Table-Top Exercise Service
Bringing economics to life
Our table-top exercises (TTXs) are a unique and immersive way for groups to explore the risks that matter to their organisation. We design bespoke scenarios for public- and private-sector teams to move through, using cutting-edge technology and proprietary data.
You act as the decision-maker, navigating uncertainty and weighing up the trade-offs, while we show you the dynamic impact of your choices in real time. Sessions are followed up with an after-action review to highlight key takeaways and lessons learned.
Our Table-Top Exercise Service is here to assist your scenario planning, whether you are concerned about macroeconomic, financial market or geopolitical risk. Sessions last from a couple of hours to a few days, depending on the level of service.
Tackle the problems you face with interactive exercises
Use cutting-edge technology and proprietary data
Explore the trade-offs, deal with uncertainty
Play your cards and see what happens!
Our Table-Top Exercise Service tiers
White cell service
Running your own TTX? No problem: we can join existing TTXs as subject-matter experts to provide economic input and adjudication based on our suite of models.
Ready-to-play service
Fathom has numerous tried-and-tested TTXs that we have delivered to clients. Choose from one of our pre-built sessions designed for immediate deployment. Join the conversation.
Bespoke service
Bespoke TTX design and facilitation, including real-time impacts based on models and tools. We draw up the scenario, explain how it works and provide key background information. Lead the conversation.
Ready to play?
Playing for politics in the Pacific
Take on the role of government representatives, navigating growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly escalating conflict scenario centred on Taiwan, participants must evaluate the most effective way to persuade key regional, non-aligned powers such as India and Malaysia to support a coordinated effort against China. The aim is to assess and negotiate the most effective use of economic statecraft against China, such as restricting the flow of critical goods through strategic chokepoints like the Malacca Strait and land-based routes through India.
Participants must weigh the effectiveness and political consequences of different pre-conflict levers (diplomatic, economic, and military), while anticipating retaliation, regional instability, and the broader geopolitical optics of their decisions. Throughout the exercise, players respond to shocks, negotiate under pressure, and test the limits of collective strategy in a world increasingly defined by strategic competition, economic interdependence, and geopolitical uncertainty.
Exploring a multipolar world — can middle powers hold together under pressure?
Take on the roles of country delegations faced with building new coalitions in a fast-changing world. Over multiple rounds, participants must negotiate alliances, respond to economic coercion, and balance national interests against the need for collective security. Using real-world economic modelling and dynamic scenario analysis provided by Fathom, players make strategic decisions that influence diplomatic relations and national interests.
Players are challenged to deter and respond to economic coercion, test policy responses under pressure, and adapt to unexpected geopolitical developments. The game will help participants better understand economic, military and political dependences, how to respond to economic coercion and the challenges associated with forming new alliances. Participants will sharpen their risk assessment, policy analysis and decision-making skills.
China-US AI competition
Examine the likely impact of artificial intelligence on labour dynamics, economic growth and national security by playing the role of US or Chinese delegates and making decisions about the country’s strategy for AI. Pick between AI that supports workers (labour-enhancing), AI that replaces them (labour-replacing), or AI that prioritises military capability. The TTX can be designed to assess the implications for the US, China and other countries (e.g. we ran a TTX specifically focused on Canada).
Players must respond to economic shocks, demographic pressures, inequality concerns and national security risks, while weighing the trade-offs between growth, maintaining employment at an acceptable level and strategic advantage. Guided by economic modelling and real-world analysis, the exercise reveals how different AI strategies could transform labour markets, trade and the balance of global power over time.
Testimonials
“Fathom’s TTX exploring the impact of artificial intelligence on US–China competition was engaging, rigorous, and highly interactive. It successfully bridged geopolitical strategy with socio-economic modelling, offering participants a rare opportunity to test assumptions about labour dynamics, automation, and national resilience. Fathom always pushes me to think in three dimensions: geopolitics, markets, and technology, all at once.”
Liza Tobin, Senior Director for Economy, Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), 2021-2025
“CSPS engaged Fathom to successfully deliver tabletop exercises for Canadian public servants from across the federal government. These events provided participants with original data and insights on geoeconomic issues of significant importance to Canada. They strengthened cross-government strategic and critical thinking, as well as capabilities in policy analysis, risk assessment, and coordinated decision-making. Fathom was a dependable and highly professional partner throughout this collaboration and provided a high-quality learning experience for public servants”
Director at the Canada School of Public Service
Meet the team
