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Empyrean Challenge

January 01, 1970

Empyrean Challenge is a strategic science fiction play-by-mail (PBM) game. Published by Superior Simulations in 1978, its introduction was important to the nascent PBM industry. 150 players per game strove to dominate a cluster of star systems. Diplomacy, combat, economics, technological development, colonization, and other factors were important aspects of gameplay. Detailed work was required in all aspects of the game, requiring a significant investment in time for players. Reviewer Jim Townsend stated in 1988 that Empyrean Challenge was "the most complex game system on Earth".[1]

Empyrean Challenge
Empyrean Challenge title image
PublishersSuperior Simulations
Years active1978–unknown
Genresscience fiction, play-by-mail
LanguagesEnglish
Players150
Playing timeno limit (open-ended)
Materials requiredInstructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil
Media typeplay-by-mail

Various observers reviewed the game in the 1980s across gaming magazines such as Dragon, The Space Gamer, White Dwarf, and White Wolf. Commentators focused on the detail, complexity, and time required for the game, noting it was generally for more advanced players.

Play-by-mail history edit

Some games have long been played by mail between two players, such as chess and Go.[2] PBM play of Diplomacy—a multiplayer game—began in 1963.[3] The emergence of the professional PBM industry occurred less than a decade later. Rick Loomis, "generally recognized as the founder of the PBM industry",[4] accomplished this by launching Flying Buffalo Inc. and his first PBM game, Nuclear Destruction, in 1970.[2] Professional game moderation started in 1971 at Flying Buffalo.[5][a] For approximately five years, Flying Buffalo was the single dominant company in the US PBM industry until Schubel & Son entered the field in about 1976 with the human-moderated Tribes of Crane.[5] Also in 1976, Flying Buffalo launched its first space-based PBM game, Starweb.[6] It was within this environment that Empyrean Challenge entered the PBM field.[b]

Development edit

 
Turn results for Empyrean Challenge could be 1,000 pages in length.[1]

According to reviewer Jim Townsend, the introduction of Empyrean Challenge in 1978 was consequential to the nascent play-by-mail (PBM) industry.[1] In a 1980 advertisement, Superior Simulations defined Empyrean as "the highest heavens", identifying Empyrean Challenge as a strategic science fiction game.[7] The game was developed by Superior Simulations owner Vern Holford, "an ex-Starweb player who thought he could come up with something more challenging and complex".[1] Townsend asserted in a 1988 issue of White Wolf magazine that he succeeded, identifying Empyrean Challenge as "the most complex game system on Earth" with some large position turn results comprising 1,000 pages.[1] According to Townsend, in those cases there was a significant investment in time to understand what happened on a turn as well as fill out future turn orders.[1] He stated that a player without a spreadsheet was "nearly doomed from the outset".[1]

Gameplay edit

 
Start of the status reports for a player in game 5 on the first turn.

Empyrean Challenge players competed for control of 100 different star systems, with each star system consisting of up to 10 planets.[8] The playing area was cube-shaped with sides 30 light-years in length.[9] Within the cluster of systems were ten inhabited planets, each with fifteen player nations for a total of 150 players per game.[10] Each of the fifteen nations on a planet comprised one of the ten races in the cluster.[9] Players were required to employ diplomacy or combat with these adjacent nations,[8] with diplomacy and cooperation in technology research as critical factors.[9] Planets, populations, production factors, military units, and other elements of gameplay had various classifications or types for players to manage.[9]

Players were required to overcome various challenges, such as economic issues and war, before developing technology to explore and colonize other star systems.[8] Controlling about 5 of 15 colonies set the conditions for interstellar expansion.[9] Movement between star systems was limited by technology levels—higher technology levels allowed moving more light years per turn as well as increasing the possibility of a non-catastrophic hyperjump attempt.[9] Due to the high expense of maintaining fleets, interstellar combat was rare, but consequential.[9]

Players could assume one of three roles. The standard position was a Ruler of a nation.[9] Regents, who paid less, typically assumed control of colonies or ships from Rulers whose position had expanded.[9] Independents, who paid lower per-turn fees, assumed control of weaker positions after a player dropout or colony revolt, for example.[11] Significant detailed work was required in all aspects of the game, including the design of ships and colonies, production and technology decisions, and others.[8] Reviewer Martin Clark called the level of detail in the game "quite staggering".[9]

Reception edit

"At heart, [Empyrean Challenge] is a world-economic game without undue complexity, but anyone who doesn't own a calculator is in real trouble ... for serious players only!"

