The wars of Magic and Legend is Looking For Playtesters From: "Dean Day" <dean@jday34.freeserve.co.uk> Date: Mon, 06 Mar 2000 00:00:00 +0000 Hi Guys, we are currently looking for Playtesters for our new pbm "The Wars of Magic and Legend. we are currently in a closed playtest, but will be opening a new playtest soon. the playtest will be free for it's duration and anybody who wishes to put there names down to play should contact me using the information below. a full description of the game which will appear in the next issue of UK pbm magazine "flagship" follows the contact info. The company's contact details are as follows - Cutting Edge Games (UK) Ltd, 45 Eastern Avenue West, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex RM6 5SA. E-Mail Address - dean@jday34.freeserve.co.uk Phone Number - 0181 597 8428 Contacts - Dean Day, Mike Hall The Game itself would come under your "fantasy wargame/world game" categories. The game's interaction level will be very high due to the game's political side and the high level of diplomacy needed. although it is a game with a large amount of depth compared to most fantasy wargames, the system is structured in an easy to understand and simple mechanic which runs throughout all the games different aspects. So a newcomer should be able to quickly get to grips with the system, while veteran players will be pleased by the sheer range and scope of decision making that has to be thought about each turn. the game is fully e-mail compatible with both turnsheets and maps able to be sent over the net or they can just as easily be sent by normal mail the choice is up to the player. Introduction to the Game The wars of magic and legend is a fantasy political wargame set in the world of Solem at the time of the cataclysm of the rift, the game starts in the year of growth as the nations and kingdoms of Solem start to recover and reassert themselves on the world at large. Each player takes on the role of the ruler of an empire in the world of Solem whose ultimate aim is to get themselves elected Holy Emperor of Solem through fair means or foul.As stated above to win your aim must be to get your nations leader elected Holy Emperor, but the ways you may achieve this goal are many and diverse as the scope of the game is varied and deep. You may prefer the option of war with battles at both land and sea, and mighty sieges. Alternatively, perhaps your forte is diplomacy and politics; maybe through subtlety and guile you may be able to manoeuvre your nation into a winning position. You will certainly have to consider the economy of your kingdom and select your trading partners carefully as trade and economics will surely be the base of any bid to become emperor. Will your agents and assassins spies and saboteurs become the stuff of legend?Through espionage your reach will become long and your influence increased, it can never be discounted. Will religion rear its ugly head and become crucial to your plans, the gods themselves are waiting to find out! Will you put your hopes on the fickle forces of magic and artefacts of legendary power and importance, magical power swirls around the world of Solem as strongly as the winds themselves. Finally will a legendary figure emerge from the toiling masses of your empire to lead you to victory only time will tell, but remember the options are yours and yours alone. The nations in wars of magic and legend are all unique with very different strengths and weaknesses. We don't pretend that the nations are finely balanced in all areas although all nations are able to achieve victory albeit in different ways it's up to the player to play to his position's strengths and minimise his weaknesses. We cannot to strongly recommend that you contact and talk to your fellow players in the game. How else will you arrange alliances? Secure trade deals, find out information, plot against other players or a host of other activities, we again state a lack of contact in the wars of magic and legend may minimise your chances. Each game has twenty three empires competing for victory from the Dwarves of the Khuz-Dur Union to the mighty nation of the Corinia Empire. Each empire depends on it's own mighty characters to run and expand the empire from Admiral's and General's, Diplomat's and Governor's, Mage's and Priest's and Agents. The Game's political system is both subtle and challenging a nation's characters can attempt to get themselves elected into many powerful and varied posts in the Senate of Solem from the Sword Council, The Merchant High Lords to the Colours of Mana. each councils powers and responsibilities are unique and many more options open up to the player who is lucky enough to find themselves elected. The matter of going to war is a difficult one, as the empire will have to state it's "war aims" and with a proper system of surrender and politics between nations no one is ever "out for the count" An empire's economy is always a vital consideration to any successful ruler with a varied tax system, province loyalty, cities, towns and villages, income from trade and the church, the increasing problem of the thieves guilds, the many different types of commodity your populace will demand and the chance of rebellion and civil war if you don't provide them. Merchant fleets, trade deals, economic aid, merchant houses and trading cities are other aspects of the economic system rulers must master in order to succeed. Movement both by land and sea is both tactical and realistic. players will be able to pore over their own (and others) with full colour maps or download our viewer and we will send maps of the whole of Solem. Movement is based on a point to point system tacking into account terrain, weather, attrition, roads, forced, emergency and stealth marching. One of our game's most popular features is the land, naval and siege battle systems which allow both players to construct a full battle plan taking into account the generals skill, troop types, available battle tactics, battle magic, experience, morale and many other factors. this is no mathematical system where the player has no effect on the outcome. instead the player will win or lose depending on his own actions and that of his opponent. then we have the effect of each empire's agents, mages and priests. from scouting orders to sabotage, information gathering and the ever popular but very dangerous assassination attempt each nations agents can have a real and powerful effect on the game's outcome. the High Magic of Solem is very powerful with each nation having its own distinct list of spells it can use and with many other options for magical characters from mana, ley lines, artefacts and holy relics, celestial events, magical pacts, sacrificial magic, spell failure and many more. we would like anybody to contact us either by phone, e-mail or post who would be interested in either entering our new open playtest or for putting their names down for our first game. -- Dean J Day Cutting Edge Games (UK) Ltd. Address - 45 Eastern Avenue West, Chadwell Heath, Romford Essex RM6 5SA E-Mail Address - Dean@jday34.freeserve.co.uk Telephone No. - 0181 597 8428 Up