Play by mail

A blast from the past! Play by Mail (PBM) was a popular way for people to play games, especially tabletop games, over a period of time, often weeks or months, through the mail. Here's a brief overview:

How it worked:

  1. Players would send in their moves or actions to the game master (GM) through the mail.
  2. The GM would process the moves, update the game state, and send back a response, often in the form of a newsletter or a printed sheet with the updated game state.
  3. Players would then receive the response and make their next moves, sending them back to the GM.
  4. This process would continue until the game was completed, often with a final showdown or resolution.

Types of games:

PBM games were often variants of popular tabletop games, such as:

  1. Role-playing games (RPGs): Fantasy, science fiction, or historical settings, where players controlled characters and made decisions to progress through the story.
  2. Wargames: Tactical or strategic games that simulated battles or conflicts, often with miniatures or maps.
  3. Board games: Modified versions of popular board games, such as chess, checkers, or card games, played over a longer period.

Advantages:

  1. Flexibility: Players could play at their own pace, whenever they had time.
  2. Accessibility: PBM games allowed people to play games they might not have been able to play in person, due to location or availability.
  3. Immersive storytelling: The delayed response allowed for more complex storytelling and character development.

Disadvantages:

  1. Slow pace: Games could take weeks or months to complete, which might be frustrating for some players.
  2. Limited interaction: Players had limited opportunities to interact with each other, as they were primarily communicating with the GM.
  3. Technical issues: Mail delays, lost packages, or errors in processing moves could cause problems.

Legacy:

While PBM games are less popular today, they paved the way for modern online gaming platforms and digital game services. Many PBM games have been converted to digital formats, and some still maintain a dedicated following.

If you're interested in exploring PBM games, you can search for online communities, forums, or websites that offer digital versions of classic PBM games or new games inspired by the format.