Re: Anybody playing Phoenix/BSE?

From: keenuward@hotmail.com (Rob Alexander)

Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 11:24:47 +0000

keenuward@hotmail.com (Rob Alexander) wrote in message news:<49b425a5.0303170627.45523de9@posting.google.com>...
> I am.

I suppose you wanted more than that....

Phoenix has replaced UK-BSE, with an entirely new game engine but the
same background. All existing positions have been converted, so
essentially you have a well-designed modern game system (which
benefits from a decade of experience with BSE) along with an
established player base and game background.

It's early days yet, but it looks as if Phoenix provides all the good
features of BSE, while eliminating most of the problems. I played BSE
about five years ago, and dropped out for various reasons, but have
come back for Phoenix.

Essentially, I've never found anything better than BSE for
large-scale, affiliation based war and power gaming. The game design
is very 'solid', all game positions can be built by players, and in
general the game is very player-driven. There are a large number of
standard orders, with the option of hand-moderated special actions.

The affiliations (player groups) are generally tight-nit and
supportive, which makes for an excellent team-play atmosphere.  Short
travel times (six weeks maximum) allow aff members to assist each
other easily, and for dramatic events to unfold rapidly. This is not
the age of sail; inter-aff politics happens at contemporary speeds.

BSE had a number of serious flaws, mostly to do with pricing. Each and
every ship, colony or ground party had it's own turns and incurred its
own turn fee. Value for money was fairly poor, and in the event of war
your weekly expenditure could skyrocket. Some game aspects were very
lacking: inter-player trade and commerce was technically possible, but
in practice there was nothing to be gained from it.

Pheonix, by comparison, has fully automated turn processing (apart
from special actions). This allows much better value for money, and
your weekly expenditure will be mostly stable. Postal play, however,
incurs additional per-turn charges that can make it very expensive.
Email play is definitely preferable.

Pheonix has developed the combat system somewhat, introducing a
variety of new strategic issues, but more importantly the trade and
espionage rules have been massively improved. The consensus is that
trade will be much more prevalent in Phoenix.

I would suggest that Phoenix is not very suitable for lone-wolf
players, nor for those who don't like player-vs-player combat. It's a
dangerous universe out there, although you'll have your affiliation to
back you up. Exploration can be expensive (in real terms), though also
quite rewarding as it supports the development of your starbases.

Phoenix runs every week day, with battles and the like happening on a
daily basis. This may make it difficult to play if you have a busy
schedule - if one of your positions is attacked, you'll want to
respond in time for the next day's run. On the plus side, ships can
store up five days worth of time, and can queue an unlimited number of
orders in advance.

You can start off in Phoenix for free, controlling just ships and
ground parties. Political and starbase positions incur a weekly
charge.

rob

References

Anybody playing Phoenix/BSE?
"G Thatcher" <thatcher.int@sk.sympatico.ca>
Sun, 16 Mar 2003 18:02:00 +0000
Re: Anybody playing Phoenix/BSE?
keenuward@hotmail.com (Rob Alexander)
Mon, 17 Mar 2003 14:27:39 +0000

Referenced By

Anybody playing Phoenix/BSE?
"G Thatcher" <thatcher.int@sk.sympatico.ca>
Sun, 16 Mar 2003 18:02:00 +0000
Re: Anybody playing Phoenix/BSE?
keenuward@hotmail.com (Rob Alexander)
Mon, 17 Mar 2003 14:27:39 +0000