Re: Dune PBM

From: widfara@aol.com (Widfara)

Date: Sat, 24 Jun 1995 00:00:00 +0000

In article <803768376snz@pepin.demon.co.uk>, Justine Rogers
<Justine@pepin.demon.co.uk> writes:

>Some friends of mine are trying to write a Dune PBM game, and would like
>opinions on how other people think the game should run, what they'd like
to
>be
>able to do etcetera.
>
>Any opinions gladly accepted.

Totally awesome!!!  I've read the first book and I'm 1/2 way through the
second.  After reading the first, I thought it would be great to play a
Dune RPG, but I think a PBM game would be just as cool.  I had so many
ideas, but I knew I'd never get anything together myself as I'm not very
good at organizing huge projects.  I'll think of some ideas and send them
along.  Should I email to you or do your friends have an email address?

For starters, here are a few questions.  Can your friends do PBEM, or are
they looking at PBSnailM?  If they can get an email game going, then it
would be possible to have an element of diplomacy in the game, as players
would have a much quicker response time for talking amongst themselves.

The easiest way to do it would be to have a plot that isn't exactly like
the book, since the book had a lot of the "fate" element in it.  A
standard multi-player strategic/tactical combat game fighting over Dune
itself would be a good idea.  I see the major sides as Fremen, Atreides
(possibly one player as Fremen/Atreides), Harkonnen, the Guild, the Bene
Geserit society, and the Emperor.  The other houses may be another player,
or just make it a source for the players to get more power.  Everything
should revolve around Dune for two reasons: 1) a multi-planet conquest
game is a very old idea (VGA Planets, Galaxy, Masters of Orion, etc.) and
2) It would be more fun because there could be a lot more detail involved
since only one planet is used.  I think it would make a really fun and
challenging game if surviving was just as difficult as fighting others.
Rules for water supply would be a must, and making a random chart for
determining the horrible weather should not be much of a problem.  I
believe there is enough description in the first book to extract a
workable map of the important parts of Dune.

I have a ton if ideas about the different aspects of the game.  There's a
lot of work that needs to be done on just deciding the goals of each
player and the general concept of the game.  Tell your friends to send me
some email if they are interested in my input.  I can just send ideas, or
I could actively help with creation, if they so desired.  I think this is
a great idea and I would really like to see it get off the ground.

Sincerely,
Jerry Huckins
widfara@aol.com

References

Dune PBM
Justine Rogers <Justine@pepin.demon.co.uk>
Wed, 21 Jun 1995 00:00:00 +0000