<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

Original Definition

Play-by-Post games, also known as PBM or "Play-by-Mail" games, are moderated games, in which players write up their moves in the game and send them to a central location, where a moderator (sometimes human, sometimes computer) processes the moves and disseminates the current status to all the players.

The games can be commercially based roleplaying games, such as Dungeons and Dragons, or completely fan-generated, such as Star Wars roleplaying games. Board games such as chess; card games such as Magic: The Gathering; or original.

Web-Based Play-by-Post Games

Play-by-Post games, also refered to as PbP or 'Play-by-Message Board" games, have similar methods of playing as their predecessors. Play-by-Post games, however, use web-based message boards as the central location.

These play-by-post games are a niche within the role-playing community. The largest play-by-post games are frequently fantasy games, though some science-fiction play-by-post games have used original science-fiction settings. These include New Worlds Project amongst others.