STARWEB EMAIL DISCUSSION GROUP (THE SEDG)
   (Sponsored by Flying Moose Technologies' Starweb Analyzer
   - http://flyingmoose.cjb.net)

VOLUME 44 Jan. 8, 2001

CONTENTS
Feature Article – What's in a Name? By Elliot Hudes
Questions – Boosting your gifts, killing the dropped player
SEDG Web Page URL
The Captain's Log - 'Twas the Night Before Due Date...
The Swap Corner – The Flying Moose Technologies Starweb Analyzer Flier
Correspondence – Lot's on Anonymous games by Robert Easton

FEATURE ARTICLE

What's in a Name? From the Serious to the Sublime!

Well, what is in a name? We could first look at it in a 
philosophical sense.
They say your word is your bond. Your reputation is the 
name you make for yourself. This is more valuable than gold 
(and your father should have explained that to you already 
<g>). If you play in an honest forthright way the players 
around you will come to realize it. In that game and in 
future games they won't be wondering if you will come 
through on your contracts or promises. They won't worry 
that you won't come to their defense and that you are 
looking to slide the knife in. This goes a long way towards 
getting the kind of cooperation you need to succeed in any 
of your goals whether they be for the thrill of combat or 
the miserly counting up of points <g>. So in my opinion 
honesty is the best policy even if you must tell your 
neighbor pirate - "I'm sorry, I cannot ally with you as I 
have already have commitments elsewhere". Notice that you 
haven't given up any tactical information here. And I don't 
believe this has given notice to the Pirate that you may be 
at odds. If you don't answer him and he is a decent player 
he will assume you are just avoiding the topic and take the 
same measures that he should to guard against you in 
future. If you lie to him and tell him you're his buddy 
then you are a BACKSTABBER. If this is the case you are 
beneath contempt and I don't have the time to explain to 
you the many fold reasons why your play is both 
counterproductive and to be reviled! 

There are also many gray zones. Can you misdirect? Can you 
hint? Can you lie to those who you don't owe any 
allegiance? Well, if you can lie then how do your allies 
know you haven't done the same to them (if not now - how 
about when you meet in future games). I don't have the 
inclination nor the time or patience to play the lying 
game. I can't keep track of the web I weave and I know I 
will trip up. My wife says I'm incapable of it and that 
every mannerism and facial expression gives me away. I have 
learned not to even try (at least with her :-). I'm pretty 
sure even email would expose me <G>. Misdirect - I have 
similar misgivings. I had a player on my border who was 
friendly but not in my alliance. He knew I was about to 
fight another player for the ownership of an abandoned HW. 
He offered to tell that player that he was coming to help 
him versus ME. Then he offered to fire on my opposition at 
the critical turn. Now it had a deliciously evil taste to 
it and I'm sure many people would have enjoyed the plotting 
and execution to the plan. But as I rolled it around in my 
mind two things came to me.

1) Why can't he just reverse the scenario if he wishes - 
how do I know who he is misdirecting.

2) I had a vision of that General in one of the Star Wars 
movies - the one with the Fishes head. He turns to the 
camera as he sees the Imperial forces come to meet him and 
says, "It's a trap". 

So what was the best way to disengage from this negotiation 
without potentially ticking off this player (who may have 
been sincere). I told him I had concerns for his reputation 
in the game and asked him not to lie to other players on my 
behalf. The next turn he was at the HW and he told me 
forthrightly that I had better back off or be destroyed. No 
ambiguity here :-).

Of course if you have these annoying streaks of honesty and 
incapacitating morality and you like to chat with gaming 
buddies there is a tendency to give away too much. If you 
don't want to say anything then perhaps you should answer 
the email and just be succinct. Better yet - you could just 
ignore the email. Although this in itself is an 
unconscionable sin in an email game you may have to do 
this. If you just landed 20 ships on the enemy border (or 
even on your side of the border) and the enemy asks your 
intentions it may be best to ignore it. He should get the 
point (soon).

