Your characters interact in a vast, detailed simulation with thousands of other entities. Since turns run weekly, all players have a chance to send in orders for their units. A corollary is that you don't have to live by your terminal to do well in the game. Players with only a few hours per week to spare can enjoy intense gaming. Behind the scenes diplomacy Political intrigue is a hallmark of PBM gaming.
Players typically exchange many messages coordinating alliances, planning attacks, or making deals.
No prior PBM gaming experience is needed to play Olympia. For the price of a movie ticket, a small soda and popcorn, you can play four turns of Olympia and have change left over. Similarly, think of how many hours of play you get from a typical PC game. That would cover 18 weeks of Olympia fun. Also, since a player's game position grows in experience, power, influence and wealth over time, an investment in Olympia carries on far into the future.