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dmg-0139
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news.txt
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1997-04-16
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3KB
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53 lines
PLAY BY MAIL
============
Just in case anyones not been paying attention over the last year, or
perhaps are new to computers in general and postal gaming in particular.
I'll give a quick resume of Play by Mail (PBM) gaming.
PBMs are games where the players are scattered around the country and take
part by sending their turns to a central point by post. The Games Master
then processes these and returns the results to the players.
In many instances a computer is used to calculate the results of a players
actions and decides how he does in the game and against the other players.
The action takes place over a 'game week' which is normally 10 - 14 days.
The games can be on any subject whatsoever. Sport, warfare, crime,
fantasy, mythology are only some of the subjects covered. They can be
serious or lighthearted, plausible or over the top, whatever game is
played the participants usually have lots of fun.
Because the game is played with mostly human players the gameplay is never
the same twice. It is also possible, and permitted, to form alliances or
ambushes. Backstabbing is always a real possibility and should be expected
on the next turn.
Hot Rod Racing is such a game and the author Andrew Hudson has given us a
free place in the next game. The action takes place around hot rod racing
circuits where you start off with a limited amount of money to buy a
clapped out car in which you hope to transform into the coolest, meanest
rodster in the circuit.
Along the way there is plenty of opportunity to increase the cars
performance by buying new engines, fitting larger petrol tanks or tuning
up everything in sight. All this costs and you have to win races so that
your sponsors stay sweet.
You can win races by simply having the fastest car, the best pit crew and
the best race tactics. Or, you can recruit a load of yobs to create
trouble at the race meeting and knobble your competitors.
Care should be taken though as the other players may combine to stop you,
on the other hand you could form an alliance with others until you get the
upper hand and then its bye, bye suckers........
We will be playing Hot Rod Racers and reporting on our progress in future
issues of STEN. Watch this space.
DAVE MOONEY
~~~OOOO~~~