— Martin Clark. Flagship, No. 1, Winter 1983.[12]

In its 1979 Game Survey, Empyrean Challenge was rated 6.3 out of 9 by readers of The Space Gamer.[13] David Bolduc reviewed the game in the November 1980 issue of The Space Gamer.[8] Bolduc commented that "Empyrean Challenge is a mountain of fun to play. It is a world game – an economic game – and consumes a tremendous amount of time. [...] I recommend Empyrean Challenge for the serious game freak – particularly for the type who likes 'monster' games."[8] In the April 1983 edition of Dragon (Issue 72), Michael Gray stated "This game seems to offer the ultimate in complex simulations, involving economic, scientific, and military decisions. If you're looking for a long, complicated game, this is the ticket."[14] A D Young reviewed the game for the October 1983 issue of White Dwarf and stated it was "obviously only for those space gamers who wish to immerse themselves totally in the role of Ruler of the galaxy."[15]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Flying Buffalo later added games such as Battleplan and Heroic Fantasy along with Starweb and others. By the late 1980s these games were all computer moderated.[5]
  2. ^ This PBM history section is taken largely from the Starweb Wikipedia article history section.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Townsend 1988. p. 20.
  2. ^ a b McLain 1993.
  3. ^ Babcock 2013. p. 16.
  4. ^ The Editors 1985. p. 35.
  5. ^ a b c Townsend 1988. p. 20.
  6. ^ Person 1980. p. 30; Loomis 2021.
  7. ^ Superior Simulations 1980. p. 29.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Bolduc 1980. pp. 14–15.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Clark 1983. p. 14.
  10. ^ Gray 1983. p. 31.
  11. ^ Clark 1983. pp. 14–15.
  12. ^ Clark 1983. p. 15.
  13. ^ Jackson 1980. pp. 6–7.
  14. ^ Gray 1983. p. 31.
  15. ^ Young 1983. p. 29.

Bibliography edit

  • Babcock, Chris (December 2013). "Diplomacy" (PDF). Suspense and Decision. No. 2. p. 16. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  • Bolduc, David (November 1980). "Featured Review: Four PBM Space Games". The Space Gamer. No. 33. Steve Jackson Games. pp. 14–15.
  • Clark, Martin (Winter 1983). "Empyrean Challenge" (PDF). Flagship. No. 1. pp. 14–15. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  • "Rick Loomis on Play-By-Mail [Editor Intro]". The Space Gamer. No. #75. July–August 1985. p. 35.
  • Gray, Michael (April 1983). "The PBM Scene: Facts You Can Use When YOU Choose What Game to Play". Dragon. No. 72. TSR, Inc. p. 31.
  • Loomis, Rick. . www.flyingbuffalo.com. Archived from the original on 2008-10-22. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  • Jackson, Steve (May–June 1980). "1979 Game Survey Results". The Space Gamer. No. 28. Steve Jackson Games. pp. 6–7. ISSN 0194-9977 – via Internet Archive.
  • McLain, Bob (August 1, 1993). "Play By Mail: The Infancy of Cyberspace". Pyramid. sjgames.com. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  • Superior Simulations. "Empyrean Challenge (Advertisement)". The Space Gamer. No. 33. Steve Jackson Games. p. 29.
  • Person, Paul S. (July 1980). "Capsule Reviews". The Space Gamer. No. 29. Steve Jackson Games. p. 30.
  • Townsend, Jim (1988). "The PBM Corner". White Wolf. No. 11. p. 20.
  • Young, A D (October 1983). "Microview". White Dwarf. No. 46. Games Workshop. p. 29.

