Galaxy: Alpha [Intergalactic Games]

This is the entry for Galaxy: Alpha, a play by mail game from Intergalactic Games.

Known Empires That Once Populated Galaxy: Alpha

Warriors of the Light Eternal
Chimeran Panarchy (CHI)
Tetrad Shadow Warriors (TSW)
Imperial Klingon Empire (#135)
Empire of Screams (#192)
Templar Imperium Galactus (#169)
Guardians of the Ebon twilight (#192)
Demons of the Dark (#210)
Lords of Malnibonne (#213)
Regiments of Night (#227)
Flame of the Ebon Crystal (#298)
Archon Star Concordar (#441)
Kzinti Patriarchy (#495)
Federation Systems Alliance (#505)
Romulan Directorate (#511)
Warriors of the Shining Path (#526)
Death Stalker Imperium (#581)
Guardians of the Inner Circle (#594)
Draconis Combine (#601)
Genestealer Cult (#605)
Exalted Malefic Ascendancy (#650)
Disciples of the Shadow Path (#666)
Deathdroid Star Empire (#678)
Champions of the Blood God (#699)
Imperial Saracen Empire (#703)
Bloodwych Imperium (#705)
Voltron Defense Force (#709)
Kzinti Blood Empire (#729)
Followers of the Life Way (#847)
Order of St. Michael (#771)
Death Knights of Krynn (#792)
Terminator Star Legions (#808)
Followers of the Light Way (#847)
Paladins of Darkness (#862)
Imperium Infinitum (#863)
The Dominion of Perfect Absolution (#890)
Confederation of Star Transgressors (#894)
Knights of the Black Sabbath (#895)
Thorian Empire (#897)
Web of Black Fire (#900)

[quote=BJ Lockhart of InterGalactic Games on October 12th, 1995]
I've just learned of the existence of this group from some of the Dark
Lords, who feel it would be a good way to allow everyone access to the
playtest news(not everyone has access to AOL,or CI$)(except for the
Star League of course...). The IS playtest is now complete. All but
the player front ends have now been tested and should remain pretty
much the same. Check with your Alliance leaders for the details,or
e-mail me. The front ends are now being programmed,and I hope to have
the proto-types ready in the next two to three months,but IS being one
of the most complex upgrades we have been through over the last 12
years,it may take longer. When we do start,everyone will be in the
same Galaxy(a VERY large Galaxy) and the NulPoint/Subspace system will
be in place to make exploration/discovery quite "interesting"...<g> We
will start out with PBEM,and totally cut Snail mail out of the loop. I
hope to have the release version of the IS rules ready for
transmission in the next month,but to keep from being swamped by
requests you will have to contact your Alliance leaders for copies.
Anyone who does not have access to email will not be able to play the
new game. Sorry if that annoys a few of you,but thats the direction
Doug and I have decided to take the game. More later.

BJ Lockhart, InterGalactic Games[/quote]

Source: http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.pbm/browse_thread/thread/88c8166a86d7a6e7/e56ff2ba9b2180c1?lnk=gst&q=intergalactic#e56ff2ba9b2180c1

[quote=BJ Lockhart of InterGalactic Games on October 28th, 1995]
As I mentioned last time,the playtest for IS is now complete,and we
are currently writing the player front end programs. These will deal
with all aspects of Empire activities,as well as turn results through
e-mail data packets. I have decided the Death Globe race type WILL be
in the new game(one of ten player determined races) as there are quite
a few players from the old game that enjoyed playing that empire type.
I know thats going to annoy the Star League and Dark Lords,but thats
life. Galactic transport will involve the use of NulSpace points as
well as SubSpace transfers(as in the old game). But the NP system will
allow the development of rear areas,not to mention that the P.O.D's
will allow for real time intel reports on fleet movements. The fleet
and ground combat systems will remain as they are(for now...) as they
have reached a good balance that relies on fleet/ship design as much
as the number of ships you have to throw into a given system.
StarFighter tech will advance as a part of Battlecraft design(in that
sub research area),and thus will be much the same as StrikeFighter and
Interceptor tech. The NPE generation ;program worked out well for the
playtest,and so will also be used when we open IS. The GTC is now 13
NPE races that survived the War of Shadows(Daemon finally had all of
the segments of the penta-ring(its rumored that the T'sang were
involved) and managed to open the Hell Gate,and free the DarkOne from
its endless enforced slumber(imposed by the Que'lin and Genar at the
close of the Transdimenional War(Intrusion) in the Second Age). But
neither he nor his avatar was able to control it...Thus begins the
battle of the Three who are One,which leads to the current age more
than ten thousand years after the devastation of the War of Shadows).
Any way thats the current story line for those who have missed it.
More will be available from the GDB as the game progresses.
More later.

