The Nuts & Bolts of PBM

The Nuts & Bolts of PBM was a magazine dedicated to play-by-mail games, first published in June 1980 by Bolt Publications, and edited by Richard J. Buda. Rick Loomis of Flying Buffalo Games stated in 1985 that the Nuts & Bolts of PBM (first called Nuts & Bolts of Starweb) was the first PBM magazine not published by a PBM company.[1] He stated that "It was a fun magazine, but somewhat ahead of its time, and it had no financial backing."[2] Afterward, the name changed to Nuts & Bolts of Gaming.[2]

Cover of a 1984 issue with cover art by Larry Brenza.
Nuts & Bolts of PBM
EditorRichard Buda
Assistant editorAl Liszka
Page Games/InterviewsNate Orzoff
ArtLarry Brenza
Magazine layoutMrs. Brenza
CategoriesPlay-by-mail game magazine
FrequencyBi-monthly
PublisherBolt Publications
First issue1980
Final issue1984
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Evolution

According to Rick Buda, the initial issues were a fanzine for Starweb and were made of a "Xeroxed copied sheet folded in half … that made four, crude pages".[3] Buda explains how the publication was named as follows:

I was enamored with The Berserker character [from Starweb], and really [started] the zine to discuss strategies for playing that part to the hilt. That is actually the source of the name, twofold in its reference. One – The robotic image of machinery (Nuts & Bolts), and; Two – Getting down to particulars within the characters (get down to the nuts and bolts of something).[3]

Buda stated that, after demand increased, he and Rick Loomis increased the size of the publication, changed the publication rate to bi-monthly, and renamed it to the Nuts & Bolts of PBM.[3] Buda incorporated the magazine as Bolt Publications after the load became unmanageable, changing the name once again to Nuts & Bolts of Gaming.[3]

In 1984, Bob McLain from Gaming Universal offered to acquire the publication, but Gaming Universal ceased publication before the deal went through, after a run of three issues. As the publication had been preparing for the transition versus the next issue, it then "collapsed" and published no further issues.[2]

Contents

The Nuts & Bolts of PBM was a review, tactics, and news magazine about play-by-mail games.[4]

Reception

W.G. Armintrout reviewed The Nuts & Bolts of PBM in The Space Gamer No. 48.[4] Armintrout commented that "This magazine is a disappointment. Nuts & Bolts needs contributors who have something to say and know how to say it. I can't recommend this magazine until it shapes up."[4]

gollark: What you can do, at least, is add quartz coolers and enderium coolers and stuff in the gaps.
gollark: i.e. copper coolers won't work with active glowstone beside them.
gollark: Note, though, that if you actively cool with glowstone then the copper coolers won't work - all coolers with other cooler requirements require - *specifically* - a passive cooler.
gollark: It's currently *probably* the optimal structure for high-efficiency fuels at low heat.
gollark: (you just plonk down a glowstone cooler in bits where there are two moderators, and then copper in the empty spaces where you can't put glowstone coolers)

References
  1. Loomis, Rick (1985). "Rick Loomis on Play-By-Mail: Magazines". Space Gamer: The Magazine of Adventure Gaming. July/August 1985 (#75): 36.
  2. Loomis, Rick (1985). "Rick Loomis on Play-By-Mail". Space Gamer: The Magazine of Adventure Gaming. July/August 1985 (#75): 36.
  3. Buda, Rick (August 2014). "The Nuts & Bolts of Gaming: Recollections of a Mad Publisher" (PDF). Suspense and Decision. No. 10. playbymail.net. p. 91. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  4. Armintrout, W.G. (February 1982). "Capsule Reviews". The Space Gamer. Steve Jackson Games (48): 38.
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