A Nuclear Disagreement

Comrades,

I have signed up for Comrade Loomis' capitalist offer of a game of Nuclear Destruction for the Soviet-ea price of just ten cents per turn. It is an outrage that he does not price this game in rubles!

The time for talk has passed. The crisis in Ukraine dictates that PBM gamers cannot be trusted. We reserve the nuclear option.

Your surrender is preferable. By all means, flee to your bunkers! You probably lack the strength to push the button, anyway.

Rumors abound that my new assistant editor, Ixnay the Insane, plots a coup d'état, even now. And to think, I treated him as a son - not a very good son, but a son, nonetheless. He has bungled all of his prior attempts at wresting power. I welcome his pending surrender.

It is fortunate that site user Walter is a peacenik, and could not bring himself to avail himself of the nuclear option. I intend to utilize him to mop up the radioactive debris that will follow, in the event that my fellow PBM gamers do not submit to this directive.

And what of this McDowell fellow? Does this Texan lack the gumption for nuclear conflagration? Long has he spent consorting with elves and gnomes. The temptation to target him is great! It is regrettable that he must first seek approval from the dwarven queen, ere he can respond to this challenge. Alamo mushrooms, anyone?

I go, now, to contemplate the architectural superiority of the Kremlin.

Big Ivan

Who else is going to sign up for this game of Nuclear Destruction?

I'm up for it. Where do I sign? I still have a copy of the rules from a rules-pack I ordered off of FB decades ago. Have they changed at all?

[quote='ixnay' pid='3229' dateline='1399409658']
I'm up for it. Where do I sign? I still have a copy of the rules from a rules-pack I ordered off of FB decades ago. Have they changed at all?
[/quote]

I don't know if the rules have changed, since you received the rules pack in question.

http://flyingbuffalo.com/nucdest.htm

To sign up, contact Rick Loomis and tell him that you want the ten cents per turn offer that appeared in Suspense & Decision magazine, Issue # 6, in the PBM Activity Corner.

Has anyone played before? The site says the orders can be filled out in 5 minutes, but how long does one usually spend talking with the other players?

Is it multiple pages of emails per player every day, or is it a few emails a day, a few a week?

I have established an account and wait for the next bit of info on what happens next. Are the rules really just the one page? I went to the strategy articles link which had a one page article that was apparently written 17 years ago. That's all I've found. Is there a map? What are the major and minor countries? I was wondering about when the game might start or some other info but only found this on the rules page: "Please allow up to 10 weeks before asking why your game hasn't started yet - we don't start a new game until we get enough requests to make a reasonable game. Once your game has started, we will send you an account statement with every turn; when your account has less than one turn fee in it, it is time to send more money." Then the lone strategy article says, "The game only costs $2.50 per turn, and the setup fee is $5. The complete rules (the one page) are here on the web at ND RULES.. Turns are run every three weeks, to give non-email players a chance to exchange diplomacy."

I'm just saying, that's what I know so far. One page of rules, one short article by the game designer from about 17 years ago. A statement not to ask about the game status for at least 10 weeks. I didn't see a Sign Up link (although there is a "Send Us Money" link) on the website or a player forum for any discussion. Am I missing something(s)?

Comrades, I see that you have crawled out from your bunkers. I welcome you with vodka and caviar.

Or, perhaps it is with Pepsi and M&M's that I welcome you, but nonetheless, welcome to your pending destruction!

Just sent in my $10. I figured that ought to cover the game for a while, with this 10c/turn $5/setup deal. And if I get knocked out with money still in my account, I might finally try Starweb.

If anyone is still considering joining -- just let them know about the special deal so we can all get in on the same game.

The capitalist buffalo warriors at Flying Buffalo, Inc. send word that our account, crafted from the finest Soviet iron, has been accounted at their Amerikan games foundry in the Arizona Territory.

In the Republic of Texas, McDowell's knees wobble from nuclear fright! Know, Richard, that I will maintain constant vigilance toward your forces. Give me no cause to rain down atomic BBQ fire upon your ancient head!

This shall not be a game for those with weak stomachs. Stand clear, those of a cowardly heritage! Seek refuge in a Kremlin-approved shelter, for your children's sake, if not for your own.

So how is the game going? Anyone knocked out of the game yet?

I think that Rick McDowell dropped out, before it started.

Turn # 1 processes on July 8th.

I am trying to do my turn orders for this game, tonight.

Turn orders have been sent, with two days to spare!

Mine as well.

I'll C you Burn, Maximus! (ICBM)

;-)

[quote='ixnay' pid='3518' dateline='1404705634']
Mine as well.

I'll C you Burn, Maximus! (ICBM)

;-)[/quote]

Your warmonging tomfoolery shall not prevail. The world will not succumb to such antics waged in such an incompetent manner.

I didn't even get assigned Russia, so now, it seems that the Soviet persona must fade and depart the stage.

I received confirmation by e-mail, today, that my orders for turn # 1 for this game of Nuclear Destruction has been received by the staff at Flying Buffalo, Inc..

Cower in fear, mongrel dog!

Turns came back!

Some cryptic messages broadcast to all, and a slew of one-on-one messages from various other players. It's such a generic game, with all positions starting exactly equally, and no real need to "explore" much, that I wish the turnaround were one week instead of two.

I adopted a certain tactic with regard to relations with the non-player minor countries. I spied on a few and saw some surprising investments made by other players. And I noticed that at least one player actually sold a factory, which was highly unexpected. They made good money, but money is only good for buying off minor countries. Actual production of missiles and ABMs comes from factories alone. This leads me to suspect that someone is going to declare war on turn 2 (the first turn in which it is allowed).

I had considered doing this myself, in fact, but all the players are equal. Who do you knock out first? What will that do for your relations with the others? Do "relations" even matter in an every-man-for-himself game? I remember launching an unprovoked turn 1 attack on an arbitrary target in Battle Plan many years ago, and found the results to be disappointing -- my target wasn't utterly destroyed, but crippled badly enough to most likely be out of the running for the win. So he threw everything he had at me in vengeance, which took ME down a few pegs, while the other players watched and grew their positions.

This game might be different -- Rick said early wars tend to lead to longer games. We shall see...

So who is winning?