BJ Lockhart, InterGalactic Games.[/quote]

Source: http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.pbm/browse_thread/thread/8687ef2a650c9ef6/ef2206a0c70c753e?lnk=gst&q=intergalactic#ef2206a0c70c753e

Galaxy: Alpha featured these cryptic puzzle things, as part of the game. If you were able to solve the puzzles/riddles, then your empire could benefit from certain things that could be gained - things such as alien artifacts and what not. Here's an example of one sector report:

=======================================================================
XCOOR: 39. YCOOR: 1. GALACTIC MAP# 119.
STARNAME: EPSILON PSI 59886D

STAR TYPE: SUB GIANT CRYSTAL MINING FACTOR: .
SYSTEM CLASS: 17: MI MI S S A A A M M G G G G G G G G
RULING EMPIRE: UNIN
SYSTEM STATUS: UNINHABITED
PRELIMINARY SYSTEM REPORT: VHONGOR/4
Multi-Scans of this system have reported strange material profiles
from the indicated planet. Close range scans report the presence of
shattered ruins that match the profile of the Vhongor (see GDB ref).
Scans report the ruins of one of the Vhongors massive mega citadels
which has been utterly destroyed. Extremely ancient records seem to
link the Vhongor with the Guild of assassins. It would appear that
this location fell to the overwhelming forces of the Krulang Krangs
Dark Guard, during the Krangs
covert war against the Guild. Sealed deep within the shattered rubble
of this once mighty fortress has been found a Vhongor phase stasis
vault. It would appear that opening this vault will require the use
of a Vhongor polyphase tricrystal security key,or the solution of the
entry system which translates as "Dark madness blinds distant
minds,while near is far, the truth yet binds. Beneath Times bonds all
pales and cracks, while above the stars stand still and laugh,seek not
within for the outer path."

Neato! Were these reports given to all players, or just those who proved the system?

If I recall correctly, your ships were put into fleets, and you sent a fleet to a given system, which then generated the reports such as I posted above.

You could then gain additional reports, depending on what orders that you issued. Sometimes,trying to solve a puzzle, but botching the attempt, could end up with the star system detonating, obliterating everything - both artifact and your stuff.

You could also ask for a limited number of Galactic Data Base references (GDB ref), each turn, which would provide you more information on things that you encountered, such as race history of race references that you encountered during game play.

I only have a very few portions of various turns' results. At the top of one, I wrote #894 29/June/92. So, I was playing Galaxy: Alpha back in the year 1992, apparently. I didn't play it much. I wish that I had played it more, just to learn more about the history of the in-game races and empires.

If I recall correctly, Galaxy: Alpha turn results were divided into two basic parts. One was the narrative portions, such as Galactic Data Base references, and the other was more of the hard numbers stuff associated with a player's empire that they were playing in the game.

Here is one portion of a turn's results from Galaxy: Alpha, if you want to take a glimpse at it.

And here is an example of the other portion type of the turn results for Galaxy: Alpha. This type encompasses narratives for Galactic Data Base references for the game.

Here is the front cover of the Galaxy: Alpha rulebook.

According to issue # 38 (September/October 1989) of Paper Mayhem magazine, more than 7 months of redesign and reprogramming, and another 3 months for the empire re-set, Galaxy: Alpha was then running on a 4 megabyte Atari ST with two 60 megabyte hard drives. The software was written in "C," with sections of the player data base applications having been done with Regent Base II.

TWO 60MB drives? WOW. That is some serious power.

She Who Lives in Shadows Thanks you for leaving your Homeworld's coordinates on this primitive system for her espionage teams to locate. As you no doubt know by now 5 Alpha Class Battle Fleets and 1 Zate Class Transport Fleet with 3500 Ground Force Legions have already started to convert your population into followers of the Path.

Praise be to She and all followers of the Path... Oblivion to all who do not follow the Path!!!

