Editing Play-by-mail game (section)

===Game types and player roles===
[[File:Lizard_monster_with_battle-axe.jpg|thumb|right|Example character from the game ''[[Monster Island (play-by-mail game)|Monster Island]]'']]
Jim Townsend noted in 1990 that hundreds of PBM games were available, ranging from "all science fiction and fantasy themes to such exotics as war simulations (generally more complex world war games than those which wargamers play), duelling games, humorous games, sports simulations, etc".<ref name=Townsend91h>[[#Tow90|Townsend 1990]] p. 19.</ref> In 1993, Steve Pritchard described PBM game types as ancient wargames, diplomacy games, fantasy wargames, power games, roleplaying games, and sports games.<ref>[[#Pri93|Pritchard 1993]]. p. 31.</ref> Some PBM games defy easy categorization, such as ''Firebreather'', which Joey Browning, the editor of the U.S. ''Flagship'' described as a "Fantasy Exploration" game.<ref>[[#Bro93|Browning 1993]]. p. 13.</ref>{{efn|Browning likened ''Firebreather'' to games like ''Monster Island'', [[Quest (game)|''Quest'']], and ''Lost Knowledge''.}}

Play-by-mail games also provide a wide array of possible [[Role-playing game|roles to play]]. These include "trader, fighter, explorer, [and] diplomat".<ref>[[#Fre90|Freitas 1990]]. p. 47.</ref> Roles range from pirates to space characters to "previously unknown creatures".<ref name=Loth42>[[#Lot86|John Kevin Loth III 1986]]. p. 42.</ref> In the game ''[[Monster Island (play-by-mail game)|Monster Island]]'', players assume the role of a monster which explores a massive island (see image).<ref>[[#Hel93|Helzer 1993]]. p. 12.</ref> And the title of the PBM game ''You're An Amoeba, GO!'' indicates an unusual role as players struggle "in a 3D pool of primordial ooze [directing] the evolution of a legion of micro-organisms".<ref>[[#Pap94|Paper Mayhem 1994]]. p. 42.</ref>{{efn|Games with unusual player types have mixed success in PBM, with ''Dinowars'' (as dinosaurs), ''Mall Maniacs'' (as a consumer), ''Subterranea'' (as an ant), and ''[[Warboid World]]'' (as a computer) proving unsuccessful, while ''Lizards'' and ''You're An Amoeba, GO!'' enjoyed more favorable results.<ref>[[#Edi11|Editors 1995]]. p. 9.</ref>}} Loth advises that closer identification with a role increases enjoyment, but prioritizing this aspect requires more time searching for the right PBM game.<ref name=Loth42/>