“November 1942, South Pacific. The Imperial Japanese Navy has been tasked to deliver reinforcements to Guadalcanal and support the offensive to retake the airstrip, Henderson Field, from the US Marines. A task group of 14 Imperial warships is proceeding south down ‘The Slot’ between the Solomon Islands to bombard Henderson Field and destroy the aircraft there in order to allow the slow, heavy army transports to reach Guadalcanal safely."

"Thirteen US warships are steaming north through Ironbottom Sound to intercept the Japanese. The two forces nearly collide with one another in the pitch black night. Star shells, flares and searchlights probe the darkness as ships intermingle and attempt to sort out friend from foe. Blasting away at each other in confusion at close range, an officer on USS Monssen likened it to ‘a barroom brawl after the lights had been shot out.’”

A miniatures wargame intended for classroom use with two teams of students (grades 6-8). The game is designed to be played on two 7.5x5 foot tables.

Special print-and-play paper miniatures (flats) are required. These are designed to mask the identities of the ships and replicate challenges of night fighting. “Each ship is covered by a black tent – the ‘Darkness.’ The tent is slid fore and aft to expose one third increments of the ship depending upon the use of searchlights and star shells.”

Brawl in the Dark was designed to simulate the confusing environment of a night naval battle on a table top environment. Table top war games use a variety of mechanisms to try to deal with the problem of the "God Effect," of the players peering down from an all knowing position above the battlefield, with near perfect command and control of their own forces. Brawl uses a several different techniques to create ambiguity with regard to ship identity - all ships are represented only in dark silhouette, damage tracking is not displayed in a cummulative fashion (since battleships for example, can take more punishment than destroyers), and ships are frequently covered by a tent which completely hides their identity. Having multiple players also adds to the confusion.

These results from a play test with a group of students suggest that the mechansims work! "In the confusion two Japanese destroyers had accidentally blundered into and joined a squadron of American destroyers. A starshell revealed the mistake to both sides simultaneously. The Japanese reacted first, sinking two American ships before racing off into the darkness. The very confused captain of the USS Fletcher fired at what he thought was a Japanese destroyer, but it was the USS O'Bannon that he sunk by mistake."