The Survivability Onion: Layers of Staying Alive in War and Games
Introduction Brief When most people think of survivability, they picture armor plates or hit points. But real survival is layered — a process of avoiding, resisting, and recovering from threats. Militaries model this as the Survivability Onion , and it’s a framework you can use to design tougher enemies, smarter battles, and more dynamic wargames. This article breaks down the onion, layer by layer, with real-world examples, TTRPG applications, and wargame mechanics. 1. Detect and Respond to the Threat First Reality: Early detection is the ultimate advantage. Radar networks, reconnaissance aircraft like AWACS, and scouts give a force the ability to act before the enemy even knows they’re in danger. Entire battles have been decided simply because one side saw the other first. TTRPG: Characters with familiars, enhanced senses, or the ability to fly can spot enemies long before an ambush is sprung. A wizard’s owl familiar circling overhead might reveal a hidde...
