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News from Bree

Middle Earth PBM Newsletter - Issue 15, June '02

"Strange as News from Bree..." Economics in Middle Earth , chapter 9 by Jason Bennett Talk at the Clausewitz once wrote, "War is politics by other income and market sells with no problem, and can name means." If he had played Middle Earth, he might new characters and recruit new armies with reasonable have said, "War is economics by other means." While management. Nations in this situation need to stay out 'Prancing it is impossible to attain a purely economic victory of the way (economically speaking)! Manage your (as other wargames allow), it is equally impossible money well, do everything you can to avoid asking Pony... to project military your team for money, and and character look for ways to continue power without to improve your page 1 being able to manage situation, e.g., improving a nation's finances. pop centers, planting "Economics in Middle While some nations' camps, and removing Earth" economies tend useless fortifications, toward equilibrium harbors and ports. If your page 2 or profit, many team is organizing others require buyouts, contribute what New Games careful nurturing, you can. It will only From Out of the West especially to avoid improve your economy an early exit. Still in the long run, and help page 3 other nations, you turn a perpetual "A Day in the Life ..." namely the profit. economically Gold donators need to Silver Screen powerful neutrals, be generous, above all Hall of Fame can be a powerful else. Remember what force upon joining was said earlier: there's page 4 an alliance if they no such thing as an "Beginners Guide, part 2" are managed economic victory in properly in the Middle Earth. You might Who's Who early going. This be sitting on a dragon- article will try to sized gold stash that puts page 5 address all of these you in first place in the Bree Artwork concerns, and give victory points, but it's Credit Card payments pointers on how to useless if your teammates make your next are going down in flames nation an economic around you. More than page 6 force to be reckoned with. once, I've lost a game with too much gold, as I slowly "What If?" lost my ability to use it through character attrition. Contacting the Office Generally speaking, there are four different types of Fund nations that need to name characters, plant camps, 's Web economies in Middle Earth: or who are on the front lines. Put your money where it 1. Gold debtors will make the most effect. While that might seem 2. Gold stable obvious, you will need to make choices as to where page 7 3. Gold donators you put your money, as your teammates might not "The Secret Diaries: 2" 4. Gold-rich neutrals have the same understanding of the situation as you Each of these types requires a different play do. Make sure not to donate yourself into oblivion! style and needs to be handled differently by Better to give a little less one turn than to find yourself page 8 teammates. If you play the Woodmen like the Noldo, in a hole scrambling to claw your way out. Leave enough Game 228 Special you'll quickly go bankrupt. If you do the opposite, in reserve so you don't have any problem meeting your you'll deprive your team of the powerful armies and own obligations. page 9 characters that they need. Most nations, however, Many gold donators are such because they are far are capable of being in any of the first three categories, enough behind the front lines that marching armies to "Order Companion" depending on the current military and market the front is an exercise in frustration. If that is the case, Stand-by positions situation. The important thing is to recognize your make sure to make yourself part of the action. Give Face to face Games current situation and act appropriately. Remember: your extra gold away so front-line nations can recruit you can lose instantly on any turn if you mismanage your share of troops as well. Recruit expensive cavalry page 10 your money bad enough. If you bankrupt your in your pop centers for an easier march. Trade several nation, you are out of the game with no recourse. pop centers in safe locations for a large one on the Gunboat Rules Ignore your money at your own peril. front lines, then recruit from there. Spend the money First, we'll examine the gold stable nations. These to plant a new pop center toward the front and improve countries can cover their expenses through their gold it to a major town or city with fortifications. Above all, use your money. He who dies with the most centers, and giving back to the team in terms of military New toys is still dead. and character impact. Gold debtors tend to live on the economic brink. Gold-rich neutrals are a special breed of economy. games They cannot afford to recruit new characters, raise These nations tend to not be on the front lines, have new armies, or possibly even afford the armies they the luxury of waiting a few turns before declaring, and have for long. Without outside assistance, they cannot can align themselves so they do