What is a primary reason for conducting a war game during planning?

Conducting a war game during planning is primarily aimed at simulating real-world scenarios and assessing outcomes, which allows military leaders to visualize the complexities of potential conflict situations. This simulation helps in understanding various factors, such as terrain, enemy capabilities, and logistics, which can influence the success of a mission.

By engaging in this immersive exercise, planners can explore different strategies and their potential effectiveness without the risks involved in actual combat. The insights gained from these simulations can lead to better decision-making when faced with actual operational challenges.

While other reasons such as testing troop readiness, simplifying the planning process, and resource allocation do play significant roles in military operations, the core function of war games is the practical evaluation of scenarios that provides critical insights into possible outcomes and strategic adjustments.