| Star Venture | |
| Designer: | George V. Schubel |
| Publisher: | Schubel & Son |
| Years: | 1982 to Unknown |
| Genre: | Space fantasy, Grand diplomacy |
| Language: | English |
| System: | Computer moderated |
| Playing Time: | Open-ended |
| Materials: | Instructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil |
Star Venture is a play-by-mail game begun by Schubel & Son in 1982. The game was open-ended and computer moderated.
Star Venture was a play-by-mail computer-moderated game set in a 125-star galaxy, in which each player has one or more starships at their disposal to use in whatever way they need.[1] The game is open-ended and players have no victory conditions to achieve to win the game.[2]
Within certain limits, players begin at their starport (called Imperia) by purchasing from a menu of available starships.[2] Ships are differentiated by space available to carry items (cargo, weapons, personnel, etc.), and their damage rating.[2] Players use ground parties and colonies to explore worlds in the game; according to reviewer W.G. Armintrout, "Colonies are what people fight over", for economic reasons.[2] Combat is part of the game to include combat between ships and between ships and colonies.[2] According to Armintrout, competition in the game was fierce because many players came from Schubel & Son's game The Tribes of Crane.[2] He also noted the importance of alliances in the game.[1]
In the April 1983 edition of Dragon (Issue 72), Michael Gray stated "This game is thematically quite like Star Master, though it seems to be more closely structured."[3]
W.G. Armintrout reviewed Star Venture in The Space Gamer No. 63.[4] Armintrout commented that "Star Venture is a fascinating game. I recommend it, with a few warnings: (1) This is not a game for novices, and (2) it requires some mathematical ability and a blazing competitive will. I also commend Schubel & Son for their lightning speed in publishing errata and in implementing player suggestions (already adding convoy and special message rules)."[4]