Issue 19 Suspense&Decision PBM Magazine

SEPTEMBER ISSUE
2019
#19
* This issue dedicated to the memory of Vern Holford of Superior Simulations *
October 13, 1948 – April 21, 2017
Suspense & Decision, Issue #19
September 2019
Articles
4 Welcome to Issue #19!
Charles Mosteller, Editor-in-Chief
12 “Lightning” Galac-Tac: A Retrospective

Davin Church
15 Something Else Entirely!: The Arch Necromancer speaks on PBM Games

Vince L. Falcone
21 Ridin’ Out the Storm: A Galac-Tac Chronicle – Episode 8

Douglas Neman
26 Memories of Games Past: The PBM Saga of Ira Gossett

Ira Lee Gossett
33 Be More Than a Player: Learning by Teaching in SuperNova & Middle-earth

Raven Zachary
50 Dwarven Descent Into DungeonWorld: The Madhouse Saga of Gobworth Browstone

58 Kingdom Design: Fourth generation Alamaze with all web-based interaction

Rick McDowell
64 Better Versus More: A Paradigm Shift In PhoenixBSE

Mica Goldstone
67 Where We’re Heading

Special Mention
2 Issue Dedication - Vern Holford - Superior Simulations
24 The Face of PBM
72 What did they say about Issue #18?
Submission Deadline for Issue #20 is October 10th, 2019
Issue 19 Page 3
Contact us at: playbymail.net@gmail.com
Suspense & Decision A PBM Magazine for the 21st Century
Welcome to Issue #19!

This is a wonderful issue! Not just because of any specific content that
lies herein, but because we are here, at all. Honestly, I feel the best
about this magazine’s chances for success, now, than at any other
point since its inception. Me? I feel as if a great fire now burns within
me - the fire of PBM!
I’m excited. I’m anxious. I’m itching to write! Things over at the
PlayByMail.Net forum are still slower than they should be - slower than
they need to be - but over on the PlayByMail.Net Facebook page, I’ve
really begun to notice a lot more participation, of late. The degree of
interaction by and between various PBM-interested individuals is
gradually increasing. And no, it’s not anywhere near a tsunami-level
event, but the fact that it is happening, at all, is worth paying tribute
to. PBM gaming endures its share of losses and failures, so I, for one,
believe that we should also lay claim to our gains and our successes,
where and when and however they happen.
I recently posted on Facebook that Madhouse UK confirmed that they
had received my character submission for their DungeonWorld game,
and Vivienne Dunstan posted to me in response, saying, “I'm
considering taking part in one of the DungeonWorld variants. or if not
a KJC game, another Madhouse or Flying Buffalo. I have email
reminders sitting in my inbox waiting to deal with. You are being very
encouraging with your posts.”
Who recently signed up for a game of Starweb with Flying Buffalo,
Inc.? Mat Hillman. Again, another posting in the comments on the
PlayByMail.Net Facebook page.
And even before I have received any turns for my DungeonWorld
character from Madhouse UK, a fellow by the name of David Pennewell
has already invited me to join The Order Guild and fight the Chaos.
And this all happened in just one thread of one posting that I made on
our Facebook page.
Typically, I have tried to keep the welcome page to just one page in
length. Not this time! And over on the PBM Wiki, I’ve received recent
help on updating various sections from Richard Lockwood (formerly of
Manifestation Games), John Davis (currently of Middle-earth Games),
and Peter Rzechorzek (Currently running TribeNet). Perhaps there are
a few more of you out there who might be able to assist with updating
a few more sections of the PBM Wiki. Don’t be afraid - come on out of
the PBM woodwork, that the PBM Wiki might be a more useful PBM
Issue 19 Return to Table of Contents Page 4
resource for the entire play by mail gaming community.
Chris Shefler sent word to me, recently, declaring. “All your recent
Facebook postings have inspired me to dig up some ancient artifacts in
my basement.” Unfortunately, he’s thrown most of his PBM stuff away
(GASP!), and he can’t find his rule book for The Next Empire. I wonder
what Chris would say, if he knew that I recently received a message
out of the blue from the self-described demented man who created
The Next Empire?
That’s Frank Coker, for those amongst you who remember him. And
what did Frank tell me (among other things), “There is something
afoot here, because just this weekend I was looking through a box of
The Next Empire materials, including ads.” Back in the day, Frank ran
a PBM company called Cyborg Games. Tell me this - was it Facebook’s
poor design that caused Frank Coker to receive a message from me
two and one-half years after the fact, or could it be that fate chose to
intervene?
I would be remiss if I did not mention that Adrian Neal recalls playing
The Weapon, a PBM game from a company called 4 Sight, and that it
was very technical, but great fun. Marty Collins, however, remembers
playing a PBM game called HyperXpansion, which he said was a very
technical game, a bit like Beyond the Stellar Empire.
PBMer Tee Stoney has let me know that he has large stacks of both
the UK and US editions of the PBM magazine, Flagship magazine.
Someone from the Wisbech Town Council Facebook account, however,
has all of the back issues of Flagship magazine.
Rick Buda, the former editor of the Nuts and Bolts of Gaming, a PBM
magazine from a few years back, didn’t hesitate to let me know that
he loves Starweb, and that he would like to play a game of Starweb
under the moniker NABOG. Before too much longer, I suspect that he
will end up realizing this PBM fantasy. Starweb die-hards may perhaps
remember Rick by his old Starweb moniker, Kyr, who played a
Berserker whose prime directive was to purge the web of life. I can’t
help but to wonder whether Kyr got carried away and perhaps purged
the Nuts and Bolts of Gaming magazine of life, also. Any Starweb
players out there that that feel up to teaching Rick Buda a lesson?
And Robert Hayes, the creator and GM of an old PBM game called
Cluster, which was run by a PBM company called Capitol
Consulting/VRL, Inc., proclaimed that he was not hiding from his legion
of fans. Thus, his photo is now up on the PBM Wiki, if you dare to
venture forth and look for it.
Meanwhile, Andrew Hawley wants to know if anyone remembers a PBM
game called Dogfight? He played it a long time ago, and loved it! Tony
Roberts, though, remembers several PBM games run by DMC Games
(ran by Dave Cooksey), including Hunting, Hunting 2, and Psyche. Just
to show you how big that PBM gaming was, back in the day, I had
already compiled a list of well over three hundred PBM companies, yet
I had not heard of any of these particular PBM games. This is a good
example of why it is important for everyone to chime in, that we might
get those old PBM memories flowing. The river of memories can help
restore life all across the vast plain of PBM gaming. Even though
individual PBM companies may go out of business, and even though
individual PBM games may, indeed, die off, that’s not the same thing
as PBM, itself, being dead.
Make no mistake, not only is PBM not dead, quite to the contrary, it
remains very much alive - albeit with a reduced footprint due to the
current absence of a large number of former PBM companies and PBM
games that collectively formed many of our earliest memories of play
by mail gaming.
Walter van Vliet remembers playing Knights of the Avalon, a fantasy
PBM game from a PBM company called Jade Games. He played it in the
Netherlands, where he met a lot of players, made some great friends,
and was left with some really good memories. Jon Hughes also
remembers playing it around 1988 or 1989, describing it as very well
run by Jade Games, which led him to also try their sci-fi game called
Shattered World. “Ah, happy times!” Jon said.
Colin Forbes-Cruse, whom Flagship magazine readers will no doubt
remember, has declared that he’ll have a go at writing an article for
Suspense & Decision magazine. Ira Gossett, a true die-hard of PBM,
sent in an article for this very issue, in fact. Everything worth saying
about PBM hasn’t been said, yet, so grab your pen or your keyboard,
and start working on an article or some commentary of your own, so
that future issues of Suspense & Decision magazine will be fat from
the drippings of your thoughts about the subject of play by mail
gaming.
David Shirley feels that Alamaze has gotten so cliquish, that it is
impossible for a new player to get in. Mat Hillman chimed in to lament
that he had found KJC Games rather unresponsive, lately, commenting
that he tried to sign up for It’s A Crime on their website. However, Mat
is impressed with Flying Buffalo’s customer service, so far, declaring it
to be top notch.
It is important to keep in mind that the history of PBM gaming is
replete with both praise and criticism. Human opinion runs the gamut
from one extreme to the other. No PBM company is perfect, and there
is always room for improvement. It is not my role, nor the role of this
magazine, to be an apologist for the PBM industry. In my day, I have
authored many a criticism of a lot of different things associated with
PBM, PBM games, and PBM companies. For years on end, I have
scoured the Internet for all things PBM-related, both the good and the
bad, and through this PBM magazine, there must be coverage of both
praise and criticism, if our endeavor is to have any degree of validity,
at all.
Slip-ups happen. Shortcomings occur. Sometimes, things fall between
the cracks. Mistakes are a reality of everyday life. None of us wear
halos. Even the best laid plans of mice and men go astray! One need
venture no further than this very magazine to attest to that.
Look at how many times that Suspense & Decision has dropped the
ball. Whose fault is it? Mine and mine, alone. Forget about all of the
issues that we have published, for a moment, and think, instead,
about all of the issues that could already have been, but which have
yet to materialize. How many times has S&D, as it is known to many
by now, fallen off a cliff? How many issues have been late? What’s the
matter? I can’t even take my own magazine - our own magazine - to
task for its failures? I can and I will.
And I should.
Do I think for even a minute that Mica Goldstone and KJC Games want
to lose a potential gaming customer to Flying Buffalo, Inc.? Nope! Is it
possible that they didn’t receive a communication sent? Positively!
Long time PBMer Ira Gossett sent me an article for this issue via e-
mail. I receive e-mail via that very same e-mail account on a near-
daily basis, sometimes multiple times per day. Yet, did Ira’s article sent
to me ever show up in my in-box? Not yet, it hasn’t. Why? God only
knows, because I haven’t got a clue. He re-sent it to another e-mail
address of mine, and I received it. Go figure! It wasn’t in my spam
box, and it wasn’t in the electronic trash. Rather, it’s out there,
somewhere, lost in Cyberspace.
As for cliques developing within gaming communities of players, does
that ever happen? Yep! Yet, do I think that Rick McDowell, the
proprietor of Alamaze, doesn’t want Alamaze to be played by a wide
and diverse array of gamers? Nope, not at all! There is probably no
PBM company owner that I have exchanged more e-mails with than
Rick McDowell over the last decade or more. It hasn’t all been
flowery words. I am opinionated. Rick is opinionated. We have
different perspectives, much like David Shirley has his perspective
about Alamaze having become cliquish. Maybe it has. Maybe it
hasn’t. Maybe other PBM games have become cliquish. Maybe none
have. It doesn’t strike me as being a particularly new kind of criticism
by a player about a given game. Am I wrong about this?
One of the best things that you could do for PBM would be to write in
and give me a piece of your mind, whether on these topics or any
other. If you do, then our next issue may yet prove to be our best
issue ever. Suspense & Decision - Help spread the word!
And if you haven’t already done so, yet, be sure to subscribe now to
our PBM mailing list. The future of PBM could use your participation!

