Rebooting the Reboot
Epimethean Challenge, Attempt #2
The first attempt at rebooting Epimethean Challenge fizzled out.
Not because the idea was wrong.
Not because the engine was impossible.
It failed because we tried to do everything at once:
- Build the web site
- Build the game engine
- Write the documentation
- Run a live game
…all while preparing for a move to Panama.
That was too much.
What This Reboot Is
This is a modernized PBBG engine with a faithful recreation of the 1978 Epimethean Challenge as the starting point.
Not a redesign.
Not a reimagining.
A reconstruction—with better tools.
Back to 1978
A huge thanks to James Columbo, who has kindly granted permission to use the original 1978 rule book.
You’ll find it in the History section.
This rulebook is our temporary baseline.
The original game evolved quickly after 1978, and we already have the 1980s rules queued up.
But first, we build something that works.
What’s Different This Time
The philosophy is simple:
Always have a working product.
The Target Audience (For Now)
This isn’t ready for casual players.
Right now, this is for:
- Returning EC / Olympia-style PBEM players
- People comfortable with alpha-quality systems
- Folks who don’t mind sharp edges
There’s already a warning on the site—and it’s there for a reason.
The Stack (Simple and Boring on Purpose)
Frontend
- React + Vite + TailwindCSS
I still like Ember—but it’s not the right tool for this job.
Web Server
- Go
- SQLite3-backed
Features:
- Magic-link authentication (no passwords)
- Token-based access for uploads and reports
Game Engine
- Go (CLI-driven)
Initial pipeline:
- Generate cluster
- Parse orders
- Execute orders
- Generate turn reports (JSON + text)
That’s it. No shortcuts.
What “v1” Looks Like
Version 1 is not “feature complete.”
It’s functionally complete.
- Order entry web page
- Turn report download page (text + JSON)
- Authentication working (magic links)
- Game engine runs via CLI
- Shared SQLite3 datastore between engine and web
If that loop works, we have a game.
What Comes Next
- Deterministic cluster generation
- Strict order parsing
- First playable turns (internally)
- Report generation pipeline
Then we iterate.
Contributors (Carefully)
We’re not ready for players yet.
But we are interested in:
- Testers
- Documentation reviewers
If you enjoy digging into rules, edge cases, and inconsistencies—this is your moment.
Updates
No fixed schedule.
Progress will be posted when it’s real—primarily on Discord.
Why Do This?
Because getting an old game like this running again is a challenge worth taking on.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a reboot.
It’s a reset:
- Build smaller
- Ship earlier
- Keep it running
If you’ve been here before—welcome back.
If you’re new—this is the ground floor.