Jaws of the Dragon is a professional wargame simulating a blockade of Taiwan by China in the near future. Designed to be as accurate as possible military and politically, the game is quite similar to wargames used at US think tanks for policy analysis. This wargame is being used for research by one of the PhD students of the network, Evan D’Alessandro, for his research on immersion in wargaming. As part of playing the wargame, you will be invited to participate in his research.

The wargame is a political and operational game. Military players will direct military forces in land, air and naval domains, as well as cyber and space. Political players will attempt to build or erode support for Taiwan, debate and define their aims, and navigate the strains of alliances as part of the wider political landscape.

The tone of the game is serious and the game design focuses on a realistic simulation of events, but players do not need outside knowledge of modern military operations or regional politics to play. Files for the game can be seen here.

Places

There are a limited number of places for this event. Once those number of places have been filled, a waitlist will be opened. 

Once you have filled the registration form you will received an email in due course notifying you either to pay the deposit or that you have been placed on the waitlist. The deposit is £20, and will be returned upon attending the game. Once you have paid the deposit you will have reserved your place for the event.

Agenda

10 May 2025 – King’s College London, Strand Campus

• 9.30 – Game Reception Opens
• 10.00 – Game Briefing and Team Meetings
• 10.30-17.00 – Gameplay (13 x 30-minute turns)
• 17.00 – Debrief and Drinks

Please arrive by no later than 9.45 to ensure that you can get all pertinent information for your role and attend the game briefing. There is no lunch break, so please make sure you bring food with you for the day.