Re: ME-PBM Fourth Age

From: wdb@dircon.co.uk (William D. Belben)

Date: Mon, 02 Sep 1996 00:00:00 +0000

In article <322594B9.56A9@svt.es>, Quico Gil <kiko@svt.es> wrote:

> Hi!!!
>
> I'm getting some dispersed informations from yet another scenario for
> ME-PBM. I know it's in the Fourth Age, but I would like to get some more
> information on that (which countries play, how they are distributed, if
> there are any changes in the rules, or things like these)
>
> Thank you
> --
> Quico Gil
> e-mail: kiko@svt.es
> wwweb:  http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/3295
> "La categoria de vencido solo esta al alcance
>  de los que han tenido valor para luchar"

This is what Chris at Allsorts sent me, the playtests should be well under
way by now...

William

William,

New scenario details as follows:

Press Release

GSI is pleased to announce that it plans to begin playtesting its
newest Middle-earth PBM scenario, Middle-earth PBM Fourth Age, circa 1000,
on April 1, 1996 (our 15th year anniversary!).

GSI is now accepting inquiries with regard to players (former and
current) that are interested in playing in one of the playtest games. GSI
plans on running at least two games via email (1-week turnaround),
starting as soon after 4/1/96 as possible. All players will need to be
able to accept our PDF (Adobe Acrobat) files in order to participate.
Contact our office via email if you are not already receiving ME-PBM via
email or have any questions in this regard.

The Middle-earth PBM Fourth Age, circa 1000 scenario will offer
players some very interesting and much-requested options. The premise is
that the Reunited Kingdom (the realm established by King Elessar at the
end of the Third Age) as split into the "Twin Kingdoms" - a North Kingdom
and a South Kingdom (see sample timeline at end). Other fledgling Mannish
nations (realms) are on the rise to contest the power and rule of these
kingdoms, and isolated pockets of Elves and Dwarves (Free Peoples), and
even enclaves of Orcs and Trolls (Dark Servants) could come forth to
challenge the 1000 year rule of Men. Most Mannish nations (including the
Kingdoms) will want to consider themselves Neutral at game start, but they
are free to select any allegiance at the start that they wish.

Thus, the game will allow for two players to each independently
control one of the two Twin Kingdoms, and 23 other players to assume
control of unspecified nations/realms. The 23 players would be allowed to
define most aspects of their nations (including the nation's name and
desired special nation abilities), population centres, armies and
characters - including selection of their homeland on the map. The two
Kingdoms will be more restrictive in their set-up, but some freedom will
also be allowed in their respective set-ups. Players will have points to
spend toward the design of the various aspects of their nations, with
unused points being added as gold to their starting reserves.

Magic will be somewhat less restrictive than found in the first
two scenarios. Because the presence of Sauron, Gandalf, Elrond, etc.
effectively justified this restriction in the first two scenarios, and
there is no such presence in the Fourth Age, then it seems reasonable that
more magic would be used. This will be particularly important since all
artefact numbers will be scrambled (differently for each game) and players
will know few, if any, of those numbers at game start. Only artefact
research will reveal this information. Some new artefacts will be present
also as the One Ring and other artefacts were lost to Middle-earth after
the Third Age.

Another important restriction of the first two scenarios will be
eliminated in this scenario - namely, that no nation of the same
allegiance was able to militarily attack each other. Because the presence
of Sauron, Gandalf, Elrond, etc. effectively justified this restriction in
the first two scenarios, and there is no such presence in the Fourth Age,
then it seems reasonable to allow players the same latitude that today's
nations
share in this regard.

Furthermore, since the allegiance (Good, Evil, Neutral) of today's
nations is typically dependent on one's perspective and the leader at the
time, it seems reasonable to allow the Twin Kingdoms the same flexibility
and allow them to choose a course of Good or Evil as well. In such a
context, the Free Peoples are viewed more as peoples that wish to see the
return to the days prior to the dawning of the Fourth Age (where Men were
simply one race (among many) occupying Middle-earth), and the Dark
Servants as those wishing to see complete domination (Mannish or
otherwise) - preferably by their own nation!

The goal of the game (victory conditions for game end) will also
be different from the first two scenarios - without the One Ring and with
no clearly defined allegiances, this also makes sense. The goal of the 23
nations will be to see to the weakening of the two major powers - the Twin
Kingdoms - and see that their allegiance emerges above all others. This
goal will be complicated by the fact that many nations will need the help
of the Twin Kingdoms (who uniquely will be able to build roads, manipulate
the market, etc.) in order to ensure that their allegiance gains the upper
hand...at the right time. Thus the immediate demise of the Twin Kingdoms
will not always be desired. The goal of the Twin Kingdoms will be to
survive - the longer they do so, the greater their chances for victory.
Thus, the victory points for the Twin Kingdoms (if they remain Neutral)
will be determined by the number of turns they survive, rather than the
conventional method, which will apply to all other nations and a Twin
Kingdom that chooses an allegiance. In any case, all games will end on
turn 52 if they do not end sooner! Furthermore, the Neutral allegiance
will now be able to win the game too!

Players should be aware that these games will be playtest games
and as such are not open to game reviews for general publication
(magazines, email, etc.).

That's all for now,

Chris.

References

ME-PBM Fourth Age
Quico Gil <kiko@svt.es>
Thu, 29 Aug 1996 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

ME-PBM Fourth Age
Quico Gil <kiko@svt.es>
Thu, 29 Aug 1996 00:00:00 +0000