WORLD CONQUEST PBM/PBEM FAQ From: "Bill Rapp" <conquest@dnai.com> Date: Wed, 08 Jul 1998 00:00:00 +0000 This FAQ is designed to answer some of the more frequently asked questions that have been asked about our wargame, WORLD CONQUEST. As of 7/1/98, we have over 40 - 12 player games running simultaneously, and have played over 300 games since 1989! New games start every month. 1) What is World Conquest (WC)? 2) What is WCView? 3) Is WCView needed to play WC? 4) How is WC played via email? 5) What are "Head-to-Head" (H2H) games? 6) What are 12 player games? 7) How are game turns submitted? 8) How often are WC games processed? 9) How do I get started? 10) Installing WCView? 11) How much does WC cost? 12) Where I can I learn more about WC? ____________________________________________________________________________ _____ 1) WHAT IS WORLD CONQUEST (WC)? WC is a WWII era wargame of strategy, tactics, and diplomacy that can be played by 1-12 players. WC's main features include: * hidden (unexplored) territory: * wrap-around game maps * 30 different types of combat units; * no artificial unit stacking limits; * simultaneous movement by all players; * the ability for units to take 5 moves during a turn (phases); * a unique endurance feature that requires players to consider supply and energy factors when moving troops; * combat rules that give realistic balance to both attacker and defender. * simultaneous turn processing (NOT SEQUENTIAL) for all players * many different variant units and games are offered ____________________________________________________________________________ ____ 2) WHAT IS WCView? WCView is a "client"/GUI/player's helper (Dos program for PC/clones) that allows you to view your game data graphically! If you have a PC/clone text-based games are a thing of the past! WCView provides players with an array of easy-to-use tools to play our game, WORLD CONQUEST! Here's some of the highlights: * the ability to look at your WC game map from 5 different height perspectives (orbital-treetop)! * allows players to review the orders given to their units and watch their units roll across the game map! * allows players to move forward and backwards through their game turns! * combat pages that are color coordinated by location, showing all the gory details as enemy and friendly units pile into the target square. * automatically tracks the various costs of each units moves! * allows each player to name their cities and units! This allows player to pursue a "theme" such as the Roman Legions, the Borg, etc. * allows e-mail messaging between any/all players in their game. Messages can take the form of: a) PROPAGANDA (public; where the author is not announced) b) ANNOUNCEMENTS (public) to all players c) INDIVIDUAL (private) messages to one or more players! * offers an extensive "Help" screen. Unit statistics can be found there, as well as questions on game mechanics! * the ability to make memos about activities, locations, and units and recall them with a keystroke. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____ 3) IS WCView NEEDED TO PLAY WORLD CONQUEST? NO! It is however, one of the more enjoyable ways to play. WCView is needed if you want to play via email, but many of our players do not have a computer and have enjoyed playing by receiving a "paper" turn sent via surface mail. See #7, HOW GAME TURNS ARE SUBMITTED. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____ 4) HOW IS WC PLAYED VIA EMAIL? When playing via email: RECEIVING TURNS: Players receive their game turns within 2 hours of processing. The email'ed turn is saved in the ZAP subdirectory of his WCVIEW game dir. When WCVIEW is executed, the program unencrypts and uncompresses the game data and makes the turn available for play. SUBMITTING TURNS: When a player has completed one or more game turns using WCVIEW, the program has the ability to "package" one or more turns into ONE file. This file is email'ed to us by attaching the file and sending it to: ptsbill@crl.com ____________________________________________________________________________ ____ 5) WHAT ARE "HEAD-TO-HEAD" (H2H) GAMES? H2H games are smaller, fast-paced versions of World Conquest played between 2 players. They are played on a 20 x 20 grid map that wraps around, so that if you go off one edge you will move onto the opposite side. Due to the fact that you "know" who your opponent is in each game, diplomacy is not a factor in the game... In most games, there are 11-13 cities to fight over. The game ends when a player concedes (RESIGNS), or he has lost his last city. Most games last from 10-30 turns. H2H games are a great way to learn the WC game system before jumping into a 12 player game! The email version of this system is AUTOMATED! The automated game system will process all submissions within 2 hours and email the results bact to the participants, allowing some of the fastest turn-arounds to be found. However, this version of WC can be played via email, paper, or fax. We have many players who bang away at each other on 2, 3, 4, 6 player games. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____ 6) WHAT ARE 12 PLAYER GAMES? 