Capitol (play-by-mail game)
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| Publishers | Adventures by Mail |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1983 to unknown |
| Genres | Role-playing, science fiction |
| Languages | English |
| Systems | computer-moderated |
| Players | 12 teams of 4–8 players |
| Playing time | unlimited |
| Materials required | Instructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil |
| Media type | Play-by-mail |
Capitol is a closed-end, computer-moderated play-by-mail game created and moderated by Adventures by Mail beginning in 1983.
Capitol involved twelve identically sized teams of 4–8 players in a competition against the other teams to conquer the galaxy.[1] A group of players could join the game as a team; otherwise, individual players were assigned to one of the teams.[2] (Adventures by Mail tried to group individual players geographically so that they could contact each other to discuss strategy.)[1]
The game map was a 98 x 98 grid (9,604 squares) across which hundreds of worlds were scattered. Players would use the resources of their home world to design and build ships, then fan out, seeking to conquer new worlds, which in turn would give them the resources to explore further. When a player discovered a world controlled by a player from a different faction, combat would result.[2]
The object of the game was to be on the team that controlled the most worlds when the game ended, which could happen in one of two ways:
- When three of the twelve teams had no worlds left
- When the team with the most worlds had more than twice as many worlds as the second place team[2]
Turns were moderated by a computer every 10 days. The cost to play was $2.50 for the rulebook and plastic map overlay, and $2.50 per turn for up to 60 orders. (Players could buy 30 more orders per turn for $1.)[2]