In TML Subject 3566, Cynthia Higginbotham writes:
> I am planning to run a private MegaTraveller play-by-email game.
> Right now, I would like to know how many people would be interested in
> joining in.
Cynthia, did you know that the TML PBEM is still going strong, with over
three dozen players? When Richard decided to throw in the towel, Metlay
and I picked it up and ran with it.
> James and Richard, since you have coordinated this sort of thing
> before, I would appreciate any tips, suggestions, caveats, advice you
> might have.
James is still helping coordinating the TML PBEM. Specifically, he handles
all the PBEM mail alias administration, which keeps player connectivity at
a pleasantly high level and significantly reduces the amount of bookkeeping
required by us as Referees.
> By private, I *think* that I mean "handling things the same way the
> Richard's PBEM handled it", but I'm not sure. What I mean is that
> player turns would be sent to me, and my responses sent back to them via
> e-mail, not posted to the TML for public view. Am I correct in
> believing that that is the way Richard handled it?
Close. Actually, once the aliases were created, the players no longer
have to maintain their own, individual lists of PBEM E-mail addresses.
If a player wants to make public move, they just send it to pbemall.
If they only want their move to go to the characters aboard a specific
ship (the Paladin, for example), they just mail to pbempaladin. All
moves (public and private) get archived automatically. Then, at the
cut-off point for a turn, the referee just copies the archive, edits
and formats it, and posts the result to all the players and to the TML.
Private is a good word for the PBEM, but 'closed' would be more accurate.
The current TML PBEM is a 'closed' game, in that new players need referee
approval to join. People who are on the waiting list to join, or who
just want to eavesdrop, can request to be added to the pbemlisteners alias.
The current players will be starting the '92 season with opening moves
next week. The first official turn of the year (Turn 92.00) will be
posted to the TML, in 3 parts, next Monday, February 3rd.
Later,
"In the PBEM these days, it's hard to tell
whether 'RJ' is a reference to 'Richard
Johnson' or to 'Refrigerated Journalist'!"
- Anonymous PBEM member
- Mark F. Cook
(Somewhere coreward of Storm, in Reaver's Deep)