What is a PBEM ? * PBEM Definition PBEM stands for Play by E-Mail. In older days it stood for Play by Echomail. Echomail is a format earlier than the internet where posts were put onto BBSes (Bulletin Board Systems). Play by Email expands the medium to E-mail, Instant Messages, IRC (Internet Relay Chat/Chat Rooms) and Internet Mailing Lists. * What does it mean? In a PBEM game the game itself is played over the medium it represents rather than face to face in a table session. The medium of the internet has its advantages and disadvantages. There are two distinct sides to a PBEM. The Referee or GM (Game Master) or osmetimes called a DM (Dungeon Master - thought I don't like this term). The other side are that of the actual players who represent characters or other game pieces (if not a rpg). In a RPG (Role Playing Game) a PBEM is done just like a normal table session but in a more detailed and different fashion. Sometimes a Referee/GM may not exist in a PBEM but only players. * Types of Games A PBEM can be run in various formats. A simple board game like Chess could be done over PBEM and many people play by this turn for turn. Board games or War games can also be run in a PBEM fashion. Examples include Star Fleet Battles a massive space starship combat game is easilly run over a PBEM medium. Board games like Machiavelli which is a European war game based in Italy can also be done in a PBEM. Both examples I have personally done. Rpgs (Role playing Games) is the other format that can be done in a PBEM medium. * Advantages/Disadvantages There are numerous good and bad points about a PBEM game. Some of the Advantages include: 1) More Detail: Be it a board game or a rpg a PBEM can include far more details a table session may miss or overlook or be forgotten completely. For example in a board game a map of greater detail can be used while a table session may use a simplified map for fast play. In a rpg the world fleshed out by the GM can be far more realistic and detailed in every aspect of characters, plot and the world itself. 2) Better role playing: In a Rpg game or even a board game that requires haggle or well spoken moves to win a game a PBEM can add spice in this area. Whereas a Table game might push players to speak fast and skip their roles a PBEM can allow a person to type their words at ease and thus be far more detailed and realistic. 3) Less Problems: In a table game arguments can come about with a player's move in a board game or even a rpg. Arguments over rules or situations can lead to hot and heated times. But in a PBEM game everything is cluar cut and documented so nothing can be disputed but the facts at hand. 4) Better Characters/Players: In some games like board or war games a PBEM can allow experience to grow and create better players in a way a table session may be too fast to learn rules that may come fast and furious to a player. A Pbem allows a playr to study such rules and details longer. In a rpg better characters can be fleshed out in more detail than in a table session in many ways as well. 5) Better sessions: In a table game you may have a great game but only rely on memories. But in a pbem game you'll forever have some documentation on the game and can relive those great games over and over. Some Disadvantages include: 1) More time: A Pbem does require more time involved than a table session by its nature. Even a simple chess game which could take minutes live could take days or weeks over email with 2 people across the world. While the time may be involved the benefit out of it is good. 2) Slower: As with time the game can be slower and less paced than a table session. This can be lacking for some people but the benefit of a pbem is you play at your time not when you have to schedule time for a table game. While it is slow you are pacing your play rather than schedules setting your game. 3) Emotion: In a pbem game oen can't show emotion in a series of words well as he could in a table session. While the role playing aspect is less with a pbem it can be altered and expanded in many other styles of writing. 4) Less control: While the GM handles 99% of the action and details the players do no real rolling of dice. They only declare their actions ahead of time. So players do lose control in the detail but not in the great play of the game. 5) Instant action: As with time and being slower the pbem can lack in instant action. * Support Links Many PBEMs can have excellent game resources for players that a table session may not have. These may include maps of great detail that can be viewed instantly and online from anywhere. It may include images or charts. It may also include rules that can be read at any time from anywhere. * Actions Actions in a PBEM are done by players and then resolved by the GM. A player will post his actions privately or publically as to what his character or game pieces will be doing. The player can include alternative actions and detailed actions. The GM then resolves those actions according to the rules outlined in that game. * Combat Once actions are done in a game the GM will resolve combat as the normal rules outline. All dice rolls are made by the PBEM. Though in some cases a support link could include online or live dice over the internet to be rolled and seen by everyone. * A PBEM example? Simply look at this site and you'll see an example of a on-going rpg PBEM.