Difference between revisions of "User talk:Rich/18xx Play By Email"

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== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==
The term 18xx refers to a series of [[board games]] that, with a few exceptions, recreate the building of [[rail transport|railroad]] [[corporation]]s during the 19th century.
This page was created to more fully discuss tools and other resources, developed by the gaming community,
These board games are described more fully on [[18XX|this Wikipedia page]].
that can be used to support 18xx [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play-by-mail_game Play by Email] games.<br>
The tools are used either alone or in combination with other resources (for example: spreadsheets (see below)) to support game play from remote sites. <br>
Some of the tools discussed below can be used for other gaming purposes (EG: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotseat_%28multiplayer_mode%29 live play]) or can be used for non 18xx games.
But the thrust of this discussion is 18xx Play by Email games.


This current page will discuss tools, developed by the gaming community, that can be used to support 18xx [[Play-by-mail_game|Play by Email]] games.
This page partially duplicates the [[18xx#toc|'''Play Online and by Email & Helper Tools''' section of the BGG WIKI 18xx page]].
These tools are used either alone or in combination with other tools (EG: spreadsheets) to support game play from remote sites.
Some of the tools discussed below can be used for other gaming purposes (EG: [[Hotseat_%28multiplayer_mode%29|live play]]) or can be used for non 18xx games.
But the thrust of this discussion is Play by Email games.


== Play By Email Tools ==
== Play By Email Tools ==
The following table lists six currently active tools that meet the above criteria. A brief paragraph discussing each of them will follow.
This section lists and briefly discusses seven currently active tools that meet the above criteria.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ List of 18xx PBEM Tools
!Tool!!Description
|-
|18xx.games||Play async or real-time 18xx games
|-
|BOARD18||displays game boards and stock market charts
|-
|cyberboard||displays game boards and stock market charts
|-
|rails||can act as a moderator to speed up face-to-face games
|-
|RR18xx||online 18xx support
|-
|[[Tabletop Simulator]]||Playing board games via the interweb
|-
|VASSAL||Play live on the Internet or by email
|}


== 18xx.games ==
=== 18xx.games ===
[https://www.18xx.games/ 18xx.games]
A short description needs to be written for this tool.


== BOARD18 ==
The home page for 18xx.games is here: [https://www.18xx.games/ 18xx.games]
[https://wiki.board18.org BOARD18 WIKI]


== CyberBoard ==
=== BOARD18 ===
The CyberBoard board gaming system makes playing board games by mail and electronic mail a more enjoyable experience.
BOARD18 is a tool for playing “18xx style” games via Email.
The system allows you to easily graphically design the various parts of a board game on your computer.
The players can make their moves and exchange recorded versions of the moves with their opponents via emails.


CyberBoard supports mostly military war games but it can also be used for 18xx games.
The BOARD18 game session associated with a PBEM game is used to display the game board and the stock market for the game. <br>
It will run as a web service accessed via the player's web browser.
 
BOARD18 is fully described on the [https://wiki.board18.org/ BOARD18 WIKI].
 
A production version of BOARD18 can be accessed at [https://prod1.board18.org/ prod1.board18.org].
 
=== CyberBoard ===
On of the earliest tools that was used to play 18xx by Email is CyberBoard.
 
CyberBard was developed in the late 1990's by Dale Larson "to simplify a PBEM game I was playing".
CyberBoard origionally ran as a
Windows 3.1 application. <br>It has no internet capabilities and is totally dependent on the
attachment of large files to emails.
 
CyberBoard supports mostly military war games  
[http://www.limeyyankgames.co.uk/cyberboard many of which are listed here].
But it is also used for 18xx games. <br>Many CyberBoard game boxes for 18xx can be downloaded from
[https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/66146/18xx-games-cyberboard-gameboxes this Board Game Geek web page].
 
Despite the fact that there are now much better tools for 18xx PBEM available; CyberBoard is still in
active use today.


The oficial CyberBoard web site is at [https://cyberboard.brainiac.com/index.html cyberboard.brainiac.com].
The oficial CyberBoard web site is at [https://cyberboard.brainiac.com/index.html cyberboard.brainiac.com].
And a list of CyberBoard game boxes for 18xx games can be found on
[https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/66146/18xx-games-cyberboard-gameboxes this board game geek page].


== rails ==
=== rails ===
A short description needs to be written for this tool.
 
The home page for rails is here: [https://rails.sourceforge.io/ rails home page]
 
=== RR18xx ===
<span style="color: Fuchsia">The RR18xx web site is advertised as a members only site.</span><br>
The page at [http://www.rr18xx.com/ www.rr18xx.com]
has a link labeled '''Registered Rail Barons only!''' <br>
This link activates a '''sign in''' popup that contains no way to register for a user ID.