Send in your report card, today!

“Lightning” Galac-Tac
A Retrospective
Davin Church
Back in the old days of Galac- significantly longer than on
Tac, when it was still being today’s systems, so we all had
played by postal mail, my some time each turn to plan,
friends and I played an talk amongst ourselves, make
interesting variant of it. alliances or threats as
appropriate, and have some
We were all experienced snacks while the turns printed.
players, and we all had our own Then we all leapt back into the
styles of play that we were used turns while they were still
to. Therefore, creating our (almost literally) hot off the
turns for Galac-Tac typically printer and the ink was still
took only a short time (if we drying.
avoided deep strategy and
didn’t mind occasional The usual eager anticipation of
optimization imperfections). We the bi-weekly turn report, with
thought perhaps we could have its tasty adrenaline rush,
some fun with Galac-Tac without became an all-day high, with
waiting for the required two whoops and groans as the
weeks mail turnaround between various dramas unfolded.
turns.
We were well into the end-game
So, we all decided to get by late that evening, and the
together in the same place one few of us left alive stayed up
Saturday morning to play Galac- until someone was the obvious
Tac in real time (and perforce in winner. Back then we were
person)! We chose a time limit much younger and could pull
of about 15 minutes for writing all-nighters. These days it’s
up each turn (which we called hard enough to pull an all-dayer.
“lightning rounds”), after which But I digress…
we would type it directly into
the old computer ourselves (an We could have broken up and
original IBM PC!) and the GM continued the next day (or at
would process the turns as soon some later date), but getting
as we were all entered. several people together isn’t
that easy to schedule. Running
In those days, processing and through a complete game and
printing the turns took declaring a winner in a far
shorter time than it would Of course, now that order entry

traditionally take was great fun and reporting can be done
and gave us a real sense of online, players don’t have to all
accomplishment. (We did try be physically present to
again a couple of times after participate, but part of the fun
that, but it generally took was the direct human
longer to interaction
get through among
and we had friends … a
less far too rare
contiguous occurrence
time in today’s
available.) MMORPG
world.
It was
amazing to I’d love to
see how do
brutal the something
games like this
could get, with close again, if only we had enough
cooperation between allies interested people with enough
ganging up on enemies to put time available at once.
them out of the game earlier Anybody around here up for a
than was typical. Winners were game?
declared far sooner this way
and everyone had a great time. www.talisman-games.com

Something Else Entirely!

The Arch Necromancer speaks on PBM Games
Vince L. Falcone
I have waged wars across all warrant memory. My guess is
kinds of platforms; I have because the image was
played solo missions against overlayed onto my brain, and no
endless hordes of villains and real thought or energy was
monsters only to end up fighting expended on my part. It was
their super-inflated ‘Level Boss’. simply a manufactured
I have played MMOs and fought memory; and like all things
everything manufactured
from “But then, like the kings – they aren’t
intergalactic of old, or an anxious built to last.
wars to first general waiting for Because it’s a
person computer
shooters in a news from his scouts, driven game,
dozen cities my PBM turn arrives in with brilliant
across a dozen the mail! This is lights, and
countries even fancy sounds
on a dozen something else entirely! backed up
worlds. I have This is what I have been with a slick
lead armies soundtrack.
across maps waiting for all these None of it is
and rolled the weeks – news from the mine. Not the
dice that front! Word of deeds look, not the
would feel, not even
determine my back home at court or in the playing of
fate and the faraway kingdoms.” it. Its all
fate of the generated to
world on more occasions than stimulate. No real effort
can be remembered. required on my part.
And that is my point. I cannot But then, like the kings of old,
remember in great detail a or an anxious general waiting
single one of those ‘glorious for news from his scouts, my
battles’. Oh sure, I may recall a PBM turn arrives in the mail!
particular shot I made, or a kill I This is something else entirely!
landed, but it ends there. This is what I have been waiting
Forgotten, along with the rest of for all these weeks – news from
the things that just don’t the front! Word of deeds back
home at court or in faraway prospective allies, or hire the

kingdoms. talents of distant nations to do
those deeds that cannot be
I eagerly open my turn, and it associated with the crown.
reads as if my own vizier were
before me, transporting me to And while all of this is enough
where I need to be. And, just to stir the imagination, and
like the kings and queens of a keeps the piston’s of my mind
forgotten time, I have firing endlessly; turning
numerous decisions to make – various options in my head
dozens of decrees over and over
that will either seal and over again,
the pacts of alliance, this is still not the
or send thousands end… the
to their death in greatest aspect
glorious battle. of the game has
Mine is the power to yet to unfold
command spies to itself…
inform me of my
neighbor’s activities, Your turns are
send assassins to submitted and
silence forever a received via the
troublesome mail, but so too
diplomat, or order is the greatest
my generals and feature of the
heroes to war for PBM system… the
the greater good of interaction with
the realm. Wizards players from all
are summoned to over the world.
work their arcane Why should your
magics and summon kingdom wage
powers in the Hyborian War by RSI war alone, when
TM
service of their king you can write to

that go beyond the www.reality.com another and
scope of mere mortals. strike up an
alliance, or forge a peace
Armies are hurled at my treaty? The power to
enemy’s frontiers, and communicate with players
garrisons are reinforced to from all walks of life, from
defend against hostile raiding every corner of the map who
parties. Treaties are made and are all here with a singular
broken, tributes demanded, purpose – the same purpose
and gifts of jewels, spices and as yours – the conquest of a
gold are sent to entice realm!
It is interesting to note, that the friends in unexpected places

many of the players will interact you have made, and the
‘in character,’ adding to the memories of the adventures and
flavor of the already sumptuous wars you have journeyed
game. Knowing that there are through together.
other kings and queens
contacting, and waiting to be The time is now, ‘O king. Will
contacted only adds to the fun. you heed the call, and partake
In time, real life friendships will in the greatest of adventures, or
arise, and where once a will you sit by and listen to the
floundering alliance may have tales of the courage of others?
existed, talks of a second game
with even greater cooperation
may begin, and so the wheel * Editor’s Note *
continues to spin… and it is a
war without end… the kingdoms Vince L. Falcone can be
you play may change, as will found in the Road of Kings
the allies and enemies you may
have, but the adventure will forum breathing life into his
always be there, and the alter ego, the Arch
memories from each war will Necromancer of
last a lifetime. The victories will Hyperborea known by the
burn brightly in your
recollection, and your defeats dread name of Mindox Sul.
will gnaw at you for a chance at
revenge – but the two greatest www.warbarron.com
things you will take away from
your PBM games will always be:

Ridin’ Out the Storm

A Galac-Tac Chronicle – Episode 8
Douglas Neman
Weather Report: 3500-08 protection, and with no survey

data. Why?!”
Colonizer 4’s route back to the
homeworld would almost take it I shrugged. “They’re stupid?”
through the same systems Rex
and I scouted on the way out. “No. Well, yes, they are, but
We set out immediately, leaving not like that.” Rex shook his
the colonizers from Still head. “Any colony we set up
Standing and Heart of Fire there would be destroyed before
behind to glare at each other. they could take their first
shower. CC knows that. Ergo,
I sat by the window, looking out they never intended to colonize
into the empty blackness of that system in the first place.”
space, trying hard not to see it
as a metaphor for my life. Since “Snot-Nose wants colonies like a
I was literally looking at the baby wants candy,” I said
entire universe, I’m pretty sure I scornfully. “That makes
failed. colonizers precious assets, and
there are over a hundred people
Rex, lying on his bunk, said, aboard this ship. There’s no
“I’ve been thinking.” way CC would ever pull this ship
off colonization duties and send
“That’s your first mistake.” it 52 sectors into the unknown
for the sole purpose of bringing
“CC sent us in a straight line as home a couple of privates.”
far as possible from the
homeworld. No one else, just “I agree. But that’s exactly
us. We hit three systems. We what they did.”
never charted the third because
we never got a chance, and that I wanted so badly to tell him he
system was 52 sectors away! was wrong, but I had nothing.
That system’s practically on the
Heart of Fire’s front porch, and I said, “Admiral Brighton’s
there are over 30 systems closer daughter must have fallen in
to our homeworld than that one. love with me and pleaded for my
But CC sent a colonizer straight return.”
to that system anyway, with no

