The "BEAR" Universe

I've decided that I will be running a sort of "mini-tournament" after my current games, Nine Navies and To Boldly Go, are over.
All games will take place in the "BEAR" Universe. This is designed to try and limit "monster" races and to provide quick games at a competitive level. (Note that I (as host) will NOT be playing in any of these games.)
The "Bear Universe" will consist two rounds of five games for five players. After 75 years, the top player in each game will start a new (2nd round) game together with the other leaders; so will all of the second place players; and so on through the last place players in each game. These five new games should then have players/races that are at a comparable level with each other and thus should result in good games (which will be played to 2500).
In this way, everyone should be at a "competitive" level for their second (longer) games, even if they were unlucky in their first game.
All ten games will be for 5 players and will be set in Medium/Sparse universes. All will have a "BBS Start" and "Slow Tech". First round games will have "Public Scores", but second round games may not.

Turn Generation Sequence
The "Turn Sequence" in these games will be a bit different. For the first 15 "moves", we will play two-year turns (2400, 2402, 2404, 2406, . . . 2430) -- and from then on, we will play every year. This should give us 15 days of "speeded up" play and 45 days of "normal play" for a total First Round playing time of two months.
Second Round games would use the same "start pattern"; but, due to the longer game, playing time would be roughly three months. Therefore, your total commitment in time is about five months -- However, remember that this is for two games -- and that the second (longer) game should be very competitive.

Race Designs
(There are a few "Race Design" Limits.)

PRT Limits -- no PRTs are banned
LRT Limits -- cannot have both IFE & NRSE (either or neither is fine, just not both)
TECH RESTRICTIONS -- no more than two (2) tech fields may be chosen as "Expensive" (+75% cost). You may or may not choose to start at 3 (4, if JoaT), that is up to you. BUT, only two fields could take advantage of the "boost".

Victory Conditions

Victory Conditions are a bit different. Each race's homeworld is worth 5 "victory points". Each of the eight "categories" (not including "Rank") that appear on the STARS! "Score" menu is worth "victory points" -- the leader in each category is worth 2 "victory points", second place worth 1 "victory point". The winner of the game will be the race with the most "victory points" after 75 years. (Note that in a 5-player game there are 49 total "victory points".)

Special Feature -- Galactic Enquirer
Since I will not be playing in any of these games, I will be able (as I am wont to do) to "publish" a joint 5-game version of the "Galactic Enquirer".
For those who have not played in my games before, the "GE" is a "tabloid"-style publication. It is proud of its claim that it NEVER verifies the information that the players send in. It is a way to anonymously spread rumors -- since we do NOT publish the source of the story.
Thus, you will learn something about the races in not only your game, but the others -- and, remember, you will be facing four players from other games in the second round. The only question is, "Can you trust what is published in the GE?"
Seriously, this has provided a lot of fun in games I've run or been in. For examples, go to any of the following links and peruse some of the "GE" editions for those games. (Note that the "NightFall" game was one run by someone else and I was a player):

9nav news 2bol news NightFall news

Race Names & Icons
Because I want to re-use these races in future games (and I want to keep the names fairly short and easy to type), I'm going to ask players to pick their race names from the list I will provide. I will also ask you to select your race icon, which you will keep through both games (there are 32 of them and we will only have 25 players). Therefore, once someone has selected one, it will be removed from the list of possible icons.

Passwords
Because I am not playing, please do NOT password protect your files. There are plenty of players out there who have played in my games and can attest that I do not "mess" with anything.
I need access to the files for a number of reasons. First to verify that your race meets the design restrictions. Next, to be able to carry out your instructions if you can't send in your file. Finally, if something happens to you, by having access to your files, I can pass it on to a replacement player, if needed.

First Round game criteria look like this:

Game Host : Jeff Hudelson Version : I Patch -- 2.6/2.7 -- Upgrade to J when out Frequency : Daily Skill Level : Beginner/Intermediate Maximum Players: 5 Start Positions: Distant U. Size-Density: Medium - Sparse Turns Due At : Midnight PDT - (around 8 am GMT, I think) Encoding Method: MIME only Game Paramaters: Slow Tech, Accel BBS Play & Public Scores. PRTs Allowed: All LRT Restriction: Cannot have both IFE and NRSE TECH Restriction: No more than two (2) "expensive" (+75%) Tech Areas Victory Conditions: Victory Points (see above) in 2475

Finally, if you are wondering about my Hosting Policies, please visit my webpage on them. Also, you might want to take a glimpse at my page on player aids as well.

ONE XENO SIX RACES NINE NAVIES

If you are interested in playing in one of the above games -- Email me at: bluebear@redshift.com with your comments.

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Bluebear.
(Jeff Hudelson)
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This page was updated on October 3, 1998
This page was created in late September, 1997