Further reading edit

  • Lemmon, Wayne (November–December 1983). "Meeting the [Empyrean] Challenge". PBM Universal. No. 1. p. 5–11.

January 01, 1970
empyrean, challenge, strategic, science, fiction, play, mail, game, published, superior, simulations, 1978, introduction, important, nascent, industry, players, game, strove, dominate, cluster, star, systems, diplomacy, combat, economics, technological, develo. Empyrean Challenge is a strategic science fiction play by mail PBM game Published by Superior Simulations in 1978 its introduction was important to the nascent PBM industry 150 players per game strove to dominate a cluster of star systems Diplomacy combat economics technological development colonization and other factors were important aspects of gameplay Detailed work was required in all aspects of the game requiring a significant investment in time for players Reviewer Jim Townsend stated in 1988 that Empyrean Challenge was the most complex game system on Earth 1 Empyrean ChallengeEmpyrean Challenge title imagePublishersSuperior SimulationsYears active1978 unknownGenresscience fiction play by mailLanguagesEnglishPlayers150Playing timeno limit open ended Materials requiredInstructions order sheets turn results paper pencilMedia typeplay by mail Various observers reviewed the game in the 1980s across gaming magazines such as Dragon The Space Gamer White Dwarf and White Wolf Commentators focused on the detail complexity and time required for the game noting it was generally for more advanced players Contents 1 Play by mail history 2 Development 3 Gameplay 4 Reception 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 Bibliography 9 Further readingPlay by mail history editSome games have long been played by mail between two players such as chess and Go 2 PBM play of Diplomacy a multiplayer game began in 1963 3 The emergence of the professional PBM industry occurred less than a decade later Rick Loomis generally recognized as the founder of the PBM industry 4 accomplished this by launching Flying Buffalo Inc and his first PBM game Nuclear Destruction in 1970 2 Professional game moderation started in 1971 at Flying Buffalo 5 a For approximately five years Flying Buffalo was the single dominant company in the US PBM industry until Schubel amp Son entered the field in about 1976 with the human moderated Tribes of Crane 5 Also in 1976 Flying Buffalo launched its first space based PBM game Starweb 6 It was within this environment that Empyrean Challenge entered the PBM field b Development edit nbsp Turn results for Empyrean Challenge could be 1 000 pages in length 1 According to reviewer Jim Townsend the introduction of Empyrean Challenge in 1978 was consequential to the nascent play by mail PBM industry 1 In a 1980 advertisement Superior Simulations defined Empyrean as the highest heavens identifying Empyrean Challenge as a strategic science fiction game 7 The game was developed by Superior Simulations owner Vern Holford an ex Starweb player who thought he could come up with something more challenging and complex 1 Townsend asserted in a 1988 issue of White Wolf magazine that he succeeded identifying Empyrean Challenge as the most complex game system on Earth with some large position turn results comprising 1 000 pages 1 According to Townsend in those cases there was a significant investment in time to understand what happened on a turn as well as fill out future turn orders 1 He stated that a player without a spreadsheet was nearly doomed from the outset 1 Gameplay edit nbsp Start of the status reports for a player in game 5 on the first turn Empyrean Challenge players competed for control of 100 different star systems with each star system consisting of up to 10 planets 8 The playing area was cube shaped with sides 30 light years in length 9 Within the cluster of systems were ten inhabited planets each with fifteen player nations for a total of 150 players per game 10 Each of the fifteen nations on a planet comprised one of the ten races in the cluster 9 Players were required to employ diplomacy or combat with these adjacent nations 8 with diplomacy and cooperation in technology research as critical factors 9 Planets populations production factors military units and other elements of gameplay had various classifications or types for players to manage 9 Players were required to overcome