Starweb

Starweb is a computer moderated play-by-mail game. Players send in their commands for each turn by post and a single computer prints out the results which are sent back to all the players. Turns generally last two weeks during which players have time to send their moves.

In this game 15 players compete over the conquest of 255 worlds. Each player starts with a single home world and must try to accumulate 10,000 victory points. Victory points are accumulated. Players choose between six different character types, and each type of character gains victory points in a different way:

• The empire builder gains points for owning worlds, industry, mines and population.
• The apostle gains points for converting population to his religion.
• The pirate gets points for fleets and plundering worlds. He can capture enemy fleets.
• The merchant gains points for transporting goods to their homeworld.
• The artifact collector gains points for finding artifacts.
• The berserker gains points for killing things and destroying planets.

Planets have various statistics, such as their population (and limit), resources, mines, industry, etc. The player can move fleets from planet to planet using star gates called "keys". Players have to explore these keys first before they can know where they lead.