So, Barzimeron, which empire did you control in Galaxy: Alpha? The Disciples of the Shadow Path?

Share your memories of the game with us, if you will.

LOL.. Yeah. God did I love that game. Still have a lot of my stuff. Some how I lost all my turns though. Loved reading those things.. Best part of a week was getting them in the mail.. And going crazy trying to solve the puzzles.. First one I ever tried was the Pi one.. Lost 4 systems before I really read the values..LOL. Boy did he like making you pay if you did not read/think...

The puzzles were all over my head. I solved one, I think, but only after a veteran player of the game gave me the correct solution to submit.

So, why not go through your "stuff," and provide us a list of what you still have. Do you have any of your old turns left, at all? Or are they all lost to the sands of intergalactic time?

GALACTIC DATABASE REF: PSI DRAGONS (general access)

The horrible mind blasting chaos creatures known as Psi Dragons are thought to be one of the many foul sorcery based weapons used by the Vor'Koon (Empire of Everlasting Darkness). Physical/Psi based weapons are useless against them due to their origins within the primal Chaos that swirls between the transfinite planes of the multiverse. Ancient records from those times report that Psi Dragons drover all beings around them into raving madness, and even disrupted the basic physical constraints of their surroundings by their very presence. These creatures are rumored to travel in a strange fashion that allows them to enter even sealed areas, through any angle within that area. Nothing further is currently known.

Here is an in-game message from the game moderator. It was contained within one set of turn results for the game of Galaxy: Alpha. For nostalgia's sake, former players of Galaxy: Alpha are invited to enjoy this small snippet from the past of play by mail gaming.

HI Charles, so how was you Xmas? As Mike may have mentioned I take two weeks off at Xmas(my only vacation during the year). Your attact against Scotts Star Base would have gone better if you had more Ground Force units (you had no reserves, so I couldn't send in any backups...). You can't capture a world with fleet assets only... You can destroy all installations from orbit but you need on-site spotters to call in orbital strikes. You lost all of your ground units to Scott's Warriors early in the battle. You also need to list the planet number and the exit fortress block from now on. My system can key on either X, Y. M, Starname or the index number (number and letter). The reason you need to list the starname and index is a back up (if you transpose even one number I can't find the system...) You made that mistake three (3) times this turn but because I had the starname and index I was able to find the systems you listed. I have no history for the Federation Systems Alliance (#505) Thomas Nelson didn't write one up. I can tell you that 505 is the largest Empire in Alpha galaxy (2000+ star systems) that's followed by #594(1500+) and then #135(1000+). Processing depends on your position in the two cycles. Alpha Cycle is run roughly every 2-3 weeks. Beta is run every 9-10 days. Alpha Empires on the Beta cycle are linked into my system software which keeps track of when the last turn was mailed out(and an average mail time for that area(plus 3 days). Each turns arrival date is also entered into the system. This determines in what order turns are processed, and which cycle they are processed upon. This can change form turn to turn. To stay on the Beta cycle, turns need to stay in their "slots" in the system or another Empire receives that "slot". Since I'm the only GM on this end, I have to make the best use of my time possible. Take it easy and have fun.

GALACTIC DATABASE REF: JYR'RIT (general access)

The ancient insectoid race known as the Jyr'rit are thought to have been one of founding members of the Assassins Guild. Scattered ancient records seem to indicate that just before the covert war between the Guild and the Houses of the Krulang Krang, the Jir'rit had developed a multi-space booster system that would have allowed a TSEC to destroy a system protected by what is known as a Matrix Shield. Ancient legends speak of the Jyr'rits travel to many extra dimensional locations, one of which is rumored to have lead to the development of this shield cracking technology.

Hey you guys have any Deathglobe or Sorcery turns.. I would LOVE to see what they got to play with..

[quote='Barzimeron' pid='1283' dateline='1313948465']
Hey you guys have any Deathglobe or Sorcery turns.. I would LOVE to see what they got to play with.[/quote]

I think that you and I are the only former Galaxy: Alpha players present on the site, Barzimeron.

What racial type was the empire that you played? Both of the empires that I played were Thinker races.

