inconsequential ruminations

I subscribed to the new Spiel-by-Web Yahoo Group. It led me to a good geeklist for Play-By-Web games, which are my favourite way of playing board games by computer. Real-time board games, like at BSW, require too much of a time commitment. It’s tough to abandon a game halfway through, because your baby is crying…

The first thread at Spiel-By-Web discusses what makes a good PBW game:

• Games where players complain of a lot of downtime, in other words deeply analytical games with few and long turns. e.g. Tikal, Torres, Java. Although some wargames require 30 minutes per turn, which is too long for me.
• Games with a lot of bookkeeping e.g. Wallenstein
• Games with simultaneous action selection e.g. Lord of the Rings – The Confrontation
• Interactive turn sequences do not work well e.g. Puerto Rico
• Auctions do not work well e.g. Princes of Florence

I also joined a game of Wallenstein, with the guys from the Yahoo Group (including Mark Johnson). I am impressed with this implementation. It’s surprising how stripped down a game can seem when all the card shuffling and piece moving are removed.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 6th, 2004 at 13:17 and is filed under boardgames.