Victory! The Battle for Europe

{{Main|Play-by-mail game}}

File:Example_command_sheet_for_a_turn_in_the_game_Hyborian_War_with_the_Border_Kingdom,_Version_2.gif]]

Play-by-mail (PBM) games feature a number of differences from tabletop games. The typical PBM game involves many more players than an average tabletop game can support.Greenberg 1993 pp. 8–9.{{efn|For example, the PBM game It's a Crime can accommodate 110 players per game.KJC Games 2020.}} PBM game lengths are usually longer, depending on a number of factors. Turnaround time is how long a player has to prepare and submit "orders" (moves and changes to make in the game) and the company has to process them and send back turn results.Paper Mayhem Jan/Feb 1993 p. 1. The average turnaround time in the 1980s was two weeks, but some modern PBM games are play-by-email (PBEM) with shorter turnaround times of twice per week or faster.Flying Buffalo 2020.{{efn|For example, the PBM game Covert Operations allows twice-per-week moves, daily moves, and private games where players can specify turn around times.}} Open ended games allow players to strengthen their positions without end, with players continually entering and leaving the game. Examples include Heroic Fantasy and Monster Island.Townsend 1987 p. 24; DuBois 1997 p. 4. Conversely, closed end games typically have all players starting on equal terms, with rapid, intense, player vs. player gameplay that ends when a player or group achieves some victory condition or is unopposed.John Kevin Loth III 1986 p. 42; Paper Mayhem Jan/Feb 1993 p. 1. Examples include Hyborian War and It's a Crime.Lindahl 2020. The complexity of PBM games can range from the relatively simple to the PBM game Empyrean Challenge, once described as "the most complex game system on Earth".John Kevin Loth III 1986 p. 42; Townsend 1988 p. 20.{{efn|Vern Holford, owner of Superior Simulations, developed Empyrean Challenge, a PBM game that reviewer Jim Townsend described in 1988 as "the most complex game system on Earth" with some turn results for large positions at 1,000 pages in length. According to Townsend, in those cases there was a significant investment in time to understand what happened on a turn as well as to fill out future turn orders. He said a player without a spreadsheet was "nearly doomed from the outset".Townsend 1988 p. 20.}}

Once a player has chosen a game and receives an initial game setup, gameplay begins. This generally involves players filling out order sheets for a game (see example image) and sending them to the gaming company. The company processes the turns and returns the results to the player, who completes a subsequent order sheet. Diplomacy is also frequently an important—sometimes indispensable—part of gameplay.Townsend 1987 p. 29; Mouchet 2017 p. 11. The initial choice of a PBM game requires consideration as there is a wide array of possible roles to play, from pirates to space characters to "previously unknown creatures".John Kevin Loth III 1986 pp. 42–43. Close identification with a role typically increases a player's game satisfaction.{{efn|This section is taken from the Play-by-mail genre section of the Hyborian War Wikipedia article.}}

Some games have long been played by mail between two players, such as chess and Go.McLain 1993. PBM play of Diplomacy—a multiplayer game—began in 1963.Babcock 2013. p. 16. The emergence of the professional PBM industry occurred less than a decade later. Rick Loomis, "generally recognized as the founder of the PBM industry",The Editors 1985. p. 35. accomplished this by launching Flying Buffalo Inc. and his first PBM game, Nuclear Destruction, in 1970. Professional game moderation started in 1971 at Flying Buffalo.Townsend 1988. p. 20.{{efn|Flying Buffalo later added games such as Battleplan and Heroic Fantasy along with Starweb and others. By the late 1980s these games were all computer moderated.}} Chris Harvey started commercial PBM play afterward in the United Kingdom with a company called ICBM through an agreement with Loomis and Flying Buffalo.Harvey 2003. p. 26; Palmer 2003. p. 4. ICBM, followed by KJC games and Mitregames, led the UK PBM industry.Palmer 2003. p. 4. For approximately five years, Flying Buffalo was the single dominant company in the US PBM industry until Schubel & Son entered the field in about 1976 with the human-moderated The Tribes of Crane. Superior Simulations was the next significant PBM company to enter the US market. They did so in 1978 with the game Empyrean Challenge.