“Are you competing with CC for had a worse assignment than

the Stupid Award?” carting you two babies to your
safe, cushy little job!”
“When all other explanations
have been eliminated, whatever “Feeling’s mutual, sir,” I said.
remains, however improbable, “I’d rather be back on our scout
must be the answer.” ship, myself, instead of on this
dump truck.” I at least had the
“We haven’t eliminated all other decency to remain at attention
explanations. We just don’t have and continue staring straight
enough information. There’s a ahead as I said it.
difference.”
Everyone froze. Beside me, I
“But my explanation is a happy knew Rex was successfully
one.” fighting back a grin.
“Which is why it can’t possibly be The commander slowly stood and
true.” put his face inches from mine.
“Is that so, private?” he
The intercom buzzed. “Storm. whispered. “Are you so sure
Callahan. Get your butts to the about that?”
bridge.”
I squinted. Something about his
I gave a weary salute to the eyes told me not to answer that.
speaker, and Rex and I obeyed.
Thirty seconds later we were on “Your precious scout ship was
the bridge, at attention in front destroyed two hours ago,” he
of the commander, who seemed whispered. “Two good men just
to like us less than he did the died in your place, and I will
first time. Which is impressive. never know why. Now. Get.
The support crew manning their Off. My. Bridge!”
stations studiously ignored us.
Rex and I solemnly saluted and
“Our orders have changed,” the left. If the commander’s
commander said. “We’re to objective had been to crush my
rendezvous with the Starfall in insubordination, he had done a
the next system. The Starfall is superb job.
our newest and best destroyer,
and both of you will transfer We returned to our quarters and
aboard to become ships’ cooks!” resumed the same positions we
He glared at us with a face that were in before. I stared out the
could have made stars go nova. window. Rex stared at the
“I don’t know whose ass you ceiling. We both felt about as
kissed, or who you’re tall as microbes.
blackmailing, but I have never
“You’re right,” I finally said,

watching my reflection in the
window. “We don’t have enough
information.”
I turned to face Rex. “The
commander is also right. He’ll
never know why we were
transferred. But we will. We
will find out.”
Rex nodded, his face and his
heart as set as mine.

The Face of PBM
The sun arose on a green but windswept ridge overlooking a verdant valley dotted by trees and
dusty tracks. All was peaceful, save for birdsong. The keen-eyed amongst us would have seen
white-coated troops snaking across a bridge in column, while outriders spread out before them,
keeping a watch out for observers.
The Marquis, standing on the ridge, snapped shut his eyeglass and turned to the Duke of
Anjou. “Your grace, the Austrians are forcing the frontier in some strength.” Anjou smiled grimly.
“Then we shall give them a hot reception. Order the army to deploy, if you would be so kind.”
Drums began to rattle and roll, and men hurried to form line while cannon were brought
forward.
Ominously, the bird song had ceased…
The Glory of Kings is set in the days of the 18th century, with one game turn representing a
month and players taking on a variety of roles. Typically you play as the head of a country, for
example the King of France, a German prince, or a Chinese or Indian lord. Smaller positions,
such as a notorious pirate, can be taken on instead, if you prefer. Each game turn is run
approximately once a month in real life, and each turn you receive details of your own position
details, hopefully letters from others, and the in-game newspaper. The game has won multiple
awards over the years, and is a firm favourite amongst our players.
Standard turns cost £10 each, or £6 each if you prefer to roleplay as a single character in the
sister-game Swashbuckler (such characters still play within games of The Glory of Kings).
HOW TO TAKE PART: All you need is access to an email account, and a computer or suchlike
in order to send and receive orders. Files are sent to you as PDFs, so anyone can open them,
and your turns are sent in to us as word files (doc, docx,or rtf, for example; in fact we can cope
with most text files). If you prefer, and live in the U.K., playing via the post is possible instead (a
£2 surcharge applies though). The first requirement to take part is to get the rules. They are
available on our website www.agema.org.uk
Nothing else needs to be done at this stage. With the rules, you’ll receive a list of positions
currently available, and instructions on what to do next. The rules are deliberately cheap, in
order to get potential players to take a look. Please note that you are not tied into anything, and
you can join or leave a game of The Glory of Kings any time you like! Thanks for reading, and
we hope you decide to take the plunge and join us in this epic award-winning game!
Memories of Games Past

The PBM Saga of Ira Gossett
Ira Lee Gossett
I started my gaming life back in magazines. Reading about all

1973, when I received my first the different PBM games out
issue of Strategy & Tactics there got me to trying out other
magazine. For the next 5 games.
years, I was strictly a wargamer,
but I kept seeing these Schubel Since I was reading about
& Son ads in later issues about games and it just seemed to go
play by mail games. So in hand-in-hand with it, I started
1978, after I reported to my writing short stories about the
first ship stationed in Japan, I games I was playing in.
wrote to Schubel & Son’s They’ve shown up in
concerning their game, Tribes of newsletters, fanzines (Yea! My
Crane. first paid story, $5.00!) and on
various sites on the web. I’ve
After getting my reply, I quickly done stories from my PBM &
bought a money order, filled out PBeM games, single player and
the paper work needed and I MMO computer games and a
was off on my PBM adventure. I detective story inspired by the
played Tribes of Crane heavy for RPG ’Mercenaries, Spies &
the next 3 years, eventually Private Eyes‘.
running four tribes, getting a
friend involved who ended up Around 1982, not only did I
running three tribes and transfer to a new ship: breaking
creating our own alliance; The up our war group, but Tribes of
Gwyneddian Council. Crane started slowing down,
eventually the game stopped
Tribes of Crane was where I also either in 1983 or 1984. While
got my start in writing stories, sad to put it behind me, that
as I would write about what the just got me to send for other
Gwyneddian Council and our games.
tribes were up to for the game’s
newsletter in story format. - A fantasy game, that more
than once went soft porn for the
I also started to expand my two of us playing it. While there
reading material towards the might have been more, it was
end with Sorcerer’s Apprentice, just interesting that the DM
Flagship and PBM Universal tossed us together and ran us
as a group. Pretty standard - One of the GM’s running a

fantasy game, we were humans game I was in (the fantasy
and our big moment was going game, most likely) wanted to try
into a cave system to rescue out a new game idea on this
Elven princesses. Let’s just say other player and myself. It
they were very appreciative of would be a ‘Joe Friday’ type
our rescuing them. detective game. We were given
5 cases to work on, the concept
- A 3D space game where you being which of us could solve
commanded a single ship. The the cases before the other. It
map was supplied, and you had was totally free form, and we
to do the math to head to the could work on whichever case
different planets and systems. we wanted to, in whatever
Only played it for maybe a year, order. Visit the scene, ask
and nothing really happened in questions etc…. Sadly, it only
it, but I enjoyed working out the lasted a couple of turns, before
math and wrote a short story he dropped the idea.
based off the game.
That took me up to around
- Heroic Fantasy from Flying 1988, when I kept reading
Buffalo. I had read the Heroic about, but stopped playing
Fantasy stories in the early games. I now had a wife, a new
Sorcerer’s Apprentice baby and paying for all those
magazines, and always wanted turns was starting to add up, so
to try it. I ended up trying it I ended up taking a break for
twice, and while the concept is the next 12 years. Then came
great; your typical dungeon about this thing called a
crawl, I came away ‘computer’, which entered into
disappointed, both times. my life and I started wandering
Instead of the dungeon rooms the web and somehow stumbled
repopulating, they were empty. upon a listing of all kinds of
Picked clean by the players that PBEM Games. Here before my
had come before me. My turns eyes were pages and pages of
consisted of just moving from all kinds of Play by Mail and Play
room to room, trying to catch by Email games, now to find one
up to the pack. I liked.
Rick was really nice about it, he After wandering through the
even kept a $2.00 credit I had various games, I finally settled
on my first account and brought on a WWII tactical game;
it up to me a couple of years Ritterkreuz. My first Play by
later, when I came back to try Email game. The GM had
it, again. created a Yahoo group, and we
posted all our information there.
Backgrounds, turns, questions to create an elaborate back

etc…. story. Sadly, this one only ran a
few short turns. Long enough
You played as a German soldier for me to get funding from the
attached to a motorcycle French to harass the English in
reconnaissance command. I Ireland, and squander all the
showed up right after Germany money, thus disappointing my
had invaded Poland, and patron, and getting me a swift
continued to play through the kick in the behind from him!
invasion of the Netherlands. Fun while it lasted.
The GM (who, it turned out, was
a Polish lady in college) had us I even created my own play by
create very detailed email game; Napoleon’s
backgrounds for our characters; Bleeding Ulcer, my take on the
age, where born, likes, dislikes, game ‘Sharp Practice’ by Too Fat
hobbies and vices, and very Lardies. Ran for half a dozen
much encouraged us to role play turns before I just couldn’t keep
our characters within the it going due to health problems.
guidelines we had created. The few players I had said they
all really liked it, and were sorry
Wonderful game, and very to see it end.
enjoyable inter-acting with the
other players. She was a bit Since then, I have pretty much
weak on the whole military stopped my general gaming,
tactic’s part, so most of the and have just played off and on
action was of the ‘hey diddle a fantasy game called Tunnels &
diddle, straight up the middle Trolls; a simpler and much more
we go’ variety, but all of us tongue-in-cheek version of
playing loved military history, so Dungeon’s & Dragon’s.
there were plenty of side
discussions on the period, I’ve been involved in 2
equipment and things. campaigns in a Yahoo Group
called the ‘Blue Frog Tavern‘. A
Once again, Real Life reared it’s couple of dungeon runs run on
ugly head, and she had to the ‘ Vin’s T&T TrollBridge’ site,
concentrate on her college and once via a Facebook T&T
classes, and so the game ended. group.
Back to the pages of the PBEM I still visit Lindahl’s PBEM page
List, and I settled on one called looking for new games I might
Pride and Glory, which was a want to play, and I’m sure I’ll
single player game within the find another one, somewhere
long running Fields of Glory down the road.
game. Once again, it was time
EDITOR’S NOTE: Many images in Suspense & Decision are clickable! Give it a try!
Be More Than a Player

