Re: Help: PBM Design Issues

From: llucky@crl.com (Bob Thomson)

Date: Sun, 30 Apr 1995 00:00:00 +0000

Delboy@bumblbee.demon.co.uk writes:

>
[description of planned play-mail-game omitted]

>
>1) How do I deal with players who drop out of the game, either after
>a few turns, or even in the closing stages of the game?  I think that
>it is quite likely that players who are not doing well might drop out
>if they are obviously losing, and I believe I can cope with that, but
>what about players who drop out who have a major presence?

The two common methods are 1) standby players and 2) computer-generated
orders for dropped positions.  Option 2 is much more feasible for small,
early positions.  Normally, large active positions don't fall vacant late
in the game, but sometimes people get ill (or married ;-) and those
positions really call for a standby player.  Try to have a pool of a few
experienced players who will take over an interesting dropped position.

>2) How best to deal with misorders?  For example, if a player orders
>a unit he does not have, and fails to order another one, should I
>refer back to the player asking for checking?  This would obviously
>add to the turnaround time for results.

This is a great feature to offer if you can automate the process.  Everybody
hates to have their turn spoiled by typographical errors and stupid mistakes.

>3) How to deal with late orders?  (I know that Quest RPG uses 'catch
>up' turns, but this seems to have limited use in a game of the size
>of mine.)

Most wargames do not allow for catch-up turns.  If you do allow them, you must
carefully prevent any activity that would show up on any other player's turn.

>
>Derek Sorensen.

- Bob Thomson

--
Llucky Llama Games                             Bob and Debbie Thomson
80-Q North Cabrillo Hwy. #226                     (415) 712-0283
Half Moon Bay, CA  94019                           llucky@crl.com
Play by mail and email.                      "Hot games by cool people"

References

Help: PBM Design Issues
Delboy@bumblbee.demon.co.uk (Derek Sorensen)
Sun, 30 Apr 1995 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Help: PBM Design Issues
Delboy@bumblbee.demon.co.uk (Derek Sorensen)
Sun, 30 Apr 1995 00:00:00 +0000