Again, I did not mean to offend anyone, and I stated that up front. I recognized that I had the same need, and I found a way to take care of it that worked for me to a certain extent. Some of the current and previous players in the game are/were programmers, and found ways to create programs that met their needs. I'm not a programmer.
As far as what is the game about, that includes planning, detailed production, resource use, and population dynamics - it is NOT a typical 4X game. Different people like different details in their games, and EC/CW is one of a very few that are made for people who like this detail. There are many games that meet the typical non-detailed 4X mechanism, and frankly, many of them have now gone visual for playing either in a real-time, or in short-time turn based format. People who like that format have many other places to look, and typically either don't look, or don't stay with EC/CW. I love the concept of PBM games, but there aren't many out there that have a mechanism that appeals to me.
I will grant that the order writer allows for huge, or even catastrophic mistakes, errors, or fat-fingers. I recognize that an error checker would be helpful, but didn't want to pressure the moderator to deal with it in the short term, as he is correcting other details. I do have to say that the moderator has been equitable about fixing the things that are truly catastrophic to a player's position, and letting you learn from the lesser ones. I myself have said in the past that one should be defeated by other players, and not by the order writer. While I still agree with that statement, I try to play more carefully now.
As far as what may have led to a decline in PBM players, I think you might find that many left because of age, some left because of cost (although running a game costs money), and the younger generations can play many games for free, or can play games (for money even) that offer more instant gratification rather than requiring the patience that goes with the PBM format.
As far as what is the game about, that includes planning, detailed production, resource use, and population dynamics - it is NOT a typical 4X game. Different people like different details in their games, and EC/CW is one of a very few that are made for people who like this detail. There are many games that meet the typical non-detailed 4X mechanism, and frankly, many of them have now gone visual for playing either in a real-time, or in short-time turn based format. People who like that format have many other places to look, and typically either don't look, or don't stay with EC/CW. I love the concept of PBM games, but there aren't many out there that have a mechanism that appeals to me.
I will grant that the order writer allows for huge, or even catastrophic mistakes, errors, or fat-fingers. I recognize that an error checker would be helpful, but didn't want to pressure the moderator to deal with it in the short term, as he is correcting other details. I do have to say that the moderator has been equitable about fixing the things that are truly catastrophic to a player's position, and letting you learn from the lesser ones. I myself have said in the past that one should be defeated by other players, and not by the order writer. While I still agree with that statement, I try to play more carefully now.
As far as what may have led to a decline in PBM players, I think you might find that many left because of age, some left because of cost (although running a game costs money), and the younger generations can play many games for free, or can play games (for money even) that offer more instant gratification rather than requiring the patience that goes with the PBM format.