Quest (game)
Play-by-mail or email | |
Website | http://www.kjcgames.com/quest/quest.htm |
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Quest (or Quest: World of Kharne, or Quest Gamemaster Edition, or Quest GME) is an
Gameplay follows the Dungeons & Dragons model. Players lead parties of 6–15 characters of varying races and professions while exploring parts of the game world, Kharne, to include wilderness and dungeons. As of 2022, KJC Games publishes the game with the current version as Quest, Gamemaster Edition (Quest GME). Another version, Quest Unlimited, allows rapid turn processing and game progress via email.
Play-by-mail genre
Play-by-mail (PBM) games feature a number of differences from
Once a player has chosen a game and receives an initial game setup, gameplay begins. This generally involves players filling out order sheets for a game (see example image) and sending them to the gaming company.[3] The company processes the turns and returns the results to the player, who completes a subsequent order sheet.[3] Diplomacy is also frequently an important—sometimes indispensable—part of gameplay.[10] The initial choice of a PBM game requires consideration as there is a wide array of possible roles to play, from pirates to space characters to "previously unknown creatures".[11] Close identification with a role typically increases a player's game satisfaction.[6]
PBM history
Some games have long been played by mail, such as
In the 1980s, the PBM industry grew rapidly.[12] Many small PBM companies opened as there were few barriers to entry, although most of these companies failed.[9] Three independent PBM gaming magazines also began in the early 1980s: Gaming Universal, Paper Mayhem, and the UK-based Flagship.[15] The 1990s brought additional changes to the PBM world. In the early 1990s, email became an option to transmit turn orders and results.[16][d] It was in this environment that Quest was published.
History and development
Quest became available for play in 1991.[17] It is an open-ended game.[18] Patrick Rogers stated in 1993 that Quest was Europe's largest PBM game.[19] Initially well-received in Europe, by 1994, Adventures by Mail had licensed the game in the United States.[20] The game was also available for play in Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.[17] As of 1994, there were two games underway in the U.S. version, each of which could comprise 1,000 parties.[20] In the same year, Reviewer Richard L Smith identified KJC Games as the game's European publisher (based in England).[21] Peter Lambeck also identified in 1994 that, in the U.S. version, there were two games underway, each with a capacity of 1,000 parties.[21]
The game had a First and Second Age which together comprised almost 20 worlds for gameplay.[22] The Second Age featured improved combat.[23] After 2000, the game's twenty worlds consolidated into four.[22]
By 2002, KJC Games had released a new version for play: Quest Game Master Edition or Quest GME.[24] This version was also available for play by email.[24] At the time, the game—previously computer-moderated—involved a human moderator.[24] In 2002, the game continued to improve, with reviewer Dan Reed stating, "I cannot see a point in the future where boredom is likely ... An oak amongst PBM games is growing tall and wide, and will go yet further."[23]
As of 2022, KJC Games was the only game publisher.[17] The Second Age—published post-2000—remains, with plans for a Third Age never realized.[17] KJC Games also generated a version called Quest Unlimited which allows unlimited turn orders via email, permitting rapid gameplay and progress.[17]
Gameplay
Quest's design follows the
Initial parties require diversity in races and professions.[18] Players can explore outdoor areas and dungeons, among other areas.[20] There are various methods to find treasure and items, although some items have no use.[25] In 1992, a group of players voted a vase as the game's "most useless item".[26]
The game occurs on Kharne, a fictional world comprising an area of 200×200 squares.[20] Population centers across the island provide the groups of adventurers with various options, including shopping, transport, training, and obtaining quests.[18] Players can interact with non-player characters in and around population centers with a "talk" command.[18] While adventuring, magic, religion, and gods will likely come into play, as well as creatures such as goblins, sewer demons, lizard men, and even dragons.[18]
According to reviewer Peter Lambeck, the game's purpose is to "accumulate money and experience, build up your party, and have fun".[20] Religion, magic, and party combat are part of gameplay, with multiple gods and spells available.[18] Diplomacy is also key to successful gameplay.[24]
Quest GME involves a greater degree of in-world history related to cities and gameplay.[24]
Reception
Quest won the 1993
Reviewer Lambeck stated in a 1994 issue of Paper Mayhem magazine that the turn results were very detailed and "the turns are both entertaining and engrossing".[29] In the Nov–Dec 1994 issue of Paper Mayhem magazine, Richard L. Smith outlined multiple improvements he recommended for the game while stating that he "continued to play despite the amount of frustration [he] had with the game".[30]
In the Mar–Apr 1995 issue of Paper Mayhem, Quest tied for 44th place out of 65 in the PBM Game Ratings list with a 6.241 out of 9 possible points. On the same list, Quest received the 4th largest number of reader responses of the 65 games considered.[31][f]
See also
Notes
- ^ For example, the PBM game It's a Crime can accommodate 110 players per game.[2]
- ^ For example, the PBM game Covert Operations allows twice-per-week moves, daily moves, and private games where players can specify turn around times.[4]
- ^ Vern Holford, owner of Superior Simulations, developed Empyrean Challenge, a PBM game that reviewer Jim Townsend described in 1988 as "the most complex game system on Earth" with some turn results for large positions at 1,000 pages in length.[9] According to Townsend, in those cases there was a significant investment in time to understand what happened on a turn as well as to fill out future turn orders.[9] He said a player without a spreadsheet was "nearly doomed from the outset".[9]
- ^ This section is taken from the Play-by-mail genre section of the Hyborian War Wikipedia article.