Learning by Teaching in SuperNova & Middle-earth
Raven Zachary
SuperNova is an interactive game of galactic

conquest, colonization and exploration. It is an
open-ended game so you can join at any time
and turns are processed simultaneously every
two weeks.
http://www.rollingthunder.com/
Joining a play-by-mail game is the odds, the difficulties don’t
difficult. The level of effort stop there.
required learning a new game in
the two weeks between when a A quick sidebar before
new player receives their continuing: the term onboarding
starting turn and when the turn is a business term used to
is due can be overwhelming. It’s describe the process an
not uncommon for new players employee goes through in
to drop before they submit their starting a new job and
first turn. The initial excitement becoming both comfortable and
is quickly replaced by the productive in their new
intimidation of learning rules environment, and I use that
under time pressure. One PBM term throughout this article to
gamemaster told me that for describe the process that a new
every five players that try his player goes through in joining
game, one only continues past (and hopefully remaining active
the first few turns. Think about with) a PBM game. Improving
that for a minute. We’d have a PBM onboarding is a bit of a
lot more players in this hobby if personal obsession of mine, and
the process to join and learn a one that I hope to convince
game was easier. Even for those other players in this article to
new players that push through embrace.
the initial learning curve against

New players are often joining a lack of player assistance, or

game where other players have sticking with it (against the
been involved for decades. odds) and starting to slowly
There is often a large body of gather information over the
knowledge that these course of play. The second
experienced players have outcome can be a lengthy
collected about the game that process and take a tremendous
exists outside of the rulebooks. amount of perseverance. This
If a new player is lucky, they article advocates for a third
may find a player mentor who is outcome, one that will not only
willing to take them under their increase your own likelihood of
wing and make the onboarding sticking with a game as a new
process easier. If a new player is player, but also the likelihood of
not so lucky, they may find this taking place for other new
themselves dropping out of the players.
game due to a lack of available
information or a community of You may have heard the term
existing players that are pedagogy. Its most basic
perceived as adversarial to definition is the theory and
helping them learn. practice of learning. In the field
of pedagogy is a method of
I’ve heard people complain teaching where a student learns
about this time and time again. a topic and then prepares
New players sometimes feel lessons or materials to help
unable to break into an teach other students. The term
established and close-knit for this is learning by teaching.
community or wrap their heads Considering that the term
around the indecipherable rules, pedagogy is derived from
some of which haven’t been Ancient Greek and means to
updated since the launch of the lead a child, it’s unfortunate that
game in prior decades. We lose we don’t have an equally
a lot of new players due to the interesting Ancient Greek term
challenges of onboarding. Some for learning by teaching we can
of these challenges are solvable. use. The Germans use LdL to
There are things that we as refer to their term, Lernen durch
players can do to help make Lehren.
onboarding easier for everyone.
By pursuing a learning by
Onboarding as a new player teaching model, you can be
generally leads to two more than a player and help
outcomes: dropping out of the grow the PBM hobby. Some of
game due to being overwhelmed you have already pursued this
by the learning curve and the (thank you), and it’s an outcome
that I would like to see more to encourage other players to

commonplace in the PBM pursue a learning by teaching
community as a whole. model in their respective games
to help grow the PBM hobby and
I want to share my learning by 2) to encourage other players to
teaching stories for two PBM give SuperNova and Middle-
games I actively play – earth a try using the resources
SuperNova and Middle-earth. I’ve created to make player
These are not game reviews, onboarding easier. Let’s start
but I do cover my thoughts with SuperNova.
about these two games
(synopsis: I like them both a SuperNova
lot, sign up!) and a bit of the
game mechanics as they are SuperNova by Rolling Thunder
relevant to the learning process. Games is an open-ended space
I picked these two from the six empire game. You design your
PBM games I currently play as own empire and species, start
I’ve done the most learning by off on a home world with limited
teaching work with SuperNova information about the galaxy
and Middle-earth. I have two around you, and then send
primary goals in this article: 1) ships off to explore the
unknown that awaits you. While lonely game for the first one to
a large portion of the orders and two years. This is a game you
rules relate to space combat and think about in terms of years,
ground combat, the game also not months.
has strong technological and
economic elements to it. Space empire games were a
Combat is not inevitable, as popular (if not the most
your neighbors may prefer to popular) PBM genre and many
trade. In fact, it may take as games came and went in the
long as 12-24 months (24-48 1980s and 1990s, but only a
turns) to encounter another small number in this genre
player in the game. My first remain today. SuperNova had
SuperNova empire just several incarnations over the
encountered another player on past 30 plus years. Its most
Turn 33 (just over 15 months of recent form, SuperNova: Rise of
play). SuperNova can be a the Empire, launched in 2003

with the Andromeda Galaxy numbers increase as you learn

game, and the rules were new technologies over the
refined most recently in 2015 course of the game and unlock
with the Draco Galaxy game. new tech trees and installations.
What exactly is an Imperial Port
I am playing two empires in the Authority Complex (installation)
Draco Galaxy game. The first or a System Beacon
one I started in mid-2018 just a (technology)? You can issue the
couple of months after returning INST (Describe Installation)
to the PBM hobby, and the order or an ANZ (Analyze Item)
second one I started in April of order in the game to learn about
this year. I started a second specific installations or
empire when several of my PBM technologies. The rulebook will
friends decided to join the only take you so far, the rest of
game. This allowed me to be in the rules you will need to learn
synch with them as they learned within the game itself by issuing
new aspects of the game. Don’t these orders to learn more. The
let the 1996-era website for challenge is, you can only issue
Rolling Thunder Games turn you 40 orders a turn (unless you
off. There’s a jewel of a game want to pay for a double turn
behind all of that primitive HTML and issue 80 orders). I spent
code (note: turns results are the first six months of the game
sent as PDF files). If you like issuing a lot of INST and ANZ
slow, long-term, planning- orders to learn about
oriented games, SuperNova may installations and technologies.
be a great choice for you. Turn
results are regularly 25-40 Rolling Thunder Games runs a
pages in length. Some call modern online forum (much
SuperNova “spreadsheets in better than their website) where
space”, and while I do, in fact, players can interact. However,
have a dozen or so spreadsheets information sharing seems to be
for each of my empires for limited in the public forums. This
planning purposes, it’s by no is one of those games where the
means a requirement to play. nature of the game leads to
mistrust between players and
SuperNova has a clever set of information is prized and used
mechanics in the game where as a competitive advantage.
you can issue orders to learn This situation in the community,
more about how the game coupled with the need to issue
works. You start the game orders in-game to learn about
knowing how to build 89 how the game works, puts new
different installations and 144 players at a disadvantage. While
different technologies. These I understand the sentiments of
players who have learned the hard way, we shouldn’t create

obstacles for new players to understand how the game works.
Rolling Thunder games published a series of rulebooks for

SuperNova covering the basic game rules, empire creation, orders
syntax, how to use warp points to travel between the stars, and
how to create convoy orders to automate ship movement and
transport. The rulebooks are quite detailed, and they are better
than most PBM rulebooks out there, but it’s a lot of information for
a new player to take in at once, and not all of it is relevant for the
first six months.
After finishing a read-through of the SuperNova manuals, some

things made sense to me, but I was also left with a lot of questions
and no clear answers. Initially, I sent many emails to the SuperNova
gamemaster, Pete Dorman. He was helpful in replying to my emails,
but I didn’t want to overburden a busy gamemaster with mentoring
me as a new player. Thankfully, I found Scott Vandersee, a
SuperNova player who had published a helpful new player document
and answered many more questions for me.

When learning a new installations and technologies,

boardgame or miniatures game, initially as a shared Google
I often create reference sheets Sheet, it made sense for this
and player aids. This process information to reside in a public
allows me to both learn the wiki that could benefit not just
rules of the game and share the five of us, but any
these creations to help other SuperNova players, especially
players who are struggling to new players.
learn the rules. Learning by
teaching. I created a ten-page In late May 2019, I purchased
SuperNova Player Aid covering the domain name,
game orders, warp points, supernova.wiki, researched
characters, diplomacy, industry leading wiki software platforms,
& production, fleets & armies, evaluated hosting providers, and
stars & planets, colonization, ultimately picked Wiki.js, a
and other miscellaneous game modern wiki software platform
rules. This doesn’t replace a running on Digital Ocean, a
read-through of the rulebooks, hosting provider. I can’t speak
but it helps when filling out your highly enough about Wiki.js and
turns. Digital Ocean. If anyone out
there is inspired to create a wiki
With my newfound comfort with for one of their favorite PBM
the rules to SuperNova after games, I would encourage them
having created the Player Aid, I to use this combo. For the
shifted into game advocacy month of June, every spare
mode and convinced four people minute I had (including
from other PBM games I played commute time on the bus to and
to give SuperNova a try. I from work each day) was spent
created an online group called adding game information into
the Encyclopedia Galactica the new SuperNova.Wiki site.
(borrowing from Isaac Asimov’s The wiki now includes 533 pages
Foundation Series) for the five covering game orders,
of us to ask questions and share resources, technology,
in-game information such as the installations, characters, and a
purposes of specific installations variety of other game topics.
and technologies, ship designs Eventually, I hope to include
we created, and systems we ship designs, empire contacts, a
have explored. If most of the catalog of explored systems,
veteran players didn’t want to and details about the NPC races,
help new players, then the new including the dreaded Death
players would help each other. Machines. New players can use
As we started to collect a much this resource instead of
larger list and definitions of spending their precious 40
orders a turn on INST and ANZ Suspense & Decision Magazine

