Attentiveness to and transparency about the methodological implications of the level of analysis selected for peace and conflict exercises constitute essential elements of good game design. The article explores the impact of level of analysis choices in the context of two key portions of exercises, scenario construction and role specification. It weighs the consequences of these choices in terms of the differing conclusions one can draw from exercises and potential pitfalls of careless choices. Finally, it argues that level of analysis considerations in game design parallels specific debates within segments of the social science literature, connections that are also explored in this article for their relevance to game design.Peace and conflict exercises 1 are widely used in teaching and analytical contexts as ways to think through and gain traction over these complex, often ill-defined, phenomena. Using exercises has many potential advantages, ranging from affordability to portability (depending on design), but in almost all circumstances their chief benefit is the

No abstract