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Sparrowhawk
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Canada CST
Apr 1999
time: 23:16
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First of all, I think that the GM in most of the Forum Games is key for my enjoyment of the game. A good GM keeps the game moving without causing players with limited online time to have to drop out (a delicate balance) and just as importantly, provides an entertaining description of the turn which can be amusing or outright funny depending on the GM. A bad GM can kill a game by slowing it down and losing players or my making significant mistakes resulting in confusion and conflict/arguments between the players.
The Players as well, while some are in many of the Forum Games, are different in others which provides variety of playing styles to help keep the games interesting.
To summarize what I think of the various games, and why I play them (or don't play them)......
Nascar
This was among the first I played, it has a simple concept that I like, some but not a lot of strategy. Perhaps the reason I enjoy playing is as much for the concept (a Nascar Race) as for the actual gameplay.
Mafia
I read this for a while without playing and I am still not certain I like the game though I have played a few now. I think a few players are in as much for the +1's as for the game itself. I think this game perhaps more then any other is dependant on a Good GM (and there have been more then a couple in the few games I have participated........and at least one whom turned me off of the game and whom I am not sure I would sign up for another of their games). This game is good for a distraction and I will continue to play (not a big time commitment) but I don't as highly of it as many do in the Other Games Forum.
Gladiator
I read this game more then I play, and find it an interesting read. I made the mistake of subbing in the most recent game and likely won't play again but I hope it doesn't die as I enjoy the read. Again a game which is highly dependant on the GM to provide the story which is interesting for the players and lurkers to read as reduced to the math, this game is very boring, the story of the math is what makes this game interesting. (IMHO)
Nuclear War
While not quite as simple as Mafia or Hangman, NW is far from as complex as Society, Gladiator or Galactic Overlord. A simple diversion, a game I don't care if I win or lose, NW is a game I enjoy whether I get nuked in teh first round and read the rest or if I win the game. Again a good GM is key both in keeping the game moving and in make the story that accompanies the turns interesting (and often funny).
Hangman
When I am out of the other forum games, or waiting for others to start, I play Hangman. It is a simple traditional concept and good for my poly fix when my involvement in other Forum Games is low.
Galactic Overlord
In a word........Frustrating. I have played in 2 games, in the first I was eliminated early, in the second I have enjoyed often but just as often been confused and frustrated. I expect to watch and read the next game and see what I am misssing as it seems that of the "Strategy Forum Games" that Galactic Overlord is most popular. Perhaps the most frustrating for me is working in an alliance where negotiations is necessary and by it's very nature slows down the game. I would like to see an established format for orders to ensure that everyone sends in acceptable orders and if they wish to attack as an alliance that they do so, and if they fail to do so it is by choice (treachery) rather then by error. It seems that alliances are necessary in this game, but limit your options, it was suggested that the next game have no alliances, I would be interested to see how that turns out if it is tried.
Society
Society is my personal favourite of the Forum Games, it has the most strategy in my opinion, multiple possible outcomes of every turn. This game reminds me in many ways of a very basic version of Civ, which is what brought me to Apolyton. While basic compared to Civ, it is the most complex of the Forum Games (IMHO). If I could only play one Forum Game, it would be Society, hands down. I spend a significant portion of my online time (read: too much) after every turn working out possible outcomes, and trying to guess the strategy of the other players.
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Conclusion.........while Civ is the reason I came to this site, with the slow decline of Civ 2, I would not be here nearly as much as I am without Forum Games, they have rejuvenated my interest in the site, and are a big part of the reason I am now a plus member. I play in the different games for different reasons, and put different amounts of time into each, depending on my level of interest.
* Sparrowhawk , the Apolytoner who talks to much.......but Theben the Treacherous*  did ask the question.
See Galactic Overlord VI
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Skanky Burns
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Skanky Bastard Quartermaster
Aug 2001
time: 14:16
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Nascar (Don't play)
While fun the first few times around, it either became a game of luck where a slowly revealed map was concerned or a test of who was the most bored where a fully-revealed map was concerned. Too much effort when planning your next moves, frustrating when an accident occurs and you have to replan your moves.
Mafia (Play)
I enjoy this game quite a bit, and would play even if the GM just reported who died and how. Of course, with a story it is so much better. This is a social game as much as anything, the fun in both the back-and-forth banter and the attempts to deflect votes away from you towards others. Even as the mafia, the game doesn't require a great deal of thought or time for you to have fun, while even as a villager the game's setting gives you enough fodder for socialisation.
Gladiator (Don't play)
Number-crunching. The pure math of this game doesn't appeal to me as the thought-requirement per unit of fun is much too high.
Nuclear War (Play)
Another light game, this is rather simple and only requires you to keep track of how many spies and shields you have, plus if you have stockpiled nukes. Knowing that, you can easily plan your next move whenever the turn is posted from a relatively small number of options. Of concern though is that the winning strategy is to build, build, build which could cause the end-game to stagnate. Should that happen often, I will not continue to play.
Hangman (Rarely play)
This can be fun when the GM and several other players are actively playing the game, but tends to be too slow.
Galactic Overlord (Play)
This game is rather complex, but the complexity is easily handled. Information needed to plan your next turn is given when the turn is posted and only numbers of spies/shields need be remembered. The necessity of alliances makes this a more social game but unfortunately slows the game down significantly. Very significantly. While saying I actively play this game, I haven't posted a turn order for over a month due to the current game still dragging on...