various challenges such as economic issues and war before developing technology to explore and colonize other star systems 8 Controlling about 5 of 15 colonies set the conditions for interstellar expansion 9 Movement between star systems was limited by technology levels higher technology levels allowed moving more light years per turn as well as increasing the possibility of a non catastrophic hyperjump attempt 9 Due to the high expense of maintaining fleets interstellar combat was rare but consequential 9 Players could assume one of three roles The standard position was a Ruler of a nation 9 Regents who paid less typically assumed control of colonies or ships from Rulers whose position had expanded 9 Independents who paid lower per turn fees assumed control of weaker positions after a player dropout or colony revolt for example 11 Significant detailed work was required in all aspects of the game including the design of ships and colonies production and technology decisions and others 8 Reviewer Martin Clark called the level of detail in the game quite staggering 9 Reception edit At heart Empyrean Challenge is a world economic game without undue complexity but anyone who doesn t own a calculator is in real trouble for serious players only Martin Clark Flagship No 1 Winter 1983 12 In its 1979 Game Survey Empyrean Challenge was rated 6 3 out of 9 by readers of The Space Gamer 13 David Bolduc reviewed the game in the November 1980 issue of The Space Gamer 8 Bolduc commented that Empyrean Challenge is a mountain of fun to play It is a world game an economic game and consumes a tremendous amount of time I recommend Empyrean Challenge for the serious game freak particularly for the type who likes monster games 8 In the April 1983 edition of Dragon Issue 72 Michael Gray stated This game seems to offer the ultimate in complex simulations involving economic scientific and military decisions If you re looking for a long complicated game this is the ticket 14 A D Young reviewed the game for the October 1983 issue of White Dwarf and stated it was obviously only for those space gamers who wish to immerse themselves totally in the role of Ruler of the galaxy 15 See also editList of play by mail gamesNotes edit Flying Buffalo later added games such as Battleplan and Heroic Fantasy along with Starweb and others By the late 1980s these games were all computer moderated 5 This PBM history section is taken largely from the Starweb Wikipedia article history section References edit a b c d e f g Townsend 1988 p 20 a b McLain 1993 Babcock 2013 p 16 The Editors 1985 p 35 a b c Townsend 1988 p 20 Person 1980 p 30 Loomis 2021 Superior Simulations 1980 p 29 a b c d e f Bolduc 1980 pp 14 15 a b c d e f g h i j Clark 1983 p 14 Gray 1983 p 31 Clark 1983 pp 14 15 Clark 1983 p 15 Jackson 1980 pp 6 7 Gray 1983 p 31 Young 1983 p 29 Bibliography editBabcock Chris December 2013 Diplomacy PDF Suspense and Decision No 2 p 16 Retrieved March 20 2020 Bolduc David November 1980 Featured Review Four PBM Space Games The Space Gamer No 33 Steve Jackson Games pp 14 15 Clark Martin Winter 1983 Empyrean Challenge PDF Flagship No 1 pp 14 15 Retrieved January 1 2021 Rick Loomis on Play By Mail Editor Intro The Space Gamer No 75 July August 1985 p 35 Gray Michael April 1983 The PBM Scene Facts You Can Use When YOU Choose What Game to Play Dragon No 72 TSR Inc p 31 Loomis Rick History of Flying Buffalo Inc www flyingbuffalo com Archived from the original on 2008 10 22 Retrieved August 21 2021 Jackson Steve May June 1980 1979 Game Survey Results The Space Gamer No 28 Steve Jackson Games pp 6 7 ISSN 0194 9977 via Internet Archive McLain Bob August 1 1993 Play By Mail The Infancy of Cyberspace Pyramid sjgames com Retrieved May 5 2020 Superior Simulations Empyrean Challenge Advertisement The Space Gamer No 33 Steve Jackson Games p 29 Person Paul S July 1980 Capsule Reviews The Space Gamer No 29 Steve Jackson Games p 30 Townsend Jim 1988 The PBM Corner White Wolf No 11 p 20 Young A D October 1983 Microview White Dwarf No 46 Games Workshop p 29 Further reading editLemmon Wayne November December 1983 Meeting the Empyrean Challenge PBM Universal No 1 p 5 11 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Empyrean Challenge amp oldid 1191194395, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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