This handling of your enemies should also be employed with 
your allies. If you tell your buddy you will follow him 
with all your ships into battle then withholding ships to 
score will cause him to feel you are not living up to your 
obligations. It's best to tell your allies your intentions 
in the game. What are your aims? What won't you do? I find 
allies can become very annoyed with each other when they 
feel that you aren't cooperating in a fashion that was 
expected (or promised). Hmmm, difficult allies - that 
sounds like a good idea for a future SEDG article. But if 
your ally fails to do as he says, ignores requests, fails 
to complete them or fouls up jobs he was supposed to do 
then in reality he is a poor player. Being found to be 
incompetent is probably worse than being a liar! Remember 
the liar is just playing the game in a fashion that he 
feels will give him success. He could be a very likeable 
cuss. The incompetent is somebody who just doesn't measure 
up, a good example of the Peter Principle. Don't you just 
love the player that has read the alliances email regarding 
how to disembowel the enemy empire or defend their own poor 
invaded realm and then sends his ships off to some remote 
part of the map on some errand you cannot fathom? These are 
the types of allies that you won't welcome in future games. 
If you cannot keep track of the game or your duties then 
you should ask your allies to send you the orders and 
execute them. Sure you can flush your game down the toilet 
but do you have to take all your allies with you :-). If 
your response to this is "Hey, I didn't pay $5 a turn to be 
told what to do" then my question is - What exactly are you 
doing in the game?

Well, enough seriousness, how about a look at some 
interesting Game Names?

The name you pick can be for fun, your nickname, a 
character you always liked or to impart a feeling to how 
you want to play the game. I think one should give great 
thought to the name that you pick.

In one game my ally and I stumbled across a player Retief. 
At first we didn't receive any email. My ally was concerned 
and felt we should shoot. I remembered that Retief was a 
character from a Sci-fi novel. I no longer remember the 
author but Retief was the master diplomat that was sent in 
when 2 alien races could not agree. As it turned out this 
Retief was overjoyed to ally and join us. 

What do you think you can expect from a Pirate named 
NOMERCY? Or a character named EVILTWIN. Aggressive? I 
believe so. Don't you think you could trust an Art 
Collector named MOM? I will have you know that I've met GOD 
and BELZBUB and managed to prevail over both deities. I'm 
not sure what that makes me - an agnostic I guess. I love 
the names I've seen for Berserkers - Tinman, Bauxite and 
Borg. Some Apostles - ONEVISION and SHAMAN. 

I've often wondered how I would do if I entered a game as 
BACKSTAB! Do you think that I would stand a chance :-)?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTIONS - Can anyone answer these?

1)	For the newby – If you have used up your two gift orders can you 
think of another way to get keys or worlds to your allies over 
and above this limit?

2) For the experienced. When attacking the world or key of a dropped 
player sometimes the key, several keys and/or the world fires back. 
Sometimes they do not. I have heard that nothing in the Starweb 
program is truly random so what determines the response? (Warning – 
I do not have the answer to this one).

----------------------------------------------------------------------
STARWEB EMAIL DISCUSSION GROUP - is now available on the web. 

Look for our new MAPPER'S SECTION on the SEDG Web Page.

http://www.accessv.com/~somnos/sedg.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
FEATURE - THE CAPTAIN'S LOG 001226.1627-5
  By Walt Schmidt walts@dorsai.org

'Twas the Night Before Due Date...

 "Then sing, young hearts that are full of cheer,
  With never a thought of sorrow;
  The old goes out, but the glad young year
  Comes merrily in the 'morrow.
     - Emily Miller

In keeping with the situation...

 'Twas the Night Before Due Date
  or an Account of a Visit from St. Rick

 'Twas the Night Before Due Date, and all through the game
 All the players were stirring, they had no one to blame;
 Their turn-sheets were sent to the Loomis with care,
 In hopes that on top would be how their turns fared;

 The alliances were waiting all snug with their thoughts,
 Of reinforced positions - as defendable as forts;
 And Tiger with her game style and I with my own,
 Had just agreed to a form of a loan,

 When out of the blue our email did clatter,
 We sprang to our consoles to see what was the matter.
 Away to my view screen I flew like a flash,
 Tore open the mail app and read what was cached.

 The message text was written as clear as a bell
 Gave the intent of the writers so easy to tell,
 When, what to my wondering eyes should they read,
 But a formal invitation to an alliance, in deed!

