RIFTLORDS
DIPLOMACY/INTERACTION: Lots
DIFFICULTY/COMPLEXITY: Easy
GAME LENGTH: Indefinite
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Hundreds

Riftlords is a space trading game where you fly from world to world buying and selling eighteen differ-ent commodities, in a universe of at least 1000 worlds, trying to make the most money. You can encounter pirates, buy extra engines and cargo pods, increase the skills of your crew, and try to get your ship on one of the top ten lists (which are not only printed on each turn, but also posted on the internet). After you earn more than a million "credits", you can spend the money on an "advanced navigational computer" which puts you into the advanced game.

In the advanced game, combat between players is allowed, plus you can colonize your own planets, name them, and decide what industry they will build. (Note that we send you the "advanced rules" on your first turn - we don't wait until you get into the advanced game, as suggested in the printed rules.)

VARIANTS AVAILABLE: Twice a week, once a week (by email), every two weeks, monthly games, or "kids version" (intended for younger players, only 2 ships per player, no illegal cargos, fewer stars for easier recordkeeping). The rules are FREE. If we didn't give you a copy with this catalog, you can get one just by asking for it. If you have email, you can also get an immediate free copy of the rules by sending an email addressed to "rlrules@flyingbuffalo.com". This is an "autorobot" that will respond by sending a return email within minutes, containing the complete text of the rules. The map is available on our webpage. There is NO setup fee to Riftlords, and the first three turns of your first game are free. This is our recommended beginners game, and we are willing to give you a free look at it. After the free turns, the turn fee is $4 per turn for 3 ships. You can have more ships for a higher turn fee. NOTE: This is an ongoing game. When you join you will be put in a game that is already going. Yes, this means that players who joined before you have an advantage, if the only thing you are interested in is being the player with the most money. But there are other goals you can aim for, such as "most improved" or "best smuggler" or attacking the #1 player, or just having an effect on the "universe" of the game.

JOINING A GAME: You can join a game of Riftlords merely by sending us the names of your three ships (two if you are joining the 'kds game') and stating the speed you want to play (twice a week, once a week, etc). The largest number of players are in the "every two weeks" game. You can join without sending any money, and we will remind you when you need to send us some money.

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