The early 1980s saw additional growth for PBM. The player base grew and game moderators were plentiful.Harvey 1984. p. 21; The Space Gamer 1980. p. 13. The PBM industry in 1980 comprised two large companies and some small ones. The most popular games in 1980 were Starweb and Tribes of Crane.Popolizio, Leblanc, and Popolizio 1990. p. 8. In 1981, some PBM players launched another company, Adventures by Mail, with the "immensely popular" Beyond the Stellar Empire.{{efn|This section draws from portions of the History section of the Wikipedia Play-by-mail game article.}}

The proliferation of PBM companies in the 1980s supported the publication of a number of newsletters from individual play-by-mail companies as well as independent publications which focused solely on the play-by-mail gaming industry such as the relatively short-lived The Nuts & Bolts of PBM and Gaming Universal. The PBM genre's two preeminent magazines of the period were Flagship and Paper Mayhem.Paduch 1993. p. RC21.

The 1990s brought additional changes to the PBM world. For example, in the early 1990s, email became an option to transmit turn orders and results.Paduch 1993 p. 2 It was in this environment that Victory! The Battle for Europe launched.

File:Image_of_a_wargame_map_of_Europe.jpg

Rolling Thunder Games, Inc. announced the game's launch in the September–October 1991 issue of Paper Mayhem magazine.Paper Mayhem 1991. p. 31.{{efn|Rolling Thunder Games stated that it had its first three regular speed games underway in the same issue.}} It is a closed-end play-by-mail wargame. Game turns are on a 15 or 21-day turnaround schedule.Rolling Thunder Games, Inc. 2022.

Forty players begin each game of Victory! with a starting year of 1939.Andrews 1998. pp. 16–17. The game centers on Europe while including North Africa, the Middle East, the United States, and Canada.Rolling Thunder Games, Inc. 2022. Each player begins with equal resources, money and factories.Andrews 1998. p. 16. However, geography creates differences in starting positions to include country size and number of bordering countries, and terrain considerations. Players can choose a technology suite for their air, ground, and naval forces that are preselected (for the American, British, German, and Russian technology) or manually select technology for their forces for other countries.Andrews 1998. p. 17.

Players also have Fixed Defense Units available to array including Local Defense Battalions, Light and Heavy Anti-Aircraft Batteries, Security units, and Special Operations Units: (Rangers).Andrews 1998. pp. 18–19. Fortifications for provinces and cities are also available for defense.Andrews 1998. p. 20. Special Commanders and Training Programs are additional factors players can employ, the former to influence the success of operations, for example, and the latter to increase the effectiveness of units. Players must also manage their economies carefully during gameplay. Diplomacy plays a significant role during gameplay, although there is a privacy option to prevent contact with a player.Viduka 1997. p. 10. Aggressive play is rewarded.

{{Quote box

| quote = "A game of Victory takes a long time to play. You can start in Northern Russia and end the game battling for the city of Gibraltar."

| source = — Ray Andrews. Paper Mayhem, March–April 1998.Andrews 1998. p. 18.

| width = 27%

| align = right| style = padding:8px;

}}

Players work toward victory conditions during the game.Rolling Thunder Games, Inc. 2022. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game is the winner. According to the publisher, "success in the game is achieved as a result of survival through manifest destiny."Rolling Thunder Games, Inc. 1992. p. 28. Games can last up to 73 turns. Games last for 1,095 days, or three years each.{{efn|Although the rules state three years exactly, Rolling Thunder Games notes that a regular-paced game can last for "about three years".Rolling Thunder Games, Inc. 2022.}}

Donald J. Lund, the organizer of the PBM Player's Guild of the period, reviewed Victory! in the July–August 1991 issue of Paper Mayhem while playing in Game No. 1. Although he suggested "more glitter" for the maps and more photos in the rulebook, he stated that "this game and company are quality".Lund 1991. p. 28. In the September–October 1991 issue of Paper Mayhem, Victory! placed No. 1 out of 82 games in its PBM Game ratings list.Paper Mayhem 1991. pp. 54–55. The game tied for No. 2 in Paper Mayhem's Best PBM Games of 1995.Paper Mayhem 1996. p. 2.{{efn|Victory! tied with Legends for the No. 2 spot. with Adventurers Guild placing 1st.}} Allen Viduka reviewed the game in the May–June 1996 issue of Paper Mayhem magazine, stating that "this game is one of the finest on the market today".Viduka 1996. p. 4. In the same issue, Victory! scored No. 2 out of 42 PBM games as rated by its readers with a rating of 8.267 out of 9.Paper Mayhem 1996. p. 29.

