Power (game)
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''Power'' (also ''Power+'') is a closed-end, computer-moderated,
play-by-mail A play-by-mail game (also known as a PBM game, PBEM game, or a turn-based game) is a game played through postal mail, email or other digital media. Correspondence chess and Go were among the first PBM games. ''Diplomacy'' has been played by m ...
space-based game of intrigue. It was published by Entertainment Concepts Inc. (ECI). By late 1985, an updated version of the game, ''Power+'', had replaced ''Power''. Gameplay involved 40 players vying for rulership of a space empire comprising 35 planets. Players could interact with hundreds of non-player forces including dozens of organization types and individuals. Each turn, players chose from a menu of available actions, many related to intrigue.


History and development

''Power'' was published by Entertainment Concepts Inc. (ECI). McLain 1984. p. 29. The medium complexity game was computer moderated and closed-ended. By late 1985, an updated version of the game, ''Power+'', had replaced ''Power''.


Gameplay

40 players per game vie for rulership of a space empire comprising 35 planets. Safigan, et al. 1985. p. 18. 585 non-player forces (NPFs) were in play, ranging from military and government organizations to civilian groups and individuals of various types. Victory conditions varied by player. Couldshed 1985. p. 26. They generally required 16 turns controlling the throne and many NPFs, although eliminating all other players also worked. Safigan, et al. 1985. pp. 18–19. To be crowned ruler, players required "popularity, wealth, and Senate approval". NPFs included anti-Government groups, militaries, spies and assassins, guards, churches, courtiers, diplomats, entertainers, mercenaries, reporters, executives, PR men, police, Royal guards and servants, saboteurs, the Secret Service, the Senate, terrorists, and unions. Palmer 1985. p. 27. Players chose up to twenty actions per turn from a menu. These included "investigation, movement, investment, propaganda, hiring NPFs ... slander, theft, blackmail, bribe ... assassination, ndmilitary combat". The game was in a separate category of games with ''Illuminati'' in that "almost everything happens through manipulation of third parties rather than direct physical involvement". Flagship Editors 1985. p. 29.


Reception

Bob McLain reviewed the game in a 1984 issue of ''
Gaming Universal ''Gaming Universal'' (or ''PBM Universal'') was a magazine dedicated to play-by-mail games. The magazine was published between 1983 and 1988, in two separate print runs with Bob McLain as editor of both editions. Its first print run was publishe ...
'', stating, "This is ECI's first attempt at a totally computer moderated game, but they seem to have done an excellent job."


See also

* ''Illuminati'' *
List of play-by-mail games This is a list of play-by-mail (PBM) games. It includes games played only by postal mail, those played by mail with a play-by-email (PBEM) option, and games played in a turn-based format only by email or other digital format. It is unclear what ...


References


Bibliography

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Further reading

* * * * * * * {{Play-by-mail games American games American role-playing games Fantasy role-playing games Multiplayer games Play-by-mail games Role-playing games introduced in the 1980s Role-playing games introduced in 1980 Strategy games Tabletop games 20th-century role-playing games