orders. Issue #18 entitled Play-by-
Flash-Drive: Face-to-Face
My hope is that the process I Middle-earth PBM Gaming in Las
went through to create a Vegas where I provided an
SuperNova Player Aid, an online overview of my experience
group for new players, and the organizing and participating in a
wiki for SuperNova will result in face-to-face game of Middle-
new players having an easier earth. While I won’t cover the
time in onboarding and result in details of that event here as it’s
higher retention rates for not about player onboarding, I
SuperNova. If you’re interested would encourage you to read
in an open-ended space empire that article if you are interested
game, give SuperNova a try! in organizing an in-person game
for one of your favorite PBM
Middle-earth games.
Some of my most cherished I returned to the PBM hobby in

childhood memories involve 2018 after a 25-year break,
the works and one of the
of J.R.R. first games I
Tolkien – joined was
listening to the BBC Radio Middle-earth PBM (MEPBM). It
adaptation of The Hobbit and was the last PBM I had played
The Lord of the Rings with my back in the early 1990s, and I
parents, watching the animated was excited to see that it was
Ralph Bakshi film in the late still in operation (through a
1970s with my brothers, and different company) many years
playing some of the early later. In the mid to late 1980s, I
Middle-earth board games with was a fan of Game Systems,
my brothers and cousins. The Inc.’s (GSI) Earthwood PBM. I
Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien is moved over to playing Middle-
one of my favorite books, my earth PBM when it was released
car has a J.R.R. Tolkien by GSI in 1991.
monogram sticker, one of my
favorite boardgames is War of For those of you who are
the Ring by Ares Games, and I unfamiliar with the Middle-earth
play the Middle-earth miniatures PBM by Middle-earth Games, it’s
game by Game Workshop. So, it set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-
should not surprise you that I earth, the world of The Hobbit
am a Middle-earth PBM fanatic. and The Lord of the Rings, and
you play as a good, evil, or
You may have read my article in neutral nation, working together
with your teammates to take character’s specialty. For

control of the lands of Middle- instance, an Agent could steal
earth. Unlike SuperNova, which gold from an enemy population
is an open-ended PBM, games center and then move to a new
of Middle-earth have victory location. That Agent could not
conditions, and it’s not both steal gold and attempt to
uncommon for a game to end in kidnap an enemy character on
20-30 turns, about a year of the same turn. As the game
play, often due to one team progresses, you are allowed to
resigning. Think of this like recruit more characters, and so
Chess – at some point it’s you have more orders available.
obvious who is going to win. This means that the game
Why keep playing? There are increases in complexity every
now multiple modules being five turns. Each player has their
offered that span different eras personal preferences. You will
of Middle-earth with variant encounter other players who
rules. It’s more wargame than treat the game entirely as a
role-playing game, but there’s military campaign, hiring mostly
enough character role-playing to Commanders. Other players
interest people with that love subterfuge and play mostly
preference. Mailed turns and Agents. I prefer to play Mage-
handwritten, note card focused nations, casting spells
diplomacy from 25 years ago and searching for lost artifacts.
have been replaced by PDF Each nation has certain
turns via email and online strengths that may encourage a
groups for communication. specific play style.
Middle-earth is a game that I The rulebook for Middle-earth is

found easy to learn and hard to well-written and revised
master, and that’s probably one regularly. Considering that many
of the many reasons I love this PBM game rulebooks haven’t
game. The number and types of been revised in decades, this is
orders you can issue every turn refreshing. The rulebook is
are based on the number and organized in a way to make
types of characters you have. learning the mechanics of the
There are four types of game easy, but until you play
characters in the game: with experienced players, it’s
Commanders, Agents, not clear what the best orders
Emissaries, and Mages. Each for a particular character are in
character is allowed to issue two that specific situation. Using the
orders per turn (in most Chess analogy again, a knight
scenarios), and only one can be can be an incredibly powerful
a skill order focused on that piece when played correctly.
When played incorrectly, it anyone to play. You will be

moves awkwardly and can be grouped with one of the two
irrelevant to controlling the teams when you sign up, and all
center of the board. team members are given team
contact information when the
Because most Middle-earth turns are sent out. It’s common
players start on a team (Free for players to post draft orders
Peoples vs. Dark Servants) with for review by the team. This is
nine other players, player-to- where things may break down
player mentoring is common in from time to time. If you
this game. When a game starts, combine an impatient
someone on each team creates perfectionist who’s been playing
an online group (generally at the game for decades with a
Groups.io as Yahoo Groups is new player who is overly
slowly dying) and then they sensitive to feedback, it can
invite everyone on their team to lead to a bad experience,
join. You don’t have to know including the possibility that a
new player may drop from the positions in Middle-earth as it

game entirely. It’s your nation allows me to interview the
to control, but in a team game, teams before I commit (the
all nations on the same team Middle-earth political dating
have to work together, so you game). I have built up enough
don’t get to play your nation in understanding of the rules and
isolation…unless you play as a best practices over the past 18
neutral nation. months that playing a neutral
now without in-game mentoring
I love neutral nations in Middle- is working well for me.
earth. You start on no team at
all. Over the course of the The player onboarding activities
game, you declare loyalty to one I pursued for Middle-earth are
of the teams on some future similar to those I mentioned
turn and then join their group. I above for SuperNova. I created
would not recommend a neutral a fourteen-page Middle-earth
position for a new player as Player Aid covering game
there’s no in-game mentoring orders, map details, characters,
opportunities. I have gravitated spells, population centers,
more and more towards neutral production, economics, armies,

navies, combat, movement, and game information out there to

other miscellaneous game rules. gather and place on the wiki,
This doesn’t replace a read- there were a number of existing
through of the rulebooks, but it websites with information for
helps when filling out your the game already to review and
turns. I created the player aid replicate, although all of them
for Middle-earth before I started hadn’t been updated in over a
work on the SuperNova version, decade. Creating a wiki for
whereas I worked on the Middle-earth was larger in scope
SuperNova wiki before I started and would take more time. I
the Middle-earth one. decided to create the wiki for
SuperNova first, and then apply
I had the idea to create a wiki my learnings on that project to

for Middle-earth before I started Middle-earth.
work on the wiki for SuperNova, The day I launched
but the process was SuperNova.Wiki, June 21st,
considerably more intimidating. 2019, I started working on
Not only had Middle-earth been MEPBM Wiki. When you have
continuously in operation since momentum, keep going! I
1993 (26 years!) with a lot more purchased the domain name

mepbm.wiki, although I ended publisher Charles Mosteller. I

up launching on the was scanning an issue of
mepbm.com domain name Whispers of the Wood for the
instead once that was wiki and came across a couple
transferred to me from a former of articles he had written back in
player. As with the wiki for the mid 1990s. That same
SuperNova, I used Wiki.js and weekend, Charles sent out the
Digital Ocean. June was focused notice that he was jumping back
on the wiki for SuperNova and into publishing the magazine
July and August were focused and has created a new mailing
on the wiki for Middle-earth. The list, so I sent him the copies of
wiki for Middle-earth took his old articles. There is still so
hundreds of hours of work. I much more content to add to
was averaging about 20-30 MEPBM Wiki, but I am having to
hours a week on this project take a break to work on the new
while also working a full-time MEPBM forums in September
job. Thank you to my patient before I go back to updating the
and understanding family, wiki.
especially my wife. If there’s
anything I learned from this Which leads me to the other
project I can share with you – project – migrating the old
temper your enthusiasm with mepbm.com Forums to
proper pacing. It was Discourse. This is the project I
exhausting. I should have am working on right now and
instead spent 20 or 30 weeks to should have completed in the
build the site instead of just ten next few weeks. The old
weeks. There was no rush, but I mepbm.com Forums have been
had the desire to complete the operated by Darrell Swoap since
project. It was a bit of an 2003. I offered to migrate the
obsession. The site now includes mepbm.com Forums to a more
902 pages covering orders, modern software solution and
spells, artifacts, riddles, have active players help with
dragons, encounters, moderating the Forums since
characters, a variety of game Darrell no longer plays the
topics, information on all the game. Thank you to Darrell
game modules, and a library of Swoap for managing the Forums
strategy articles, including old for the past 15 plus years! This
scanned issues of the GSI has been a great asset to the
Whispers of the Wood Middle-earth player community.
newsletter. I hope that the new MEPBM.com
forums will increase player
This is actually how I connected communication.
with Suspense & Decision
As with SuperNova, my hope is as forums, mailing lists, and

that the process I went through online groups.
to create a Middle-earth Player
Aid, the wiki for Middle-earth, We as play-by-mail gamers can
and the new Forums I am contribute to making the hobby
working on now will result in a more inviting place for new
new players having an easier players. This applies to both
time with onboarding and result experienced and new players
in higher retention rates for alike. Many people are trying
Middle-earth. If you’re PBM games for the first time
interested in the writings of and quitting. Instead of focusing
J.R.R. Tolkien, give Middle-earth on trying to attract new players
a try! to our hobby, why not improve
the onboarding process for
In Conclusion those who are already giving it
a try so that fewer people leave
We can help play-by-mail (or the hobby? We all have busy
turn-based games) onboarding lives, and even taking time out
through the process of learning to get turns in on time can seem
by teaching. I’ve listed a few overwhelming. If you can spare
examples that I’ve pursued for the time, help grow the hobby
two games, and I’m not the only by making the games that you
one who has done this. Many love to play easier for new
PBM communities have been players to learn. Be more than a
aided by passionate players. I player.
think about the work that
Charles Mosteller has done for Player Resources
the Hyborian War community SuperNova
with his GrimFinger.net
information website and his • Player Aid
participation in the Road of
Kings forum. • SuperNova.Wiki
Learning by teaching doesn’t • Encyclopedia Galactica New

have to mean a direct teacher Player Group
to student model where you are
communicating in real-time to Middle-earth
other learners. It can come
through the process of creating • Player Aid
materials, such as player aids
and wikis, or the creation of • MEPBM Wiki
communication channels, such
• New Forums
Raven Zachary returned to

play-by-mail gaming in
2018. He lives in Portland,
Oregon, USA, and is user
Rinzai on the PlayByMail.Net
Forums. Raven plays Middle-
earth, SuperNova, TribeNet, Hi Charles,
A New Dawn, The Isles, and
DungeonWorld. Thanks for getting in touch. If
you could mention in the issue
that the Rome is Burning
ALAMAZE
ancient game waiting list is
open, with the game set to
launch in May next year, that
would be appreciated (I know
you put the information out
there already on your Facebook
page, thank you!). It's filling up
nicely!
Regards,
Maelstrom Map Richard Watts
AGEMA

“You are afraid of nothing and will overcome all challenges.
You stand for what is right and will bare your fangs only for
freedom and justice. You are part of the Pack: thinking and
acting in unison for the glory of the Nation."
Dewiek Elder Nation Hail stranger!

