Re: Middle Earth Newbie Questions From: pburrow@cc.umanitoba.ca (Paul Burrows) Date: Wed, 17 Jan 1996 00:00:00 +0000 In <4dci7s$oum@ixnews2.ix.netcom.com> dobz@ix.netcom.com(Jeff Dobberpuhl) writes: >I just signed up for my first campaign...YIKES what a TON of info to >digest! I'm in the 2950 game, and have not yet been assigned my >starting position. >Here are my questions >1) Is there an FAQ, and if so, where can I get a copy? I'm not sure about a rec.games.pbm FAQ specifically for MEPBM, but the your best bet is probably to access the MEPBM Web Site, and back issues of the Mouth of Sauron (also on Web), which is an e-zine devoted to MEPBM (both 1650 and 2950). MEPBM's URL address is: http://charlotte.acns.nwu.edu/phredd/MEPBM.html The Mouth of Sauron can be reached via the MEPBM Page, or directly if you like: http://charlotte.acns.nwu.edu/phredd/mouth/mouth-indx.html >2) What is the difference between Barrier Mastery and Resistance >Mastery? These seem identical except for the amount of protection >provided. That about sums it up. >3) What is the general bread-n-butter advice for the first few turns of >play? Depends to a great degree on the nation you're playing, as you will see when you read the strategy articles in the Mouth. But in general terms: I would contact every single member on your team immediately (Turn #1) through the 3 by 5 inch card system that GSI runs, as coordination with your allies is essential. If you are playing a neutral, this may not be as crucial (as both the Goods and Evils SHOULD be contacting you to try and attain your allegiance...), but I would still recommend it. Poorly coordinated teams will usually get crushed by decent opponents, and they deserve to be. If your allies are more interested in achieving their personal victory conditions ahead of team coordination, you could be in trouble (and sadly, there are usually one or two members on every team that are like this), but try to stick it out. Similar assholes on the other side usually balance things out... Another general rule of thumb: really try to develop the areas that are your nation's strengths, but try to attain a modicum of self-sufficiency in areas that are your weakness. If you are a front-line nation, with major armies (such as Witch-king, Arthedain, Fire King, North Gondor, Dog Lord or Eothraim), then go hard, fast and furious, recruit a much as your deficit will allow, and name one or two Commanders or Command/Agents (the latter especially if you are Free) to round out your armies. Keep "seed armies" of 1-200 troops in major recruiting centres to maintain the recruiting pace required for the front lines, and then send successive waves of troops at the enemy as often as you can. You MUST get these troops into combat fast, as no one can support the maintenance cost in gold for too long. It is better to lose them in combat than be forced to retire them to balance the budget. If you are strong in Agents (i.e. the Cloud Lord, and to a good degree the Long Rider) or in Mages (Elves, Dragon Lord, Blind Sorceror, etc.) then it is still crucial to coordinate with your allies. Well-timed assassinations, thefts, and sabotage on the one hand, and strong artifact-locating and Pop Centre-Revealing ability on the other, can prove decisive. Unfortunately, the tendency is for the magical powerhouses to keep the artifacts that they find for themselves, even if they can be better served by one of your allies. My personal belief is that it is important to funnel agent and stealth artifacts, for example, to those allies that can utilize them most efficiently (i.e., the Cloud Lord for the DS, or perhaps the Elves for the Free, IF they are taking advantage of their potentials in these areas...). Likewise, front-line nations should get one or two decent command or combat artifacts to aid in their offensives. Well, I could go on forever, but really have stuff that needs to get done. Hope any of this helps. And don't hesitate to e-mail me directly if you have any other questions. Paul Burrows pburrow@cc.umanitoba.ca -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Incapable of conquering true wilderness, the Europeans were highly competent in the skill of conquering other people, and that is what they did. They did not settle a virgin land. They invaded and displaced a Up