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

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

Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 14:20:09 +0000

MadCentral wrote...
> Not really.  RPGs are often simply when somebodies turn arrives, and there
are
> various strategy games with 'no deadlines' which dont run simultaneous,
but are
> still turn-based.

I admit I was making a gross oversimplification with my comment,
and I was (rightly or wrongly) consciously ignoring RPGs --
largely because I consider RPGs, whether tabletop, PBM or live,
to be a law unto themselves.

Yes, there are a great many PBM games that have turns running
"as and when", but my experience suggests that these are probably
in the minority.  Having said that, I suspect most of the
largest PBM games are run asynchronously, which probably voids my
argument at least partially.

<...>
> I dont think this is true enough to be a consideration.  More happens in
some
> complicated hands of Magic the Gathering, than in a early turn of, say,
> Archmage, or Necromancer, or other low complexity' PBMs.

Agreed, but looking at my stack of 100+ boardgames, I reckon that
the majority (probably 80%+) have turns that involve each player
doing relatively little (more complex than average would be: draw
a card or two, trade a tile, play a card, roll the dice, move the
dobber, next player...)

I'd also raise an eyebrow about Magic.  Yes, it can get very
complex with a lot happening in each turn, but as with many PBMs
having simple early turns, Magic is also usually that way (play
a land, cast a spell, next...) to start with -- although I
understand there are possible ways to get a lot happening on the
first turn, depending on the card draw.

Interesting discussion.

Rob

References

What makes a PBM? (was Re: Recommended Games)
"Rob Harper" <rob@stateofmindgames.co.uk>
Mon, 13 May 2002 15:19:19 +0000
Re: What makes a PBM? (was Re: Recommended Games)
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Mon, 13 May 2002 22:36:07 +0000