overcaffeinated - Member - The Prepared

Discussions

CERT Training

7

3

Posted 2 weeks ago

Reply to: Games that teach survival skills Posted 4 weeks ago

Maybe I’m old school and more than a little impatient, but I’d rather read a decent guide in 2m than watch some self-proclaimed expert talk for 10m about some survival hack. There are exceptions. I recently encountered a site that had step-by-step knot tying GIFs. That was valuable because it showed just how to tie the knot.

Reply to: Games that teach survival skills Posted 4 weeks ago

All I learned about running DR/BC simulations is based on my experience with Dungeons and Dragons back in the day. A good Dungeon Master (DM) makes the game engaging, challenging, and fun. A bad DM made you want to kill off your character just so you can leave. A good DM does a ton of work to weave a story using detailed maps with all the treasure, tools, weapons, traps, monsters, and clues laid out. A bad DM wings it or, worse, tries to kill off player characters in the most horrible ways. Likewise, if you want to a good “Disaster Master” then you have to do your homework to make your simulation engaging, fun, and leave them wanting to do more. If you’re not willing to put in the time and effort, there’s no way you’re going to get anyone to participant for long (or ever again). Go at it the wrong way, and you can actually make folks not want anything to do with prepping (or at least you). My experience is that, done well, folks walk away from those simulations with a new respect for what is involved in dealing with even limited disaster situations. Maybe the good folks here would consider a series of articles on creating/running disaster simulation games.

Reply to: Games that teach survival skills Posted 4 weeks ago

Interesting that folks immediately go to video games. Videos don’t teach skills; at best they provide instruction on how to do something. You don’t gain that skill until you can do it consistently in real life. For example, you can watch a video of lighting a fire using a ferro rod for hours, but you won’t have even a basic fire making skill until you can do it consistently with a variety of materials. The best survival simulation uses your own plans and gear lists. Are you going to shelter in place? Run through some what/if scenarios with your family and friends. Bugging out to a family/friend? Run through some scenarios on how you’d make the “go/nogo” decision and then how you’d get there using maps and your gear list. Make sure you include the remote family/friends in that simulation because they need to understand the impact of their decisions as well. The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in war.

Reply to: News roundup for Tue, Sep 20, 2022 Posted September 21, 2022

I would suggest folks take all hurricanes seriously. Even a Cat 1 can cause significant damage. Plus, it’s becoming more common for multiple storm systems to pass through a large area of the country during the hurricane season. If you’re in the middle of rebuilding when that happens, it can ruin your life and the lives of those in your community.

CERT Training

7

3

Posted 2 weeks ago

Reply to: Games that teach survival skills Posted 4 weeks ago

Maybe I’m old school and more than a little impatient, but I’d rather read a decent guide in 2m than watch some self-proclaimed expert talk for 10m about some survival hack. There are exceptions. I recently encountered a site that had step-by-step knot tying GIFs. That was valuable because it showed just how to tie the knot.

Reply to: Games that teach survival skills Posted 4 weeks ago

All I learned about running DR/BC simulations is based on my experience with Dungeons and Dragons back in the day. A good Dungeon Master (DM) makes the game engaging, challenging, and fun. A bad DM made you want to kill off your character just so you can leave. A good DM does a ton of work to weave a story using detailed maps with all the treasure, tools, weapons, traps, monsters, and clues laid out. A bad DM wings it or, worse, tries to kill off player characters in the most horrible ways. Likewise, if you want to a good “Disaster Master” then you have to do your homework to make your simulation engaging, fun, and leave them wanting to do more. If you’re not willing to put in the time and effort, there’s no way you’re going to get anyone to participant for long (or ever again). Go at it the wrong way, and you can actually make folks not want anything to do with prepping (or at least you). My experience is that, done well, folks walk away from those simulations with a new respect for what is involved in dealing with even limited disaster situations. Maybe the good folks here would consider a series of articles on creating/running disaster simulation games.

Reply to: Games that teach survival skills Posted 4 weeks ago

Interesting that folks immediately go to video games. Videos don’t teach skills; at best they provide instruction on how to do something. You don’t gain that skill until you can do it consistently in real life. For example, you can watch a video of lighting a fire using a ferro rod for hours, but you won’t have even a basic fire making skill until you can do it consistently with a variety of materials. The best survival simulation uses your own plans and gear lists. Are you going to shelter in place? Run through some what/if scenarios with your family and friends. Bugging out to a family/friend? Run through some scenarios on how you’d make the “go/nogo” decision and then how you’d get there using maps and your gear list. Make sure you include the remote family/friends in that simulation because they need to understand the impact of their decisions as well. The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in war.

Reply to: News roundup for Tue, Sep 20, 2022 Posted September 21, 2022

I would suggest folks take all hurricanes seriously. Even a Cat 1 can cause significant damage. Plus, it’s becoming more common for multiple storm systems to pass through a large area of the country during the hurricane season. If you’re in the middle of rebuilding when that happens, it can ruin your life and the lives of those in your community.