DECWARS
Modeled on The University of Texas DECWAR Version 2.2
The Classic 1980 Multiplayer Real-Time Space Battle Game
🏛️ The Original DECWAR Legacy
DECWAR Version 2.2, dated June 3, 1980, is a real-time space battle game designed to be played by from 1 to 18 people. Created at the University of Texas Austin for DEC PDP-10 mainframe systems, DECWAR was revolutionary - it supported simultaneous multiplayer combat in a persistent 75×75 sector galaxy where players could enter and leave freely without disrupting others.
The objective was elegantly simple yet strategically complex: destroy all enemy bases and ships, and capture all enemy planets, before the enemy does the same to you. Each player commanded their own starship on a separate terminal, creating epic space battles that could span hours or days.
⚡ Real-Time Innovation
Unlike turn-based games of the era, DECWAR was fully real-time. Players could move, fight, and communicate simultaneously through a shareable high segment that coordinated all player interactions. This was cutting-edge technology in 1980, running on million-dollar mainframes that filled entire rooms.
🚀 Federation vs Klingon Empire
DECWAR features two primary opposing forces in the galaxy: the Federation and Empire (Humans) as well as computer controlled Romulans. As you enter the game, you will be assigned a side. Due to continuous espionage activities, ships of both sides are identical in strength and weaponry.
🌌 75×75 Sector Galaxy
Navigate through a grid-based galaxy where sectors can contain stars, planets, bases, and optional black holes. Position and movement are crucial for survival and victory.
⚔️ Federation vs Empire
Each side has 9 ships (Federation: Excalibur, Farragut, Intrepid, etc. or Empire: Buzzard, Cobra, Demon, etc.). Battle against enemy players while deadly Romulans add chaos.
🏗️ Planetary Conquest
Capture neutral planets and build installations on them, eventually developing them into powerful bases. Control territory to achieve galactic domination.
🖥️ The 31 Commands of Starship Control
DECWAR features 31 distinct commands that control every aspect of starship operation. All commands can be abbreviated to 2 characters (some to 1), and multiple commands can be chained with "/" for efficient operation. The original input system has been revised to support command and parameter prompting and contextual help.
Essential Commands:
► SCAN - Long-range sensors (10-sector maximum range)
► MOVE 25 30 - Warp to sector 25,30 (max warp 6)
► TORPEDOES 25 30 - Fire photon torpedoes (10-sector range)
► PHASERS 25 30 - Fire directed energy weapons
► SHIELDS UP - Activate deflector shields
► SC/ST/TA - Chain commands (scan/status/targets)
► Press ESC to repeat last command line
Coordinate Input Systems
DECWARS supports three coordinate input methods: ABSOLUTE (direct galaxy coordinates), RELATIVE (distances from your position), and COMPUTED (targeting other ships. You can also set the output to be ABSOLUTE, RELATIVE, or BOTH. The SET command controls output verbosity: LONG, MEDIUM, or SHORT and input and output defaults. In commands you can override your input and output defaults.
🛸 Nine Critical Ship Systems
Your starship contains 9 essential devices that can be damaged by enemy attack or overuse. Each newly-commissioned ship starts with 5000 units of energy, 2500 units of shield energy, and zero damage:
⚡ Warp Engines
Maximum warp 6 (warps 5-6 risk damage). Damaged engines limit you to warp 3.
🔥 Impulse Engines
Emergency movement at warp factor 1 when the main engines are damaged.
🎯 Photon Torpedo Tubes
Torpedos have a 10-sector maximum range. Damage reduces torpedo accuracy significantly.
⚡ Phaser Banks
Dual banks with single control. Computer damage reduces phaser strength, as well as the distance to the target.
🛡️ Deflector Shields
Percentage protection from attacks and nova energy. Shields can deflect torpedoes and reduce phaser attacks.
💻 Computer
The comptuer is used for navigation, computed firing, phaser control. Damage to the computer makes navigation inexact.
💨 Life Support
As a critical system life support must be repaired via docking or by using the repair command within 5 stardates or the crew dies.
📡 Sub-Space Radio
Supports ship-to-ship (or group) communication and distress calls from bases under attack.
🔗 Tractor Beam
Tow damaged friendly ships. Both ships must lower their shields to use their tractor beams.
⚙️ Damage System
Device damage under 300 units causes performance degradation. 300+ units makes the device completely inoperative. Ship destruction occurs at 2500+ total chip damage. Only docking can reduce accumulated ship damage, though individual devices can be repaired underway or by docking.
🏆 Victory Conditions
DESTROY ALL ENEMY BASES AND PLANETS!
The object is to destroy all enemy bases and planets, before the enemy does the same to you. Victory requires total galactic domination.
DECWAR is more than a game - it's a preserved piece of computing history. Every command you type, every torpedo you fire, and every planet you capture continues the legacy of the original 1980 pioneers who discovered that computers could create shared virtual worlds of strategic combat and adventure.
🎮 Ready to Make History?
Join the ranks of space commanders and experience gaming history firsthand.