What's pbem

Play by Email

It would be really sad, if Stardock ignore this kind request. 

In my opinion, it could be a real asset, if they would add this PbEM mode. I am pretty much sure, that some other gamers too would appreciate, if this multiplayer mode would be available. Currently not very much games have this option but especially for this kind of strategic games with a long term gaming time it would be very helpful.

I guess, even the multiplayer aspect in general could be pushed: Imagine, it would be possible to play games with players everywhere around the world in different time zones respectively different countries. An exiting idea - at least this is my humble opinion.

I think you can put up a password to protect a multiplayer game. At least it was possible when I just tried it.

This exactly is the reason I rise this topic in the forum! I hope, some gamer more read this request and show their interest respectively give support for this kind game mode too.

Nevertheless coming back to your proposal to "save and send", I can give it a try. But of course it would be much more comfortable, if this would be an official game feature. I am not a programmer, but I couldn´t imagine, that this addition needs soooo much developer time and capacity - but maybe I am wrong with this.

One of the best things about civilization was hotseat. I have friends who wouldn't buy games, but would play it on the same computer with me. I would like to be able to play multiple people on the same computer. Please incorporate hotseat mode.

I think for a game like this its honestly overrated, because game length can be in the hundreds of turns. Each turn wont take very long, and often very little to do in a turn. Imagine waiting on a friend to complete his turn, and his turn consists of "next turn" button.

It was useful in a game like AoW III, because very often a turn there could take up to 30 minutes to complete, so it made a lot more sense in that environment.

I think you could get a lot more mileage just by scheduling time to play, even if only for an hour, you will likely get several turns in.

First; In our group not all are so fast with their turns and like to check and countercheck twice, what they do.

Second: It is still necessary, that all players are logged in at the same time, even if the waiting time is maybe not soooo long, with five peoples to go before its your turn again it is still some wasted time.

But try to save the turn and send it around is maybe - even if it is not very comfortable - at least a solution! But I still would like that it is solved ingame and don´t want to have a "jury rig" way of play instead...

Try this - old style PBEM, the game has been running since Jan 2015:

http://galaxy.magix.net/public/

***

For those whole ever played Galaxy* games (PBEM).

For those, who like Master Of ORION-ish games...


The game is turn based, i.e. the game server makes a turn, sends you a report, you analyse the report using an existing Report Viewer application, create your orders and send them back to the server. It reminds a chess game, but you play against many other players at the same time. The game server simulates an expanding universe with already thousands of star systems and a number of races. Some of the races are ruled by the real human players, some - by the server (AI nations). You may join as a new race (or nation). In this case you will be placed in some sector of an existing galaxy, having just one planet and some initial resources to start. Then you will try to research and occupy the nearby systems, design and build various ships, negotiate with your neighbours... You also may join to an existing race which has no owner.
 
Your goal in the game is to dominate in your galaxy, become a Master or even an Emperor of the Galaxy. To achieve that you need to defeat your neighbours and expand colonizing more and more star systems. You need to build up a strong economy and powerful fleet. Even if you have succeeded in your goal and eliminated all the opponents in your galaxy, the game isn't over for you if you want to continue. You can explore the space, find another galaxy and invade it...
 
The Universe is unlimited. Currently it has 3 galaxies and more than 4000 star systems. The Universe is expanded when necessary to fit new races. Every turn thousands of ships are being built, traveling in different destinations, clashing in hundreds battles and being destroyed. Every turn tens systems get colonized, or invaded or bombed out. It's always something going on...
 
The main features:
- unlimited number of players
- unlimited Universe
- possibility to design your own ships with different components (lasers, cannons, shield,...)
- lots of automation to make your race manageable when it grows up
- existing GUI to view reports and prepare orders
- rich set of commands
- never ends: players can join/quit any time
- galaxy aristocracy - climb up to be a King
- and lots more. Please visit http://galaxy.magix.net/public/ for details  

Years back I had a group of friends who would get together weekly for years.  We would sit around a table and play Empire Deluxe in hotseat mode on a laptop for hours, drinking beer and yucking it up.  Don't think we ever finished a game, but we didn't care.  It was more about the social aspect of laughing and watching each other's faces when they'd lose their battleship.

I miss hotseat mode.

I used it for Space Empires V.

If we could password protect our race then we could setup a round robin game emailing the save game around.

Alas I do not see this happening either.

At one time they said the Pbem and hotseat people were not enough to offset the cost of the development so I gave up. A shame for I would have liked to play others the pbem way.