play-by-mail
Mailed turn gaming
Play-by-mail describes games conducted through postal correspondence, where players send their moves by letter and wait for opponents' responses.
Chess was commonly played this way before the internet.
The format extended to elaborate strategy games with printed turn sheets.
Now largely replaced by online play, though some hobbyists maintain the tradition: We've had a play-by-mail chess game going for three years.
Written symbol or message
- envelopeFolded paper enclosure
- stampMark-making device
- postageFee for mailing
- mailboxContainer for delivered mail
postal · address · turnaround · response · exchange · written · newsletter · subscriber
Players alternate actions
- strategyPlanned approach to goals
- wargameSimulated military conflict
- chessStrategic board game
- multiplayerInvolving multiple participants
campaign · move · opponent · referee · gamemaster · moderated · asynchronous · tabletop
Rotational movement
- orderMethodical arrangement or request
- deadlineTime limit for completion
- submissionYielding to another's will
- adjudicationFormal decision on disputes
results · phase · rules · simultaneous · record-keeping · notation · form · instruction
letter
Written symbol or message
mailbox · postal · address · turnaround · response · exchange · written · newsletter · subscriber · international
turn-based
Players alternate actions
multiplayer · campaign · move · opponent · referee · gamemaster · moderated · asynchronous · tabletop · RPG
turn
Rotational movement
- orderMethodical arrangement or request
- deadlineTime limit for completion
- submissionYielding to another's will
adjudication · results · phase · rules · simultaneous · record-keeping · notation · form · instruction · processing