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GTac - An Ongoing Compilation of How to Accomplish Certain Things

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 14:42:35 +0000

Formula for Coloring a particular star.

Coordinate = 1880

NOTE: Leave the dash out of the star location (this example is for a star at location 18-80).

Step 1 - Click on Game.

Step 2 - Click on Open Map (CTRL+M).

Step 3 - Select and load the map of your choice.

  Blank-Star-Map.png (Size: 123.92 KB / Downloads: 11)

Step 4 - After map loads, select Map.

Step 5 - Select Show New information.

Step 6 - Select Star symbols.

Step 7 - A box similar to the one below will then appear in GTac.

  Display-Map-Information-Box.png (Size: 39.48 KB / Downloads: 14)

Step 8 - Select Coordinate

Step 9 - Select =

Step 10 - Type in the two-digit location of the star that you want to change the color of (be sure to manually delete the hypen - thus, star 18-80 would be 1880).

Step 11 - On the right side of that box, select Choose a shape to be drawn, as well as pen color and line type.

Step 12 - Select Brush color and Brush pattern.

  Display-Map-Information-Box-with-Information-Already-Input.png (Size: 39.83 KB / Downloads: 13)

Step 13 - Click on the OK button.

Step 14 - You will then end up with a colored star that will look something like this, depending upon the color, size, and shape options that you selected for the star that you wanted to change the color of.

  Change-Star-Color.png (Size: 2.14 KB / Downloads: 12)

Game #223 - Sharing of Information Game

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:59:33 +0000

Sharing-of-Information-Game-800x531.png (Size: 936.8 KB / Downloads: 14)

This forum discussion thread is for the Sharing of Information Game of Galactic - Game #223.

Turns will process every 2 weeks, once this game starts.

NOTE: This game may also be discussed in the Galac-Tac channel of the PlayByMail Discord chat server.

Who recognises this old PBM game?

Sun, 25 May 2025 01:58:57 +0000

I found this in old school reports from when I was a kid - circa early 1990’s..

You’d fax a completed card with codes and actions each week, then wait for the report to be mailed - painfully slow but very exciting to play.

I’d love to find out if this is available to play on line through some old emulator or platform, I never finished it as the person running it disappeared…

  IMG_2015.jpeg (Size: 1.21 MB / Downloads: 7)
[attachment=115]

  IMG_2021.jpeg (Size: 3.2 MB / Downloads: 7)

  IMG_2020.jpeg (Size: 4.94 MB / Downloads: 7)

  IMG_2019.jpeg (Size: 4.5 MB / Downloads: 7)

  IMG_2018.jpeg (Size: 3.56 MB / Downloads: 7)

Hi From DrAstroman

Sat, 24 May 2025 08:34:37 +0000

Hi All,

I am a long time PBMer.

WLTP (Where Lies the Power) was my first ever PBM and I think still my favourite, set in a Dune like world with you playing a House of the Landstradd. Liked it so much I bought the game when it folded.

LEGENDS. Looked for a game to replace WLTP i found Legends. Very different with Magic Fantasy Characters and Armies. I still think this is the game with most depth. Certainly the only one still running. When Rhann Games ceased running it in the UK, I got it transferred to a new started company, Harlequin Games, who still host it today!
https://www.harlequingames.com/

VGA Planets 4. This used to be played by mail with a floppy disk coming through the post. Then via Bulleting Boards and then of course by e-mail, becoming a PBeM. Space conquest with you getting to choose your race ripped off from Sci Fi, Federation, Galactica, Romulans, etc.... Games still run (and I still play) on the Drewhead Server. Come and join if you fancy it.
http://vgap.drewhead.org/

I have played several other games along the way, can't remember the names of most of them, but Middeearth PBM (MEPBM) has to have a mention.

