TribeNet
{{Third-party|date=January 2022}}
{{Short description|Play-by-mail fantasy game}}
{{Infobox game
| name = TribeNet
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| publisher = TribeNet
| years = 1985 to present
| genre = play-by-mail
| language = English
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| playing_time = no limit
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| materials = Instructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil
| media_type = email
| website = https://tribenet.com.au/
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}}
{{Italic title}}TribeNet is an open-ended, medieval fantasy, play-by-email (PBEM) game. It was first published in the mid-1980s in Australia as a hand-moderated play-by-mail (PBM) game. After multiple gamemaster changes in the 1990s, Peter Rzechorzek took over as gamemaster in 1997, at which point the game transitioned from postal mail to email. Since its inception, the game expanded from the initial continent available for gameplay, adding additional continents such as Cyberia and Pelagoria.
The game is set in a context similar to Europe's Bronze or Iron Age where players assume the role of Chief of a Clan of people. There are no preset character types and players can choose how to gameplay their Clans in a manner of their choosing with tasks such as mining or exploring.
History and development
In the mid-1980s, TribeNet launched as a PBM game in Australia, hand-moderated by Jeff Perkins, drawing players from the Diplomacy and wargaming clubs of some of its major cities.TribeNet 2021. Various people rotated through as gamemaster until 1997 when Peter Rzechorzek assumed the role.Stanifer 2013. p. 20. Eventually, the game shifted to a play-by-email (PBEM) version. In 2004, the game had 95 players.Flagship 2004. p. 4. In 2013 a new version of the game was launched.
The first continent in 1985 was Pi, designed by Perkins, who introduced another continent within the next few years. All new players then started on the second continent. In 2004, a third continent was launched. In 2005, a five-island set was added under the name Pelagoria.Flagship 2005. p. 6. Additional continents added include Anneland, Groland, Cyberia, and Tresmania.
Gameplay
TribeNet occurs in a context similar to western Europe's Bronze or Iron Age.Stanifer 2013. p. 21. Players run their Clans which can accomplish various tasks such as mining or exploring. Gameplay focuses on "strategic thinking and positioning, tactical planning, political alliance and military and economic development". There are no character types and players may gameplay their Clan in a manner of their liking, whether focused toward combat, exploration, or other.Murphy 2019. p. 20. Development of Villages enables more refined skills such as distilling, apiarism, and others.TribeNet 2021. The game also allows players to delve into areas including politics, economics and research.
Rzechorzek states that the game combines aspects of multiple games including Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Civilization, Diplomacy, and Risk.Rzechorzek 2019. p. 38. Diplomacy is an important part of the game, and players have the option of interacting through social media.Rzechorzek 2019. pp. 38–39.
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=Murphy |first=Ian |date=August 2019 |title=Endless Variety of Special Hexes: A Brief Article From a Non-Traditional Player |url=https://suspense-and-decision.com/Issue-18-Suspense&Decision-PBM-Magazine.pdf |magazine=Suspense and Decision |publisher=playbymail.net |issue=18 |pages=20–21 |access-date=April 4, 2020 |ref=Mur19}}
- {{Cite magazine |date=Feb–Mar 2004 |title=Newsdesk PBM: Tribal Games |url=http://www.flagshipmagazine.co.uk/downloads/issue106.pdf |magazine=Flagship |issue=106 |page=4 |access-date=December 23, 2021 |ref=Fla04}}
- {{Cite magazine |date=June–July 2005 |title=Newsdesk Turn Based: Tribal |url=http://www.flagshipmagazine.co.uk/downloads/issue114.pdf |magazine=Flagship |issue=114 |page=6 |access-date=December 23, 2021 |ref=Fla05}}
- {{Cite web |last=Rzechorzek |first=Peter |date=2021 |title=TribeNet: History |url=https://tribenet.com.au/what-is-tribenet/history/ |publisher=TribeNet |ref=Tri21 |accessdate=December 23, 2021}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=Rzechorzek |first=Peter |date=August 2019 |title=TribeNet: Looking For New Players! |url=http://suspense-and-decision.com/Issue-18-Suspense&Decision-PBM-Magazine.pdf |magazine=Suspense and Decision |publisher=playbymail.net |issue=18 |pages=38–39 |access-date=April 4, 2020 |ref=Rze19}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=Stanifer |first=Chris |date=August 2016 |title=TribeNet PBeM: A Rose Amongst Weeds |url=http://playbymail.net/SuspenseAndDecision/Issue-13-Suspense%26Decision-PBM-Magazine.pdf |magazine=Suspense and Decision |publisher=playbymail.net |issue=13 |pages=20–21 |access-date=April 30, 2020 |ref=Sta13}}
- {{Cite web |date=2021 |title=TribeNet: FAQs |url=https://tribenet.com.au/what-is-tribenet/faqs/ |publisher=TribeNet |ref=Tri21a |accessdate=December 25, 2021}}
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{{Play-by-mail games}}
Category:American role-playing games
Category:Fantasy role-playing games
Category:Role-playing games introduced in the 1980s
Category:Role-playing games introduced in 1985