While still in college in the 1960s, Jim Dunnigan became involved in wargaming, and subsequently designed Jutland, which Avalon Hill published in 1967.

"[2] In the August–September 1980 edition of Different Worlds (Issue #9), Lynn Willis thought that Dunnigan's basic thesis was that wargaming is simple.

However, noting the 272 pages "interspersed with 50–60 charts, maps, and rules excerpts", Willis commented, "I am not sure how well simplicity can be proved by a complex execution which implicitly disowns its rationale.

Willis also thought that the book superficially skimmed over its topics, and Dunnigan failed to provide deep insights into his experiences.

But it was noted that in the case of blind testing of the wargame suggested by Dunnigan, it "may not be feasible in seminar war games where the judgement of the facilitator is so crucial in determining how player activity will govern outcomes (i.e., where there are no written rules for adjudication).