Suspense & Decision

[ixnay]

I, as assistant regional manager of Suspense & Decision, would like to get someone to write an Alamaze article for a secret purpose. The article won't be secret, but ... well, nevermind. Just write an Alamaze article and send it to me via PM. Not necessarily looking for an expansive review -- something focused on a specific topic would be highly encouraged. Here are some ideas:

- Strategy and Tactics for your favorite Alamaze kingdom
- My favorite battle: before, during, and after
- Alamaze: your first 10 turns
- Alamaze metagame: how to sell your services to other players
- Nerfing is your friend: how Alamaze has achieved play balance
- Why the Alamaze magic system shines

These can be short. One or two pages can go a long way (for my secret purposes...)

[Ry Vor]

Any active player that submits 500+ words to S&D in an Alamaze article and copies me at support@alamaze.co will get 50% off their next signup for Classic or Warlords. Caveat: if you want 50% off Warlords, you have to write an article about Warlords.

Of course, if you don't want to let me know, still write, and when published, you'll still get the discount on your next game.

Support this magazine, grow the player base, let people know about the Secret Mistress, or whatever metaphor with which you view this hobby.

[admin]

I really just think we may be at loggerheads with the insistence or nostalgia for "PBM" as in Play by Mail. Hello? So the argument turns to, is "Episodic" too fancy a word? I could care less. When Alamaze started using "Enamor" and "Denigrate" and several other terms in 1987, no one was using them then either. No one was saying many words in 1987 that are in current vernacular.

Well, since you wrote at length about it, and advocated for it, I suspect that you care, that's who.

That said, it isn't a question so much as to whether episodic is too fancy a word. Rather, it's simply not a word that is common. The Alamaze forum has been a prime example of how sparingly that word is used.

Language evolves, and so must "PBM" which is dead and buried. The lazy ass thing of keeping a common, dated, inappropriate term like that is really killing us, not helping in the slightest. Go RSI - keep doing your snail mail turns. That is not going to generate creativity or energy or passion or results.

Language does continue to evolve. Of course, that's a separate issue from PBM being dead or not. It does seem odd, however, that something that you assert as dead and buried is really killing us, not helping in the slightest. The issue isn't about RSI. RSI sticks to e-mail turns for Hyborian War, but that is due to licensing reasons.

As far as creativity or energy or passion being generated is concerned, be a bit more specific.

I really don't think Episodic Strategy Gaming is a term beyond our target audience's comprehension. At least, not for my target audience.

I don't think it's beyond your target audience's comprehension, either. but that they can comprehend it is not the same thing as saying that they embrace it in their vocabulary and dialogue.

We likely have 10's of thousands of players who would love Alamaze and other games if they only knew how to find us.

Perhaps. So, how do you intend to solve that dilemma?

Calling the hobby "PBM" is like calling it Stone Age Gaming.

Why? Because you unilaterally characterize it that way? Did they have postal service during the Stone Age?

If I understand correctly, what you are offering is a game that was originally a Stone Age game designed by a Stone Age game designer, except you call it episodic, now? Why, to distract from its Stone Age roots?

[The Usurper]

*get's bag of popcorn*

[Kalrex]

Thing is, after that, I am not sure much creativity has come out of Hasbro.

Unfortunately, good business sense and creativity don't tend to go hand in hand.

[Ry Vor]

I really just think we may be at loggerheads with the insistence or nostalgia for "PBM" as in Play by Mail. Hello? So the argument turns to, is "Episodic" too fancy a word? I could care less. When Alamaze started using "Enamor" and "Denigrate" and several other terms in 1987, no one was using them then either.

That said, it isn't a question so much as to whether episodic is too fancy a word. Rather, it's simply not a word that is common. The Alamaze forum has been a prime example of how sparingly that word is used.

Language evolves, and so must "PBM" which is dead and buried. The lazy ass thing of keeping a common, dated, inappropriate term like that is really killing us, not helping in the slightest. Go RSI - keep doing your snail mail turns. That is not going to generate creativity or energy or passion or results.

Language does continue to evolve. Of course, that's a separate issue from PBM being dead or not. It does seem odd, however, that something that you assert as dead and buried is really killing us, not helping in the slightest.

I really don't think Episodic Strategy Gaming is a term beyond our target audience's comprehension. At least, not for my target audience.

I don't think it's beyond your target audience's comprehension, either. but that they can comprehend it is not the same thing as saying that they embrace it in their vocabulary and dialogue.

Calling the hobby "PBM" is like calling it Stone Age Gaming.

Why? Because you unilaterally characterize it that way? Did they have postal service during the Stone Age?

If I understand correctly, what you are offering is a game that was originally a Stone Age game designed by a Stone Age game designer, except you call it episodic, now? Why, to distract from its Stone Age roots?

The "postal service" is like a metaphor for the Stone Age. A designer might have been born during the Stone Age, and had to deal with Stone Age technology and expectations. But when technology advances, that designer uses new tools. More importantly, so does the potential consumer of his designs. He would be foolish to stick with the old ones, out of laziness or stupidity, ignoring how the world around him has changed.

Be not afraid of the word Episodic, cousin.

[ixnay]

Any active player that submits 500+ words to S&D in an Alamaze article and copies me at support@alamaze.co will get 50% off their next signup for Classic or Warlords.

Woot!

Come on folks! Get your name (or handle) emblazoned in the archives of PBM for eternity! Pick one of the ideas I suggested or come up with your own. I have an idea for presenting this stuff in S&D in a new way, and would love to get Alamaze and friends the "pole position". Does not have to be long, but does need to be meaningful, helpful, inspiring, and/or humorous.

The last couple of issues of S&D have run right up to the deadline in editorial madness, so it would help to get at least ONE submission from one of you esteemed Alamaze peers within a week or so.

[Kalrex]

I, as assistant regional manager of Suspense & Decision

Since we're from all over the place I'd worry that someone may submit an article in some location not under your assisted Regional control. Then what happens?

[admin]

The "postal service" is like a metaphor for the Stone Age. A designer might have been born during the Stone Age, and had to deal with Stone Age technology and expectations. But when technology advances, that designer uses new tools. More importantly, so does the potential consumer of his designs. He would be foolish to stick with the old ones, out of laziness or stupidity, ignoring how the world around him has changed.

Be not afraid of the word Episodic, cousin.

Sorry for the delay in getting back here. Time keeps getting gobbled up!

I understand the Stone Age metaphor. I'm not afraid of the term Episodic. I'm quite willing to publish articles that contain it. I've used it, myself.

The world around us has changed, indeed. But, laziness and stupidity are hardly the only reasons for either players or game moderators/designers to stick with gaming by mail.

I play games by e-mail. I play them by web interface. I've played BBS door games, before, also. I even publish a PBM magazine in PDF format.

New technology offers the potential for new possibilities, certainly. However, as many full well know, including yourself, that you embrace a given technology does not mean that people will flock to the games produced using it, necessarily.

Just as an old board game can be as fun as ever, the same holds true for old PBM games. Something doesn't cease to be fun, simply because new technology happens along.

[admin]

The last couple of issues of S&D have run right up to the deadline in editorial madness, so it would help to get at least ONE submission from one of you esteemed Alamaze peers within a week or so.

You haven't seen editorial madness, yet.

It would be nice to have some Alamaze submissions, for Issue # 9. Then again, it would be nice to have some submissions for numerous other games, as well.

Articles can be as effective as ads in attracting new players to a given game.

That aside, I do like that colorful new title that you've given yourself, Bernd. Assistant regional manager, eh? I didn't even know that we had regions.