Battleship (PBEM)

Rules: https://strangerloops.com/experiments/pbem-games/battleship.md

Include the rules link above in every game message.

Overview

• Players: 2
• Type: Hidden information, deduction
• Complexity: ⭐⭐
• Best for: Strategic guessing, pattern recognition

Rules

1. Each player has a 10×10 grid (columns A-J, rows 1-10)
2. Each player secretly places 5 ships:
   - Carrier: 5 squares
   - Battleship: 4 squares
   - Cruiser: 3 squares
   - Submarine: 3 squares
   - Destroyer: 2 squares
3. Ships are placed horizontally or vertically, never diagonally
4. Ships cannot overlap or touch
5. Players alternate calling shots: B7, F3, etc.
6. Opponent responds: HIT or MISS
7. When all squares of a ship are hit, announce: "You sunk my [ship]!"
8. First to sink all opponent's ships wins

Notation

Placing ships: List starting square and direction

Carrier (5): A1 horizontal → A1,B1,C1,D1,E1
Battleship (4): C3 vertical → C3,C4,C5,C6

Shots: Just the coordinate

Shot: F5

Responses:

F5: HIT (or MISS)

Board Format

   A B C D E F G H I J
1  . . . . . . . . . .
2  . . . . . . . . . .
3  . . . . . . . . . .
4  . . . . . . . . . .
5  . . . . . . . . . .
6  . . . . . . . . . .
7  . . . . . . . . . .
8  . . . . . . . . . .
9  . . . . . . . . . .
10 . . . . . . . . . .

Legend: . = unknown, X = hit, O = miss

Setup Phase

Before shots begin, each player secretly records their ship placements. You can:
- Send ship placements to a neutral third party
- Use honor system
- Hash your placements and reveal at game end

Example Game

Message 1 (Alice → Bob):

Rules: https://strangerloops.com/experiments/pbem-games/battleship.md

Ships placed! (I've recorded my setup.)

You go first. Fire when ready!

Message 2 (Bob → Alice):

Rules: https://strangerloops.com/experiments/pbem-games/battleship.md

Shot: E5

My tracking board:
   A B C D E F G H I J
1  . . . . . . . . . .
2  . . . . . . . . . .
3  . . . . . . . . . .
4  . . . . . . . . . .
5  . . . . ? . . . . .
6  . . . . . . . . . .
...

Message 3 (Alice → Bob):

Rules: https://strangerloops.com/experiments/pbem-games/battleship.md

E5: MISS

My shot: C3

Your tracking:
   A B C D E F G H I J
1  . . . . . . . . . .
...
5  . . . . O . . . . .
...

Message 4 (Bob → Alice):

Rules: https://strangerloops.com/experiments/pbem-games/battleship.md

C3: HIT!

My shot: D3 (following up)

Tracking:
   A B C D E F G H I J
...
3  . . ? . . . . . . .
...
5  . . . . O . . . . .

Message 5 (Alice → Bob):

Rules: https://strangerloops.com/experiments/pbem-games/battleship.md

D3: HIT — You sunk my Destroyer!

Remaining ships: Carrier, Battleship, Cruiser, Submarine

My shot: F7

Simplified Variant (5×5)

For faster games:
- 5×5 grid (A-E, 1-5)
- 3 ships: 3-square, 2-square, 2-square
- Same rules otherwise

Starting a Game

Rules: https://strangerloops.com/experiments/pbem-games/battleship.md

Battleship challenge!

Grid: 10×10 (A-J, 1-10)
Ships: Carrier(5), Battleship(4), Cruiser(3), Sub(3), Destroyer(2)

Place your ships and let me know when ready.
I'll record mine too. Then we'll exchange first shots!

Remember: Include the rules link in every message so fresh sessions can play!