Sit down, pour yourself a barrel of ale.
Who are we?
Remove those trousers.
We are a race of (very) large, fearless,
telepathic and technologically advanced We have finally found you.
warrior wolves. Hunters, warriors, freedom
fighters and explorers. Searching for our If you are receiving this transmission,
it is because our long, dangerous
lost history and trying to unravel the search for the best and bravest of the
mysteries of our creation. Can you be the lost Dewiek Packs is gathering pace.
key that unlocks it?
You and those closest to you have
Why are you needed? been chosen. You share the blood of
the ancient warrior wolves of the
It is our destiny as the most ancient Dewiek Elder Nation and it is time for
spacefaring race to continue to explore, us to reunite. To grow.
expand and seek knowledge. To regrow Ships await to carry you towards a life
the Nation to its former glory, after so of adventure. You will not need much.
much was destroyed. This is happening Rid yourself of worthless trinkets.
right now. We need YOU to help us
continue to flourish as we rebuild the I said take those trousers off I won't
Nation. You can truly carve your own niche tell you again :angry:
in this terrifying, but beautiful world. Much We leave at first light (well, early
has been lost; knowledge and power await afternoon-ish probably. After second
to be reclaimed; old enemies lurk half- breakfast. It's a long journey).
defeated; territory to be re-discovered.
Let us drink. Celebrate. Only the most
What can we offer you? steadfast are called.
When you join the DEN, you join a true

Pack collective. We share everything - For more information contact head
information, resources, warships. From of recruitment: Lyceum the
day one, you will be a vital member of a Outdweller or Aadolf - High Lord of
the Nation. Alternatively just click
growing and fun loving - but fiercely proud the 'Join' button in the recruitment
and determined - Pack. Your voice is vital. forum once you have signed up for
a free trial account at:
Good hunting! www.phoenixbse.com
The Dewiek Elder Nation are recruiting!

Dwarven Descent Into DungeonWorld

The Madhouse Saga of Gobworth Browstone
Charles Mosteller
The winds of change blew respective journeys into,

through his ears, whispering to through, and across a PBM
him in a siren’s voice, luring game called DungeonWorld.
him to the high path of
adventure. Hither came But why, you ask?
Gobworth Browstone from the Well, because sometimes in life,
Realmheart of Dwarvendom to there’s just things that you just
roll the die of fate. For destiny need to do, things that you’ve
called! just GOT to do, and any real
But not alone would his feet be attempt at explanation of such
led down paths yet to come, for undertakings invariably end up
I had every intention to be right falling short.
there with, come what may. Ah, Oh, sure, a part if it has to do
the twists and turns that a PBM with trying to figure out a host
game player’s life takes, as the of different ways to try and
creative energies of their reinvigorate the hobby of play
imagination begin to flow anew. by mail, but mostly, I suspect
As Elizabeth Barrett Browning that it’s really as much about
asked once upon a time ago, returning to an aspect of my
how do I love thee? Let me personal life that has largely
count the ways.
been a very fun and positive
For PBM gaming is one of the aspect of my life, one that
true loves of my life (even if holds many warm memories. As
there have been long moments I age, I find that, more and
of separation between this love more, it is the small pleasures
and I, in the intervening years of life that are actually the
of life). Yet, here we are, back largest. And for me, personally,
together, PBM and I. Forward, the memories of PBM gaming
ho! collectively play a very big part
of whom I am, as a human
So what this is, is the first in being - for better or for worse!
what shall hopefully become a
full blown series of articles But why go on such a journey,
about my character’s and my a trek back unto the realm of
play by mail, all by myself?
All the better, I think, to let a with me, until I got back the list
few others tag along with me. of kingdoms available to play in
After all, why hog all the fun to Hyborian War from a company
myself? called Reality Simulations, Inc..
That was just the beginning.
Plus, who knows? Maybe even
some of you will then dare to I fondly recall spending hours -
step forth into journeys of your literally - pouring over a list of
own, like-minded souls thirty-six kingdoms, struggling
traversing DungeonWorld - and to decide which kingdom to
the much larger universe of pick, and I made the decision to
play by mail gaming that lies take the plunge and learn a
just beyond. little bit more about this
experience known as PBM
While DungeonWorld was not gaming.
my own initial entryway into the
realm of play by mail gaming, It’s when you receive your first
nothing says that it can’t be set of turn results, though,
yours. And even if you’ve even far more so than when
already played PBM games in
years past, nothing says that
you can’t venture forth into that
memorable plateau of gaming
fun, once more. All that it takes
is a willing heart and an
imagination that still dares to
light up your life from within.
For me, over thirty years ago, it
was a PBM game called
Hyborian War that opened up a
whole new dimension in
gaming. I had never really even
thought about using the postal
system as a way to play games,
before I started encountering all
of those advertisements for
Hyborian War that I
encountered, of all places, on
the back of some black and
white Conan comic books in
magazine form. Even then,
though, PBM didn’t really click

you issue your first set of turn any of a number of different

orders, that the real magic of play by mail games, or the
playing games through the mail lineal, modern-day descendants
bursts forth right before your thereof, to take the plunge back
very eyes. into PBM gaming with, but
Madhouse UK has a good
Oh, to be certain, there is much reputation across the PBM
fun to always be found in a community at large, it is a
great many different forms of game that has been around for
gaming entertainment. But a long time and has a loyal
that’s just it, you see. PBM following, and my perception of
gaming, for all that’s ever been what the initial learning curve is
said about it, remains as to go from being a clueless
entertaining as ever - perhaps newbie to an active player in
even moreso than ever before, the game that grasps what to
if you really want the full truth do and how to do it persuaded
about it all. me to go with DungeonWorld as
the initial entry point in my
Why DungeonWorld, though? planned series of articles on
Honestly, I could have picked PBM games in the current
gaming market. how dwarves can be, at times,

so he likely won’t always be
Plus, too, DungeonWorld GM willing to listen to our
Steve Tierney has begun a readership’s collective wisdom,
podcast series that I watch, and but I really don’t want him to
I like what he’s doing with that get himself into a bunch of
Madhouse UK podcast. If you situations that hold the
haven’t checked it out for potential for great danger,
yourself, I would encourage you without the benefit of the
to do so. I really believe that company of you, the reader.
just the simple act of more
people talking about PBM You know what else? There’s
gaming can make a world of nothing that prevents you from
difference in growing the submitting a character of your
overall player base of PBM. own, and asking DungeonWorld
Certainly, the PlayByMail.Net GM Steve Tierney to throw you
Facebook page has seen a large in the mix, right along with
amount of activity, of late, from Gobworth Browstone. That way,
a whole host of different you can live vicariously through
individuals talking about, of all your character, just as I will
things, PBM games that they’ve through mine.
played in the past - and in
numerous instances, PBM And we can do so, together!
games that they are still But only if you participate. And
currently playing. And it’s not participate, you should, for the
all men, either. more, the merrier. Gobworth
Before I let Gobworth Browstone is far too grumpy a
Browstone, a Dwarven fighter, fellow to carry you, though, so
take center stage in this series your character will have to pull
of articles on DungeonWorld, I their weight. It’s been said that
am going to have to stir the pot there’s strength in numbers,
of time, and make some time to but if your character’s not a
dig my way through the dwarf, then you’re already at a
rulebook more thoroughly. disadvantage, right from the
very start. That’s the way that
And, of course, as we travel on Gobworth sees it, anyway.
this journey, together, I will be
asking the advice of you, the And if you plan on going this
S&D reading audience, as to adventure with him, then you
what you think that Gobworth might as well go ahead and get
Browstone should do in his next that through that skull of yours.
turn. Granted, Gobworth has a Do be sure to wear your finest,
mind of his own, and you know as this adventure begins to
unfold before our very eyes, for this place - and lots of people
much in the way of danger lies mean lots of opportunities, lots
in wait for us, one and all, and of possibilities. One can hardly
if your character doesn’t make expect a dwarf like me to make
it, then at least they’ll look decisions on an empty stomach.
good as they lie in repose. A dwarf’s got to have grub, or
he’s not worth his axe.
HMMMPH!
Who designed this Hell hole,
anyway? It clearly wasn’t a
dwarven architect. It’s just a
hodgepodge of confusion, if you
ask me. I’ve never seen such a
mess of a courtyard in all my
born days.
Hey, you there! A dragon roars
Hither came Gobworth in my stomach. Where can I get
Browstone. . . a bite to eat? I ain’t after slop,
either, so don’t point me in the
Not exactly inspiring, but it’ll wrong direction.
have to do, I reckon. The places
I find myself venturing to has And so it was that a
really struck an all-time low, I
must say. dwarf known as
Gobworth Browstone
Pah! prepared to whet his
appetite for adventure in
This place is damp - far too
damned damp for my taste. the Land of Bereny. But
Barely fit for men, much less a he didn’t have to start off
dwarf. HMMMPH! on an empty stomach,
even if he somehow
Best to not dawdle. I’ll have a managed to find himself
quick look about this mess of a here, smack dab in the
place, and then I’ll be moving
on. I knew I should have courtyard of the dungeon
bypassed this whole swamp. known as Swinderlog
Nothing good’ll come from this, Hole, located deep
I’d wager. Insect bites sure beneath the notorious
aren’t what I’d call adventure. Swinderlog Swamp in the
Blasted things! Home Ward of Bereny.
Lots of people moving about TO BE CONTINUED IN ISSUE 20
Join Suspense & Decision’s editor in DungeonWorld!
Male Dwarven Warrior

