BMK BMK PPPPPPP BBBBBBB MMMMMMMM PP PP BB BB MM MM MM PP PP BB BB MM MM MM PPPPPPP BBBBBBB MM MM MM PP BB BB MM MM MM PP BB BB MM MM MM PP BBBBBBB MM MM MM P.B.M. - A Source of Fun, or Just a Form of Junk Mail and Money Loss? Article by The Bitmap Kid. (The Surrey Gameslord.) BMK BMK What IS P.B.M.? P.B.M., or Play by Mail under its full name, is basically a gaming system similar to a Role Playing Game but one that is played through the mail. There are varying types of PBM games. Each can be run in a totally different way, but this depends on the company. Most PBM companies are based in the USA. It is normally still possible to play games from the USA if you live in another country, but payment can be difficult. However some of the larger U.S. based companies do have branches in the UK to which you can pay your money. The concept is simple: each player interacts with the game and other players by sending written instructions for each turn to the game company. The PBM company processes the turns, normally with a computer and then reports the results back to the players. So the company generally acts as a moderator, guide and referee. Your role in the game will vary according to the game. There are many different scenarios for PBM games; it doesn't have to be Dungeons and Monsters all the time. You might be a king of a large empire, a starship captain, a chieftain of a nomadic tribe. But, of course, there will always be a group of magic-users and fighters to control - the list is endless! How much does it cost? Normally, playing a PBM is not too expensive, but it depends on what game you play, how much the rules are, and for how long you play it. Most companies' catalogues are free. The catalogue normally contains a quick explanation of that particular company's system of play, and, of course, a list and description of their games. The catalogue normally gives the prices, the number of players playing in the same game as you, and the turn frequency (how much time a player has to send in his or her instructions for the company). Once you have your catalogue you can choose your game and send off for the rules pack. The rules normally cost about œ1 or œ2 but they are sometimes free. Obviously, the rules contain all you need to know to play the game. Start-up: This is a fee for starting a new game, this is usually about œ2.50 and is only paid once per game. On top of that are turn fees. Every time you send in a turn you must pay a fee, the turn fee. This price also varies dramatically for different games and companies, but it normally costs about œ2. The amount you owe a company is kept in an account. After a few weeks or so you send the company the amount you owe them. Over a year, when playing an average priced game at a slow frequency, the cost COULD be around œ15-25. How DO you play a PBM game? As I said, this can vary, but normally instructions to the company are made up with codes. (Reader: CODES?) Yea, codes. Remember those old, okay, not THAT old, computer text games that you type in for North for inventory? Well, playing a PBM game is a bit like that. On the next screen is a mock reply or turn card, I'll talk you through it: **************************************************************** Blarr, Blarr and Blarr PBM Name: __________________________________ Game No: ______________ Group No: __________ Account No: ________ Payment: œ__________ Order 1: ____________ _____________ ____________ ____________ Order 2: ____________ _____________ ____________ ____________ Order 3: ____________ _____________ ____________ ____________ Order 14:____________ _____________ ____________ ____________ Order 15:____________ _____________ ____________ ____________ **************************************************************** Okay, at the top we have Name: Well that's a difficult one don't you think? Game No: This is, (un)strangely the number of your game! You are given this number when you sign up for a new game. Group No: Group Number is, as with above, the number of your group or party, you are also given this number when you start a new game. Account No: The number of your account with the PBM company! Payment: You only have to fill this in if you enclose money to pay for your turns. Order 1-15 etc: This is where you put your order codes. Each line uses one order. Orders: As I said, orders normally are a series of codes, but they can just be words as well. Okay, say you wanted one of your party, Jole, to cast a fireball spell on an Orc standing to the East. One system is to do it is like this: Jole, FIREBALL, 3, 6 Fireball is easy. The 3 means East, because East is 2x45 degree angles from North which is 1. In other words, 1 = North, 2 = North-East, 3 = East, 4 = South-East etc. The 6 is how much magical power you use in the spell, the more power you use, the more likely the spell is to take effect. Another system to do the same thing could be like this: C - Jole - FIREBALL - ORC - 6 The 'C' means cast spell. Jole - the member of your party. Fireball - the spell. ORC - the victim. 6 - The magic power used. A similar system is used for all actions. PBM could be described as a sort of Dungeons and Dragons where you communicate with the Game Master with letters! In answer to the title 'P.B.M. - A source of fun, or just a form of junk mail and money loss? ' well, this I cannot answer - you either love it or hate it. Some people are addicted to it, playing several games at a time, while others won't touch it. It's up to YOU to decide if you like it or not, experiment with different companies, some are better than others. I have mentioned the most common system of RPG play, but, hehe, there is another! A very rare sort of play, a system sooo good you'll be addicted after your first game! (Well, almost.) I, The @+Bitmap Kid, run a PBM service ... ~(What's this? A personal ad? @~- Sue) ... As I was saying, I run an (unprofessional) PBM service, instead of using codes, players just TELL me what they want to do. In MY system, I, as a brilliant writer, write a part of a sort of story that includes the player. The player then writes to me telling me what they want to do and I'll write a bit more of the story! The rules are easy and one of my players said that my game was better than a professional's! (However, as I do not use massive, sophisticated computers, I can only handle a few players at a time!) I have given you only a small guide to the world of PBM, and I am no professional at PBMs. PBM gaming is brilliant fun if you like it. But if you find it irritating, and don't like it, it CAN be a form of junk mail and money loss. However, there are thousands of PBM gamers who would say you'd be crazy not to give it a go! If you would like the addresses of a couple PBM companies or would just like to find out some more info, write to me, THE BITMAP KID at the normal SynTax address: The Bitmap Kid, c/o SynTax, 9 Warwick Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 6LJ. @+I'm sure Sue will pass on your letters, won't you? ~(Err, well, @~okay! - Sue) Bye!