Austerlitz (play-by-email game)

Austerlitz

Title image
Publishers	Supersonic Games (Originally TBA Games), Quirxel (Germany), Sphinx (Spain), SSV (Austria)
Years active	1984 to unknown
Genres	wargame, play-by-mail
Languages	English
Systems	mail
Players	12
Playing time	18–24 months
Materials required	Instructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil
Media type	Play-by-mail or email
Website	https://www.austerlitzpbem.com/

Austerlitz is a closed-ended, computer moderated, play-by-email (PBM) wargame. It is published by Supersonic Games.

History and development

Austerlitz is a closed-ended, computer moderated play-by-email game originally published by TBA Games. ^[1] By 2002, TBA had changed their name to Supersonic Games. ^[2] It was also available in Germany, licensed to Quirxel Games, and Spain, at Sphinx. ^[3] By 2003, it was also offered in Austria by SSV. ^[4] As of 2023 ^[update] the gamemaster is Sam McMillan. ^[5]

Gameplay

The game's setting was the Napoleonic-era. ^[1] 16 players chose from the same number of countries centered on Europe for game start in January 1808. ^[1] Politics, economics, and naval and land warfare were key elements of gameplay. ^[2]

The game included major battles that players managed in detail while smaller battles were described in turn results. ^[6] The purpose was to be one of the final three positions, whether singly or part of an alliance. ^[7]

Reception

Games Without Frontiers conducted a PBM game survey in their March 1997 issue, receiving 425 responses. Austerlitz ranked No. 2, just after En Garde, out of a total of 128 games. ^[8] The game also won best Historical Wargame in Leeds, England. ^[5]

See also

• List of play-by-mail games

References

1. Hill 1997. p. 12.
2. Blair 2002. p. 13.
3. Cook 2002. p. 18.
4. Bates 2003. p. 16.
5. Supersonic Games 2001.
6. Whittaker 1995. p. 26.
7. Blair 2002. p. 12.
8. Editors 1997. p. 5.

Bibliography

• Bates, Phil (September–October 2003). "Austerlitz: Russia". Flagship. No. 104. p. 16.
• Blair, David (February–March 2002). "Austerlitz: Fight the Good Fight". Flagship. No. 95. pp. 12–13.
• Editors (August–September 2002). "Newsdesk: Games in German". Flagship. No. 98. p. 5.
• Editors (March 1997). "PBM Survey". Games Without Frontiers. No. 1. pp. 5–6.
• Hill, Adam (March 1997). "Austerlitz". Games Without Frontiers. No. 1. pp. 12–13.
• Supersonic Games (2021). "About Austerlitz" . Retrieved 17 August 2023.
• Whittaker, Mark (Summer 1995). "Austerlitz – The Napoleonic Wargame". PBMZine. No. 1. p. 26.

Further reading

• Bell, John (April–May 2005). "Austerlitz Nations: Denmark". Flagship. No. 113. pp. 34–35.
• Cook, Dominic (April–May 2002). "Austerlitz: Down Portugal Way". Flagship. No. 96. pp. 12–13.
• Cook, Dominic (June–July 2002). "Austerlitz: Down Portugal Way (part 2)". Flagship. No. 97. pp. 22–23.
• Cook, Dominic (August–September 2002). "Austerlitz: Down Portugal Way (part 3)". Flagship. No. 98. pp. 18–19.
• Elloitt, Gerry (April–May 2004). "Austerlitz: Spain". Flagship. No. 107. pp. 28–29.
• Furlong, Norman (February–March 2005). "Austerlitz Nations: Prussia". Flagship. No. 112. p. 33.
• Hygate, Mark (November–December 2004). "Austerlitz Nations: Great Britain". Flagship. No. 110. pp. 24–25.
• Jones, Dennis (June–July 2004). "Austerlitz Nations: The Ottoman Empire". Flagship. No. 108. pp. 28–29.
• Watkins, Mike (December 2003 – January 2004). "Austerlitz: France". Flagship. No. 105. p. 14.
• Watkins, Mike (February–March 2004). "Austerlitz: Confederation of the Rhine". Flagship. No. 106. p. 14.