Starweb

Starweb

Designers	Rick Loomis
Publishers	Flying Buffalo Inc., Rick Loomis PBM Games
Years active	1975–present
Genres	Science fiction, play-by-mail
Languages	English
Players	15
Playing time	Months
Materials required	Instructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil
Media type	Play-by-mail or email
Website	http://rickloomispbm.com/

Starweb (or StarWeb) is a closed-end, space-based, play-by-mail (PBM) game. First published by Flying Buffalo Inc. in 1975, it was the company's second PBM game after Nuclear Destruction, the game that started the PBM industry in 1970. Players today can choose a postal mail or email format. Fifteen players per game assume one of six available roles and explore and conquer planets within a universe comprising 225 worlds. The object of the game is to attain a predetermined number of points which are generated by various actions during gameplay. Multiple game variants are available. Starweb is still available for play as of 2021 through the company Rick Loomis PBM Games.

Starweb has received numerous reviews from the 1970s to the 21st century with positive and negative comments. Reviewer and game designer Timothy B. Brown stated in 1990 that "StarWeb is arguably the best-loved, most widely known play-by-mail game in history,"^[1] and the editor of Flagship magazine said in 2009 that it was "one of the best turn-based games ever".^[2] The game has won awards across multiple decades from the 1980s to the 21st century. These include the 1984 Charles S. Roberts Award for Best Play-by-Mail Game, the 1997 Origins Award for Best Ongoing Play-by-Mail Game, the 2000 and 2003 Origins Awards for Best Play-by-Mail Game, and the 2006 Origins Award for Play By Mail Game of the Year.