IADS: The Game at Connections Wargaming Conference 2025

While IADS: The Game isn’t a simulation--or what I’d typically think of as a “wargame” (in the sense of something Air Force A5/7 Strategy, Integration, and Requirements might run)--we couldn’t have been happier with the reception we received at this year’s Connections Wargaming Conference 2025!

I mentioned some of our interactions with participants in a previous post -- [check them out here!]

First Impressions

It’s been a few weeks now since we attended the conference, held at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory. When I think back on it, the first thing that comes to mind is just how different a wargaming conference is from the board game, comic book, and anime conventions we usually attend.

The mission statement in all caps over the entrance summed it up:

“Advancing the Art, Science, and Application of Wargaming.”

So intense!

Subject Matter Experts... Everywhere!

Equally intense? The attendees. At most cons, we demo for players who are totally new to air combat concepts. We usually have to explain the difference between a fighter and a bomber.

Not here. The crowd included uniformed servicemembers, retired military contractors, and representatives from RAND. It was intimidating to show off our game to such a knowledgeable group!

Throughout the event, Madonna and I were peppered with questions about specialized threats to air operations, sUAS, and Special Operations. We did our best to answer them (pointing often to the Advanced Capabilities Expansion Set) and were encouraged to see many of our explanations met with knowing nods or a “that’s very clever!”

Many attendees were accustomed to wargames that run two to three hours, so they were pleasantly surprised to learn that IADS: The Game requires almost no set-up and can be taught and played in just 20–30 minutes.

Celebrity Shoutouts!

We couldn’t have been happier with the response. We had a steady crowd of curious onlookers and no shortage of players eager to demo.

We were also honored to meet and show off the game to titans of the wargaming community -- including Sebastian Bae, creator of Littoral Combat!

Until Next Year!!

We had a blast and are stoked to be dipping our toes into such a new (and untapped) community. We’re really looking forward to next year!

-- Ric