G:wing (07/29/82)
This is the first issue of PBM Update to be posted on net.games.pbm. This issue will also be appearing on net.games, but this is the last issue that will disturb people at that level. This is the first item on this new newsgroup. A news item describing the purpose of this newsgroup and the proper use thereof will be forthcoming in the near future. As long as nobody complains, and I don't have halfway decent access to Steve Jackson Games, Inc. who owns The Space Gamer, issue number 53, from which this stuff is written, I will keep processing it. (If ANYBODY from SJG or TSG is out there and able to read this, please respond) At this time, this is being reprinted and edited without permission. Here's the next installment of our favorite subject, PBM Update: ******************************************************************************** UNIVERSE III (Central Texas Computing) Company News: We have just hired two more people: a new keypunch operator and a new programmer. Work on Nomads (a computer-moderated tribal game) is still progressing, but playtesting is still some time in the future. Game News: Quadrant V: Rogue Terrans have become quite a problem in Quadrant V, and have destroyed more than 20 ships to date. Rumor has it that the Etuel are planning action against the more active rogues. Quadrant VI: Two more worlds have been colonized by Terrans. The Muar, apparently getting the worst of their war with the Alar invaders, are reported to be seeking Terran assistance in maintaining their foothold in the quadrant. Quadrant VII: Trading has just begun with Etuel planets, some of which are offering high ore prices. The presence of debris from destroyed Alar spaceships suggests a recent war in the quadrant. Quadrant VIII: Not much to report from this quadrant, which opened in May. Positions in Quadrant VIII are still available. ******************************************************************************** UNIVERSE II (Clemens & Associates) Game News: Quadrant I: Mufrid has been besieged by the Regajian forces. Final outcome of the battle is uncertain, but indications are that it will be captured. All Terrans loyal to the Etuel should consider the consequences of allowing this expansion of the Regajian power. Quadrant II: The phalanx followed up its Shikasta raid by attacking Ala-Tau. At last report, over a dozen starships and battlecruisers have been lost, with the Phalanx severely crippled. Quadrant III: A major battle was fought by the PAF defending their home base against the SA Alliance. Both claim rights to the star system. Quadrant IV: Many alliances now have colony bases to increase their wealth and power. No major friction between them has surfaced so far. Reajian Empire: The Unity Alliance has been pushed from our Quadrant IV Empire. The bandits stopped at AR15 to murder some innocent Regajians. Our battlefleet in Quadrant I is on the verge of liberating Mufrid from the Etuel oppressors. We will soon know for sure how many Regajians they hold as slaves. Ixtli Empire: Our forces continue to grow under the leadership of IXV Zartraz. We now can withstand any attack by the Regajians. Muar Empire: To date we have lost only small outposts to the fleets of Terrans attacking our Empire. They will soon find their losses too great to continue the violation of our Empire. ******************************************************************************** THE TRIBES OF CRANE (Schubel & Son) Company News: We are pleased to announce that we have sold Mitre Wargames the European rights to STARMASTER. Mitre Wargames also runs THE TRIBES OF CRANE. For more information write: Mitre Wargames Lothlorien, Stockdale, Heelands Milton, Keynes, Bucks England MK13 7NB Game News: The Dark Union returned to the fabled ice walls of Columbine with a vengeance after suffering major defeats there in late January. The Dark Union commander Dlam had agreed to work with the women warriors of the Cult in another attempt to overthrow the great northern citadel. The combined Dark Union/Cult forces had assembled over 25,000 warrriors, as well as a huge siege train containing many special assault devices designed specifically for use against Columbine's unique ice walls. Confident of victory, Councilman Uymimoz had chosen not to summon allies and chose to defend the city with just the forces at hand, amounting to just over 10,000 warrriors. Repeated Dark Union assaults were repulsed as the vailiant city defenders protected their beloved city. The main attack centered around the games with the mighty Cult ram "Grond," propelled by a herd of over 40 mammoths. In the end sheer numbers overwhelmed the city, but not before Uymimioz was able to flee into the frozen