 From a long time player, so lively and quick,
 I knew in a moment it must be St. Rick.
 More rapid than eagles his comrades they came,
 As he wrote and identified, and called them by name:

 Now, Merchant! Now, Pirate! Now Apostle and Berserker!
 On Artifact Collector and the Empire Builder!
 To the top of player list! To the top of the wall!
 Now win the game, win the game, win the game all!

 As players that before the wild hurricane fly,
 When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
 So up to the top-scores his comrades they flew,
 With the game plan well written, by St. Rick and Lee too.

 And then, in a twinkling, I knew was no goof
 The benefits of his game plan, I needed no proof.
 As I drew in my breath, and was turning around,
 'Cross my video monitor he appeared with a bound.

 He was dressed all in camo' from his hat to his boots,
 And his clothes were all well warn, no ties or no suits;
 A bundle of game-thoughts he had just jotted down,
 As he looked to make the others appear to be clowns.

 His eyes - how they twinkled! His dimples were telling!
 His cheeks were quite ready for the alliance's selling!
 His droll little mouth was smiling just so,
 And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

 The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
 As encircled his head was a Web's winning wreath:
 He had a broad face that bespoke of great trust,
 That clearly was forthcoming from past winners, from us.

 He went straight to the point, a right jolly old elf,
 And I agreed with him fully, in spite of myself;
 A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
 Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

 He wasted not a word, but kept straight to his work,
 Answered all of my questions; then turned with a jerk,
 And crossing his arms with a smile on his face,
 He spoke the four words, "Here is to First Place!"

 He sprang to his feet, off my screen soon to vanish,
 As back to Tucson Arizona his image to banish,
 But I heard him exclaim, ere His words I did catch,
 "MY COMRADES FIRST AND FOREMOST, ALL OTHERS CAN GO SCRATCH!"

'Til next log - Shai Dorsai !

   Nemo
----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
FEATURE - THE SWAP CORNER

This one is an unapologetic pitch for the Starweb Analyzer :-).

Welcome to Flying Moose Technologies, makers of the Starweb Analyzer

The Starweb Analyzer

The Starweb Analyzer is a utility that provides a completely new user 
interface for playing the play-by-mail game Starweb run by Flying 
Buffalo Inc. Although we all know that Starweb is an awsome game, the 
game turns that you get either by e-mail or snail-mail leave much to be 
desired.  Well we can't help you snail-mail players, but if you get 
your turns sent to you via e-mail (which FBI will do for you if you 
ask), we have the tool to launch Starweb into the 2000's.

The Starweb Analyzer will allow you to view your game turns and those 
of your allies (or enemies) in a manner you never could before.

The Starweb Analyzer takes the Starweb turns that FBI sends you, and 
processes them so that they are combined together and presented in an 
Analysis Window, an easy to use Graphical User Interface that allows 
you to view an manipulate one master turn that combines all known 
information that you have accumulated.

Highlights

     The Analyzer keeps track of worlds no longer seen on the current 
turnsheets and labels what turn they were seen last.

     -Various filtering and sorts can be used to manipulate the 
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having to study a printout for hours. For example, finding the largest 
metal stockpile within three worlds of your homeworld is done easily. 
If your allies don't have the Starweb Analyzer (shame on them!) you can 
generate reports for them in a text file suitable for printing or e-
mail.
     -Computer aided mapping
     -Intelligent order editing

In addition the Analysis Window contains a Map View which eliminates 
the need for paper and pencil and those messy spaghetti maps that 
plague us in the game. The map supports mouse controlled drag and drop 
to move worlds around. It handles wrap around worlds easily and you can 
save the map as a text file suitable for e-mailing to an ally. He just 
plugs the map file into his Starweb Analyzer program and the same map 
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The Analyzer also offers an intelligent Order Editor that allows you to 
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are checked for typographical errors as well as a many logical errors. 
Only valid Starweb orders will be accepted.

It will not allow orders for keys or worlds that you do not own and 
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A prompting feature helps to construct the orders without having to 
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Please note - The Starweb Analyzer requires Windows NT, 95, 98 or 2000.

The Starweb Analyzer is available in two forms:
  1) An Evaluation Version (free)
     This version has the following restrictions:
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       - It will only process turn sheets for a maximum of two players
     It is intended to give you a chance to see what it can do, but is 
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     a complete game.
  2) A fully registered version.