And for a few years I worked for Harlequin and Middleearth Games, GMing Legends and MEPBM. For Harlequin I also helped finish the development of the newest module, Blood Tides Rising (BTR), which as I write this will be Harlequins' next new game!

https://www.harlequingames.com/

Dean

I attach some maps of different races' view of the world
  btrmerchantmap.png (Size: 2.55 MB / Downloads: 15)
  btrparthianmap.png (Size: 2.99 MB / Downloads: 15)

  btrvikingmap.jpg (Size: 137.24 KB / Downloads: 14)

  btrkingdommap.jpg (Size: 40.37 KB / Downloads: 14)

  btrmadgodmap.jpg (Size: 477.2 KB / Downloads: 15)

Blood Pit

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 21:07:36 +0000

Blood Pit is a game of gladiatorial combat that is set in a fantasy world. Unlike most computer games today however, Blood Pit does not rely on your reflexes or hand-eye coordination to determine the outcome. Instead, Blood Pit is a game of pure strategy and skill, where you will use your intellect and knowledge of tactics to outwit your opponents.

In Blood Pit, you participate as the manager of a team of gladiators. Players may manage from as little as one, up to as many as five teams. Each team always consists of five individual warriors. As veteran warriors retire, or (more likely) die in combat, new recruits join the ranks, ensuring that each team always has exactly five members.

Combat takes place in the Blood Pit Arena. Here your gladiators will face opponents from other managers in single or group matchups, as you choose. Your objective is simple: through your training and guidance create, the most powerful and fearsome warriors the Pit has ever seen, crush the gladiators of your opponents, and dominate the Arena.

The Front-End program is what you need to play Blood Pit. It doesn't actually run the game, but displays your team(s) for you and allows you to make all the choices needed for each of your teams. After you are confident that your teams are ready to compete with others, this program will enable you to create a small instruction file, which you upload to the BPServer where you and the others play. On Sundays you download your new results, and this program displays them for you.

The Back-End program is a program that runs a complete Blood Pit system. In addition to actually determining the results of the fights, the Back-End program allows the Keeper to start up new players who wish to play, configure the game or games he runs to suit his tastes, even edit information.

The game has been around since the 1980s, White Wolf ran it for awhile, until the Keeper purchased it. The current version has been around since 2002. Best of all, it costs nothing to play. Just sweat and blood!

If you are interested, just go here:

http://www.bloodpit.net/

Galaxy #149 is starting!

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 00:08:36 +0000

Talisman Games has great news! Game 149 has finally reached a minimum number of sign-ups to create an exciting, challenging galaxy. This game will have a FOUR WEEK turnaround, to accommodate the needs of postal mail players far and wide. Web players and postal players will compete for the ultimate prize of galactic domination! There's a special prize for the winner (and runner-up, if any): free or discounted future play time! If you would like to join the fun and be a part of this new galaxy, please sign up on the web before the game begins on SATURDAY, APRIL 15th. The initial game report will be created on that date, and sign-ups will be closed for this galaxy.

The more the merrier - or the messier, as neighbors closer together encounter each other earlier in the game and have to contend for expansion opportunities. Who will take the lead in the first critical turns? It could be you!

Sign up to play at www.Talisman-Games.com.

Start Ancient Empires game?

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 18:23:58 +0000

I'm interested in joining a new game of Ancient Empires. I'm expecting it to be a less complicated game than the current successful Company Commander. I hope to see others take interest in it and join the waiting list to get a game started.

Glenn Harrold
Axomin@aol.com

GrimFinger's Unofficial Alamaze Site

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 05:43:41 +0000

GrimFinger's Unofficial Alamaze Site

https://sites.google.com/view/alamaze/home

The objective is to try and create a more organized approach to finding certain specific, critical information pertaining to Alamaze, without so much other "clutter" making it difficult to track down vital Alamaze information that the prospective Alamaze player needs, in order to play the game more effectively.

Please feel free to provide feedback, both now and as the site progresses going forward.

I am using Google Sites to create this website with.

