Hundred Years War (HYW) is a multi-player simulation of the War between France and England that spanned the 14th and early 15th Centuries. It is the result of a cumulative lifetime of research and development by its three designers: Albert A. Nofi, Jim Dunnigan and Dan Masterson.

Historian Albert A. Nofi began the process many years ago with his passionate research into the 14th century. It was an exhaustive search due to the many minute details preserved over the centuries on vellum, which was more common than paper at the time, and much longer lasting. This body of work was the basis for the game designed by Jim Dunnigan, author, military history expert and renowned designer of historical games. It was finally programmed by Dan Masterson, known in these parts as BugMaster, and his merry band of mountaineer code wizards out in Utah. The game first became available to the public in 1992 on the Genie system. In 1996 it moved to AOL and in 1997 to the World Wide Web.

The game now waits only for your participation. It is one of the most thoroughly detailed Multi-Player Games ever conceived, and certainly among longest to conclude.

The Hundred Years War was the major conflict of the Medieval period. It began in 1337 when the King of France sought to take the two French Provinces held by the King of England. In response, the King of England claimed that he was the rightful King of France because his ancestry included former Kings of France. Complicating the issue was a French Pope, superior English troops (the famous Yeomen), the Black Death, a efficient English government and disunity in France. The war went on for over a hundred years because the English armies were difficult to defeat and the English controlled the Channel, making a French invasion of England very difficult.

Our simulation of the war is as detailed as historical record can provide, encompassing many of the actual participants, their families, and the lands they traditionally held. Everything you can imagine is modeled in this simulation, including your wife dying in childbirth, various forms of combat, legal wrangles over contested wills, managing your fiefs, duels of honor, jousting, hunting, hiring retainers, pillaging your enemy's lands and seducing the ladies (or gentlemen, if you are playing a female character.)

This is not just a typical War Game or Role Playing Game. HYW is a multi-generational simulation in which your character will age and die over time to be replaced by one of the children you have sired. It includes struggles against rebellious peasants and your land grabbing peers; the political maneuvering needed to gain the King's favor, and the ability to improve your playing position through prudent marriages as well as the offspring and alliances they produce.

HYW is also the first On-Line Multi-Player Game that uses the Bulletin Board and ingame messaging as PART of the Game. These unique features allow HYW to provide a Role-Playing Game with a history of it's own; one that is easy to grasp and take part in. No longer are you restricted to developing your character solely with those players you happen to meet on-line. Now you can progressively, through many weeks of posting messages, build your character and interact with others who do not normally play at the same time of the day as you do. Alliances can be formed with players you never meet on the field, and vendettas can be launched over a misspoken word.

HYW is so comprehensive a simulation that many new users are a bit overwhelmed by it at first. No need to worry, there is a full staff of experienced players called 'Heralds' ready to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have. The Heralds can often be found in the game, hosting the HYW Help Desk, also known as the Bull and Belfry Tavern. In Historical Games there are usually an English and a French Herald who assist the King in management and advise the players of that nation, as well as the Sysop of the game, who is available to all players. Other types of games, Camelots, Bedlams and Bohorts, have Sysops available to help anyone with questions. The Email addresses of the game's staff are usually listed on the opening screen for the game so that you may contact them directly as well.

The players themselves are a diverse lot, ranging in age from teenagers to octagenarians. There have been several father-son and husband-wife combinations. About twenty percent of the players are women. There are doctors, lawyers, teachers, truck drivers, butt welders, writers, students and just about any other occupation you can imagine. All players share a fascination with history and games. Most of the players have played role playing games and a significant minority have played wargames.

The HYW Help Desk is in session every evening between 7 pm and 1 am EST, for new players or anyone else with questions for the attending Heralds. HYW Staff all have "HYW" before their nickname for ease of identification. You can often find lively discussions of various games or related game subjects. Be sure and keep up to date on the Announcements screen so as not to miss any important announcements.