To order the Evaluation Version just download it from our web site -- 
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For Ontario Residents  8% sales tax = 43.20 U.S.

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ORDER FORM

Starweb Analyzer Order Form
Print, fill in the form and send it to the address listed below.


Name in the Real World: ___________________________
Address: __________________________________________
         __________________________________________
         __________________________________________
Email address _____________________________________

I prefer to receive my software via:
a)  __ Diskettes by Snail Mail (a $4.00 U.S. shipping and handling 
charge per copy applies).
b)  __ by download.

Each copy is $40.00 (Ontario residents add 8% sales tax = 43.20 U.S.) 
plus a snail
mail shipping/handling charge of $4.00. Waived if you take delivery by 
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Number of copies: ________
Enclosed is: _____________  U.S.

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Send your orders to:

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For more information, email us at somnos@flyingmoose.cjb.net
or come to our web page at - http://flyingmoose.cjb.net
----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
CORRESPONDENCE

>> Elliot- Great job on the recent issue.  Very good and valuable
discussions on the topics covered. My congratulations on a time 
consuming job so well done!

LEE <<

Thanks for the praise and for the article. As always - it's a labor of 
love :-). Sure wish more people would join in. I have my doubts that I 
can produce articles beyond Volume 50. I sure would love some more 
articles from the readership. Topics that have not been completely 
explored include the various Starweb Variants and descriptions of any 
particularly interesting games.

Robert Easton sent a commentary on Anonymous games done in the style of 
the recent article as commentaries on the game. Here are some of his 
comments.

Jack Fulmer's article stated:
   Why play anonymous games? For me there have been two primary 
reasons.

   First, I found that I did not have the time for all of the necessary
communications… 

   Secondly I found that in anonymous games it was perfectly clear that 
my success or failure in each game was the direct result of my own 
actions and not affected by allies… 
*************************************************************
Robert

These two reasons were some of the main reasons I have been trying out 
anonymous games. I live for communications in the games sometimes. But 
my time is short and I need to spend time doing family things.
*************************************************************
Robert (on merchants)

I am disappointed in both of you warriors for not truly appreciating 
the advantages of playing a fighting merchant in this game. But who am 
I to talk either. After all I am in my first two Anonymous games 
myself. Maybe my opinion is worthless, but I will give anyway just for 
pure discussion. A merchant can pick an early target, retain their 
homeworld, and still show their merchant colors to others he meets by 
dropping CG's. If only a few allow him to haul metal he can still score 
well while he mainly fights. If attacked he will be able to defend as 
he would have retained his homeworld. Merchants if played this way may 
very well be one of the most interesting positions to play. I played 
this way with a merchant in a regular game and would have won if not so 
many of my allies in the game didn't just drop out without notice. But 
military success was excellent. I certainly would not want to down play 
the intelligence of other players and their ability to be able to 
figure out what position I am playing. Jack has certainly joined the 
anti-merchant group who attacks merchants on sight. If he ran into me 
he will not find me so easy a target as a merchant. A berserker would 
most certainly be a prime early target. If the merchant position is 
boring then maybe it is because you're playing it boring. 
*************************************************************
Robert
  You know I cannot help agreeing that the Apostle position would most 
likely be nearly impossible to win at. I am playing a game with 3 
berserkers and 2 Apostles so far that I know of. Without communication 
it has been very hard for me to find ways to aid the Apostles scoring. 
On top of that Anonymous Games I have found to be very hostile games. I 
been heavily invaded in both games and my berserker's positions have 
been poor as I cannot score well while I continue to fight an expensive 
war. I doubt I would ever try the Apostle unless I wanted to play a 
support role and did not intend to win. Not likely.
*************************************************************
Robert:

EB's in anonymous games would most likely be difficult. How would you 
show other players you are an EB. Build industry on your border and 
hope they figure it out? Maybe they can figure out from the scores that 
you could only be an EB. Talk about relying on other players. I think 
an Empire Builder attacked me in my game. I stopped him at ring 2 and 
began a counter attack. But it has cost me the game. I really like the 
suggestions given by Jack. EB's have military advantages late in the 
game if they have been able to peacefully build up industry until mid 
game. Then they can be quite formidable. I have never been able to do 
this as I have always been attacked early when I played an empire 
builder because my score was always high. I just cannot lay low in a 
Starweb game.
*************************************************************
Robert:

