Crisis in Caracas Matrix Game | Edward F.

Here is my rapidly produced Matrix Game, Crisis in Caracas, where you can play out the next couple of weeks of Venezuela’s power vacuum. I’ve also included an alternative starting scenario: what if the raid failed and Maduro is still in power? The motivation is simple. Stunning events happen, and almost immediately people start asking: “What next?” Commentary fills the gap, but speculation often collapses complex situations into single narratives or linear forecasts. Matrix Games offer a different way in. They can be built quickly, especially by those with experience, but AI is making that barrier lower (provided you have trained the AI). That speed matters. It means subject matter experts and informed generalists can explore unfolding crises while uncertainty is still real, rather than after history has hardened into “what actually happened.” Matrix Games don’t rely on heavy rulesets or detailed models. Instead, they focus on arguments, interests, and consequences, explored through immersive role play. The aim isn’t prediction; it’s insight—surfacing plausible pathways, tensions, and unintended effects that emerge when multiple actors pursue competing goals. Good facilitation absolutely helps. A skilled umpire keeps things grounded and productive. But the fastest way to get better at Matrix Games is still the same as it’s always been: just start. Build one. Run it. Learn from it. One of the persistent problems with using older, historical scenarios is that players already know the outcome. That makes it too easy to argue from hindsight, cite facts selectively, and close down imagination. Contemporary or speculative scenarios force players to think in terms of capability, perception, legitimacy, and risk—the things decision-makers actually wrestle with in real time. Feel free to alter the starting situation as the real world events progress. Let me know what you think and how your game worked out...