not have to engage in Waiting List: When I get all 25 (or 24 for Gunboat) nations into the afford to contribute to the war effort, and instead heavy combat on their home turf. If you want to be a game I will allocate you your choice must focus on stabilizing their own economy. Make Gnome of Zurich, do everything you can to maximize of nation from the list of nations sure to speak up! While it's better for your teammates your gold reserves before choosing an alignment, and that you have sent me - please send to recognize your need on their own, make sure to then pour it into that team. The best way to maximize multiple nation choices. Upto 2 ask them for a specific amount each turn. That way, your economy is to plant new camps like mad while nation game: You can play one or your teammates can plan among themselves how selling to the market limit every turn and minimizing two Aligned nations, or one Neutral best to fund you, and you will know exactly how army expenditures. It can turn a team around to have nation. much you are going to be able to spend for the next (for example) the Duns pour several hundred thousand Battle of the Five Armies (Bofa) few turns. If you don't speak up, you can't guarantee gold into the Woodmen and Eothraim. Obviously, this [Game 4] getting the gold you need. Given that these nations is a poor strategy to pursue if you align yourself into a 2week turnaround are so heavily funded from the outside, they have an military situation (Duns go evil, Corsairs and Veteran or Beginners game - (Vet: implied contract with the rest of the team: the team split alignments, etc), in which case these neutrals are ALL 1650 orders available): 1 will fund you, if you use the money wisely to help more like general donators or gold stable nations. Nation taken but all nations the team and stabilize your economy. There's nothing In this article, we've explored the four general types available. worse than sending a poor nation tons of gold, only of economic situations in Middle Earth: donator, stable, to have it raise debtor and gold- 1650 [Game 135] steel/steel rich neutral. Each 1week turnaround heavy cavalry of demands a Waiting List, Upto 2 nation game. instead of different strategy 24 nations available. naked heavy for handling your [Game 37] infantry or money and 2 week turnaround naming useless interacting with 1-7,9-15, 17-22, 14 available (1 characters. If your teammates. nation "any" in addition taken) you borrow Know what Gunboat money from a situation you're in [Game 36] 1650 variant friend, don't and deal with it. 3 players needed (10 nations). spend it on a The nations with Waiting List, 2 nations game. See big-screen TV. well managed page 10 for rules. Gold debtors economies are in need to spend the best position 2950 their money on to make a [Game 236] planting and difference in the 2 week turnaround Email game. Waiting List. 23 capturing pop game. nations available.

1000 [Game 147] 2 week turnaround We have 8DS 7 or 8 FP and 7 or 6 Neutrals taken so far. No more DS From out of the West needed at present the rest (4 positions) 1 or 2 FP and Neutrals please. The game is provisionally a Normal one but we'll be in touch when VAT necessitates MEPBM price rise we get to 25 if there are clashes of interest (as per norm). Lots of new computers to replace the rather slow for general release. I am wondering about doing a new machines that invariably crash half way through (now World Championships - teams of 6 players per side - Note please ask for variant games they only crash 1/3 of the time!) so Sam has had a bit maybe 1wk format, double elimination (ie you can lose we can try to get you opposition for of a nightmare week. once without being knocked out from the tournament). them if you are interested - mostly I like to share bad news as well as good news - It’s still in the pondering stage at present though. Grudge teams though - if I get 10 unfortunately it looks like we’re going to have a big As you might well be aware I am now the proud players for any single type of game tax (VAT) bill this year due to changes in some of the father of Taliesin Joseff Paul Oldridge, a very cute little then I will put it up for general availability below and push it. rules for digital exports. We’re still thinking about boy. So I am taking off some time from work to help this and the impact it will have but this means a price out. The impact this has on work means that I will not Grudge Games we need increase. be available in the evenings to catch up on work and opposition for: £4.50 for UK answer queries for the forseeable future. 1650: GM team (12), Ulrik (12) $6.80 for US Last Alliance: Marcus C team of 12 (This is in exception to the recent discussion about Finally, can I stress that we're pondering what we 2950: None / GM team (12 players) Automagic and Meow - we’re pondering this at are going to do with AM/Meow as concerns prices. 1000: None present).I am very sorry to have to do this - we have The price changes above have nothing to do with the WoTR: None Last Alliance: None no choice I am afraid. As it is it’s going to be rough AM/Meow potential changes to prices. We're still World Championship: None for us. pondering what we are going to do as concerns that, Price increases will be brought into play on the partially because the MEOW program (being developed Monday 27th May. by two separate programmers at present) is still in the Middle Earth Projects are coming along well - including a very creation stage. When we know that it works we can PBM Games snazzy new map editor - available for all to use. We’ll sort out some feedback on that. We'll keep you posted. keep you posted as to when and where it comes out Clint Silver A Game Day in the life of a Screen Film News MEPBM Enthusiast

