People take PBEM to seriously?

[RightDeve]

Yea, better stick up to those ladder sites like theblitz.org. Because if you lose an opponent that way, you can't lose the winning streak; those silly AWOL will be counted as your victory. And things are very well organized there, they keep track of each person.

Personally, I would send an opponent a rule that states if you go awol the victory will be mine as "Decisive". Or I would send him some "surrender now! give me decisive victory" e-mail to spice him up when I know there's some nerve racking losses he gets.
You can also look for those "old breed" veterans on the ladder site or forum, then state a rule if he loses the battle you have the right to put his moniker under your signature, sort of a victory tally. That way he won't give up the battle so easily. But old breed folks are mostly gentlemen, and they will fight you to the end, to the VERY END i must say, LOL.

Going to a PBeM means to draw a full sword to our opponent. And that's a chore! You have to set up and conceive the battle plan painstakingly; and even more if you are the one designing the map single-handedly for the battle you think will be very fierce and interesting. For that I would rather have some painful losses but a great fierce game than a cake walk or walk in the park game. Because when designing the battle (and drawing the map), often I would dream of some "soon-to-be-part-of-history-books" skirmishes here and there where bloodbath is something you will cherishly remember long after the battle ended. Something like role-playing battles which the AARs read as good as a war novel.

But too bad Steel Panthers don't have a feature to review each expended turn in a PBeM; you can't relive those "frightful" moments you had on the battle. It'll make for a damn good addition if implemented; just like when you're "watching movies" in Combat Mission games.