Episode Details

Iron Wolves Lay Siege to Hell

We examine the history and game theory behind the internet-based multiplayer computer game Diablo II, released by Blizzard Entertainment in 2000, along with its expansion Diablo II: Lord of Destruction in 2001, using it as a lens to explore the evolution of siege warfare—from the earliest fortified city-state models and epic tales like the Fall of Troy, through the long history of siege tactics, beachhead establishment in enemy territory, preemptive warfare strategies, the development of specialized divisions, and full-spectrum fourth-generation warfare—ultimately tying these age-old strategies to the concept of striking at the “Heart of the Beast” in its lair and applying them to the modern cultural conflicts of the Great Awakening.