                  |
| h |                                                                  |
| T |                                                                  |
| h |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| S |                                                                  |
| a |                                                                  |
| n |                                                                  |
| d |                                                                  |
| T |                                                                  |
| a |                                                                  |
| b |                                                                  |
| l |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
+---+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|   | Explain scale clearly (from here to here is 1 mile, half mile,   |
|   | etc.)                                                            |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | North is...                                                      |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Fireline, fire edge                                              |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Control line location                                            |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Describe the "Black" (clean, cold, hard, dirty)                  |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Identify primary carrier of the fire (grass, shrub, timber)      |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Uniformity of fuels (patchy, continuous)                         |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Explain any necessary objects/props                              |
+---+------------------------------------------------------------------+

+---+------------------------------------------------------------------+
| B |                                                                  |
| r |                                                                  |
| i |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| f |                                                                  |
| T |                                                                  |
| h |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| P |                                                                  |
| l |                                                                  |
| a |                                                                  |
| y |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| r |                                                                  |
| s |                                                                  |
+---+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|   | Introduce the scenario in the form of a briefing. Don't just     |
|   | read it!                                                         |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Answer reasonable questions, "I don't know" is an acceptable     |
|   | answer.                                                          |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Remind players that 'Decisions must be delivered as              |
|   | instructions."                                                   |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Explain any and all time constraints                             |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Choose a player to be in the "hot seat"                          |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Assign additional role players                                   |
+---+------------------------------------------------------------------+

**[TDGS/STEX Facilitation Checklist]{.underline}**

**Game On!**

+---+------------------------------------------------------------------+
| A |                                                                  |
| l |                                                                  |
| l |                                                                  |
| o |                                                                  |
| w |                                                                  |
| P |                                                                  |
| l |                                                                  |
| a |                                                                  |
| y |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| r |                                                                  |
| s |                                                                  |
| T |                                                                  |
| o |                                                                  |
| B |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| g |                                                                  |
| i |                                                                  |
| n |                                                                  |
| S |                                                                  |
| o |                                                                  |
| l |                                                                  |
| v |                                                                  |
| i |                                                                  |
| n |                                                                  |
| g |                                                                  |
| T |                                                                  |
| h |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| P |                                                                  |
| r |                                                                  |
| o |                                                                  |
| b |                                                                  |
| l |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| m |                                                                  |
+---+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|   | Allow players to begin solving the problem                       |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Apply friction in the form of time constraints, problems, etc.   |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Enforce time constraints                                         |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Remember "Decisions must be delivered as instructions"           |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | End the scenario once the training objective has been met, a     |
|   | decision has been made, or the time limit is up.                 |
+---+------------------------------------------------------------------+

**Post Game**

+---+------------------------------------------------------------------+
| C |                                                                  |
| o |                                                                  |
| n |                                                                  |
| d |                                                                  |
| u |                                                                  |
| c |                                                                  |
| t |                                                                  |
| A |                                                                  |
| n |                                                                  |
| A |                                                                  |
| f |                                                                  |
| t |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| r |                                                                  |
| A |                                                                  |
| c |                                                                  |
| t |                                                                  |
| i |                                                                  |
| o |                                                                  |
| n |                                                                  |
| R |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| v |                                                                  |
| i |                                                                  |
| e |                                                                  |
| w |                                                                  |
+---+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|   | Follow the AAR format from the IRPG                              |
|   |                                                                  |
|   | Document the AAR to solidify "Lessons Learned"                   |
+---+------------------------------------------------------------------+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Draw Out Lessons By Asking Open Ended Questions                       |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Probe the players thought process to explain his/her rationale        |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| What reference tools did you use?                                     |
|                                                                       |
| What was your main concern with your plan?                            |
|                                                                       |
| What were your priorities? How did you come to this conclusion?       |
|                                                                       |
| What is your next move?                                               |
|                                                                       |
| What type of leadership style did you use?                            |
|                                                                       |
| What source of power did you use?                                     |
|                                                                       |
| Describe what other options you considered.                           |
|                                                                       |
| Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of your chosen tactic        |
|                                                                       |
| Explain what your options would have been if                          |
| [\_\_\_X\_\_\_]{.underline} happened.                                 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Summarize The Conclusions And Lessons

  "Okay, what we learned was..."
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------