From Bryan Roberts This is Bryan, at the Game Preserve. Just thought I would drop you a note about something I am cooking up over the next few days. I think we will be playtesting a set of matrix game based campaign rules that use the Legend of the Five Rings collectible card game and world. Hopefully, the matrix game will run the moving and shaking of the campaign and also a means to generate meaningful card games. Still in the writing stage but hope to kick it off next Tuesday evening. Just thought you would like to know. From Howard Fielding I subscribe to Chris' excellent newsletter. [He's got my name wrong: its "Fielding", not Field - no matter :) ] I hope no one objects to me sending out an unsolicited e-mail - if you do, just let me know. Anyway I'm just writing to ask for feedback on a Matrix Game concept I am embarking on. I have started a Seven Years War campaign which I hope to run via e-mail using Matrix game concepts to cover the strategic issues, while still transferring the battles to the tabletop. The idea is to have a "layered" game in which the C-in-C issues orders [and makes an argument], following which, the other players are allowed to issue orders [arguments]. They are only allowed to issue their orders/arguments if influenced by the C-in-C or in response to enemy action. Thus a player of lower rank might not issue orders each "turn". I was also hoping to keep some fog of war in the game with all correspondence going through the referees. My questions are whether you guys have ever tried such an approach [or seen it tried], whether you think it would work [and why/why not] and any other comments, criticisms or input you would like to make. From Tom Mouat I am continually interested and excited by the expanding possibilities inherent in Matrix games - but would like to see a few simple examples. For example in this issue you mentioned Character cards, and I would love to see an example (less the picture) of how you would "fill in the blanks". Perhaps you could have a separate section in each Matrix Gamer that gives examples of a particular aspect: Character Cards, Resolving Conflict, Secrets, etc. By the way - I don't have a problem with player's arguing for a change in their character's character and attributes, since if the argument is unbelievable, it isn't going to succeed! Another aspect of all this that you may want to investigate is having an on-line depository of games people have written up (either for magazines, or for games held at their local club). If these were in ASCII Text format they would take up a very small amount of space and people could download them for ideas. The maps would be a little trickier, but textual descriptions would leave the designer the opportunity to add his own input, and is more in-keeping with the philosophy of Matrix Games anyway! I would be perfectly happy to set the ball rolling and donate a couple of re-formatted magazine articles - or if you are a bit too busy, might add something to my website... Hmm... Once again you have inspired me to get off my backside and actually do something constructive. Thanks, Chris! Another letter from Howard Fielding Have you ever thought of setting up a MatrixGames mailing list on OneList? It might take a load of work off your hands and might get some active discussions going. Its easy to set up and moderate. I set up the LaceWars list and the only work i have to do is approve member subscriptions, but this is only because of the way I set it up. Other than that, the moderator is sort of responsible for keeping the ball rolling. But you do that anyway with your newsletter. FROM CHRIS: This sounds great! But I am a noodle brain when it comes to computer stuff and due to my day job have no time to learn. WILL SOMEONE HELP ME!?! If someone else can get this set up I will most certainly contribute to it heavily. And tout it here. I just can't manage another project. Back to Table of Contents -- Matrix Gamer #4 To Matrix Gamer List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by Chris Engle. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com