Re: To Digex and ALL Galaxy GMs!

From: jdc@access4.digex.net (John Cochran)

Date: Tue, 06 May 1997 00:00:00 +0000

In article <336E825E.A32C117C@ix.netcom.com>,
Eric Bales  <alai@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>It has been brought to the attention of this GM that one of
>the players in galaxy columbus has been forging orders for
>other races.
>
>This player has been removed from the game, and blacklisted
>from all future games.
>
>-----------------------------------
>The player is: jdc@access.digex.net
>-----------------------------------
>
>Due to the devastating nature of the deception, the game
>will be rolled back to turn 14.  The next turn for game
>columbus will be turn 14.  Ignore the report that you
>received tonight. already.
>
>It will take some time to roll the game back.  Until I have
>had a chance to do it, the game ison hold.
>
>I recomment that all other GMs remove this person from
>their games before he has a chance to mess them up
>also.  I also recommend that DIGEX cancel this person's
>access to the Internet as they are a menace to the community.
>
>Take care,
>Eric

I am that "menace" to the community that Mr Bates is refering to.
I apologize for disruption to Mr Bates game.  However, I request
that anyone interested read what follows.

Keep in mind, that there are Galaxy variants that do not have
passwords implemented.  Those variants would fall under the
classification of security = none.  There are also variants that
do have passwords.  These variants would fall under the classification
of security = optional.  Finally, history indicates that any military
commander who ignores security does so at his own peril.

With that in mind.  Read and comment on the following.

***** COPY OF GLOBAL MESSAGE ISSUED BY ME IN THE GAME *****

First, a history lesson.
During the Vietnam war, the Viet Cong would, by using captured maps and
equipment, order US strikes against positions being held by US forces.
This resulted in US solders being killed by other US solders due to
these falsified orders.  This was an entirely new tactic that the
US (at that time) had no defense against.  Because of this the US military
instituded a program known as Communications Security (COMSEC).  COMSEC
is designed to prevent enemy forces from either learning the intentions
of US forces (so that the enemy couldn't prepare or evacuate an area
where an attack is planned) and insuring the authenticity of orders given
to US forces (we don't like bombing our own people).

Secure communications is as important in warfare as weapons, if not more so.

It is my understanding that Galaxy is a game of war.

Galaxy has the equivalent of COMSEC built into it;
namely, the ability to create and use passwords.

To my way of thinking, you can have 3 levels of security in a game;
None, Mandatory, or Optional.

None - There are no passwords or other security measures.  Because of this
       any attack that involves security is outside the scope of the game
       and must be considered illegal.

Mandatory - Because security is required, security based attacks
       will fail and therefore are not used. Galaxy could be modified
       to have mandatory security if an initial password was assigned
       to each player on the turn 0 report and if the "Y" command
       always required a password.

Optional - Security measures are used or not used at the discretion of
       each player.  This implies that a player's decision about security
       affects their position in the game.  You can decide to not build
       warships to defend your worlds.  Does this mean that you can
       legitimately complain if another player invades them?
       You can also decide to not use available security measures.
       Does this also mean you can legitimately complain if someone
       else exploits your lack of security?

In any game that has optional security, I will ALWAYS use it to prevent
attacks of this nature. This is only prudent.

The Neron and Salex had 13 turns in which to use available security.
They didn't and are lucky I didn't do everything I could against them.
Several of the options I had available were:
   1. Nullify their orders for Turn 14 and have them declare peace on me
      and war on each other.

2. Same as option 1 plus dismantling of ALL their in-orbit ships.

3. Same as option 2 plus having some warships of mine scheduled to
      arrive over their worlds while their defenses were down.

I decided to use option 2.  I considered using option 3.
As it is, I severely injured two players who initiated an attack on me.
I made the decision to stop short of destroying both of them.

***** END OF MESSAGE COPY *****

Mr Bates is reacting exactly like I would react if the game in question
had no security.  However, the game did have security, and is what I
would consider as a game with optional security.  And, like I've
previously indicated, any military commander who ignores security does
so at his own peril.

If anyone thinks that war is nothing more than moving forces from one
place to another, I would suggest reading the following (either translations
or the original).

The Art of War
              -- Sun Tzu     500 BC

The Military Institutions of the Romans
              (De Re Militari)
              -- Flavius Vegetius Renatus  390 AD

My Reveries Upon The Art of War
              -- Marshal Maurice de Saxe  1732

The Instruction of Frederick the Great
          for His Generals                1747

References

To Digex and ALL Galaxy GMs!
Eric Bales <alai@ix.netcom.com>
Mon, 05 May 1997 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

To Digex and ALL Galaxy GMs!
Eric Bales <alai@ix.netcom.com>
Mon, 05 May 1997 00:00:00 +0000