What is a PBeM game?
PBeM stands for Play-by-Email and are of course games that are played via email. Players receive their game turns through email and submit their own orders in the same way. PBeM evolved from postal games (PBM - Play-by-Mail) with the rise of the internet. What once consisted of filling paper turn cards and mailing them to the game company have now changed into more advanced order editors allowing players to have a better overview of their positions.
PBeM differs from online multiplayer games in that players do not need to be online at the same time to play. With a PBeM, the players can play whenever they choose since their response need not be immediate. This is often referred to as turn-based gaming.
The game mechanics allow for a very large number of players in the same game. As all orders are collected and processed at the same time it provides simultaneous actions for all players.
What kind PBeM game is Fate of a Nation?
Fate of a Nation is an open ended fantasy strategy PBeM game. We will try to describe what these code words mean in regard to Fate of a Nation:
Open ended - Fate of a Nation is open ended. This, essentially, means that there is no definite end to the Fate of a Nation world. Players can choose their own objectives and aims with their position and interact with other players in a way that fulfil their own goals. Fate of a Nation is designed with this in mind and a nation must exist for many years indeed before it starts to near the end of its possible technological development.
As more players join Fate of a Nation the game world will expand outwards, each new nation starting a little further away from the centre and its older positions. This makes sure that nations will always start in areas with other young nations. There is no limit to the number of players, or the size of the world, in Fate of a Nation.
Fantasy - Fate of a Nation is set in a fantasy world. There is magic, a number of strange races, gods and all kinds of monsters roaming the land. There is a certain lack of space ships though…
Strategy - Fate of a Nation is a strategy game. Each player starts with a small nation and it is their task to guide their nation successfully through wars, alliances and peace. There will be good years and there will be bad years. How to rise up and meet these challenges is up to the player of each nation.
PBeM - Fate of a Nation is a PBeM game. An order editor is used to open result files and create orders for each nation. The turn around is 1 turn/week.