Some of you may know me from my long history in hypothetical history.

I am an OLD war-game fanatic, passionate about military history and science fiction; both reading and gaming. I am currently the editor for the Cluster Wars manual site at http://empyreanchallenge.com/ECWxManual/.

I also have recently setup my own website to help propagate some of my ideas and reasoning for making changes and improvements to Cluster Wars. Also to serve my Clan in World of Tanks. You can find my website here, it is a work in progress only being up for less than 2 weeks. http://www.darthenergy.com/home.html

I am also using cyberboard to design and eventually moderate a large WWII era hypothetical wargame called Nine Nations at War.

Let me know if you may be interested in any of the above topics.

Sincerely,

Darth Pedro - "If you need an enemy. I am he."

There was some issue with this website loading, when I arrived home, this afternoon.

My web host fixed the problem, within thirty-nine minutes of me reporting it via a support ticket. The problem was a bad handler, whatever that is.

Sorry for any inconvenience that anyone may have experienced. It was php related, I think. Just not sure what prompted it.

What are your PBM plans for the weekend?

Me, I've got a few things I hope to do:
- put together my Cluster Wars turn early
- see if I can get back into Rennaissance
- read over the extensive stuff on Fallen Empires and Hyborian War and try to decide whether to sign up for one
- look into the Diplomacy community and possibly join a game

I may even get into development again, depending on what I have time for...

Welcome to Harn

http://www.chaostrail.com/

Chaos Trail is the fantasy Play–by–Mail / Play–by–Email roleplaying game based in the world of Aona, centred around the mysterious magiocracy of Harn.

It's easy to play and even easier to become engrossed in- Chaos Trail is all about the stories and characters within the game, and isn't tied down with complex rules, making it possible for players and their characters to get quickly involved and in the thick of things.

Chaos Trail has been going in various forms since 1993 and originated from a tabletop RPG campaign that ran from 1991 to 1993. These days, Chaos Trail is set in the world of Aona, created by fantasy author Simon Williams. You can check out his site here.

http://www.simonwilliamsauthor.com/

There are also a series of novels set within the same world- the first one has been published and can be previewed and bought here.

http://www.completelynovel.com/books/obl...ead-online

Probably best described as dark fantasy with futuristic and gothic elements, the sheer longevity of Chaos Trail has allowed it to evolve over the years into a rich and varied tapestry of history, geography, cultures and societies.

I'm just wondering whether we have the ability, and for that matter the storage capacity, to start putting some resources against the Wiki from old games.

For example, I scanned the Realms of Fantasy rulebook at work (shh!) earlier this week with the idea of popping it into the Wiki as the company I played it through (Australian Wizard - aka Kevin Flynn) has an entry with a sub-entry for that game. Before I attempt to go any further I figured I'd best ask if that is ok.

I have quite a few other rule books, some old turns, and some terrific resources like The World Beyond, which was an attempt by some Aussie PBM companies to band together and create their own little PBM fanzine/ad collection.

So is that practical and within the spirit of what the site is for?

Penguin Dip #1
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzines/penguin1.pdf

Penguin Dip #2
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzines/penguin2.pdf

Penguin Dip #3
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzines/penguin3.pdf

Penguin Dip #4
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzines/penguin4.pdf

Penguin Dip #5
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzines/penguin5.pdf

Penguin Dip #6
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzines/penguin6.pdf

Penguin Dip #7
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzines/penguin7.pdf

Penguin Dip #8
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzines/penguin8.pdf

Penguin Dip #9
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzines/penguin9.pdf

Penguin Dip #10
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzin...guin10.pdf

Penguin Dip #11
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzin...guin11.pdf

Penguin Dip #12
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzin...guin12.pdf

Penguin Dip #13
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzin...guin13.pdf

Penguin Dip #14
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzin...guin14.pdf

Penguin Dip #15
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzin...guin15.pdf

Penguin Dip #16
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzin...guin16.pdf

Penguin Dip #17
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzin...guin17.pdf

Penguin Dip #18
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzin...guin18.pdf

Penguin Dip #19
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzin...guin19.pdf

Penguin Dip #20
http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzin...guin20.pdf

For some time, now, I have given thought to creating a new PBM magazine, one whose primary focus is the postal genre of gaming. Would such an undertaking be worth whatever time, energy, and effort would be required to get it up and off the ground and published?

Honestly, I don't know. But, what I do know is that I would certainly like to try.

What would go in it, that I don't already post here on the PlayByMail.Net website? Again, I don't know. Maybe that's the challenge - perhaps the biggest challenge of all, for me, personally.

What I do know is that I don't want it to simply be a compilation of material already posted on the website here. Sure, now and again, we could inter-splice a few articles. But, by and large, what I hope to aim for would be original material, not just a rehash of existing material.