Gobworth Browstone Turn #1
DungeonWorld is run by Madhouse Interactive Entertainment

DO YOU REMEMBER
THIS OLD PBM AD?
Kingdom Design
Fourth generation Alamaze with all web-based interaction
Rick McDowell
If you are thinking about program producing perfect

playing a “PBM game” you are execution, your strategic
not familiar with and that your outlook considering many
friends haven’t played, well, possible scenarios that may
why should you play? You unfold and your superior
exhale, thinking, this is going to utilization of resources, and as
be some work. reward for serious play, in turn
receiving results that both
PBM games are complicated! make sense and enthrall. Most
There may be 60 pages or more importantly, joining a strategy
of rules, but there are some game that draws you in more
with only 4 pages though I deeply with each turn, where
don’t quite understand those, each turn new knowledge is
as paradoxical as that might gained, and more possibilities
sound. unfold. In a great game there
are no “meh” turns and you
Let us assume you are thinking must be focused, carefully
you might want to take on a choosing from among dozens of
new PBM style game: you are potentially viable orders to
back in the saddle again. You produce that perfect set of
know what you like, which I will commands. Intimidated? No?
assume means a fairly deep Good, you are our kind.
game of strategy, at intervals
processed simultaneously, In my game of that type
where the attraction is to both (Alamaze), you choose both a
hope for both your tactical kingdom from among 24
choices and the purveyor’s available including some staples
like Dwarves, Elves, Dark As The Underworld, you feature

Elves…well, that’s about all the intrigue and have special orders
expected ones, or Tyrant of Gor, unavailable to other kingdoms.
Warlock, Sorcerer, You will steal, assassinate,
Necromancer, Atlantians, kidnap, and reveal skeletons in
Underworld, Pirates, Gnomes, the closet on your enemies. As
Sacred Order, Black Dragons the Atlantians, you can control
and at least a dozen others. the seas and have powerful
nobles to usurp control of PC’s.
You choose your kingdom As Red Dragon, all fear you will
carefully, considering its bring your wrath to their
strength not just as a number kingdom as even cities with
but across its characters and high walls hardly concern you.
kingdom traits, along military,
economic, covert, magical, Alamaze perhaps has gained
divine and esoteric most distinction by
characteristics. Of course, who differentiating its kingdoms and
doesn’t? letting wildly different strategies
succeed in the right hands.
Now you pick your region in Despite so many gigantic
Maelstrom, the continent in differences between kingdoms
play. There are 12 to choose across all aspects of play, and
from, each with different so many thousands of
characteristics. There are possibilities with any kingdom
Capital Regions, Free Trade in any region, no kingdom has
Regions, City States, Savage become dominant or shunned,
Regions. Which terrain mix is and the same can be said of the
preferred? Major city like in regions.
the large capital regions, or
more secluded island regions? Alamaze is famous for not just
Lots of coast and sea, or staying power for 30 years and
perhaps more mountains or the design and interface
forest? enhancements through four
generations that sustains that
In Alamaze, kingdoms are appeal, but for the quality of its
defined primarily by more than elements - including its magic
24 Cultural Traits, as well as system, where each kingdom
terrain adeptness, magical has unique spell lists over nine
proficiency, and special abilities. levels of power. That’s just a
Each kingdom is very much hint on one aspect of Alamaze.
distinct. Your brigades will gain
experience and become veteran

and with further success rise to one Duel (against likely a

be elite. Your leaders will rise mentor), and only when you
from captain to general to get it your first game that
marshal in increments and may begins are you then invoiced for
eventually become game- $9.95 for a month. Yes, ten
changing Warlords. Your turns in a month for $9.95.
agents at the highest level can You owe it to yourself to give
enter the castle of your enemy Alamaze a look. There is
and slit the throat of their king. nothing to risk.
Your wizards will rise in power
to cast incredible magic. See you soon!
But all this will not overwhelm

you, you instead will be drawn Rick
in. Alamaze will flow over you, Alamaze Designer
and you may join those with us
that have played on for
decades, always discovering
something new. Its been
around now after winning Game
of the Year at Origins and
GAMA, for 30 years, now in its www.Alamaze.co
fourth generation with all web-
based interaction (no snail
mail).
Alamaze forum
Find us at www.alamaze.co.
Signup there. You are never
asked for credit card info and
won’t be invoiced until after
you do the tutorial, and at least Sign Up for Alamaze

TAKAMO - The Legacy Game
Kgruppe LLC, has been running an invitation only version of
the original Takamo, a strategic science fiction Play-By-
Email game for several years while we continue
development of a multiplayer online version. From time to
time we receive requests to join the legacy game from
former Takamo players. Those applications are normally
accepted. We also occasionally receive applications from
folks who have never played Takamo. Usually, we do not
accept those requests. The reason for the distinction is the
state of the old Takamo rule book. The rule book is out of
date because we have spent our time on development of
the new version rather than take the time to completely
revise and update the old game. Veteran Takamo players
are familiar enough with game play that a quick update
regarding rule changes is sufficient to bring them up to
speed, while the uninitiated player seems to have a great
deal of trouble understanding the old rules.
The previous explanation notwithstanding, we (the
development team) are now considering a full revision of
the Takamo legacy rule book for the purpose of opening one
or more commercial Takamo galaxies. There seems to be
enough interest in retro games that we are willing to put in
the man hours needed to bring the game current and jump
back into the world of commercial PBEM games. Whether
this will happen depends on the
response from the public and the
resources we can spare to get the
game back in shape.
So, if you have an interest in
playing the PBEM version of
Takamo, drop me a line at
ritnourlaw@gmail.com
Randall Ritnour
Kgruppe LLC
Better Versus More

A Paradigm Shift In PhoenixBSE
Mica Goldstone
Here at KJC Games we are busy proposals about, explore how
preparing for the November the mechanics could affect the
Phoenix pubmeet. For those not game and suggest refinements,
in the know this event has been shoot them down in flames and
held here in Blackpool at the very occasionally give them
end of the Illuminations for their wholehearted support.
over 20 years.
Over the past few
Player have come years we have been
from all over the concentrating on
world to drink beer, planetary
swap stories, make development as the
deals and tell us game has moved
their ideas for the from setting up
future of the game bases on newly
and opinions on the explored worlds to
game at present. fully colonising
them, representing
It is not just about significant
feedback as each investments. This
year we give a has raised new
presentation on the points on attacking
ongoing and conversely
developments within defending the
the game over the coming populations along with the
months and years. While some whole aspect of securing entire
of the presentation covers worlds with planetary shields
forthcoming developments that and orbital gates.
have been pretty much nailed
down, we also include ideas and We are now pushing the theme
proposals that we are less by developing political influence
certain about. The pubmeet and adding depth to alien
gives the attendees, as cultures. As the game has
stakeholder, players and evolved from players running a
representatives of their factions handful of ships hundreds and
the opportunity to kick the potentially thousands, we are

looking at ways of refining PhoenixBSE Affiliations

shipping. We will be exploring
options for both freighting and Association of Free Traders
warfleets to account for
differences in preferred playing
styles. These will largely cater Detinus Republic
for players that would rather
run fewer more specialised Dewiek Elder Nation
ships.
Eldar Rawk Conclave
This paradigm shift towards
better vs more is something we Falconian Republic
are also pushing in planetside
combat. We will be revealing
streamlined mechanics that are Felini Elamite Autonomy
both more intuitive and fun. We
are looking to rebalance the Felini Tyranny
less popular power gaming
aspects that have steadily Flagritz Empire
evolved with cool roleplaying
themes that have become Frontier Exploration & Trade
somewhat overshadowed.
All this together with beer, Galactic Trade & Transport

board-games, secret deals,
anecdotes, more beer and a fair Imperial Services
few takeaways and pub meals
makes for a great weekend. Independent
Krell
Krell Clan Black Rat
Stellar Mining and Smelting

www.phoenixbse.com

Where we’re heading. . .