- thief.[18]
- Middle-Earth PBM with 106 responses, and Victory! with 140 responses.[32]
References
- ^ Greenberg 1993 pp. 8–9
- ^ KJC Games 2020
- ^ a b c Paper Mayhem Jan/Feb 1993 p. 1
- ^ a b Flying Buffalo 2020
- ^ Townsend 1987 p. 24; DuBois 1997 p. 4
- ^ a b John Kevin Loth III 1986 p. 42; Paper Mayhem Jan/Feb 1993 p. 1
- ^ Lindahl 2020
- ^ John Kevin Loth III 1986 p. 42; Townsend 1988 p. 20
- ^ a b c d Townsend 1988 p. 20
- ^ Townsend 1987 p. 29; Mouchet 2017 p. 11
- ^ John Kevin Loth III 1986 pp. 42–43
- ^ a b c McLain 1993
- ^ Townsend 1988 p. 20; Flying Buffalo 2020; Loomis 2013 p. 38
- ^ Popolizio, Leblanc, and Popolizio 1990 p. 8
- ^ Loomis 1985 p. 36
- ^ Paduch 1993 p. 2
- ^ a b c d e Volker 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Smith 1994. p. 12.
- ^ Rogers 1993. p. 43.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Lambeck 1994. p. 15.
- ^ a b Smith 1994. p. 16.
- ^ a b Smith and Berthillier 2002. p. 17.
- ^ a b Reed 2002. p. 35.
- ^ a b c d e Smith and Berthillier 2002. p. 16.
- ^ Smith 1994. pp. 14–15.
- ^ Smith 1994. p. 15.
- ^ Origins 1993.
- ^ Mulholland 1994. p. 14.
- ^ Lambeck 1994. p. 15–16.
- ^ Smith 1994. p. 16.
- ^ Paper Mayhem 1995. p. 60.
- ^ Paper Mayhem 1995. p. 59–60.
Bibliography
- DuBois, Steven (January–February 1997). "Monster Island: A Review". Paper Mayhem. No. 82. p. 4.
- Flying Buffalo, Inc. "Covert Operations". Flying Buffalo Inc. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- Greenberg, Andrew (May–June 1993). "PBM Corner: A Beginning in Play-By-Mail; Is it Worth It?". White Wolf Magazine. No. 36. pp. 8–9.
- Lambeck, Peter (January–February 1994). "QUESTing on the Right Foot". Paper Mayhem. No. 64. pp. 15–16.
- Loomis, Rick (1985). "Rick Loomis on Play-By-Mail". Space Gamer: The Magazine of Adventure Gaming. July/August 1985 (75): 36.
- Loomis, Rick (December 2013). "Letter from Rick Loomis to the Play By Mail/Email/Web/Turn Based Games Community" (PDF). Suspense & Decision. No. 2. p. 38. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- Loth III, John Kevin (March–April 1986). "A PBM Primer". Paper Mayhem. No. 17. p. 42.
- McLain, Bob (August 1, 1993). "Play By Mail: The Infancy of Cyberspace". Pyramid. sjgames.com. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- Mouchet, Paul (February 2017). "PBM: Reducing the "Barrier to Entry"" (PDF). Suspense and Decision. No. 15. PlayByMail.net. pp. 10–12. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- Mulholland, Carol (February–March 2002). "Choosing a PBM Game" (PDF). Flagship. No. 94. p. 14.
- "Origins Award Winners (1993)". Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design. Archived from the original on 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
- Paduch, Sally (June 27, 1993). "Email Brings Immediacy to Play-By-Mail Games". New York Times. p. RC21.
- Paper Mayhem editors (January–February 1993). "Front Matter". Paper Mayhem. No. 58. p. 1.
- "PBM Game Ratings". Paper Mayhem. No. 71. Mar–Apr 1995. pp. 59–60.
- Popolizio, Mike; LeBlanc, Liz; Popolizio, Marti (January–February 1990). "Revamping a Classic! The Redesign of BSE". Paper Mayhem. No. 40. pp. 8–10.
- Reed, Dan (February–March 2002). "Quest GME: Player's Verdict" (PDF). Flagship. No. 95. p. 35.
- Rogers, Patrick (September 1993). "Ship Ahoy!". Shadis. No. 9. The Alderac Group. pp. 43–44.
- Salman, Ref (January–February 1994). "Quest". Flagship. No. 47 (U.S. ed.). pp. 15–17.
- Smith, Richard L. (November–December 1994). "Quest: A Riddle Without Answers". Paper Mayhem. No. 69. pp. 12–16.
- Smith, Jonathan; Berthillier, Franz (February–March 2002). "Quest GME" (PDF). Flagship. No. 94. pp. 16–17.
- Townsend, Jim (March–April 1987). "A Real Look at Heroic Fantasy". Paper Mayhem. No. 23. p. 24.
- Townsend, Jim (1988). "The PBM Corner". White Wolf Magazine. No. 11. p. 20.
- Volker, Judy. "Kharne Encyclopedia: The World of Kharne". KJC Games. Retrieved August 13, 2022.