Ents It is now confirmed that will Here in America, most of us receive our turn results 15 If network is down, terrorize dog, or alternatively in fact play a role in the movies, early in the morning. Here’s an account of game day force him to dress up as -mount. Return and will be created fully by for this MEPBM addict: to 15. WETA's digital effects team. 16 Receive email with .pdfs According to spies who were on 1 Wake up early to blaring alarm, and actually don’t 17 Save .pdfs to hard drive the set, Ents will "look more tree- resent it 18 Light cigarette; the tension is too great. Breathe like than human-being-like but 2 Urinate (optional) deeply and perform relaxation exercises before somewhat transform from tree into 3 Brush teeth (optional) proceeding. walking being." In Jackson's original 4 Stumble downstairs and hit the power button on 19 Read turn results interview with Ain't It Cool News, the laptop 20 Check email every two minutes in the obsessive he stated that the films would 5 Let dog out hope that another ally’s turn report is in by now contain scenes of the Ents storming 6 By then, laptop should be up and running; double 21 Obsess over my and other people’s turns for . In addition, John Rhys- click to open email hours, or days; begin plotting destruction of Davies, who portrays in the 7 Fill coffee cup with coffee, insert in microwave world. films, will also provide the voice of and start nuking 22 Begin composing first of 300 messages to team. . 8 Insert phone cord into laptop 23 At some other point, get around to other minor 9 By then, email account should be open, click “send tasks such as taking a shower, putting on clothes, Shelob and receive” using the restroom, getting something to eat, going E!Online's "Insider" column reports 10 For a few seconds, threaten computer with to work, talking to people who don’t know that "New Zealand wildlife is a little violence if network doesn’t work or .pdf isn’t Middle Earth jargon. short on giant spiders, so Shelob here yet 24 Repeat the following week! will be completely computer 11 By then, computer should be ready to receive generated. Elijah Wood (Frodo) and log-on sequence. Do that. Note: No animals were actually harmed in the writing Sean Astin (Sam) performed their 12 Retrieve coffee cup. Being drinking. of this (only partly fictional!) article. scenes with the evil eight-legger 13 Let dog back in against a blue screen." No 14 Sit back down. If no .pdf on screen by now, beat information has been made public dog, or alternatively train him to behave as goblin regarding the actual character design wolf-mount. Return to 14. of Shelob, however.

Changes It seems that the 's encounter with Shelob will also take part in the third film - the second film will concentrate more upon events in . will Hall of Fame intercut back and forth between the adventures of Sam and Frodo and the happenings with the other Game 48 - Fourth Age characters in various locations, by Alan J. instead of being divided down the middle like the structure of the Not long ago Battle Of the Five Armies game 7 fin- The Dwarven economy is brilliant having all fortified novels. The important thing to ished. The result was a notso resounding draw, we pop.centres sono downgrades despite high taxes. A remember is that literature and film think. I played the Dwarves, Bernd Luhrsen the massive 5-6000 tropps can be sustainedin the field at are two entirely different mediums Elvesand Scott Latham the Northmen. one time. The Gobbos had a few pitiful armies guarding of storytelling, and that changes are Looking at the way things stood at the be- theirMajor Towns but as I knew they weren’t enough. inevitable and necessary in order ginning I felt a little isolatedand needed to form a Bolg’s army was overrun as asecond army a few turns to translate the written word strategy. One that to be effective would have to later with over 2000 troops came up to support. Afree properly to the structure and flow beadhered to religiously. The one thing I didn’t want VC thank you very much.We eventually had armies num- of film. to do was waste ordersand send my initial forces out bering 4500 troops on the Gobbo capital. Afterthis there into the wilds and end up being nowhere.Besides if would be only one left. Buggre haven’t got enough gold DVD Releases the Gobbos attacked my homeland then I’d be up to buy 2turns worth of food. So