Wikipedia

The Weapon (game)

The Weapon is a closed-ended, science fiction, play-by-mail (PBM) game.

The Weapon
DesignersDan Ealy
Publishers4Sight, Fantastic Simulations
Years active1984 to unknown
Genresscience fiction, play-by-mail
LanguagesEnglish
Players15
Playing timeset limit
Materials requiredInstructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil
Media typePlay-by-mail

History and development

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Dan Ealy designed the game to run on the Apple II.[1] Memory limitations restricted game design.[1] Ealy aimed for game complexity between Starweb and Empyrean Challenge.[1] The game had medium complexity.[2] Mark Brown programmed the game for ten months prior to playtest beginning in September 1982, taking more than six times longer than initially estimated.[1] Playtesting began in August 1983 with 15 players from Indiana, and Ealy offered the game for play in May 1984.[1]

The game was initially published by 4Sight.[3] By 1988 it was published by Fantastic Simulations.[4]

Gameplay

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The Weapon was a science fiction PBM game of space conquest.[4] It was closed-ended and computer moderated.[2] The game allowed 15 players.[5] Players customized their homeworlds using variables such as economics and military.[6] Players could create fleets of ships and other devices such as "warp gates" for faster travel across the game's 20×20 hex map.[6] Players scored points by gaining and holding worlds and destroying the ships of opponents.[7]

Reception

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Bob McLain, editor of Gaming Universal stated in 1984 that this was "one of the few games I can recommend without hesitation ... as a gamer you'll be treated to a top notch space adventure".[2] He rated it at 4.5 stars out of 5, or "exceptional".[2] Tim Sullivan of The D2 Report stated that the game was "Recommended for those seeking a bloodier victory-potential science fiction wargame".[4] Mark Walton reviewed the game in the Summer–Fall 1984 issue of Gaming Universal, stating, "For a game of modest complexity, it is exceedingly thought-provoking".[5] Flagship editor Nicky Palmer provided a positive review for The Weapon, stating "if you're the wargamer/planner type, you should try The Weapon".[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Ealy 1984. p. 41.
  2. ^ a b c d Editors 1984. p. 65.
  3. ^ McLain 1984. p. 3.
  4. ^ a b c Sullivan 1988. p. 30.
  5. ^ a b Walton 1984. p. 40.
  6. ^ a b Crooks 1984. p. 30.
  7. ^ Walton 1984. p. 39.
  8. ^ Palmer 1994. pp. 35–36.

Bibliography

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  • Crooks, Charles (Winter 1984). "The Weapon: Playtest Review". Flagship. No. 5. p. 31.
  • Ealy, Dan (Summer–Fall 1984). "Designer's Diary: Assembling The Weapon". Gaming Universal. No. 3–4. pp. 41–42.
  • Editors (Summer–Fall 1984). "Gamealog: The Weapon". Gaming Universal. No. 3–4. p. 65.
  • McLain, Bob (Summer–Fall 1984). "Scrambled Thoughts". Gaming Universal. No. 3–4. pp. 2–3.
  • Sullivan, Tim (February–March 1988). "From the Helm: The Weapon". The D2 Report. No. 16. p. 30.
  • Walton, Mark (Summer–Fall 1984). "The Weapon: A Primer Course". Gaming Universal. No. 3–4. pp. 38–40.

Further reading

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  • Chenevert, Phil (May–June 1989). "The Weapon". Paper Mayhem. No. 36. pp. 10–13.
  • Fantastic Simulations (March–April 1990). "Winning Strategies in The Weapon". Paper Mayhem. No. 41. p. 38.
  • Goldstein, Bruce (1983). "Review of The Weapon". Nuts & Bolts of Gaming. Vol. 3, no. 17. pp. 24–26.
  • Horn, Michael (May–June 1985). "The Weapon — Reviewed". Paper Mayhem. No. 12. pp. 40–41.
  • Kavanagh, Brendon (December 1986). "PBM Mailbox: The Weapon". Crash. No. 35.
  • Palmer, Nicky (November–December 1993). "The Weapon Diary – Part 1: Raising the Flag". Flagship. No. 46 (US ed.). pp. 31–32.
  • Palmer, Nicky (January–February 1994). "The Weapon (Part 2)". Flagship. No. 47 (US ed.). pp. 31–32.
  • Palmer, Nicky (May–June 1994). "The Weapon Diary (Part 3): Exposed!". Flagship. No. 49 (US ed.). pp. 18, 2.
  • Palmer, Nicky (July–August 1994). "The Weapon Diary [Part 4]". Flagship. No. 50 (US ed.). pp. 34–36.
  • Winter, Ron (May–June 1990). "The Weapon: Strategy Article". Paper Mayhem. No. 42. pp. 45–47.
  • Walton, Mark (Summer 1986). "The Weapon". Flagship. No. 11 (US ed.). pp. 14–15, 17.
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