02-15-2022, 03:10 PM
There are two genres of PBM games - open ended and closed ended. Closed ended game has a set of victory conditions and/or runs for a finite time. Open ended games have no victory conditions and some have run for decades.
A good introduction to PBM games is Galac-Tac, a closed ending, fully computer moderated game. You can have them set up a private game where it is you against computer opponents. You can set it to run as frequently as you wish and it lets you learn the game.
The granddaddy of all PBM games is Star Web ( http://rickloomispbm.com/ ), a closed-ended game. Developed by Rick Loomis, it's been available since 1970. Due to the death of founder Rick Loomis, the company was recently split, with the Flying Buffalo brand and the RPG and other games sold, the PBM staying with Rick Loomis games. Star Web is a fun game, I played it quite a bit in the mid-70s to mid-80s.
I'm in three open ended games. Midgard, you are familiar with, a cities and wandering tribes game that is in late beta test.
A similar game, TribeNet ( https://tribenet.com.au/ )has been running for a long time and is mostly computer moderated with some hand moderation. The game is free for the first six months, then half price for the next six. It has a pretty active Discord and they have a mentor system where an experienced player helps you get started. I recently joined and it seems very solid.
SuperNova ( http://www.rollingthunder.com/supernova/SNFTP.htm ) is a space exploration game that I have been in for two years. It's been running in the current form (Draco galaxy) for quite a while, and a previous version (Andromeda) for even longer. Turns come every two weeks and are very detailed. New players are set up away from established players so that they have a chance to grow.
For some pbm games, access to a spreadsheet is pretty much required. There is a lot of data to record and manage in them, especially the open-ended ones. Galac-Tac has an order entry program that manages the data for you.
A good introduction to PBM games is Galac-Tac, a closed ending, fully computer moderated game. You can have them set up a private game where it is you against computer opponents. You can set it to run as frequently as you wish and it lets you learn the game.
The granddaddy of all PBM games is Star Web ( http://rickloomispbm.com/ ), a closed-ended game. Developed by Rick Loomis, it's been available since 1970. Due to the death of founder Rick Loomis, the company was recently split, with the Flying Buffalo brand and the RPG and other games sold, the PBM staying with Rick Loomis games. Star Web is a fun game, I played it quite a bit in the mid-70s to mid-80s.
I'm in three open ended games. Midgard, you are familiar with, a cities and wandering tribes game that is in late beta test.
A similar game, TribeNet ( https://tribenet.com.au/ )has been running for a long time and is mostly computer moderated with some hand moderation. The game is free for the first six months, then half price for the next six. It has a pretty active Discord and they have a mentor system where an experienced player helps you get started. I recently joined and it seems very solid.
SuperNova ( http://www.rollingthunder.com/supernova/SNFTP.htm ) is a space exploration game that I have been in for two years. It's been running in the current form (Draco galaxy) for quite a while, and a previous version (Andromeda) for even longer. Turns come every two weeks and are very detailed. New players are set up away from established players so that they have a chance to grow.
For some pbm games, access to a spreadsheet is pretty much required. There is a lot of data to record and manage in them, especially the open-ended ones. Galac-Tac has an order entry program that manages the data for you.