the Gobbos ended with The first DVD release of the Khyber.So, I plumped for the offensive. Take the 1 MT at the end and heshouldn’t have. Who’s a lucky Fellowship is set for August. fight to the enemy and let himworry about what we little smelly greenskin then? The village nextto that cer- However there will be another were going to do. After a stop off to recruit the tain MT was taken by the Northmen. I said he could but release in November which will have greatarmy of Dain II marched towards Goblinia, that I changedmy mind the turn after, see even omnipotent additional material including an place where gobbos are, tokick some right royal a**. ones such as I make mistakes.All in all though it was a additional half hour of film. With nearly 4000 troops nothing was going to hard fight and a great game. I’d like to extendmy thanks stopthis steamroller. The other characters had made to Bernd and Scott for being staunch allies. Well done to the trip form LonelyMountain and would start re- the DSfor a game well played. Once I’ve figured out cruiting some troops to replace the inevitablelosses. which nation I want next I’llbe playing again. Who's Who A look at the major Beginner's Guide - part 2 characters in the A player/GM viewpoint LOTR: #6

Aliases: Evenstar Economic goals place new population centres. A quick look at the map Date of Birth: TA 241 A team’s economic goals must include supporting shows even the novice that the Dark Servants have Race: Peredhel the economically disadvantaged nations, only limited room to grow in . A Dark Servant Date of Death: FO 121 consolidating natural resources and engaging in team that divides up the available hexes at the start will Parents: , Celebrian economic war against the enemy. In order to support find their emissaries give far fewer wasted orders as Spouse: economically disadvantaged nations, the team will they try to place camps. Alternatively, stealing certain Date of Marriage: TA 3019 have to take stock on a turn-by-turn basis of which hex locations for your team, such as the Gap of Rohan, Children: Eldarion, and several particular nations are in danger of being unable to prevents enemies from exploiting them for themselves. daughters implement their part of the overall team strategy. In summary therefore, at game start your team needs This may be due to losses of population centres, to decide what part economics will play in your Physical description: She was unlucky production, or campaign. Thought needs to said to carry the likeness of Luthien the need to support large be given to developing the armies or skilled resource-poor nations and to characters. Teams will keeping the enemy from fully have to decide ‘How do using the marketplace. we keep so-and-so in the Finally, an allocation of game?’ building sites should be Generally the undertaken. answer is in the form of direct cash transfers of Military considerations gold. However, any Your nation will start with a product can be sent, and number of armies. Typically there will be times when these are made up of a mixture sending a load of food of troops. Give careful may be better than a consideration where to send Biography: Arwen lived in straight gold transfer. At these armies. In establishing and Lorien for roughly other times it may be military targets, the team must 3000 years in contentment, until advisable to swap some understand what resources she met and fell in love with population centres they can bring to bear where. Aragorn. After the War of the Ring, around. The idea of this Careful analysis of the Arwen and Aragorn were married is that while front-line various player maps, together on midyears day, and Arwen nations do battle, the with recon reports of enemy became Queen of . In FO more protected nations troop movements is critical to 120, Aragorn passed, and Arwen can create and improve successful planning. journeyed to Lorien, where she population centres, with Classically, North Gondor died the following winter. a view to transferring can expect the Dark Servants "....For mine is the choice of them to the front-line to do everything they can to Luthien" ..... "both the sweet and nations. This links with take Minas Ithil and Osgiliath the bitter, but when my time comes, the consolidation of - both are just too central and you shall go in my stead, natural resources. Do the too close to Mordor to allow Ringbearer." Northmen need bronze, steel and to toughen North Gondor to keep them! Similarly, the Witch King their armies against the invading Long Rider, Blind has to expect that by around turn 6 or 7, both Mount Sorcerer, Dog Rider and others? In this case, mineral- Gram and Mount Gundabad will be assaulted by every rich nations should be transferring bronze, steel and Free People army available. mithril to the Northmen’s army recruiting centres. This is probably the area that teams focus on the Similarly, it is common for the Dark Servants to most, as it is the most obvious method of winning the purchase and send timber to the Dragon Lord and war. However, you should also be discussing whether