I love the collector position. You both are pessimistic when it comes 
to other players. I do not know about others, but I look for the 
collectors by checking score to see if any are a multiple of 15 and 
greater then 300 then I can be relatively certain I have met a 
collector and will try to figure out which one it is by process of 
elimination. I have found at least one collector in both of my games. 
No problem. I figure if I give aid to these players they will ally with 
me since it is not often a collector would find cooperative players 
especially if they are attacked by players like Jack. Also collectors 
have no advantages in fighting, but they do not have any disadvantages 
either. While berserskers and pirates do have disadvantages unless they 
sacrifice their scoring. Never forget the mighty Collector late in the 
game.
**************************************************************
Robert:

If Anonymous games were always as hostile as ones I am in, then I 
wonder how anyone wins as a berserker in these games. What happens? A 
merchant gives them a homeworld? They find weak Apostle player's areas 
to take over? Boy, I guess I just do not play the berserker position 
very well. I think the berserker is only slightly better than the 
Apostle position in an Anonymous game. Maybe if you bomb something 
early to help hide what you are maybe they will leave you alone long 
enough to get the ships together to bomb your area and maybe someone 
else's. Maybe enough allies will gift you some bombs? I would almost 
always attack a berserker early especially if I was a merchant. 
Berserkers like merchants either lose badly or win easily. I would 
almost rather play an Apostle as they will score in the mid range even 
if attacked.
**************************************************************
Robert

Surely your right that pirates are mighty when they are not concerned 
with scoring. Their fighting prowess makes them attractive in Anonymous 
games. Thus the winning scores may be rather low. Winning as a Pirate 
is not out of the realm of possibilities. There are many pirates in one 
of my Starweb games while the other only has one or two at the most.
Jacks approach below is very good. I might suggest he plunder 
everything and go for an early win in a game with lots of pirates 
instead of following the Rule of 27. I also would plunder the homeworld 
on turn 1 or 2. Following Jack's suggestion is excellent if you want to 
be effective as a fighting pirate and score well. It is a compromise. I 
think extremism in Starweb is sometimes better.
**************************************************************
Robert
Given the above discussion above, I would strongly suggest the merchant 
position to win. The Pirate to fight and rarely win. I would not likely 
play EB, Apostle or Collector to win But for the fun and challenge. I 
would play the berserker if I wanted to win but I would try to hide my 
score by bombing a world early like turn 5 or 6 before to many players 
figure out what I was. For surely they will attack me. Also I would AP 
on turn 4. I would not consider hiding my score as a collector though. 
I will see you all in future Anonymous games.

Editor's note: Thanks Rob for your thoughts on Anonymous games. In the 
time since I wrote the original article (and both you and Jack 
commented) I have gained more experience in the Anonymous category. I 
have played the Art Collector and you know what? It's not so hard to 
gain allies and get art. In addition – those that don't get the picture 
make good opponents so you can have fun collecting art and engaged in 
military activities.

For those of you who have become Berserker fans via Starweb – I 
received this from a friend.

'Berserkers'
Alex Proyas, director of The Crow and Dark City, looks to be helming
a film based on author Fred Saberhagen's science fiction series of 
Berserkers stories.

According to Variety columnist Michael Fleming, New Line Cinema 
acquired the rights to the concept as a vehicle for Proyas to direct. 
Proyas will also produce the film along with his partner Topher Dow.
Jesse Alexander is currently at work writing the film's script. 
Saberhagen's Berserkers books are generally about a mass of destructive 
machines created by an alien species that had been in battle with 
another. Unfortunately, their creations were too effective resulting in 
the berserkers destroying both sides. In the future, the machines, 
which can take on any form, have entered our galaxy... and humanity 
must find a way to destroy or stop that which has been unstoppable. 

The Berserkers series ran over 10 books and 20 short stories. 
Original story : http://www.cinescape.com/ 

Well, that's it for Volume 44. Don't be afraid to submit articles or 
suggestions. They don't have to be long. Address your correspondence to 
Elliot Hudes at somnos@compuserve.com