Space empires through the mail

Flying Buffalo’s Starweb belongs to a different format from a conventional board game. Designed by Rick Loomis in the mid-1970s, it is a computer-moderated play-by-mail strategy game. Players submit orders while pursuing exploration, warfare, trade, and diplomacy.

An ally may want something different

Different character types reward different behavior. Artifact Collectors seek artifacts, while Berserkers score through destruction. Those differing objectives make the political situation more interesting: another player may want something quite different from the territory or resources that matter most to an opponent.

The delay between turns makes this a different experience from an evening around a board. Planning and communication occupy the spaces between results. The format suits players who enjoy sustained commitments and judging the intentions of people with competing interests.

Battleward verdict

Starweb deserves inclusion because it shows the breadth of Flying Buffalo’s contribution. Its differing objectives offer fertile ground for alliances, bargaining, and betrayal. It should be approached as a postal strategy game, with expectations suited to that format. Historical operator pages establish its design; their old offers and prices are not treated here as current availability.

Sources and review basis

A research-based retrospective of the early game, drawing on the sources listed below. Battleward has not conducted a personal playtest. Assessments of strengths, limitations, and suitability are editorial judgments. Later editions are distinguished where relevant.