Re: ME-PBM 1650

From: Patrick F. McGehearty <patrick@convex.COM>

Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 00:00:00 +0000

In article <45j03e$s57@post.gsfc.nasa.gov>,
Kevin McGee  <KDMcGee@aol.com> wrote:
>ostra.gymn@umdac.umu.se (Ostra Gymnasieskolan) wrote:
>>Hi fellow players!
>>
>>What is the best position to play i 1650?
>>I haven't played many games but I think that Corsairs is the best.
>>You are alone, you can build whereever you want and if you pursuade Harad and
>>Easterlings to help you, you can kill Quiet Avanger early and then you'll be
>>even more alone and can build even more.
>>
>>Then, what is the best position in 2950?
>>Give me some good sugestions and Very good reasons please!
>>

A full discussion of positions would take far more time than I can devote
right now.  However, in the 1650 game, many like the Noldo due to their
character power, plus not starting on the front line.  Unless the Darks make
a concerted effort, a good Noldo player will be first in characters the
whole game.  With their starting emissary power, they also should maintain
a strong economy, which can pay for armies and provide gold.

On the Dark Side, the Cloud Lord can be a lot of fun if you like to mess
with other people's plans.  Timely assasinations eliminate the largest
armies.

For the neutrals, the Haradwaith is at least as strong as the Corsairs, and
close enough to the action to be a desirable recruit for either side.  With
coordinated help from the Quiet Avenger or South Gondor, the Haradwaith can
deal with the Corsairs.  Or if the Haradwaith and Corsairs join forces, they
will dominate the south end of the board.

I can also make arguments for why other positions in 1650 are interesting.
The toughest position is the Woodmen.  No economy, no starting character
power, the Woodmen must coordinate with the Sinda and Dwarves just to
maintain a reasonable position.  A challenge for those who like long term
development.  Anyone who wins with the Woodmen is a superior player.

I don't know the Dark Side positions in 2950, but on the Free side, I really
enjoyed playing the Dunadan Rangers.  They start with an excellent mix of
characters and good artifacts.  They have a superior military&economic
position relative to the Witch King, and lots of rough hexes on their map to
generate gold production.  Finally, they are a long way from the Cloud Lord,
so don't tend to get as much attention from the DS agents.

I agree that the White Wizard can be an excellent position as a neutral.
A citidial can be hard to take, especially in the early stages of 2950.

I think ME2950 is a better test of player abilities at nation building than
ME1650.  ME1650 is a game of immediate assault, while in ME2950 you can put
an individual flavor to your nation before being thrown into a death
struggle.  ME2950 does take a couple of turns to get going, but what's a
couple of turns in a game that usually lasts more than 20 turns?

- Patrick McGehearty

References

ME-PBM 1650
ostra.gymn@umdac.umu.se (Ostra Gymnasieskolan)
Wed, 11 Oct 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: ME-PBM 1650
Kevin McGee <KDMcGee@aol.com>
Thu, 12 Oct 1995 00:00:00 +0000