1. Game Name: Cluster Wars

2. Host: Rob Turner

3. E-mail: vs0010@csnet.nl (alt: r.turner@viewpoint.nl)

4. Web Page: http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Ring/8966/cluster.htm
5. Version: 2.7i

6. Number of Players: 36 (special, see below)

7. Universe Size: (Small)

8. Skill Level: (All Levels)

9. Turns will be generated: (Daily)

10. Turns Due: GMT (20:00)

      GMT = Eastern Std. Time (EST) +5 hours = PST +8 hours

11. Encryption to Host: (MIME, Uuencode, WWW)

12. Encryption from Host: (MIME, WWW)

13. Universe Density: (Dense)

14. Player Starting Positions: (Distant)



15. Game Options:

     ___ Beginner: Maximum Minerals

     ___ Slower Tech Advances

     _*_ Accelerated BBS

     _*_ No Random Events

     ___ Computer Players Form Alliances

     ___ Public Player Scores

     ___ Galaxy Clumping



*16. Victory Conditions:

     _*_ Winner must own 60% of all planets

     ___ Winner must attain Tech Level ___ in ___ fields

     ___ Winner must exceed a score of (1000-20000)

     ___ Winner must exceed nearest score by (20-300)%

     ___ Winner must exceed a production capacity of (10-500) thousand

     ___ Winner must own (10-300) capital ships

     _*_ Has highest score after (150) years

     Winner must meet _(1)_ of these conditions

     At least (30) years must pass before a winner is declared.     



17. Details:

This is a small scale single knockout tournament game.  I need 
36 players in total to play.  Players will be split up into 6
groups of 6 players.  Each group or "cluster" from this game will 
be playing with exactly the same parameters and all 36 players will
be playing with EXACTLY the same race file.  Even the names will 
be the same to make it extra confusing.

The goal is to win control over 60% of the planets.  The universe
will be small and cramped and to keep the playing field a bit more
level, no random events will be generated.  This will keep the 
cluster wars short and to the point.  

If no clear winner emerges before year 2550 the player with the highest
score will get the victory.  This is to ensure that all the cluster
wars are finished within a certain time frame so that winners of
the other clusters don't need to wait too long for the final round.

Each of the original 6 clusters will generate one winner.  No 
special races or observers will be present in the first round so
it's a no-holds barred, anything goes scrap.  For the clarity, 
literally any trick, dirty or otherwise, that you can get away 
with in the Stars! interface is a valid tactic, including use
of the 256 bug.  This is because I won't be closely monitoring
the first round and I can't be there to catch and penalize 
violations. 

The winners of the 6 clusters will then play off against each other
in a final game.  In this game, I will occupy 1 planet as observer.
What makes the play-off interesting is that you know from the start
that all 6 players are previous winners of their respective clusters.
All 6 of the players will be using the same race file again, but to 
make it interesting, it will be a different race than the one from 
the first round.  The rest of the universe parameters will be the 
same except that in this game, the 150 year time limit does not apply 
and the game will end only when a player controls 60% of the planets. 

There are some restrictions:  

(1) Surrenders will not be allowed.  
Only an individual victory can result from a cluster war.  Dropouts
will, however, be permitted.  No attempt will be made to replace
dropouts and dropouts will be put on computer control.  If you win
the first round because everyone else dropped out, then only YOU 
will know....  

(2) Alliances can be formed, but only a single player can win the 
scenario.  

(3) moves will be generated daily without delay except in extreme
cases.  This is done to ensure that the first round ends at about 
the same time for all clusters. 

Autohost:

Generation of the moves will be delegated to an autohost.  if you 
have never used one before, don't worry.  All players will be given
detailed instructions on how to submit moves, and the autohost I'm 
using will send your moves in email.  

Player level:

Players from all levels are encouraged to join.  Previous experience
playing via email would be nice. 

Prize money:

You heard it.  This will be, to my knowledge, the first Stars! game
in history paying out a cash prize for the winner.  It's a big 10
Dutch guilders (about 5 American Dollars).  It's a colourful banknote
and hard currency in most countries.  I'm doing this to encourage
goodwill between all people, all countries, cultures, religions and 
beliefs.  Money, like birth, death, love and sex is universal and 
therefore it makes a nice symbol for the often underestimated 
international appeal of Stars!

If Stars! can help us come together in some small way, this small 
reminder of the cluster wars and the people you met (and defeated)
playing it is more than worth the paper that it's printed on. 
 
Rob Turner