Both Carol Mulholland and David Webber, the former editors of former PBM magazines, Flagship and Paper Mayhem, respectively, have been on my mind, of late. I have been torn by the dilemma of which of the two of them that I would like to commemorate the first issue of this new PBM magazine in honor of.

Unfortunately, David passed away a few years back. Carol had a stroke, a while back, but she is still with us. Over the years, many individuals - countless individuals, perhaps - have played a pivotal role in the development and progression of the postal genre of gaming. Yet, because the focus of this particular undertaking is the creation of a new PBM magazine, I believe it to be especially appropriate for the maiden issue of this new publication to be figures closely associated with PBM magazines from the past.

Even that narrow category would properly have many names associated with it. Yet, even still, it is Paper Mayhem and Flagship that I, personally, have the longest first-hand association with.

The very first issue of any magazine holds special significance - for those who publish them, if no one else. Likewise, such holds true in the current instance, with the first issue of this new PBM magazine, as well.

And, for the very reason that the first issue holds special significance - extra special significance, if you will, all the more reason then, I think, for the first issue to be dedicated in honor of more than one person.

I could easily see either David or Carol as being properly deserving of having the first issue dedicated in their honor. That's not the part that troubles me. Rather, the thing that I have difficulty digesting is publishing a first issue of a new PBM magazine, and either of those two individuals not being paid tribute to.

So, rather than pick one or the other, I choose to pick both. This is one instance where we can have our cake and eat it, too.

That said, I really do not think that a proper first issue of a new PBM magazine is something that I can achieve alone, without assistance from others.

However much PBM gaming may have fallen by the way along the years, nonetheless, it remains indisputable that a great many warriors well indoctrinated in PBM lore remain among our number. Now, whether they - whether we - choose to share part of our PBM gaming selves with others in the form and format of a new PBM magazine, well, that remains to be seen.

I have not yet decided on a name for this new PBM magazine, and neither have I decided on a publication date.

What I have decided, however, is to give it a go.

For ease of dissemination, which might prove to be helpful to the PBM hobby a a whole, electronic format for this new magazine is imperative, I think.

However, for nostalgia's sake, as well as for advertising purposes, I believe that print on demand will suffice to facilitate placing an actual, physical copy of this new PBM magazine into people's actual, literal hands.

Others who might undertake such an undertaking as this, I fully realize might well do things an entirely different way. I understand that. I accept that. I respect that.

However, like the PBM magazines that came before, as each of them did things their way, this new PBM magazine will have to chart its own course. We'll have to find our own way.

I invite each and every last one of you, you Scions of PBM's Ever-Lasting Legacy - to join me on this journey into the future of PBM gaming.

Whether time proves this venture to be cursed, blessed, or neither, I nonetheless believe that the time is right to move forward with this project.

So as it is written, so let it be done!

Many PBM roads lead to Sam - Sam Roads, that is, director of Harlequin Games (Legends) and Game Systems International (the Middle Earth PBM folks). He also plays in a rock band and volunteers to help depressed people - you'd think he'd help me, but I'm way too far gone.

With all those hats to wear, it's astounding that Sam has had time to write a graphic novel called Kristo, which tells the tale of the Count of Monte Cristo set in Stalinist Russia.

I helped him shape some of the dialog, so not only is the dialog pretty good, but the novel itself is damn good, and Sam has nearly reached his funding goal on Kickstarter to get it published:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samr...phic-novel

Why not have a look? You can pledge as little as a single British pound (worth about $1.50). Sam provided a teaser to help you decide:

=====

When the Nobel Laureate Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was only a baby, his father Isaak died in a hunting accident.

Really, comrade?

Then explain how we come to be in possesion of a copy of "The Confession of Isaak Solzhenitsyn", written in 1951, thirty years after his death.

A document judged so inflamatory that it has remained sealed by order of the N.K.V.D. for the past fifty years, only coming to light after the death of Aleksandr.

=====

You could almost make a PBM game out of that. Go pledge!

-- Bob McLain

I just realized I had not posted one of these. I'm Glenn Harrold, started in PBM with a Flying Buffalo Star Web game back in the 70's, then in the late 70's tried (and stayed) in Schubel & Son's Tribes of Crane.

I continued off and on in PBM when I was able. I was in the Army throughout that time, finally retiring in 2003 after 35 years. Most of the time I was deployed overseas, so frequently could not be in a game, and frequent moves also messed with my gaming.

I met some great people in PBM, both players and GMs.

Now I'm retired, sort of. I have 3 kids who will be freshmen this year, one in High School, one in college here in Texas, and one in NYU PolyTech.

I just sent in my start-up for Fallen Empires, and look forward to the experience.

Glenn

Been a while. I used to own Bolt Publications and was EIC of The Nuts & Bolts of PBM (then Gaming).... It has been awhile..!