In this NPR article, we step into an immersive, thought-provoking war game called "Fight for America!" staged on a chilly January night in Brooklyn. Here, players are split into two teams—the Red Team, tasked with storming the Capitol and “finding” Vice President Mike Pence, and the Blue Team, defending it—using hand-painted miniatures, dice, and a 14-foot scale model of the Capitol. Designed by Alessio Cavatore, famed for Warhammer and The Lord of the Rings, and co-created as an art installation by the american vicarious, the game mixes historical role-playing with real-world political tension, inviting participants to see the event from multiple perspectives. One organizer passionately sums it up: "Let's play a game and then let's have a chat. Let's talk about things." The event challenges players to grapple with moral questions, community bonds, and the idea that "winning is the only objective," all while prompting dialogue on the true nature of American democracy.

Key points:

• Immersive Experience: Players become characters in a live-action tabletop war game, reenacting the January 6 events around a detailed Capitol replica.
• Team Dynamics: Participants join either the Red Team (attacking and "finding" Mike Pence) or the Blue Team (defending the Capitol), sparking politically charged interactions.
• Art and Politics: The game is both a creative art installation and a politically provocative exercise designed to promote dialogue across partisan lines.
• Historical Role-Playing: Drawing from traditions of war gaming and role-playing, players take on roles of real figures from January 6, fostering empathy and perspective-taking.
• Moral Dilemmas: A key twist forces players to vote on whether to 'protect' or 'hang' Mike Pence, highlighting the complex moral and political questions at the heart of the exercise.
• Creator's Intent: As highlighted by one of the designers, “Let's play a game and then let's have a chat. Let's talk about things,” emphasizing the goal of bridging divides through participatory storytelling.
• Community Reflection: Despite the chaotic gameplay, participants reflect on the importance of community and shared dialogue in healing political divides, offering a nuanced look at contemporary American democracy.
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