Where do I even begin? The blind leading the blind
comes to mind. We’re flying
It’s really late, here - almost blind, here, people! And
three in the morning, that, my dear PBM-playing
Eastern Standard Time. It’s friends, is a sobering
been both a good week and thought.
a challenging week. A lot
has happened, since the And just like that, I
release of the last issue, encounter some kind of a
and as I type these words computer problem, and I
to you - our readership - I end up having to restart the
already know that Issue software from scratch.
#19 is almost done and Looks like I only lost about
ready for publication. The a paragraph or so, but I
heavy lifting for this issue is take it as an omen, and the
already done, and my eyes direction of my thoughts
already begin to drift ahead now changes.
to Issue #20.
Whatever the role that
I have spent some time, Suspense & Decision,
this week, contemplating specifically, and
our existence as a PBM PlayByMail.Net, generally,
magazine. I have reflected may play in and through
upon what our role actually and across the realm of play
is, upon what I want it to by mail gaming, one thing
be. More importantly, that is not its role is the
though, what do YOU want policing of whatever
it to be? everyone else in the hobby
does.
Honestly, I’m probably the
worst choice in the world for I am not in any position to
this job, for this task of correct every error, nor to
steering a PBM magazine, of right every wrong. I cannot
all things, into the future. compel either the entirety of
After all, what do I know PBM gaming or the
about any of it? individual elements, thereof,
to behave themselves with know the truth about it, I’m

gentlemanly perfection. I failing quite miserably at it.
neither make law, nor
uphold it. At most, I am Yet, even still, I persevere!
subject to it. What I can ill- I would ask you to
afford to allow is for the persevere, as well. I really
minutae of distractions to do think that PBM is primed
overtake and consume me. for a comeback. I would
I try to publish a little sure hate for you to miss it.
magazine, in order to help There used to be a PBM
grow a hobby and an company called Cyborg
industry that, quite frankly, Games. It was run by a guy
suffers from more than just called Frank Coker. It was
a little wear, tear, and really great to hear back
neglect. I’m a lot older than from Frank, recently. He
I used to be (But
fortunately, still a lot
younger than some, thank
the good LORD!), And for
some odd and seemingly
inexplicable reason, I feel
called to allocate some of
the last years of my life to a
little cause called PBM.
Why? Who knows? Who can
truly say?
Granted, some will no doubt
view what I am trying to do
to be a waste of time. And
the worst part of it all is that
I genuinely do not know
what I am doing. I’m just an
average and ordinary person
that is struggling to adapt
and to improvise as I go
along. And if you want to
used to run a PBM game I understand, Frank was

called The Next Empire. recently looking through a
box of The Next Empire
I’ve never played it. Yet, the materials, including ads. I
advertisement from days of know that for a fact,
old still calls out to me. It because it was Frank Coker,
still entices me, even to this himself, who told me that.
very day.
When did he tell me this?
It was a PBM game that Back on August 19, 2019.
billed itself as He was
the future of responding
of PBM to a PM that
gaming. And I sent to him
for just an ad, on Facebook
it sure did two and a
speak half years
persuasively, before, back
in a visual on January
sense. All 19, 2017.
these many
years later, Who knows?
and that Maybe Frank
quasi- was right,
terminator when he said
looking guy that
still strikes me something
as one of the was afoot,
most visually here.
impactful
images in all of play by mail I can hear my navel-gazing
gaming history. Honestly, I critics, now. “What does any
still love the way that it of this have to do with
looks! where we are heading?”
But that game is no more, In a nutshell - Everything!

and I sure do wish that PBM gaming does have a
Frank Coker would tell us future, and we’re headed to
what happened. From what it. You. Me. All of us! Let’s
just hope that we’re not Every fiber of my being tells

headed there in a hand- me, for instance, that I can
basket. use crowd funding to
generate funds to pay for
In the coming months, you’ll artists to draw original art to
be treated to more and adorn interior pages of S&D
more issues of this with. Funding goals for
magazine. As we roll past crowd funding campaigns do
2019 and into 2020, not have to be set at
experimentation will exhorbitant levels. Anything
continue. Who knows? You would be more than gets
might even begin to see invested for that purpose,
things such as bumper currently.
stickers, t-shirts, and even
print copies of Suspense & Crowd funding can also be
Decision. used to pay people to
author articles for future
Who knows? I may even issues. Still think I’m crazy?
decide to transition from Once upon a few years ago,
treating PBM as a hobby, I invested a bit of time
and take more of a business studying a bunch of
approach to it. I may even Kickstarter campaigns,
incorporate. Indeed, trying to figure out what
perhaps I already should helped make various
have. It isn’t really about Kickstarters to succeed or
making money, though. fail. Honestly, I think that
Rather, it is to explore the there are some common
generation of revenue denominators.
streams that can then be
reinvested back into the And, you know, nothing
primary objective - which is says that PBM companies
to grow the overall player and GMs can’t use
base of PBM gaming. crowdfunding to take their
own gaming operations to
I know, I know. It’s just the next level. Rick Loomis
foolish, right? The foolish of Flying Buffalo, Inc.
rantings of an old man with understood this. He grasped
too much time on his hands. it. More importantly, he
Maybe it is. demonstrated it!
Yet, we still live in a day and frontier.”

an age when well-
established and long- What happens, though, if
standing PBM companies you factor in a guy with too
still remain content with much time on his hands,
taking what seems to me to combined with the concept
be a very casual approach. and the power of crowd
funding?
Again, you ask, “But where
are we heading, though?” Certainly, I don’t have the
money to rebuild the PBM
We are heading to the industry and the hobby. And
Rubicon - and we are going more than likely, neither do
to cross it, my friends! you. Money isn’t what
motivates me, though, and
We are going to cross from with crowd funding, the
the past of PBM to the world will open their wallets
future of PBM, and we are and their purses to support
going to do it, together, concepts and ideas, that
some grudingly and others new realities may be
receptively. created, thereby.
And to be honest with you, Then again, what do I
it’s really something that I know? A new golden era of
definitely don’t want to PBM gaming is just a pipe
allow myself to get dream, after all, isn’t it?
distracted from.
Energy is building, even if
Many years ago, PBM legend not everyone is fully aware
Bob McLain authored an of it, yet. Pardon me, now,
article titled, “Play By Mail: as I listen to a rendition of I
The Infancy Of Cyberspace.” Dreamed A Dream from a
In it, one thing that he performance called Les
wrote really stood out to Misérables.
me, recently, as I was re-
reading it for the God-only- Won’t you join me?
knows-how-many time.
What he said was this: “No Happy gaming! Dare to
one, it seems, has the time always dream the
or the money to expand the impossible dream!
What did they say about Issue #18?
That was an enjoyable read. Glad to see it back again.
For now, just wanted You did it again, I know of several

to congratulate you Charles! What is people who have
for getting out Issue dead may never tried various
18 and great job. die! games including
TribeNet due to
reading about
It's a really nice issue with them in S&D so
rich, interesting, well written something is
and edited content. Hats off to working.
you. It's a lot of work.
I just finished reading #18. I loved Enjoyed issue

it. The dedication was moving but #18 very much,
also inspirational. I had honestly partly because
lost hope that there was still an my name and a
interest in PBM games and Board couple of pictures
Games these days, as the Video of our Vegas
Game/Tablet/I Phone generation MEPBM Face to
blaze they're way through war with Face game made
high def graphics and slick it into the issue
synthesized soundtracks.... but to (great article by
know that there is still blood in Raven) but I also
these old veins has been a boost enjoy hearing
to my once tired morale. news about other
games and
Long Live the PBM Games! And happenings in
Long Live Suspense & Decision!!! our PBM genre.
It looks great! Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication
to this hobby. Thank you for coming back to S&D after a nearly two-
year break. You are the modern-day Sisyphus, and the rock-rollin’ is
greatly appreciated. I came back to the hobby six months after Issue
#17 was published, and felt like I was coming back to a hobby that
everyone else had already given up on, so I can’t tell you how
delighted I was when you posted on the Facebook group on August 5th
to sign up for the new mailing list.

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SEPTEMBER ISSUE

12 “Lightning” Galac-Tac: A Retrospective

15 Something Else Entirely!: The Arch Necromancer speaks on PBM Games

21 Ridin’ Out the Storm: A Galac-Tac Chronicle – Episode 8

26 Memories of Games Past: The PBM Saga of Ira Gossett

33 Be More Than a Player: Learning by Teaching in SuperNova & Middle-earth

50 Dwarven Descent Into DungeonWorld: The Madhouse Saga of Gobworth Browstone

58 Kingdom Design: Fourth generation Alamaze with all web-based interaction

64 Better Versus More: A Paradigm Shift In PhoenixBSE

67 Where We’re Heading

24 The Face of PBM

72 What did they say about Issue #18?

Submission Deadline for Issue #20 is October 10th, 2019

Welcome to Issue #19!

Issue 19 Return to Table of Contents Page 8

Send in your report card, today!

Issue 19 Return to Table of Contents Page 9

shorter time than it would Of course, now that order entry

Issue 19 Return to Table of Contents Page 13

Something Else Entirely!

home at court or in faraway prospective allies, or hire the

service of their king you can write to

It is interesting to note, that the friends in unexpected places

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Ridin’ Out the Storm

Weather Report: 3500-08 protection, and with no survey

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“Are you competing with CC for had a worse assignment than

“You’re right,” I finally said,

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Memories of Games Past

I started my gaming life back in magazines. Reading about all

as a group. Pretty standard - One of the GM’s running a

Backgrounds, turns, questions to create an elaborate back

Be More Than a Player

SuperNova is an interactive game of galactic

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New players are often joining a lack of player assistance, or

that I would like to see more to encourage other players to

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with the Andromeda Galaxy numbers increase as you learn

players who have learned the hard way, we shouldn’t create

Rolling Thunder games published a series of rulebooks for

After finishing a read-through of the SuperNova manuals, some

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When learning a new installations and technologies,

orders a turn on INST and ANZ Suspense & Decision Magazine

Some of my most cherished I returned to the PBM hobby in

with your teammates to take character’s specialty. For

Middle-earth is a game that I The rulebook for Middle-earth is

When played incorrectly, it anyone to play. You will be

new player may drop from the positions in Middle-earth as it

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navies, combat, movement, and game information out there to

I had the idea to create a wiki my learnings on that project to

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mepbm.wiki, although I ended publisher Charles Mosteller. I

As with SuperNova, my hope is as forums, mailing lists, and

Learning by teaching doesn’t • Encyclopedia Galactica New

Raven Zachary returned to