Death by Starlight

Death by Starlight

Publishers	Twin Engine Gaming
Years active	mid-1998 to unknown
Genres	Play-by-mail
Languages	English
Players	10
Playing time	fixed
Materials required	Instructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil

Death by Starlight is a closed-end, computer-moderated, play-by-mail (PBM) science fiction combat game run by Twin Engine Gaming in the 1990s.

History and development

Death by Starlight was a closed-end, science fiction PBM game run by Twin Engine Gaming of San Jose, California.[1] It was a game of tactical combat in a space arena.[1] As of 1997, the game was in playtest.[1] By 1998, playtesting was complete.[2]

Gameplay

Gameplay takes place in a televised space arena.[3] Combat is part of a TriVideo game show called "Death by Starlight".[4] Players chose from five ship types, varying in price, size, armaments, and other characteristics. These types included the Buffer, Dart, Diamond, Interrupter, and Spinner.[1] Ships are crewed with 2–6 crew members, customizable at the start.[1]

Ten teams per arena battled per game.[4] The game's purpose was to amass the most victory points through combat.[3]

Reception and legacy

Reviewer Nathaniel Kelly reviewed the game in the November–December 1997 issue of Paper Mayhem. He stated, "I would highly recommend this game to my friends (and have!) and to you."[5]

See also

• List of play-by-mail games

References

1. Picdock 1997. p. 24.
2. Gergel 1998. p. 24.
3. Holm 1997. p. 8.
4. Kelly 1997. p. 8.
5. Kelly 1997. p. 10.

Bibliography

• John J., Gergel (January–February 1998). "Death By Starlight ... (May the Score Be With You)". Paper Mayhem. No. 88. p. 24.
• Dana, Holm (July–August 1997). "Tactics in Death by Starlight". Paper Mayhem. No. 85. pp. 8–9.
• Nathaniel, Kelly (November–December 1997). "Thirty Turns in the Death by Starlight Arena". Paper Mayhem. No. 87. pp. 8–10.
• Barry, Pidcock (January–February 1997). "Death by Starlight". Paper Mayhem. No. 82. pp. 24–26.

Further reading

• John W., Sassaman (November 1997). "The New Champion of the Arena". The Play-By-Mail Report. No. 2. p. 4.
• Barry, Pidcock (January–February 1998). "Death By Starlight ... Basic Startup Advice". Paper Mayhem. No. 88. pp. 9–13.
• Barry, Pidcock (May–June 1998). "Grudge Match!!! - A Battle In The Death By Starlight Arena". Paper Mayhem. No. 90. pp. 15–19.
• James, Stout (May–June 1998). "Adventurer vs. Dragon! - An Introduction To Death By Starlight". Paper Mayhem. No. 90. pp. 20–24.