Kingdom Abbreviation Codes for Alamaze (Maelstrom - 4th Cycle)

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 05:41:42 +0000

AL - ALCHEMIST
AM - AMAZONS
AN - ANCIENT ONES
AT - ATLANTEANS
BL - BLACK DRAGON
CI - CIMMERIANS
DA - DARK ELVEN
DE - DEMON PRINCES
DK - DEATHKNIGHTS
DU - DRUID
DW - DWARVEN
EL - ELVEN
EM - ELEMENTALIST
FF - FAIRY FOLK
FO - FORGOTTEN
FT - FREE TRADERS
GI - GIANTS
GN - GNOME
HA - HALFLING
IL - ILLUSIONIST
LI - LIZARD MEN
LY - LYCANS
NE - NECROMANCER
NO - NOMAD
PI - PIRATES
RA - RANGER
RD - RED DRAGON
SA - SACRED ORDER
SO - SORCERER
TY - TYRANT
UN - UNDERWORLD
WA - WARLOCK

New player in riftlords

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 17:40:14 +0000

Greetings,

I'm a new player in RickLoomisPBM's Riftlords. If you care to exchange game info (or other subjects) I can be reached at: Axomin@aol.com.
Good Gaming!

Glenn Harrold
Axomin@aol.com

New prizes for winning!

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 05:35:01 +0000

Announcement for all Galac-Tac players - news of a fun new opportunity!

Beginning immediately, all new games (plus galaxy #129 already in play) will now include new rewards for victorious players! The more opponents you defeat, the bigger your prize will be, based on the initial number of actively-playing opponents in your galaxy. Your prize will be bonus months of free online play time, or half-off turn fees for postal players.

There will be three levels of rewards:
* If the Masters return, ending the game, then the player in first place will receive two play bonuses per opponent.
* If the Masters return, ending the game, then the player in second place will receive one play bonus per opponent.
* If one player conquers all other empires (earning a military victory before the Masters return), then that player will receive three play bonuses per opponent.

This could amount to as much as 3+ years of additional on-line gaming if you are the victor in a large galaxy! Let that provide you some extra motivation to pursue victory and eliminate all those lesser beings!

A new galaxy is filling

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 03:29:20 +0000

Hey, everyone! Galac-Tac galaxy #149 is now filling! Come join in so we can get it underway! It's a slow galaxy, with 4 weeks between turns, but that's great for players who may not have enough time in their schedule to play more frequently, or have concerns about snail mail delays. A nice, slow galaxy is also good if you're already playing in another one and just want to put in a little more gaming time.

If you'd like to sign up, just hop over to <www.talisman-games.com/galactac/signup> and say so!

The Tweel

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 14:46:39 +0000

The Lands of Nevron lives on in The Tweel expansion area. New players are welcome to come try it out.

email the GM (me) at nevronGM@gmail.com

Hello everyone

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 14:43:09 +0000

Well, I am Rodger Parks, GM of The Lands of Nevron: The Tweel. I have been a gamer for too many years to recount, and have been involved in RPG's almost as long. Generally I am the GM. Ian Affleck created The Lands of Nevron and in 2019 asked me to start a new section of the Lands. Ian and I long cooperated on the Lands, discussing rules, changes to the format, and how to expand the game. Sadly Ian passed in 2020 and the world is a lesser place for it.
I have played several different PBM's, Obviously The Lands of Nevron, but also World War IV, You Rule!, Saturnalia, War Thunder, and a few others I can no longer remember. I believe PBM or PBeM is the way to go for gaming as too often it is difficult to get a proper group together. This satisfies that itch.

I'm back!

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 14:08:17 +0000

A grand thanks to Peter Hall from the PBM Discord, who managed to succeed in getting me back on this forum.

It's crazy, always crazy, trying to do stuff involving technology, and I'm not technological hermit (well, not a complete one, anyway).

Thanks again, Peter the Great!