PROFILBARU.COM

*Smuggler's Run*
Publishers	Distant Vistas
Years active	1990s
Genres	Role-playing, science fiction, space opera
Languages	English
Players	unlimited
Playing time	unlimited
Materials required	Instructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil
Media type	Play-by-mail

Smuggler's Run is a computer-moderated, open-ended play-by-mail game that was published by Distant Vistas in the 1990s. Players role-played an alien character with a customizable spaceship. The goal was to maximize wealth, dueling skill, and reputation as a Pirate.

History and development

Smuggler's Run was a play-by-mail space opera. The game was computer-moderated and open-ended.^[1]^[2] It was published by Distant Vistas as their first game.^[3] According to the publisher, game design took four years.^[4] The game was designed for single players.^[3] By 1998, game enrollment had dropped to 15–20 players and the publisher was offering the game for free.^[2]

Gameplay

Players role-played an alien character with a spaceship.^[3] Alien races included "Ten'an, Zephyr, Brogian, Piil, Rhesian, Gecko, [and] Mechbot[s]", each with different skill and attribute levels.^[3] Player skills were customizable during setup.^[5]

The aim was to maximize wealth, dueling skill, and "become the meanest, most feared pirate in the Galaxy".^[3] Non-player characters included the ship's crew, merchants, and others—both respectable and nefarious.^[3] Other players could also be encountered.^[3]

Starships had various features which could be improved. These included the cargo bay, ship's computer, hull, engine, laser, sensors, and shields.^[6]

Reception

Don Ayers reviewed the game in the January–February 1995 issue of Flagship. He provided a positive review, calling it a "fun" game, noting ease of entry for newcomers, quality of game products, and accessible gamemaster.^[6]

References

^ Rodgers 1995. p. 9.
^ ^a ^b Mitchell 1998. p. 7.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Ayers 1995. p. 4.
^ Rodgers 1994. p. 73.
^ Rodgers 1995. p. 6.
^ ^a ^b Ayers 1995. p. 5.

Bibliography

Ayers, Don (January–February 1995). "Smuggler's Run: Space Operetta!". Flagship. No. 53 (US ed.). pp. 4–5.
McLain, Bob (August 1996). "Off the Vine: Smuggler's Run". Flagship. No. 60 (U.S. ed.). p. 4.
Mitchell, Ken (March 1998). "PBM Review: Free Smuggler's Run". The PBM Report. No. 4. p. 7.
Rodgers, Patrick M. (March–April 1994). "Post Marque: Smuggler's Run". Shadis. No. 12. p. 73.
Rodgers, Patrick M. (July–August 1995). "Deneb On 50 Qp's A Day - A Smuggler's Run Review". Paper Mayhem. No. 73. pp. 6–9.