12-player games are played by 12 players (surprise!) on a 50 x 60 grid map. One of the major differences in this game is that diplomacy/misdirection is usually required in order to win a game! Initially, each player starts out controlling one of the many cities (each city is a production center on the map); additionally, each player starts with several combat units which are placed in their starting city. The map is intentionally left blank (unexplored) so that as you move your units across the map, the terrain on the map becomes visible. All four edges of the map "wrap around," so movement off any edge will bring you back onto the opposite edge of the map. The game tempo is roughly divided into three different segments. Initially, each player spends the first five or so turns exploring the unknown territory around his capital and conquering armed neutral towns and villages until other players are met. The second segment of the game begins when other players are encountered; diplomatic activities begin. The final segment of the game starts at different times for different players. The enemy has been defined; the battles for "right" have begun! The basic game ends (victory conditions) when a player captures 12 towns or cities (no villages), and holds them for one turn... To date, we have played over 300 12-player games since 1989. Most games last between 25-35 turns. The shortest game ever played was 14 turns; the longest, 84 turns (and what a game it was... grin). The 12 player game is a professionally moderated game between human opponents. Game turns can be submitted by email using WCVIEW, or via surface mail or fax. Turns are processed in 1-week, 2-week and 3-week cycles. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____ 7) HOW ARE WC TURNS SUBMITTED? FILE TRANSFER VIA EMAIL: Using WCView, players attach the turn to an email, and send the file to: ptsbill@crl.com SURFACE MAIL: Paper turns are mailed to: PO BOX 650, Pinole CA, 94564 FAX: Turns can be fax'ed to: 510 245-1201 PHONE: Turns can be called in to: 510 245-1300 ____________________________________________________________________________ ____ 8) HOW OFTEN ARE WC GAMES PROCESSED? The answer to this question depends on your method of submitting turns AND the type of game that you are playing. General guidelines are given below: TIME BETWEEN GAME TURNS EMAIL PAPER PLAYERS IN GAME: minimum/maximum minimum/maximum 1 PLAYER: 1 hour / 30 days no minimum/maximum 2 PLAYER: 1 hour / 30 days 2 weeks / 3 weeks 3-12 PLAYERS: 1 week / 3 weeks 2 weeks / 3 weeks E-mail games are automated and will process within the parameters above WHEN all players' turns are in. In a one player game, a submitted game turn will automatically process during the next cycle (1 hour). In a two player email game, the computer will check to see if both players have submitted a current game. When it finds both players' turns, it will process the game and email the results back to each player. Games that have ANY "paper" players will automatically be processed using the "paper" guidelines. This allows players, without the use of a computer, to receive their game turns via surface mail, review their results, plan the "marching orders" for the upcoming turn, and mail these orders back to us for keypunching/processing. If a game has a "paper" player, we will publish a DUE DATE for each upcoming turn. Players must submit their orders by the published due date in order to have their orders for their units used. ____________________________________________________________________________ _____ 9) HOW DO I GET STARTED? There are a couple different methods that will work! If you have access to the www page and want to play via email: A) Pickup the game package on our www page and ftp the software. Each new player must register in order to participate. See the instructions on how to install WCView and register to play. B] Send me a request via any of the above methods. If you'd like the software, let me know is you have WIN 95 etc. ____________________________________________________________________________ _____ 10) INSTALLING WCView System requirements: Must be a pc/clone! 286 or better with a color monitor WIN 95 users: Go to the www site and ftp the software to a temp dir. Print the "HOW TO" file found on the ftp site and follow the instructions exactly as listed. If I send you a disk, go to DOS and type: install a c IMPORTANT: This is DOS program. It will work in a Windows environment, but you MUST maximize the dos window in order to get the graphics to work correctly. ____________________________________________________________________________ _____ 11) HOW MUCH DOES WORLD CONQUEST COST? To get started in the game system: $19.00 - includes rulebook, newsletters, and 1st 3 turns. TURN COSTS FOR MODERATED GAMES PAPER EMAIL $5.00 per turn (1st 50 units) $4.00 per turn +$.50 for each additional 50 units no additional charges for units +$1.00 for a laser-printed map to be mailed to player. COSTS FOR AUTOMATED H2H PLAY (EMAIL ONLY -2 PLAYER GAMES) $4.50 Monthly subscriber fee if you are participating in at least one 12 player game. $9.00 Monthly subscriber fee if you are not playing in a 12 player game. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____ 12) WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT WC? WWW Page: http://www.dnai.com/~conquest Email: conquest@dnai.com Telephone: 510 245-1300 Fax: 510 245-1201 Referenced By Up