New: Res Dura II (free, closed-ended, email, human, historical, wargame, economic, rpg)

From: donotreply@pbm.com (PBM List Autoposter)

Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 20:13:06 +0000

Name:		Res Dura II
Costs:		none
URL:		http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Res_Dura_II/
Frequency:		one per ten days
Email:		kas zat alphalink.com.au
Type:		historical wargame
Last-Update:		2004Feb16
Keywords: free, closed-ended, email, human, historical, wargame, economic, rpg

Description:

Res Dura II is a play-by-email (PBEM) game set in an approximately
historical Europe of 1858. It seeks to simulate the domestic and
international politics of the era. It is, however, a simulation for
entertainment, not education.
The origins of Res Dura II are somewhat obscure, it coming from several
other online games, 1880EP, TaT and so on. Res Dura was played
by a total of over fifty people (though only half that number at any
one time) over several months in 2002-2003

Tables, charts, and lengthy legal-style rules "see Section
4.2.6.1(a), subsection (I)2" - are absent from this game. Instead,
some general principles are presented to guide the players. Rest
assured, the decisions are not �freeform,�Eor arbitrary. There are
rules, spreadsheets and so on used for calculations of the variables
as a result of the players' orders. But these rules are not
transparent, the details of the workings of economy, military, the
vagaries of the public, will be as obscure to the players as they were
to the historical leaders.  The purpose of this is to build the
atmosphere of being a political leader, rather than the atmosphere of
a game.�EA format shall be followed for the presentation of orders,
and these shall be processed in a regular and timely fashion.

In these games, some players do nothing but war, others avoid it like
the plague and just make speeches all the time. The game is designed
to allow for both types, but works best when players take a middle
way, enjoying the details of Character, Diplomacy, Economy and War.

The "Geneva Illustrated News," is the journal of the game, in which
are presented news reports taken from several European newspapers and
journals. The GIN contains news, gossip, rumours, speculation and
analysis, which will on occasion be accurate. The GIN will average at
least 2,000 words, with one photograph or etching per page, for a
total of twenty-seven issues, not including the Introduction and
Conclusion issues.

Prospective players ought to write to me at the email address above,
describing their gaming experience and historical knowledge. It is not
necessary to be a genius player, or have a degree in history. There
are several qualities which the successful player of Res Dura II must
have. These are courtesy, patience, prudence, perspective, and
fortitude. Oh, and courtesy, too.

[ This is a new entry for the PBM List. You can find the list
itself, and instructions for adding games or comments, at
http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/pbm_list/ -- greg ]