Dr. Robert J. Bunker reviewed Victory! "The Battle for Europe" in White Wolf #46 (Aug., 1994) and stated that "This company has an excellent reputation for quality service concerning mailing times, for limited programming bugs and for customer relations. The only downside to this game is its complexity."{{Cite magazine |last=Bunker |first=Dr. Robert J. |date=August 1994|title=Capsule Reviews |magazine= White Wolf Magazine |number=46 |page=72 |url=https://imgur.com/a/V3ytSxi}}

• List of play-by-mail games

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{{Reflist|30em}}

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• {{Cite magazine |last=Andrews |first=Ray |date=March–April 1998 |title=Victory 101: Introduction to Survival |magazine=Paper Mayhem |number=89 |pages=16–20 |ref=And98}}
• {{cite magazine |last= Babcock|first= Chris |date= December 2013|title= Diplomacy|url= http://playbymail.net/SuspenseAndDecision/Issue2.pdf |magazine= Suspense and Decision| issue = 2|pages= 16|access-date= March 20, 2020|ref=Bab13}}
• {{Cite magazine |last= DuBois |first= Steven |date=January–February 1997 |title= Monster Island: A Review|magazine= Paper Mayhem |number=82|page= 4 |ref= DuB97}}
• {{Cite magazine |last= ((Editors))|date=July–August 1985 |title= Rick Loomis on Play-By-Mail [Editor Intro] |magazine= The Space Gamer |issue= #75|page= 35 |ref= Edi85}}
• {{cite web |last=Flying Buffalo, Inc |url= http://www.flyingbuffalo.com/covert.htm|title= Covert Operations |publisher= Flying Buffalo Inc.|access-date= May 5, 2020|ref=Fly20a}}
• {{Cite magazine |last= Greenberg|first= Andrew |date=May–June 1993 |title= PBM Corner: A Beginning in Play-By-Mail; Is it Worth It? |magazine= White Wolf Magazine |number=36|pages= 8–9 |ref= Gre93}}
• {{Cite magazine |last= Harvey |first= Chris |date=Spring 1984 |title= The Future of PBM|magazine= Flagship|number= 2|page= 21|ref= Har84}}
• {{cite magazine |last= Harvey |first= Chris |title=My Life in Games |date= April–May 2003|magazine= Flagship|issue=102|page= 26|url=http://www.flagshipmagazine.co.uk/downloads/issue102.pdf |access-date= October 15, 2021|ref=Har03}}
• {{cite web |url= http://www.kjcgames.com/crime/index.php?page=2&rule_page=1#HOWDOIPLAY|title= It's a Crime (Rule Page)|author= KJC Games|publisher= KJC Games|access-date= April 27, 2020|ref=KJC20}}
• {{cite web |url= http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/pbm_list/closed-ended.html|title= PBM / PBEM List Index: closed-ended|last= Lindahl|first= Greg|work= Play by Email (PBeM) & Play by Mail (PBM) List Index|access-date= July 4, 2020 |ref=Lin20}}
• {{Cite magazine |first= John Kevin|last= Loth III|date=March–April 1986 |title= A PBM Primer |magazine= Paper Mayhem |number=17|page= 42 |ref=Lot86}}
• {{Cite magazine |last=Lund |first=Donald J. |date=July–August 1991 |title=Victory! "The Battle For Europe" |magazine=Paper Mayhem |number=49 |pages=22–29 |ref=Lun91}}
• {{cite web |last=McLain|first=Bob|url= http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=363|title= Play By Mail: The Infancy of Cyberspace|date= August 1, 1993|work= Pyramid|number=2|publisher= sjgames.com|access-date= May 5, 2020|ref=Mcl93}}
• {{cite magazine|last= Mouchet|first=Paul|date= February 2017 |url=https://suspense-and-decision.com/Issue-15-Suspense&Decision-PBM-Magazine.pdf |title= PBM: Reducing the "Barrier to Entry" |magazine= Suspense and Decision |number=15 |pages= 10–12|publisher= PlayByMail.net|access-date= May 30, 2020|ref=Mou17}}
• {{cite news |last= Paduch|first= Sally|date= June 27, 1993 |title= Email Brings Immediacy to Play-By-Mail Games|work= New York Times|page= RC21|ref= Pad93}}
• {{Cite magazine |author=((Paper Mayhem editors))|date=January–February 1993 |title= Front Matter |magazine= Paper Mayhem |number=58|page= 1 |ref=Fro93 }}
