PBM design: advice please From: "Seyed Razavi" <seyed@kmpinternet.com> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 00:00:00 +0000 Hi, I've been doing the pen and paper design of a PBM / PBeM game I have wished to play for years. I even tried getting some other people involved but I guess its going to be a solo work. Anyway, now that the task of programming has begun, after three months of designing, I thought I would ask the wiser members of this group some questions: 1. What sort of turn input method would you recommend? I want to have it as automatic as possible so I thought it would be cool to have my prog read the file and process the orders. However, I would need either some heavy amounts of code to check for syntax errors or some client software to produce the turn orders. The downside with client software (or even a web interface) seems to be limiting potential users to those with computers or even to certain platforms. 2. Is there a market for a commercial PBM? Whilst it may be nice to receive some monetary compensation is there any market out there for it or would I just be throwing money out. Has anyone investigated alternative revenue sources for PBeMs such as advertising banners or whatever? 3. What level of complexity do players go for? So far my design ranges from high complexity in certain areas (the game world, the various resources, the major tokens) to low complexity (combat formulas, character development). Is simpler better? Or do people like getting their teeth into something meaty? 4. How much of the game mechanics should be available to the players? Should I give players details of all victory conditions, items, etc. etc. on the outset or leave them in the dark? What about distribution on a need to know basis? Does this make success a factor of internal game knowledge (and how to manipulate it) and not a factor of natural strategy / logic? Is this a bad / good thing? Any help or advice will be much appreciated. PS. The game is a space strategy game which will be fully computer moderated. Whilst it has definite victory conditions the structure of the game will allow new players to join in the middle of the game with equal chances of success. -- Cheers, Seyed seyed@kmpinternet.com http://wwp.icq.com/37014859 Referenced By Up