Fifth Frontier War PBEM

[jappel]

Cross-posting my message from the Recruiting Station forum, as it seems likely folks here might be interested. FWIW, I currently have three people interested! - JFA

I'm contemplating running a game of Fifth Frontier War via PBEM and trying to guage interest. The game would be played in a limited-intelligence, limited communication mode, with the players taking the roles of Supreme Commanders of the four powers (Zhodani, Imperial, Sword Worlds and Vargr) and if enough are interested, fleet commanders. No direct communication between players unless they're in the same system, and I'm working up rules for fleet couriers. Still trying to decide exactly how to handle combat.

Ideally, if this takes off, turns would run initially every 2 weeks, and speed up once folks get into the groove.

Obviously you'll need to have access to a copy of the game.

If interested, post here or send me a private message!

John

 

[Joe Coyle]

I would be interested. I can be reached at j.m.coyle@att.net.

Joe Coyle

 

[ImperialOne]

I , too am interested. I've owned FFW since the mid 1980s. I can be reached at ImperialOne@hotmail.com

Charles

 

[Richard Saunders]

Hello.
Yes please.
mponeill@bigpond.com
Will the admirals have the order delays like in the game or straight orders.

 

[jappel]

Gents,

Your interest has been noted and an e-mail with further information will be arriving shortly! I'm sending it BCC to help preserve the "limited intelligence, limited communications" aspects of the game.

John

 

[jappel]

We've got 13 players and war planning is underway! Still room for a few "At Start" players, and definitely room for commanders of the reinforcements soon.

John

 

[jappel]

The FFW PBEM is cranking along. We're just getting into Turn 2 (game date 194-1107) and things are starting to get interesting. There will be slots opening up for commanders of the reinforcing fleets if anyone's interested!

John

 

[doomhunk]

Just a quick request - that once the game is over the players and referee all post their memoirs de guerre in this forum. That way those of us who didn't get to play the game can get to experience the fun, and maybe learn a few tips for future games we might want to play ourselves...

Paul

 

[jappel]

Paul,

Fear not! Tod Glenn has graciously given us some web space on Traveller Central. Periodic TNS-style reports will start showing up in a few weeks as news of events propagates across the Marches, and I'm keeping a running commentary as each turn passes. If the players choose to create their own, we can put them or links to them at that site.

John

 

[PBI]

Drat. Came to the boards too late, I see I would have loved to have gotten in on this PBEM. 5FW is a great game. If another starts up, keep me in mind?

 

[jappel]

PBI,

There's still time, as both sides get reinforcements. Send me a PM if you're interested!

John

 

[Whipsnade]

Mr. Appel,

The appearence of Rear Admiral Whipsnade; CinC of the 'Fleet on Our Feet' Fleet, may strike fear into the hearts of the enemy (who ever they may be!).

How often do orders need to be recieved? Two or three times a week? If so, the Portly Paragon of Pulchitrude may be interested in arriving with the reinforcements.


Sincerely,
Larsen

 

[jappel]

Mr. Whipsnade,

I'll drop you a note with some details. In a nutshell, we're running about a turn a week. We have several players in the UK and at least one in Australia, so while we might get it down a little, 1 per week looks like the sustainable pace.

E-mailings back and forth during that week will be variable depending on what's going on in your system. If you're just passing through and there's no enemy contact, then just one or two messages between the GM (me) and the player will pass. If there's combat, particularly if other players are in-system, it takes a few more. We haven't had any large scale combat yet, so time will tell.

John

 

[PBI]

Been speaking with our Illustrious GM and, in a fit of courage, I've volunteered to run the next FFW PBEM, should there be sufficient interest.

I say 'next' because 1) I'm playing in the current game and thought it might be nice to not have what passes for my mind distracted if I'm going to GM and 2) I thought it might be nice to see how the first game turns out before jumping in feet first

All that could change, however, based on the evolving experience of the current game We're in Turn 4/about to be in Turn 5, so when and if I get a better feel for how this PBEM-thingy is working, I may (shudder) attempt to start the next game early, should there be sufficient interest.

 

[jappel]

As PBI says, we're about to transition into Turn 5 (the last actions for Turn 4 were resolved earlier today, just waiting on some orders from players). Things are just now getting to the point where players are starting to hear about events elsewhere in the war area, and the guessing game about where the enemy's forces really are is just beginning.

Openings soon for Zhodani reinforcement admirals, if anyone is interested!

John