Society (Don't play)
In a word: Complex. Too much complexity for me to easily keep track of, so I don't play the game. There is a possibilty if I find myself with more time that I will rejoin this game.
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:) Smiley
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USCA, Berkeley
Feb 2001
time: 21:16
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Nascar (never played, but have observed)
Personally I find Nascar to be literally too linear, and with games running a month or more, rather long.
Mafia (play irregularly, observe regularly)
The story writeups are what makes this game fun. However, the elimination nature of the game means that often you're sidelined for a good part of the game.
Vampire (play)
Snowflake's modified version of Mafia helps solve the elimination problem by making it two-tiered: those targeted by the original vampire get to become one themselves. The increased killing rate also speeds up the pace, probably making it easier to GM.
Gladiator (never played, observed once)
The way the players get into the game with the taunts is exciting, however, take that away and it's just a two-month long math problem.
Hangman (never played)
I'm with Stupid (played regularly, GM'd twice)
A great game and very entertaining. The workload for the GM is quite high and heavily concentrated, however, and most likely has something to do with its abrupt end.
Nuclear War (play regularly, GM'd twice)
The ease of play is a big plus, as is the relative equality of all the players; unlike Society and Overlord, it's harder to "fall behind" in Nuclear War. The elimination contest however makes for many players knocked out early followed by long dragged out end turns. It does make a good venting ground for hostilities from the other two strategy games.
The game is easy to run and lends itself well to GM creativity, we've seen space based and Texan storylines. Even the standard earthbound scenarios are well written and exciting.
Galactic Overlord (play regularly, GM'd once)
With different strategies and the possibility for alliances, Overlord is great fun, so long as you're in. Since it's also an elimination game, a lot of the time players are just waiting on the sidelines.
From the GM'ing standpoint, Overlord does have a lot of math, but is still easily manageable. Ljube's introduction of detailed stories and characters improve the atmosphere as well.
Society (play regularly, GM'd twice, wrote the original rules)
My primary aim with the Society rules was to create a game in which the majority of players would remain in through to the end of the game. In this regard it's worked well- we've yet to have any game end in a pure conquest victory. Trade and foreign aid also add to this atmosphere of cooperation within competition.
The many victory conditions and strategies come at the cost of being very mathematically demanding. It can take a while to plan a turn as a player, and processing a turn as GM can take a few hours.
I'd like to see a variation of Society that preserves the cooperative trade and the absence of elimination, but with much easier or even no math.
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Sparrowhawk
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Canada CST
Apr 1999
time: 23:16
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If my post count were frozen, zeroed or otherwise made meaningless (or if posts in the other games were not counted), it would make no difference to my participation in Forum Games.
I have been a member of Apolyton for almost six years now, I am a king yet, and it will take me some time to reach emporor. It doesn't mean anything to me where my post count is at. I play forum games because I enjoy them, period.
Others I am not so sure about, but most of the Forum games (Mafia is the significant exception) require you to put thought into the games, +1's are not as simple as posting a smilie  . Further, this forum like all others on Apolyton, is moderated (Rah). While there are posts that could be called +1's, like in any other forum, the moderator keeps the spam to a minimum. 
* Sparrowhawk 
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Spaced Cowboy
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Dallas TX
Nov 2001
time: 23:16
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Been meaning to post my thoughts.
Nascar/F1 (played all and GM'd)
Started as an interesting game (F1), then I changed the rules to allow for more creative steering; however my first track sucked, but the steering stuck. Then we added jumps and now I've added walls and many hazzards. I've also added car upgrades this turn....but everyone took the same one....seems like they are not as balanced as I thought. These changes will keep the game noobie friendly.
Mafia (play and GM'd)
There is nothing better than being the Mafia, and trying to play it cool during the course of the game. Also enjoyable is being the last villager and pegging the Mafia. Simply a game of luck at first, this one really started to shine with the story driven GM's like Jamski and Ljube.
Vampire (never played)
Not quite sure if I understand this one, but it is mafia with a story line, or D&D Mafia with a Vampire edge?
Gladiator (played all and GM'd)
Started as a simple one-on-one challenge between the members here with a 10 point system. It started to fade quickly. I changed the game to its current format of 100 points and weapons and armor choices. Perhaps the most exciting of games when you read the stories and are playing (that is did you outfox your opponent). Not really as math intensive as one (Skanky) would lead you to believe. It is really not that hard to add 9 numbers up to a hundred....Unless you are hammered.
Hangman (play)
Hey I got one word! Really vocab is not my strength.
I'm with Stupid (never played)
What is this?
Nuclear War (play all, GM'd)
Always good fun. I'm a little worried about the builder strategy, but it seems to work its way out and we have not had a stalemate yet. Smiley's Texas version was far and away the best, especially the endgame.
Galactic Overlord (play all, GM'd)
Jamski, you are a genius. What a monster you have created. Awesome fun. Come back dude, the drones miss you.
Society (played all, GM'd)
This game has a lot going for it, but it is currently way to hard to GM. We might need to cut the rule set down a bit.
Overall these games give me something to do as a distraction while at work. I have a slight case of ADHD, so I cannot focus on something for too long of a period. Don't even try to have a conversation with me that lasts more than 30 minutes. I'll tune you out, turn away, and start doing something else right in the middle of your story...yawn...What was that?
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24-12-2004 03:58
ACK!
If only you could all club together and pay my wages, I could sit at home and play/GM forum games all day.
You suck too?
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