New PBEM game starting

[Annisquam]

Hi All

Things are looking good, nine players have expressed interest so far. I have a number of thoughts to get us started.

1. First give this message a quick blank reply so I can see if my mailing list is getting to all those who expressed interest.

2. My experience with PBEM is about 10 years first with VGA Planets then VGAP and Stars!. This is the only game I am currently hosting so it will get my full attention. Still, things can go wrong so I ask you patience. Remember the host is always right

3. I have several computers, E-mail addresses and internet accesses. I will keep backup of everything so except for my vacation we should be able to play steadily.

4. I have two email addresses that I watch GaleH@polaroid.com (work) and Annisquam@Yahoo.com (home). I also use Annisquam@Delphi.com which usually forwards mail to both of my other addresses. For best and quickest response sent copies of all correspondence to both of my addresses.

5. I plan to use zip for all data files this lets one tell quickly if the internet has mangled a data file. I hope everyone has WinZip, PKzip or some other Version. I am planing to make one large zip file with everyone's .trn and .cmb files in it. That should eliminate mistakes with files and addresses and make things easier for me. I suggest that everyone use passwords.

6. I would like aim for 10 to 20 minutes per day for each of you to play your turns. That should mean the we can start with daily turns and move to every other day or longer. Also one could play every other turn if one wanted to and still keep up. I think the best time to run the host would be about 9:00 am EST that is 1400 GMT that would give both European and the US players a full evening and night to play while we are on daily turns.

7. Since we have a number of new players and a new host I would like to play a four turn practice game to shake the bugs out. We may decide to make some adjustments after the practice. I would like everyone to get at least two successful turns in.

8. I will attach a small zip file to this message for practice.

9. Below are my thoughts on set up.

Game Title: Annisquam Empires
Start Date: about 1/23/00
Game Settings:
Quadrant Type: I am looking for suggestions
Quadrant Size: 4 or 5 systems per player
General: [All Warp Points Connected]
[All player planets the same size]
Events
Event Frequency: Medium
Max Severity: Medium
Technology
Technology Cost: Medium
Technology Areas NOT Allowed: All Techs allowed
Player Settings
Starting Resources: Medium (20000)
Home Planet Value: Good
Number of Planets: 1
Empire Placement [Evenly distributed through the quadrant]
Score Display Player can view scores of all players]
Technology Level: Low
Racial Points: Low (2000) some people want more, shall we vote?
Random Computer Players None
Victory Conditions: Highest score after 80 turns
Maximum number of units allowed per player (in space) 500
Maximum number of ships allowed per player 500
[Team Mode: All computer players versus all human players] no
[Allow Gifts\Tributes] Yes
[Allow Technology Gifts\Tributes\Trades] Yes
[Allow Intelligence Projects] Yes
Mechanics: [Different Machines]
Turn Style: Simultaneous Movement
Multiplayer Game Filename: Annisquam
Save Game Directory Path: TBD