seeking for players (was: is there a FAQ?)

From: rschoen@laborix.mathematik.uni-ulm.de (Reinhard Schoen)

Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1992 16:11:16 +0000

In article <73399@ut-emx.uucp>,
dbrandt@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (David Brandt) writes:

|> Every so often I look at this group for the FAQ but I never
|> see it.  If one exists, could someone mail it to me?  If there
|> isn't one, I have some questions:
|>
|> 1) 	Are there a lot of PBMs out there looking for players?

Me, for instance. Er, I mean, I am the editor of a German
pbm fanzine, the *Postspillion*, and I am always looking for players.

Of course, the official language in the *Postspillion* is German, which
could prove a little obstacle. On the other hand's side, as all our games
were invented by mathematicians, dealing with numbers is more important
than speaking good German ;-)
Our Game Masters (e.g. me) are ready and willing to answer any question
concerning our games.

I almost forgot to mention: We are non-commercial. But as our local
copy-shop owners don't want to starve, we must charge DM 2.40 (maybe $1.30)
+ transport to our subscribers. For this fee, one can join all games
(9 in the moment) moderated in the *Postspillion*.

######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### #########
Game:		Bretton Woods

Type:		Economy simulation
Duration:	Open ended (started in March 1987!)
Turns:		5 weekly
Status: 	Open. Some 30 players active. New players are always welcome.

Description:	Every player reigns one land which can specialize in
		agriculture, energy export or mineral resources exploitation.
		Countries can build up industries to produce and ship goods,
		but can also build (and use) weapons.
		Pretty abstract game: No geography, no maps.

GM:		reissen@mathematik.uni-ulm.de (Bernhard Reissenauer)
######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### #########
Game:		Dividende et Impera

Type:		Finance (stocks and bonds) game
Duration:	Open ended
Turns:		5 weekly
Status: 	Open. 17 players active. New players are always welcome.

Description:	The players can buy or sell stocks of corporations (or create
		new corporations). The corporations battle on two product
		markets. The more stocks of a corporation you hold, the
		greater is your influence on its policy.
		Basic knowledge of the German language required!

GM:		hasch@mathematik.uni-ulm.de (Martin Hasch)
######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### #########
Game:		Sugar Ray

Type:		Boxing Simulation
Duration:	open ended
Turns:		5 weekly
Status: 	Open.  New boxers are always welcome.

Description:	For each of the five rounds of the fight, every boxer
		writes down a number describing the strength of his attack
		and a defense number. If one's attack number exceeds the
		opponent's defense number, the latter loses endurance
		points. Unfortunately, high attack/defense numbers also
		cost endurance. A boxer losing all his endurance points
		is knocked out.

Opinion:	The best game I ever invented! No luck involved;
                you just have to outwit your opponent.

GM:		rschoen@mathematik.uni-ulm.de (Reinhard Schoen)
######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### #########
Game:		Turbo 2000

Type:		Formula One Simulation
Duration:	ca. 24-30 turns
Turns:		5 weekly
Status: 	New game will start in August.

Description:	Each player manages a Formula 1 racing stable. Drivers can
		be hired for the season (6 turns each). The material needed
		to attend a race (Formula 1, Formula 2, dragster, rallye, etc)
		can be built or bought from other players.
		Basic knowledge of the German language required!

Opinion:	In the Rotarius poll 1989, Turbo 2000 was elected the 3rd
		best pbm game being played in Germany, beaten only by
		United and Diplomacy.

GM:		rschoen@mathematik.uni-ulm.de (Reinhard Schoen)
######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### #########
Game:		Vox Populi

Type:		election campaigns in the Federal Republic of Germany
Duration:	ca. 15-40 Turns
Turns:		5 weekly
Status: 	Closed. New game starts in autumn.

Description:	Each player leads a political party in the Federal
		Republic of Germany (before 1990). Election campaigns
		are held in the Bundeslaender. Because it's unlikely to
		reach absolute majority in the Bundestag (Federal
		parliament) or the Landtage (State parliaments), you
		have to cooperate with other parties to achieve your
		political goal (which is, of course, rise to power and
		keep it!).
		Basic knowledge of the German language required! The
		political system of the FRG is described in the rules;
		you don't have to know it beforehand.

GM:		pieper@mathematik.uni-ulm.de (Thomas Pieper)
######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### #########

|>
|> 2)	Is there a lot of discussion on creating PBMs from both the
|> design and programming aspects (to handle complicated turns and/or
|> many players automatically)?

This would be a good idea.
__________________________________________________________
    Reinhard Schoen          rschoen@mathematik.uni-ulm.de
     Bruehlstr. 19
      7900 Ulm 12          Der Mensch denkt, und Gott lenkt.
        GERMANY           Der Mensch dachte, und Gott lachte.

References

is there a FAQ?
dbrandt@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (David Brandt)
Thu, 04 Jun 1992 17:53:07 +0000