SFB PBEM Rules - PB0 - INTRODUCTION

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(PB0.0) INTRODUCTION

This document contains rules for playing Star Fleet Battles (SFB) via E-Mail. These are the official rules used by the Star Fleet Battles Play-by-E-Mail (PBEM) System. Playing SFB by E-mail is in many ways very different from a face-to-face game, though the SFB Rulebook is followed in almost every case. The PBEM rules attempt, as much as possible, to allow Players to maintain direct control of their ships. However, it is not an exact duplicate of a face-to-face game.

The basic gist of the PBEM System is that you and your opponent submit your orders for the turn to a Moderator via E-Mail. The Moderator then processes them, and sends a "Sitrep" (Situation Report) to the Players via E-Mail. You receive the results, write up your next turn, and then submit your orders once again. The process is repeated until the game is completed. Sounds simple? That's because it IS! It'll take a little getting used to (after all, what doesn't?), but once you’ve got the hang of it, you'll be lobbing Photon Torpedoes (or whatever your weapon of choice is) at opponents from all over the world.

Every PBEM game has at least three participants: two or more Players and one Moderator. The Moderator’s purpose is to accept orders from the Players and carry them out, reporting the results of those orders to all Players. While (s)he is not a Player, the Moderator fulfills a very important role in the game. Good Moderators and good Players make for a good, enjoyable game of SFB. Experience has also shown that moderating a PBEM SFB game is also an excellent way to learn more about the SFB rules.

NOTE: You will not be able to play PBEM SFB unless you actually own the SFB Rules. If you do not have the rules for SFB, you will need to purchase the rules from your local hobby or gaming store, or from ADB, Inc.

(PB0.1) TERMS: Below is a list of terms used in these PBEM SFB Rules, along with their definitions.

PBEM (Play-by-E-Mail): The term for using E-Mail (or other electronic means) to send orders and turn results back and forth.

SFB (Star Fleet Battles): The Star Fleet Battles board game system, developed and copyrighted by Amarillo Design Bureau.

MODERATOR: The person who "runs" the PBEM SFB game for the Players.

EAF (Energy Allocation Form): SFB Form used to distribute and record ship’s energy usage.

SOP (Standard Operating Procedure): The written orders that a Player submits to the Moderator via E-Mail.

SITREP (Situation Report): The written results of each turn that the Moderator sends to the Players, showing what happened during that period of play.

PBEM SFB Organization: A Gaming Group that organizes PBEM SFB Games, as well as other SFB pursuits. (Some examples of PBEM SFB Organizations: BattleForce CompuServe, ADB PBEM Website, etc...)

GAMES DIRECTOR: The person responsible for organizing, regulating, and adjudicating the PBEM SFB Games for a specific PBEM SFB Organization.

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