physics

Nuclear Destruction

Nuclear Destruction is a physics topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Nuclear Destruction rather than just read about it. In short: Nuclear Destruction is a play-by-mail (PBM) game. It was published by Rick Loomis of Flying Buffalo Inc. in 1970.

Key takeaways

Nuclear Destruction belongs to physics; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Nuclear Destruction to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Nuclear Destruction from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Nuclear Destruction is a play-by-mail (PBM) game. It was published by Rick Loomis of Flying Buffalo Inc. in 1970. As the first professional PBM game, it started the commercial PBM industry. Offered by postal mail initially, the game is available by email as well in the 21st century. Active for 53 years, as of October 2021, Rick Loomis PBM Games publishes the game. Players use strategic missiles, factories, money, and other elements of gameplay with a focus on diplomacy to win by becoming the sole survivor.

Development Nuclear Destruction was the first game offered by Flying Buffalo Inc., and started the professional PBM industry. It was the first professional PBM game. Flying Buffalo Inc. offered the game through mail initially, but it is a play-by-email (PBEM) game in the 21st century as well. As of October 2021, Rick Loomis PBM Games publishes the game. Nuclear Destruction has been active since 1970.

Gameplay According to reviewer Charles Mosteller, editor in chief of Suspense and Decision, the modern PBM magazine, Nuclear Destruction is a "Strategic missile game with emphasis on diplomacy". The object is to be the sole survivor at the end of the game, by arranging for the other players to be destroyed with nuclear missiles. Player tools include missiles, "anti-missiles", factories, and money for influencing other players. Flying Buffalo ran multiple versions of Nuclear Destruction. In 1973 there was a "Ladies ND" as well as a two-player version where, in the latter case, the players were USSR and China. Also in 1973, groups of four to six players could play against each other in "Gang-War ND", and "Private ND" games were available for play with friends. In 1979, there was a "Partners ND" where two friends could play together; "Blitz ND", a costlier game with shorter turnaround times and priority mailing; and "Bribery ND" where players did not pay turn fees but could purchase extra resources (e.g., missiles and spies).

Reception

In Issue 9 of Command, Dennis Agosta admired Nuclear Destruction for the lack of any random factor. "It's intellect against intellect, where the outcome of the game is determined by how you and your allies (if any) make your moves." He concluded, "The excitement level of PBM Nuclear Destruction is very high, especially when the game is run on one or two week deadlines." In Issue 8 of Perfidious Albion, Andy Holt commented, "The game is most interesting if communication is maintained with as many other players as possible, and very careful accounting kept of all information received, as with care, much of the situation can be deduced."

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Nuclear Destruction

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Nuclear Destruction claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In physics, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Nuclear Destruction before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Nuclear Destruction ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Nuclear Destruction

In research: Nuclear Destruction appears in physics research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Nuclear Destruction in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Nuclear Destruction is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics American games, Grand strategy wargames, Multiplayer games, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Nuclear Destruction outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Nuclear Destruction in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Nuclear Destruction means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Nuclear Destruction out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Nuclear Destruction in simple terms?

Nuclear Destruction is a play-by-mail (PBM) game. It was published by Rick Loomis of Flying Buffalo Inc. in 1970.

Why does Nuclear Destruction matter?

Because it connects several physics ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Nuclear Destruction?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Nuclear Destruction.