Flagship Issue
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Issue 105 Flagship THE MAGAZINE FOR GAMERS Board & Card Games, Computer Games, Play-by-Email, Roleplaying , Conventions ... ... and all the gaming news, views & reviews! Report from FLAGSHIP the Bridge #105, Dec/Jan 2003/4 Winter Cordials IN THIS ISSUE ... WELCOME to Flagship 105! We hope this issue will prove a stay and satisfaction for you now that FEATURES winter has at last arrived. Well, unless you’re News reading this in the antipodes, of course, where we Newsdesk ........................................................................................................................... 4 hope you’ll read it by your barbecue. We’ve lots of News Computer Games.................................................................................................... 28 material here about all sorts of fascinating games, Meets & Conventions ....................................................................................................... 50 which we hope you’ll find fun wherever you live. Reviews As your editor I’m always amused by how different each issue is from the one before it. Game- Phoenux............................................................................................................................ 10 playing is such a lively hobby that there’s always Wildlife ............................................................................................................................. 12 something new coming along to write about. The Sims Online ............................................................................................................... 15 Also, it’s always inspiring for me to see how MagBlast: Second Edition ................................................................................................ 22 much of Flagship comes directly from you, our Neutral Zone .................................................................................................................... 24 readers: you really care about the games you play Boardgames for Fun ......................................................................................................... 32 and aren’t afraid to say so. Oh, one policy which Strategy we maintain and which is worth mentioning here Austerlitz Nations: France ................................................................................................ 14 is that we do need your real name for anything Middle Earth PBM: 1650 Scenario .................................................................................. 18 which we publish. We’re happy enough to print Game Diaries reviews and letters with pseudonyms as long as Star fleet Warlord: Part 1 ................................................................................................. 16 we know what your name is, but we’ll always show Lords of the Earth 1: Update............................................................................................ 20 this real name of yours in our Rumours from the Featured Articles Front section. While I’m on the subject, I’ll add Conferences, Crime and Kids .......................................................................................... 29 that in Rumours our policy is to offer moderators Monsters........................................................................................................................... 30 Right of Reply if a comment criticises them If I Have to Fight .............................................................................................................. 34 personally, but not if it criticises the game. We’d The Portrayal of RPGs ..................................................................................................... 35 welcome more comments on a greater variety of On Screen: Online Gaming .............................................................................................. 36 games, too. Regular readers will know all this, but The Online Revolution ..................................................................................................... 34 there’s no harm in telling new readers how we Roleplaying Questions ..................................................................................................... 38 handle stuff. We do try to be fair! Writing PBM-based Fiction ............................................................................................. 39 As always, we’ve plenty of lively discussion Grimm Scenario Ideas ...................................................................................................... 40 here as well as our news and reviews. By some Gaming, with Children ..................................................................................................... 41 strange chance there’s an emphasis on reviews of s/f games, but this isn’t altogether intentional, it’s just the way the dice have rolled. Yes, I have a REGULAR DEPARTMENTS personal affection for s/f games, but I’m well aware Report from the Bridge (Editorial) .......................................................................................... 3 that they’re not to everyone’s taste. These are all The Mighty Pen (Letters) ....................................................................................................... 42 good games, however. And heck, there’s plenty of Feedback (Your views on Flagship) ...................................................................................... 43 other material as well. Rumours from the Front (Your opinions on games) .............................................................. 44 I hope that the postal workers’ unofficial strike Hall of Fame (Game winners) ................................................................................................ 46 action won’t delay copies reaching you. The south- Games Shop listings ............................................................................................................... 47 east seems to have been hit worst, as I write, with Galactic View (PBM/PBeMgame listings) .............................................................................. 48 no end yet in sight ... Subscription details ...........................................................................................................insert Christmas approaches. I was born on Christmas day - hence my personal name - so I Founding Editors Contributors have to struggle a bit not to be rather negative about Nicholas Palmer MP & Chris Harvey House Artist: Larry Deyell the festival as a whole. However, I always remind Cover Art: ©Paul Francis myself that Christmas is the only feast which we Editorial Team Illustrations: Martin Helsdon (p20), Stephen Alvarado Brits celebrate together, and of course it’s good to Editor: Carol Mulholland [email protected] (p38), Anne Swanson (p30) have a chance to put our feet up and settle down to Consultant Editors: Nick Palmer, Mo Holkar Articles & Reviews: Rob Alexander, Marc Bannerman, Assistant Editor: Colin Forbes [email protected] Jason Brown, Colin Forbes, Lisa Fordham, Jim Gould, some uninterrupted games playing. I’m sure I’ll be Regular Correspondents: Paul Evans, Tom Fyfe, Brian Hancock, Martin Helsdon, Carol Mulholland, getting all soppy about my grand-daughter Emily’s 'Globetrotter', John Harrington, Eric Ridley Robin Orman, Nick Roseby, Corey Sapp, Mike Watkins, first Christmas, though maybe she’ll still be a bit Webmaster: Tom Fyfe [email protected] Ben Williams, Simon Williams too young for playing more games than peep-boo Advertising Manager: Colin Forbes [email protected] at ten months. Printed by: Excel Printing: 351 Lichfield Road, Aston, Are you looking for a suitable Christmas Birmingham, B6 7ST present for your friends? Why not send them a Copyright © 2003 TimePatterns PBM Games. Articles SUBS, QUERIES & CONTRIBUTIONS Flagship subscription? We’ll include a free submitted to Flagship will be assumed to grant copyright Flagship, 14 The Hollows, Exmouth, for first publication and non-exclusive republication by Christmas card for them in your name, and add Devon, EX8 1QT Flagship, unless otherwise agreed. The views expressed one issue to your subscription by way of thanks. (01395) 276632 (9am-6pm) Our best wishes to you all for the festive season: by contributors do not necessarily represent the views of [email protected] www.pbmgames.com Flagship, TimePatterns PBM Games or any of the have a splendid time! ADVERTISING: 2A Guinea St, Exeter, EX1 1BS editorial staff. Tel: 01392 420582 [email protected] Contributions welcomed for Flagship 106. By January 9th, please. 4 NEWSDESK PBM dropping out during the campaign would let Roleplaying Wargames down your allies. However, they don’t insist you try the purely tactical game first if you As well as collecting feel confident enough to dive into the players for several Games campaign. games of their World Agema’s PanzerGruppe II and WW1 Did you once play Wide Battle Plan, Battles are also now blessed with full-colour Hunting II and/or Flying Buffalo Inc are graphics, including icons for aircraft and a Psyche with Dave also looking standby rather nifty shell explosion. Cooksey? If so, you’ll know players to take up any positions that are go.to/agema that Dave hasn’t been running his games for vacated. This allows you to play at a reduced several years, so it’s good news that he’s now fee, so can be a cheaper way to learn to play KJC Games are expecting to start the bigger ready to send updates and turns to all his the game. map game of It’s a Crime! very soon, as former players. He asks you to contact