Of course, this does not mean that the game-board can decide questions with absolute finality.

It cannot do this; but that is only because conditions are represented with only approximate realism, because the rules of the game may not be quite correct, and because sufficient correct data cannot be procured.

The difficulties of securing absolute realism are of course insuperable, and the difficulties of getting absolutely correct data are very great.

The more, however, this work is prosecuted, the more clearly its difficulties will be indicated, and therefore the more effectively the remedies can be provided.

The more the game-board is used both on ship and shore, the more ease will be found in getting correct data for it, and the more correctly conclusions can then be deduced.
These remarks, while intended for tactical games, seem to apply to strategical games as well; for both the tactical and the strategical games are simply endeavors to represent actual or probable situations and occurrences in miniature, by arbitrary symbols, in accordance with well-understood conventions.
War games and war problems have not yet been accepted by some; for some regard them as games pure and simple and as academic, theoretical, and unpractical.