[Mobhack]

The point of this thing is to enable players to have a series of linked battles over time, and to grow/progress their cores as in a normal campaign against the AI. It encourages a totally different style of play, since you need to preserve your core, save crew from bailed core units and so on, in a way that a single PBEM battle does not account for.

PBEM campaigns are not intended for competitive ladder type competitions, though the 3 guaranteed meeters basic type might be considered OK on some competitive sites perhaps. Just pick a trustworthy opponent.

PBEM campaigns are meant for a fun experience between 2 players, and basic security provides for that.

The security is in any case limited to basic mode since:
- It allows the players to use other computers. Since these campaigns will go on for some time, players will need to be able to play on their roving laptops as well as the home base PC.

- Many casual players have difficulty with full security PBEM mode. If not done correctly, the game will get rejected. And thus the entire campaign, which could be up to battle 19 of 20.

- Using basic mode also allows for the "prompted" game hints at end turn, making it easier for casual players to play PBEM.

- Player No.1 drives the campaigns. He sets up the battlefield conditions etc for each new game. Basic security allows player No. 2 to reject an offered setup, with player 1 having to reload and reset a more agreed-upon situation, or to reload till an agreed battle type appears etc. This is OK with basic security, but not with full security mode which would tend to reject the game.

- I looked at implementing secure mode, but the advantages outlined above far outweighed the complexity that would have been involved. And of course, the fact that a rejected game would nix the entire campaign was the clincher.

Cheers
Andy