The cybernetic intelligence known as Omega the Life Destroyer is thought to have created all Death Globes currently known to exist in the Galaxy. Omega first appeared during the early cycles of the First Age. From whence it came, none knew, but soon its presence was felt as it created a large number of gigantic 1000 mile diameter Base Stars to house the cyber intelligence of its minions who later became known as Death Globes. Vast numbers of these metallic horrors were constructed by Omega, and then set to wipe the entire Galaxy free of all life. A vast number of races were destroyed in what was to be called the Cyber-Life War, and it was only the appearance of a Lord of Light battle fleet from Galaxy:Prime that turned back the tide of death and devastation that swept the Galaxy. Soon, Omega found that even its massed armadas of Death Globe led warcraft could not stand before the Lords battle fleet, and thus ordered all remaining Death Globes into power down mode, and attempted to flee this dimension through a Null Gate one of its research groups had found near the Galactic Core. Its logic was clear; with all remaining Death Globes powered down, it would be extremely difficult for even the Lords of Light to find and eliminate them all, and after a period of time, the Lords would lose interest and depart. Then it could return and execute its Prime Directive. But such was not to be. As Omega was entering the Null Gate, a Light Lord battle group appeared and opened fire, damaging the Null Gate and throwing Omega into a strange dimension with no means of return. This was more than ten million standard cycles in the past, and all thought Omega, if not destroyed, then exiled forever. But recent disturbing reports indicate that Omega has once more entered this dimension, and is seeking to carry out its Prime Directive. Due to the actions of Omega and its Death Globes in seeking the destruction of all life forms, they must collectively be classified as an Alpha+ security risk to the Realm of Stars.

The Brak-Tue of the Empire of the Eternal Flame of Truth are the self-proclaimed 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and have clashed with the forces of the Council of Chaos since the time of the Cyber-Life War. They have an ancient blood-feud with the Xythrons, and ever since the cataclysmic Battle of the Central Stars they have moved unceasingly to defeat them.

The Brak-Tue are an ursoid-based race. They stand approximately 3.5 meters tall and weigh more than 400 kilos. They are bipedal and have four arms which can work on separate tasks simultaneously.

The Brak-Tue society is based on an extremely rigid code of Honor known as The Walk of Fire. Any deviation from this code carries harsh penalties as dictated by the Book of the One. The society is highly highly group oriented and based upon twelve Clans. The Empire is ruled over by the Emperor, a patron chosen through both bloodlines and strenuous testing that is physically, mentally, and spiritually taxing. The hardest test that the Emperor must face is the Sham'pur, or the Marking of Fire. Through this the Emperor is marked, if he passes, with the favor of the One. Though the Emperor makes most decisions, not one of them is implemented with out a serious debate occurring within the Council of Light. This ensures that all aspects of the problem may be examined and thought out. However, due to the Ealk of Fire, most decisions are made on the timing of actions instead of what to do, and when the timing is decided upon, few forces can stop the might of the Brak-Tue's special Paladins.

The Brak-Tue have declared endless Jihads on the forces of Darkness and Chaos throughout the Galaxy in the attempt to preserve the forces of Order and Light. The Brak-Tue are fanatical in their service to the Light, and recent events within the Empire bode an even greater ill towards the servants of Darkness. With the coronation of the new Brak-Tue Emperor, many strange and mystical events have been reported by our spies. Even greater still, with the discovery of Patrol Central, most, if not all, of our spies have been purged from the Empire. Now the Emperor begins even stranger tasks, and the forces of Light that had remained scattered under the previous ruler are combining again. Due to the Realms business, if certain aspects became known to the current Emperor, their code of Honor would most definitely be violated and they would surely declare Jihad upon the Realm. This would interfere with the orderly conduct of business so the Brak-Tue must be considered a Beta+ security risk to the Realm of Stars.

The following players ran the Elder/Elite Empires of Galaxy: Alpha:

Realm of Darkness
Xythron
Insectoid
MA -10
Elder
Player: Unknown

Shadowflame Imperium
Malbane
Reptile
MA -15
Elite
Player: Mike Wise

Empire of the Eternal Truth
Brak Tue
Mammal
MA +10
Elder
Player: Brad Lampl

Zholgon Imperium
Zholgons
Amoeboid
MA 0
Elder
Player: Russ Cairns

Empire of Ice
Kar-Nak
Crystalline
MA -5
Elder
Player: Robert Mole

Interstellar Federation
Keysx
Crustacean
MS +5
Elder
Bryan Baker