ILLUMINATI! Starting up a game!

From: blowfish@carina.unm.edu (rON.)

Date: Sat, 16 May 1992 09:53:15 +0000

OK- there seems to be enough interest in PBM Illuminati that I will be
willing to try to GM a game of it, via e-mail.
If you are interested in playing, please mail me back at this account
ASAP. I don't know if the game will fill, but if it does, any additional
people I get will be listed as alternates, in the order I receive them.
I will not start a game with less than 4 players in it, though.

PBM Illuminati will have to go a bit differently than regular Illuminati-
Those changes are listed below. If I leave any out, let me know and I'll
change them at my discretion :)

I will be using the 'full set' of Illuminati cards (I understand there is
a smaller set). It includes 8 possible playing entities.

Please- if you are a complete novice to Illuminati, hold off playing in
this one, or sign in as an alternate. If you've played Illuminati, even
just once, sign up to play. I don't want to have to go over rules and
stuff- especially because I'll be busy working out mail playing bugs.

If anybody has done this in the past, let me know! Give me advice! It will
be greatly appreciated.

First- no cheating. It would be difficult anyways, since I am the one who
controls the entire universe in this game. The GM is quite open to bribes,
btw, and they are encouraged, though results of bribes are at your own
risk :)

Second- the choosing of entities- this will be done in true Illumaniti fashion-
randomly.

Third- the playing-
I will randomly choose both playing entities and order of play. Each player will
be distributed their appropriate monies. These actions and the results will
be mailed to every player (and alternates).

At the start of play for every player, I will draw a card from my deck and
reveal it to the players. If it is a special card, I will so indicate, and
reveal what that special card is to the player who drew it. The player then has
24 hours (or so) in which to send me her/his action(s). I'll request now that
players keep it short- if all you plan on doing is transfering money then
attacking, let me know all in one letter- things are much shorter that way.

I will then reveal to the collective players what that action(s) is. If it is
a combat action, players will then have 48 hours in which to negotiate with
one another, make plans, whatever. You also have to use this time to send me
your orders for that attack. For example: The Discordians are going after the
S.M.O.F. from the playfield. You are the Gnomes-
This would be an example of a 'legal' attack order:

I (the gnomes) will spend up to 25 credits against the Discordians to keep
them from getting the SMOF. If the Cthulu are supporting the Discordians,
then the lowest roll I will allow up to my limit will be a 5. If The
Discordians try to make it a privilaged attack, I will use my special card
to prevent that action. If Cthulu and the Asassins both support Disc, then
I will contribute up to 35 credits, unless the UFO's are involved. If they
are Pro-disc, spend up to 40, if they are anti-Disc., spend only 30.

Gee, what fun this is going to be to parse :)
Basically put, in every attack order, you should list how much money you are
willing to spend, what the max/min roll you will allow will be, and what you
will do if the other entities go for or against the attack.
Please note that I am only human, and in that regard, will only parse orders
that I can understand. I will, of course, not be responsible for orders that
I do not understand. Contridictory orders will be ignored. Contradictory orders
from seperate entities will be treated like this: the first order you post
will be the highest priority. ANy following orders will get a lower priority.
In conflicting cases, the order with the highest priority will take precedence.
orders of equal and conflicting status will be then ignored. :)

Once all the orders are recieved, I will execute the orders given to the best
interest of the players involved, and report the results. Please note that
any special cards you intend to use must be listed in the attack order! For
example, if you have the 'instant 2' card, you >must< tell me that you will
be using that card! You can opt to use it conditionally, that is OK. (for
instance- use the card if and only if the Discordians succeed in getting
the SMOF by themselves or with the help of only the UFOs).

OK, clear so far? Good.
24 hours (or so) after results are posted, the player is responsible for either
making another attack, or finishing her/his turn. When I recieve those results,
I will then draw a new card (cards), distribute monies, etc. and a new turn will
begin.

Turn order will go like this:
Once the game is going, moves/orders are due by 9PM MDT (you figure it out for
your time zone) either the next day, or the day after, depending. I will
parse the moves and attempt to have results mailed by 3AM MDT that morning.
That means stuff should be in your box by 6AM MDT that morning. If things go
really well, the next turn orders can be in by the next 9PM, though I won't
push that. Weekends will be reasonably liberal, though not totally liberal.
If you plan on vacation, let me know in advance so we can get an alternate
playing for you.
If I receive no move information from you in the alloted time, your turn
will be 'Passed', you'll collect your money and it'll be the next players
turn. If I recieve no order information from you on your turn, it will
also count as a 'Pass', or, if you've already taken an action that turn,
will be counted as the end of your turn. If I recieve no Attack order
information from you, I am presuming that you have nothing to add to the
upcoming battle. Please tell me if you are going to sit idle during a
combat, though- as I will parse as soon as I hear from all players.

Note, here- if you send me more than one set of orders during an alloted
time frame, Iwill take the latest copy >I recieve< (unless marked with
version numbers or something) as your orders. If you are 'in discussion'
with a player and don't want me to parse the moves immediately, tell me
that, too. I will wait until the alloted time frame is up.

Well- that about covers it.
Who wants to play?
r. (blowfish@carina.unm.edu)