View source for World Campaigns (play-by-mail game)

{{Short description|Play-by-mail role-playing game}}
{{Infobox game
| name = ''World Campaigns''
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| other_names = ''World Campaigns IV'', ''World Campaigns V''
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| publisher = World Campaigns, [[Epping, NH]]
| years = 1980 to unknown
| genre = [[Role-playing]],
| language = English
| system =
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| setup_time =
| playing_time = Fixed
| random_chance =
| materials = Instructions, order sheets, turn results, [[paper]], [[pencil]]
| media_type = [[Play-by-mail]]
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}}
{{Italic title}}'''''World Campaigns''''' is a [[Play-by-mail game#Closed versus open ended|closed-end]], hand moderated, [[Play-by-mail game|play-by-mail]] game. It was published by World Campaigns of [[Epping, New Hampshire]]. Pfodd Enterprises later offered a computer-moderated version of the game. Initially launched in 1980 as ''World Campaigns IV'', the publisher modified the game over time, and changed to ''World Campaigns V'' by 1988. The game's purpose was world domination in a post-[[World War III]] setting. 35 players per game were assigned countries randomly and fought with [[World War II]] equipment and technology. With the loss of the world's superpowers, countries remaining for play ranged from [[India]] to [[Ecuador]]. The game was reviewed in various gamer magazines of the 1980s receiving mixed to positive reviews.
==History and development==
''World Campaigns'' is a play-by-mail wargame.<ref name=McLain32/> It was [[Play-by-mail game#Computer_versus human moderated |hand moderated]].<ref name=Editors18/> The game was published by the company World Campaigns which also published [[Aegyptus (game)|''Aegyptus'']].<ref name=Editors18>[[#Edi88|Editors 1988]]. p. 18.</ref> Tim Jones was the [[gamemaster]].<ref name=Editors18/> Playtesting of ''World Campaigns IV'' began in 1977 and the game launched in 1980.<ref name=Chase31>[[#Cha84|Chase 1984]]. p. 31.</ref> The publisher modified the game over time and by 1988 was on a "generic" version.<ref name=Editors19>[[#Edi88|Editors 1988]]. p. 19.</ref>
In the 1980s, Frank Wakefield produced a publication called ''Campaigners Notes'', after which he published ''The Postal Warrior''—a PBM magazine which featured a section dedicated to ''World Campaigns''.<ref name=Wakefield3/> In the Summer 1988 issue of ''The Postal Warrior'', Alex Edelstein stated that the publisher changed the game between ''World Campaigns'' versions IV and V.<ref name=Edelstein5>[[#Ede88|Edelstein 1988]]. p. 5.</ref> One major change was longer game length, which could be less than a dozen turns in the former.<ref name=Edelstein5/> In 1989, Pfodd Enterprises was also offering the game in a computer moderated version which initially did not retain all of the detailed game elements of the hand-moderated version.<ref name=Wakefield3>[[#Wak89|Wakefield 1989]]. p. 3.</ref>
==Gameplay==
The game's purpose was world domination.<ref name=Travis5/> Its setting was post-[[World War III]]. 35 players per game were assigned countries randomly and fought with [[World War II]] equipment and technology.<ref name=Travis5>[[#Tra84|Travis 1984]]. p. 5.</ref> With the loss of the world's superpowers, countries remaining for play ranged from [[India]] to [[Ecuador]].<ref name=Fawcett85>[[#Faw81|Fawcett 1981]]. p. 85.</ref>
''World Campaigns'' focused on interplayer conflict versus the aftermath of the nuclear war.<ref name=Fawcett85/> More than 200 unit types were av available to players.<ref name=Travis5/> Investing to obtain advanced technology was an option.<ref name=Travis5/> Diplomacy is a key element of gameplay<ref name=Fawcett85/>
==Reception==
Bob McLain reviewed the game in the November–December 1983 issue of [[Gaming Universal|''PBM Universal'']]. He stated that "For battlefield realism ... World Campaigns is light years ahead of most other PBM wargames. WC is slow moving and tedious at times, but playable to a point".<ref name=McLain32>[[#McL83|McLain 1983]]. p. 32.</ref> Toll Travis reviewed the game in the January–February 1984 issue of ''[[Paper Mayhem]]''. He stated that, of all the PBM games in existence to date, I honestly believe that this game is the best value going, the most complex, and best run in the industry. ... some of the best gamers in the country are in at least one version, having been disenchanted with such giants as [[Starweb|''StarWeb'']], [[Starmaster (play-by-mail game)|''StarMaster'']], [''[[The Tribes of Crane|Tribes of Crane]]''], <!-- brackets intentional as text says "TOC" --> ''[[Universe II]]'', and the like. I heartily recommend this game to the serious PBMer."<ref name=Travis5/>
==See also==
* [[List of play-by-mail games]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite magazine |last= Chase|first=Brad|title= The Mighty Pen: We Have an Atlas Too|date= Autumn 1984|magazine= [[Flagship (magazine)|Flagship]]|number= 15|page= 31|ref=Cha84}}
* {{cite magazine |author= ((Editors))|title= The Two Faces of World Campaigns|date= December 1987 – January 1988|magazine= The D2 Report|number= 15|pages= 18–19|ref=Edi88}}
* {{cite magazine |last= Fawcett|first=Bill|title= World Campaigns|date= May 1981|magazine= [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]|number= 49|pages= 85–86|ref=Faw81}}
* {{cite magazine |last= McLain|first=Bob|title= Gamealog: World Campaigns|date= November–December 1983|magazine= [[Gaming Universal|PBM Universal]] |number= 1|page= 32|ref=McL83}}
* {{cite magazine |last= Travis|first=Todd|title= World Campaigns: A Review|date= January–February 1984|magazine= [[Paper Mayhem]]|number= 4|page= 5|ref=Tra84}}
{{refend}}
==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite magazine |last= Bell|first=Robert L.|title= World Campaigns|date= June 1987|magazine= The Postal Warrior|number= 2|pages= 19–20|ref=Bel87}}
* {{cite magazine |last= Edelstein|first=Alex|title= World Campaigns: The Early Choices|date= Summer 1988|magazine= The Postal Warrior|number= 3|pages= 5–9|ref=Ede88}}
* {{cite magazine |last= Wakefield|first=Alex|title= Opening Shots|date= March 1989|magazine= The Postal Warrior|number= 4|pages= 2–3|ref=Wak89}}
* {{cite magazine |last= Webb|first=Randall|title= D-Day, H-Hour in World Campaigns: Part One – Planning Your Forces |date= July–August 1986|magazine= Paper Mayhem |number= 19|pages= 15, 17–18|ref=Web86}}
* {{cite magazine |last= Webb|first=Randall|title= D-Day, H-Hour in World Campaigns: Part Two – Logistics and Threat Analysis|date= September–October 1986|magazine= Paper Mayhem |number= 20|pages= 10–12|ref=Web86b}}
* {{cite magazine |last= Webb|first=Randall|title= D-Day, H-Hour in World Campaigns: Part Three – Preparation|date= November–December 1986|magazine= Paper Mayhem |number= 21|pages= 10–12|ref=Web86c}}
* {{cite magazine |last= Webb|first=Randall|title= D-Day, H-Hour in World Campaigns: Part Four – The Invasion|date= January–February 1987|magazine= Paper Mayhem |number= 22|pages= 11–12|ref=Web86d}}
{{refend}}
{{Play-by-mail games}}
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