SuccessTea
War Machine
Build and calibrate a working launch machine, then compete for precision.
90–120 min · Up to 200 people
Know The Activity
War Machine is a high-stakes engineering and strategy challenge where teams step into the shoes of medieval tacticians. Their mission is to design and construct a working trebuchet to defend their “city” from an impending invasion. This is not just about brute force: teams calculate projectile mass, launch angle, and counterweight to achieve the perfect strike. Every role matters, every choice counts, and every launch tests alignment, ownership, and execution.
Group size
Up to 200 people
Location
Indoor/Outdoor
Duration
90–120 min
Why should you choose it?
- Combines technical thinking with strategic collaboration
- Breaks silos by demanding cross-functional teamwork
- Builds clarity around roles, goals, and shared outcomes
- Encourages ownership and pride in collective achievement
- Delivers high-energy, hands-on engagement with a dramatic finale
Result
Teams walk away with a deeper appreciation for communication, role clarity, and strategic alignment, having built a war machine that reflects their ability to work as one.
Learning Outcome
Communicate effectively under pressure
- Collaborate across diverse skill sets and perspectives
- Allocate roles based on individual strengths
- Reach consensus on shared goals and execution plans
- Solve complex problems through experimentation and iteration
- Celebrate team success through visible, measurable outcomes
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Have any questions?
How does this activity promote collaboration?
It requires teams to coordinate engineering, strategy, and execution, with each member contributing to a shared outcome.
How does it build ownership?
Each team is responsible for their machine’s performance, making every decision and action count.
What makes this activity fun and engaging?
The thrill of building a functional war machine, the suspense of launch, and the satisfaction of hitting the mark.
How does War Machine reflect real-world dynamics?
It mirrors how teams must align strategy, execution, and communication to achieve complex goals.