north. ******************************************************************************** STARMASTER (Schubel & Son) Company News: We have recently opened our third galaxy, the "Sixth Lower Galaxy," located at approximately 0,0,-700. We have also made some changes in the Lifeform Evaluation program giving "hot" technology races many new advantages to offset their normally low production base. When requesting a setup, be sure to mention which galaxy you wish to start in: the Central, with its numberous Elder Races, the densely-populated NorthEast, or the new Lower Galaxy. Game News: In recent NorthEastern Galaxy attacks by PolySentient Council members, the Khandu Konfederation suffered massive defeats at many of the Khandu subject worlds. Summoning allies, the Khandu is fighting against the mighty PSC, but the battles will probably not end for some time. Rumor has it that an awesome Valkyrian Empire warfleet, fresh from Valkyrian shipyards, is on its way from the Central Galaxy to aid the battered Khandu forces, but the vast distance of the intergalatic void must be traversed before the task force will arrive. In the Central Galaxy, the Republic of Blobvocia attacked the Orion Imperialists' homeworld and in a fierce naval engagement, involving tens of millions of tons of warships, the hundreds of Republic of Blobvocia ships and probes were annhiliated. The fighting in both galaxies has intensified as most empires have joined powerful alliances: only time will tell if the new Lower Galaxy empires prove as aggressive. ******************************************************************************** BEYOND THE STELLAR EMPIRE (Adventures By Mail) Company News: Due to the overwhelming response to BSE, we have acquired a fourth computer system, a Diablo letter-quality printer, and to maintain our fast turn-around time, we are limiting the number of new player setups per week. The first edition of the rulebook has sold out, and by the time you read this we will have a second edition available. This second edition is a completely rewritten and expanded version of the former BSE rule manual. Adventures By Mail has three completely computer-moderated games in the programming stage, plus we are negotiating with outside designers for rights to moderate their games. Game News: The Confederation forces have left Teran-Zei, and an FET relief force has replaced them in orbit. The FET expects to recover the captured colony in the next few weeks. There have also been disturbing reports of a Brethen invasion of the FET colony Bane in the Swarm system. The IAN Johnny Reb, a regional patrol coordinator, was destroyed as he attempted to land at IND Eagle on Fairway in the Bluecrab system. IAN forces also report that the Brethen colony Synnax was destroyed by bombardment from Fairway's orbit. The SMS signed a trading agreement with an Independent colony which resulted in a large increase in their stock price. Seven new colonies began construction in the past four weeks. GTT Per. Dir. Craylyks has been transferred to the Inner Empire. The new GTT Periphery Director is Ralf, and the GTT Headquarters colony is now Hypso. The WCE unveiled its new manufactured item, the Robotic Cargo Handler. This item will gratly increase the ease in which an outpost or colony can be set up. Reports of sightings and battles with Aliean ships continue to circulate throughout the Capellan Periphery, but no hard evidence has been forthcoming. ******************************************************************************** HIGH FANTASY (Flying Buffalo, Inc.) Flying Buffalo, Inc. will be running tournaments in our new PBM game, Heroic Fantasy, at various game conventions through the summer, including Summercon in Detroit, June 11-13, Origins in Baltimore, July 23-25, and GenCon at Lake Geneva, August 19-22. The game will be run through telephone at our booth in the dealers' room. Prizes will be given away, but most especially, this will be a chance to play 10-15 turn of Heroic Fantasy in three days. ******************************************************************************** In the future, I may decide to occasionally write about the PBN game that is now beginning on the net, so you wouldn't have to wait SO long between issues. Other postings about other things will be available. Only if I get clearance AND enough response from you people will I put on other gaming news services, i.e. The Traveller News Service (even though it's not pbm, some of you might be interested in it). ANY suggestions for new stuff should be posted to the net so that EVERYBODY can discuss it. Live Long And Prosper, and May the Force Be With You (And The Carrier, Too...). Philip L. Wing U.C. at Berkeley Initiator of net.games.pbm