• {{Cite magazine |last= Palmer|first= Nicky|authorlink=Nick Palmer|date= January 2003 |title= Flagship 100: A Founder's Memories|magazine= Flagship |url=http://www.flagshipmagazine.co.uk/downloads/issue100.pdf|access-date= October 15, 2021|number= 100|page= 4|ref= Pal03}}
• {{Cite magazine |author= |date=September–October 1991 |title=PBM Game Ratings as of 7–14–91 |magazine=Paper Mayhem |number=50 |pages=54–55 |ref=Pap91}}
• {{Cite magazine |author= |date=May–June 1996 |title=PBM Game Ratings |magazine=Paper Mayhem |number=78 |page=29 |ref=Pap96}}
• {{cite magazine |last1= Popolizio|first1= Mike |last2= LeBlanc|first2= Liz |last3= Popolizio|first3= Marti |date= January–February 1990|title= Revamping a Classic! The Redesign of BSE|magazine= Paper Mayhem| issue = 40|pages= 8–10|ref=Pop90}}
• {{Cite magazine |author=Rolling Thunder Games |date=March–April 1992 |title=Gameline: Victory! The Battle for Europe |magazine=Paper Mayhem |number=53 |page=28 |ref=Rol92}}
• {{Cite magazine |author= |date=September–October 1991 |title=Rolling Thunder Games |magazine=Paper Mayhem |number=50 |page=31 |ref=Pap91a}}
• {{cite web |url= http://www.rollingthunder.com/victory/VICFTP.htm|title= Rules & Software: Victory! Rules Addendum|date=May 1995|publisher= Rolling Thunder Games, Inc. |accessdate= January 12, 2022|ref=Rul95}}
• {{cite web |url= http://www.rollingthunder.com/victory/VICFTP.htm|title= Rules & Software: Victory! Game Policies & Notes|publisher= Rolling Thunder Games, Inc. |accessdate= January 12, 2022|ref=Rul95a}}
• {{cite web |url= http://www.rollingthunder.com/victory/VICFTP.htm|title= Rules & Software: Chapter A: Introduction and Getting Started|publisher= Rolling Thunder Games, Inc. |accessdate= January 12, 2022|ref=Rul95b}}
• {{cite web |url= http://www.rollingthunder.com/victory/hov/Survivors.htm|title= The Survivors|author= |publisher= Rolling Thunder Games, Inc. |accessdate= January 13, 2022|ref=Rol22d}}
• {{cite magazine |date= November 1980|title= TSG Surveys: Play-By-Mail Game Companies|magazine= The Space Gamer| issue = 33|page= 13|ref=TSG80}}
• {{cite magazine |last= Townsend|first= Jim |date= January–February 1987|title= How to Win in PBM—An Organizational Viewpoint|number= 22|page= 29|magazine= Paper Mayhem |ref=Tow87}}
• {{cite magazine |last= Townsend|first= Jim|title= A Real Look at Heroic Fantasy|magazine=Paper Mayhem|date= March–April 1987|issue= 23|page= 24|ref=Tow87a}}
• {{cite magazine |last= Townsend|first= Jim|date= 1988|title= The PBM Corner|magazine= White Wolf Magazine| issue = 11|page= 20|ref=Tow88}}
• {{cite web |url= http://www.rollingthunder.com/OurGames.htm#victory|title= Victory! The Battle for Europe|author= |publisher= Rolling Thunder Games, Inc. |accessdate= January 11, 2022|ref=Rol22}}
• {{Cite magazine |last=Viduka |first=Allen G. |date=March–April 1997 |title=War Without a Face – The Privacy Option in Victory! |magazine=Paper Mayhem |number=83 |pages=34–36 |ref=Vid97}}
• {{Cite magazine |last=Viduka |first=Allen |date=May–June 1996 |title=The Contradictions, Fallacies & Drawbacks of the Game of Victory! |magazine=Paper Mayhem |number=78 |pages=4–6 |ref=Vid96}}
• {{Cite magazine |last=Viduka |first=Allen |date=September–October 1996 |title=The Moroccan Turkey Shoot – A Historical Account from Game #22 of Victory! |magazine=Paper Mayhem |number=80 |pages=16–20 |ref=Vid96b}}
• {{Cite magazine |author= |date=March–April 1996 |title=Where We're Heading: Best PBM Games of 1995 |magazine=Paper Mayhem |number=77 |page=2 |ref=Pap96a}}

{{refend}}

• {{cite book |last1=Vikuda |first1=Allen G. |title=Victory the Battle for Europe – Hint and Strategy Guide |date=January 1, 1997 |publisher=Pentland Press, Inc.|isbn=1-57197-056-8}} 160-page book with info on the game from the author's experience.

• {{cite web |url= http://suspense-and-decision.com/|title= Suspense & Decision|author= |publisher= suspense-and-decision.com|accessdate= January 13, 2022}} 21st century online play-by-mail journal.

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