Players can incrementally decide on the level of action they take, but higher levels require more resources and have more pronounced tradeoffs. Each policy option (like attacks, or reforms) has a range of levels. Likewise, for example, a terrorist attack would undermine the state’s stability but also hurt the terrorist’s operational security. For example, a state action to defend itself with additional police would bolster the state’s stability but would also help the terrorists mobilize new members. If either side is unable to sustain its policies, it will go bankrupt and lose the game.Įvery action also comes with a tradeoff.

Most importantly, neither side can do everything they want to do because of budget constraints. The state can kill/capture terrorists, improve its intelligence, defend against attacks, engage in reforms, target terrorist financing, and more. The terrorist can conduct attacks, recruit members, conduct propaganda, provide social services, and more.

Rolesīoth the terrorist and state have a range of actions they can take. The state player wins if the terrorist’s security or mobilization drops too low, while the terrorist wins if the state’s stability or legitimacy drops too low. The terrorist also has a budget for each turn plus a bank of unspent resources. The terrorist, meanwhile, must grow its organization (mobilization), while protecting existing members (security). The state is also financially constrained, with limited resources (budget) to spend each turn, and a reserve fund of unspent resources from previous turns (bank). The state must protect its citizens (stability), but cannot over-react and lose the support of the people (legitimacy). Nothing comes easy for either side, with both players facing difficult tradeoffs. Balance of Terror is a two-player strategic game of terrorism and counterterrorism.

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