Re: ME:PBM circa 2950 Game 76 Dark Servant needs help

From: Patrick F. McGehearty <patrick@rsn.hp.COM>

Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 00:00:00 +0000

In article <69drnk$b60$0@206.231.155.41>,
Adam O'Dell <odella@NetHeaven.com> wrote:
>Hello all,
>
>I just started my first game of Middle earth play by mail.
>I could use any advise anyone could give on how to play the
>Cloud Lord effectively.
>
>Furthermore, if anyone is in the same game as a dark servant,
>please get in contact with me so that I can do well for our side.
>
>Thanks,
>Adam
>odella@NetHeaven.com

Since this is your first game, and it is "winter", the most important thing
is to build your economy.  That guideline applies to all nations.  Without
an adequate economy, you can't name characters, and you might go bankrupt.
Spending 10K to naming a 30point emissary on turn 1 is a good investment.
Once they have skill 36 or better, they should be trying to create camps.

Second, communicate with your allies.  Use 3x5 cards to exchange phone#
and email addresses, and make joint plans.  Staying isolated is a plan to
fail.

For the Cloud Lord in particular, except for those emissaries necessary to
build your economy, you can focus on naming agents.  If the character
issuing the "Name Character as Agent" order has an agent rank of 40 or
better, then your new agent will have an agent rank of 40.  Have the new
character guard once or twice, and with your nation bonus of +20 on kills,
you have an almost instant killer.  If you consider that it takes 10-15
turns for other nations to create killers, you can see that your nation has
a tremendous advantage.  This advantage is best used by eliminating key Free
characters in conflict situations.  The Quiet Avenger can help you find
those characters with his double scouting ability, and the Blind Sorceror
can find characters with his mage abilities.  The various military powers of
Mordor need your assistance in reducing their enemies while they protect you
from Free armies.

Go to the various web sites and read everything you can about game strategy.
Find a mentor in your game who has some experience and that you like to
talk to.  Get advice and training from them, but don't be afraid to
experiment either.  As the Cloud Lord, you are one of the great powers
of MEPBM, and you have many opportunities to help your friends and make
trouble for your foes.

I repeat, manage your economy carefully.  Many nations are eliminated by
bankruptcy because they don't plan ahead, especially in individual games.

- Patrick McGehearty
patrick@rsn.hp.com

References

ME:PBM circa 2950 Game 76 Dark Servant needs help
"Adam O'Dell" <odella@NetHeaven.com>
Mon, 12 Jan 1998 00:00:00 +0000