What makes a PBM? (was Re: Recommended Games)

From: "Rob Harper" <rob@stateofmindgames.co.uk>

Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 15:19:19 +0000

MadCentral wrote...
> A true turn-based game, perhaps, by our newer definitions, is one which
was
> deliberately designed to be played *primarily* in turns, rather than one
which
> just *can be* played in turns.

Hmm, interesting...

Perhaps it is the *type* of turns, and how they are executed, that
makes the difference.  To illustrate...

Chess, Monopoly, and most other boardgames are played in turns,
yes, but they are definitely asynchronous.  Often players can do
something during each others' turns, but in essence, one player's
turn must finish before the next player can move.

Most (as far as I am aware -- though there are many exceptions)
PBM games have turns run either simultaneously, or at least run
in some sort of batch process.

An interesting counter-example is the boardgame Diplomacy, which
has turns run simultaneously, in batches.  This makes such a good
PBM that it could be argued that it is really a PBM that can be
played as a boardgame.

Furthermore, most PBM games allow a large (depends on your
definition of "large") number of actions to be undertaken during
any given turn.  Most boardgames allow only a few actions to take
place -- largely due to restrictions of the medium, where players
can get bored or frustrated while waiting for their turn.  (Board
wargames generally buck this trend, but they are aimed at a
different audience to the majority of boardgames.)

Just a few thoughts, without a really coherent thread, I'm
afraid, but I just thought I'd chuck them into the melting pot.

Rob.

References

Re: Recommended Games
lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl)
Sat, 11 May 2002 20:30:58 +0000
Re: Recommended Games
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Sat, 11 May 2002 23:57:17 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Recommended Games
lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl)
Sat, 11 May 2002 20:30:58 +0000
Re: Recommended Games
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Sat, 11 May 2002 23:57:17 +0000