News from around the Universe
November,
Issue
No. 2 Vol 1, No. 5
GALACTIC MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS [back]
by Rhialto
"As the CEO stretches and ponders the galaxy, there is much to be pleased with. Some might all Galactic Mergers & Acquisitions a Raider, but he could see that the services GM&A provided were necessary to the well-being of a myriad of worlds and, of course, the shareholders.That forum post came from my player character, Galactic Mergers & Acquisitions Inc., in a game of Imperial Wars. We were fast approaching the endgame at that point. GM&A’s many schemes were coming to fruition now, but it wasn't always that way. This game was a vastly entertaining one of close-knit alliances, nail-biting battles and great role-playing with drama, comedy and incredible interactions.
Manufacturing continues to expand the Reductions in Population (RIP) program to bring the efficiency of modern robotic industry to the entire galaxy.
Philosopher Relations is promoting various sects - bringing in tithes from otherwise useless local populations.
Tech Transfer is getting large markups on its new line of black hole generators despite the fact that this meant destroying a world to do that. Fortunately, these worlds were previously someone else’s so no red ink bled on to GM&A’s corporate books.
Legal is doing a brisk business spreading truth and justice across a benighted galaxy - and making handsome profits.
There is only that 141 Imperial credit debt from the Dread Pirates for him to gnash his teeth over! One day .... one day ....
Imperial Wars is an interactive online strategy wargame. I am having a fabulous time playing this game. It is turn-based and similar to other 4X games to some degree but it is played with 16 real people playing 7 very different roles with different goals and scoring criteria. Players must cooperate, form alliances, trade and scheme together to succeed. Certain player types like Traders and Philosophers can only score points by dealing with other players. GM&A is a Raider. The various roles are Baron, Warlord, Philosopher, Raider, Trader, Houri, and Terminator. The game lends itself to role-playing interaction with in-game email, chat and game Internet forums for communicating. The forums are a fun way of role-playing and spreading information and misinformation. What I found most astonishing was the way I formed very close alliances, especially with one player I have never met or talked to, working hand in hand (or robotic virtual reality glove since he was a terminator) to defend ourselves and eventually to dominate the universe.
IWars starts out slowly, with easy moves that take only a few minutes once per day. But as you meet other players (Starlords) and control more planets, forts, factories, fleets, etc., and as you negotiate with other Starlords, the game gets complex and the turns are eventually spaced by a week. An entire game from start to finish may take a couple of months. It is a wonderfully immersing and fun game which I recommend to anyone looking for an online strategy and role-playing game with the advantage of turn-based - allowing you to play to win without taking your entire real life.
Galactic Effectuator