== RR18xx ==
The author, not being a '''Registered Rail Baron''', has not gotten past this point.


== Tabletop Simulator ==
=== Tabletop Simulator ===
Tabletop Simulator uses the STEAM engine.
Tabletop Simulator uses the STEAM engine.


It has its own [[Tabletop Simulator|Wikipedia page]] so please go there for more information.
Tabletop Simulator is the only one of these tools that has its own [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabletop_Simulator Wikipedia article]. <br>
This article can be consulted for more information.


== VASSAL ==
=== VASSAL ===
Vassal is a game engine for building and playing online adaptations of board games and card games.
Vassal is a game engine for building and playing online board games.
You can use Vassal to play in real time over the Internet or by email.  
Vassal can be used in real time or by email. <br>
Vassal runs on all platforms, and is free, open-source software.
Vassal runs on most platforms, it is open-source software.
<ref>[http://www.vassalengine.org/about.php www.vassalengine.org/about.php]</ref>
The Vassal game engine was originally designed by Rodney Kinney. <br>
The Vassal game engine was originally designed by Rodney Kinney.  
It is documented on the  
It is documented on the  
[http://www.vassalengine.org/index.php VASSAL open-source boardgame engine web site].  
[http://www.vassalengine.org/index.php VASSAL open-source boardgame engine web site].  
But there is no direct mention of 18xx games at this web site.  
But there is no direct mention of 18xx games at this web site. <br>
The 18xx game modules for VASSAL are listed at and can be downloaded from this
Many 18xx game modules for VASSAL are listed at and can be downloaded from this
[http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:18xx Module:18xx VASSAL WIKI page].
[http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:18xx 18xx VASSAL WIKI page].
<references />
 
== Spreadsheets and Logs ==
<span style="color: Fuchsia">This section has not yet been written.</span>

Latest revision as of 13:11, 2 September 2020

Introduction

This page was created to more fully discuss tools and other resources, developed by the gaming community, that can be used to support 18xx Play by Email games.
The tools are used either alone or in combination with other resources (for example: spreadsheets (see below)) to support game play from remote sites.
Some of the tools discussed below can be used for other gaming purposes (EG: live play) or can be used for non 18xx games. But the thrust of this discussion is 18xx Play by Email games.

This page partially duplicates the Play Online and by Email & Helper Tools section of the BGG WIKI 18xx page.

Play By Email Tools

This section lists and briefly discusses seven currently active tools that meet the above criteria.

18xx.games

A short description needs to be written for this tool.

The home page for 18xx.games is here: 18xx.games

BOARD18

BOARD18 is a tool for playing “18xx style” games via Email.

The BOARD18 game session associated with a PBEM game is used to display the game board and the stock market for the game.
It will run as a web service accessed via the player's web browser.

BOARD18 is fully described on the BOARD18 WIKI.

A production version of BOARD18 can be accessed at prod1.board18.org.

CyberBoard

On of the earliest tools that was used to play 18xx by Email is CyberBoard.

CyberBard was developed in the late 1990's by Dale Larson "to simplify a PBEM game I was playing". CyberBoard origionally ran as a Windows 3.1 application.
It has no internet capabilities and is totally dependent on the attachment of large files to emails.

CyberBoard supports mostly military war games many of which are listed here. But it is also used for 18xx games.
Many CyberBoard game boxes for 18xx can be downloaded from this Board Game Geek web page.

Despite the fact that there are now much better tools for 18xx PBEM available; CyberBoard is still in active use today.

The oficial CyberBoard web site is at cyberboard.brainiac.com.

rails

A short description needs to be written for this tool.

The home page for rails is here: rails home page

RR18xx

The RR18xx web site is advertised as a members only site.
The page at www.rr18xx.com has a link labeled Registered Rail Barons only!
This link activates a sign in popup that contains no way to register for a user ID.

The author, not being a Registered Rail Baron, has not gotten past this point.

Tabletop Simulator

Tabletop Simulator uses the STEAM engine.

Tabletop Simulator is the only one of these tools that has its own Wikipedia article.
This article can be consulted for more information.

VASSAL

Vassal is a game engine for building and playing online board games. Vassal can be used in real time or by email.
Vassal runs on most platforms, it is open-source software. The Vassal game engine was originally designed by Rodney Kinney.
It is documented on the VASSAL open-source boardgame engine web site. But there is no direct mention of 18xx games at this web site.
Many 18xx game modules for VASSAL are listed at and can be downloaded from this 18xx VASSAL WIKI page.

Spreadsheets and Logs

This section has not yet been written.

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