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Inter-Galactic Manhunt: Tracking Down Those Who Stole The Secret Of Play By Mail
#1
GrimFinger
08-06-2010, 02:53 AM


Through out the eons, the Masters of Shadow have been involved in many of the great espionage actions through out the galaxy. From the theft of the Reality Sphere from the ultra guarded Maze of Madness of the Tar-EE-Srang to the assassination of the High Sorceror of the Vor'Koon during the Psi Wars, the claws of the Krulang-Krang have been suspected in many of the greatest covert operations through out the history of the galaxy.

- Excerpt from a Galactic Data Base Reference entry from the Play-By-Mail game Galaxy: Alpha



Across the dimensions of time and space, the icons of PBM's halcyon days have scattered to the wind - dispersing themselves in an attempt to hide the dark and arcane mysteries of Play-By-Mail from those who would come after them.

With them, they ferried something called "The Secret." It is that which we seek, and it is that which we shall have.

One of the greatest culprits of this bygone era is a figure so notorious, so nefarious, so utterly influential, that his name is only spoken now in hushed whispers in dark corners. I am referring, of course, to that towering behemoth of PBM infamy, that galactic sultan of PBM finesse, and that arch-lord of the PBM universe - Gary Smith.

Yes, that Gary Smith. The Gary Smith of Andon Games. The very same Gary Smith of AndCon. He's changed his appearance. He's changed his wardrobe. He's even changed his age. But, nonetheless, it was to no avail.

For he has been discovered!

He shall be interrogated.

He will divulge much.

Of this, we are certain.

He has already stirred in your midst. He has already visited the site, here. Were you able to detect his presence? Were you aware that he lurked right under your nose? Were you ready when the moment came?

If not, then you are are deemed unworthy.

All that you can do at this point is to gird yourself for renewal. You must renew your sense of PBM purpose, and you must not let down your guard, again. To do so will incur great cost, enormous sacrifice. Eternal vigilance must be your creed.

When at last we captured him, all that he could say was, "I've reviewed your website and have to thank you for the blast of pleasant memories that even thinking about PBM provided me."

Pleasant memories, indeed! We shall soon see just exactly how pleasant that Mr. Smith finds the interrogation to be.

And if Gary Smith can't hide forever, then what hope do the rest of them really have of evading us in perpetuity?

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Walter
08-06-2010, 04:15 AM


Come on Gary!
You can tell a bit more about the past!
What happened to AndCon?

And what happened to Family Wars? Always wanted to play that game, but I was to busy playing Super Vorcon Wars and Knights of Avalon at that time.
Both games had Paul Hartman as GM, with his company the Pbm Express.

You did run Family Wars did you?

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GrimFinger
08-06-2010, 05:52 AM


Relax, Walt. I think that you'll be hearing more from Gary in the very near future.

Heel, Walter. Heel!

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Walter
08-06-2010, 06:26 PM


Blush I am to curious I guess!!Angel

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GrimFinger
09-13-2010, 07:14 AM


PBM icon Phil Chenevert, overseer of Louisiana's bayou of PBM gaming and regular contributor to Paper Mayhem magazine, is unable to hide any longer. PlayByMail.Net has tracked him down in one of his countless lairs scattered across bayou country, and I fully intend to gore him through with an interview.

Already, he has consented to an interview, and there will likely be much that is PBM related to drag out of him. Interview questions should be sent out over the next day or two.

It is doubtful that he expected us to confront him so suddenly and without warning.

Let this be a lesson to all of the PBMinati. We're coming for you!
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#2
I found the above editorial from the previous forums in a Google cache. I debated with myself over whether to resurrect any of the old discussion threads, such as the one above, and I finally decided that I would do it on a case-by-case basis.

To update site users, I have never heard back from either Gary Smith or Phil Chenevert, since, and have received no interview responses from them, for the interview questions that I sent to them.

Maybe one or both of them will still come through for us. It would be nice, if they did, although I can't compel any of them to actually follow through with interviews.
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#3
I remember seeing some mention of an interview with Vern Holford on Empyrean Challenge? Has that ever been posted?
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#4
(01-07-2011, 06:20 PM)ixnay Wrote: I remember seeing some mention of an interview with Vern Holford on Empyrean Challenge? Has that ever been posted?

I managed to dig it up and post it again. I also posted the interview responses that Jay Colombo sent to me, as well.

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#5
(01-07-2011, 06:39 PM)GrimFinger Wrote:
(01-07-2011, 06:20 PM)ixnay Wrote: I remember seeing some mention of an interview with Vern Holford on Empyrean Challenge? Has that ever been posted?

I managed to dig it up and post it again. I also posted the interview responses that Jay Colombo sent to me, as well.

THANK YOU for posting this! Fascinating to read about both the ECW project and the ancient history of EC! I would love to hear more -- maybe Vern and Jay could be persuaded to answer follow-up questions here on the forum??
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#6
I managed to make contact with Jack Everitt, today. Jack, as some of you may well remember, is a key figure in PBM game programming history. He also tells me that he still has a collection of over 450 PBM games. I will seek clarification on whether he is referring to rulebooks, old turn results, or both, where that 450 figure is concerned.

It was great to hear back from Jack, and especially so soon after I attempted to initiate contact with him - a same-day response.
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#7
Fortune shines on us at PlayByMail.Net, this day, as fresh on the heels of hearing from Jack Everitt, I now receive word from the famed Rich Van Ollefen of Quest of the Great Jewels fame.

Rich has consented to doing an email interview. Rich conveyed unto me that he is no longer active in PBM, but that he would be willing to share some reminiscences from his play by mail days of old.
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