Witch King. the team intends to use a ‘scorched earth’ strategy Merely keeping team mates in the game and (attempting to destroy enemy population centres), as active is only half of the economic battle. The team opposed to an ‘occupation’ strategy (attempting to must decide how it will use the market place to help control enemy population centres). Finally, good defeat the enemy. You may decide to keep buying military strategy will include a discussion of other out a particular product to increase its price, or your aspects of warfare such as what areas to fortify, what Liv Tyler as Arwen in the team may decide to buy out a product to deny the harbours and ports to drop, what bridges to hold. Fellowship of the Rings film. enemy access to it. This can be devastating! If you When it comes to recruitment, it is important to are about to invade an enemy who is lightly fortified, realise that your initial armies will not last forever. In imagine the shock if you buy out the entire stock of almost all circumstances you must begin to recruit new News from Bree timber so that the foe cannot build any walls to keep armies as soon as possible. Don’t worry about any of welcomes all you out! the various troop types except heavy infantry and Finally, your team may decide to spend as much heavy cavalry - none of the others are really worth the endgame reports! gold as they can each turn to keep market prices money or resources. low, or to hoard as much as they can to inflate market The initial team moves should be to consolidate [email protected] prices. Hand in hand with this, it is essential that military power at points where it can be further projected some planning is put into where the team should against the enemy. As an example, look at the map of Bree Middle Earth. For all practical purposes, the Witch King in 1650 is fairly isolated - and in 2950 there are artwork even fewer Dark Servant population centres west of the Misty Mountains. A common strategy for the News from Bree would like the Free Peoples is therefore to concentrate on reducing acknowledge the work of Ted the power of the outlying Dark Servants while the Nasmith - this issue's featured more front-line Free Peoples (eg North Gondor) artist. operate a holding action. If the Free Peoples are successful in Angmar (and quickly) this frees up a A native of Goderich, Ontario, Ted lot more forces to swing south towards Mordor. Nasmith (1955 - ) spent much of Similarly, the Dark Servants will classically look at his young life on the move and lived taking the Rhun Sea area out of the hands of the Free for three years in France. An artist Peoples. Once taken, The Dark Servants can easily prodigy, his talents were nurtured project their military might into the forests of throughout his early years. He was , possibly even into the Misty introduced to J.R.R. Tolkien's Mountains and beyond ... works as a teenager when his sister gave him a copy of The Fellowship Characters of the Ring - the effect was At game start you have eight characters. However, immediate, and shortly afterwards you may immediately name up to four more - and he began making a series of drawings you should aim to do so as soon as possible. based on the book. Remember, more characters equals more orders! Drawings let to paintings, and What sort of characters you name will vary according in 1986 Ted's efforts to illustrate to your position, inclination and the needs of the Tolkien's world were rewarded team. However you should probably consider naming with the publication of four at least one 30-point emissary and a similarly skilled paintings in the 1987's Tolkien agent - if not two of each. More characters will the ‘curses’ spells together, and where to send that Calendar. More appeared the become available as you progress through the game. company each turn. Additional consideration must be following year, with full calendars taken of where the team should send highly skilled of his art following in 1990, 1992 Intelligence gathering emissaries to try to influence away enemy population and 1996. In addition to his career Many teams have problems establishing an effective centres. And of course, the strategy is not complete as an architectural renderer, Ted has intelligence gathering strategy. This is unfortunate until the team decides on ways to deal with the enemy’s now firmly established himself as because it is the linchpin that holds together the agents, mages and emissaries. For example, many a renowned Tolkien interpreter, other strategies. Any information learned about the Neutral players forget that unless they have their with his paintings appearing on enemy is good information. For example, learning relations DOWNGRADED with another nation, all of Tolkien book covers, card games that the Dwarves desire to own artifact 60 at game their population centres are vulnerable to emissaries, and collectable china, and the end may give the team a method of tracking dwarfish regardless of whether there is an army in the hex or not. commission to illustrate The characters. To design and implement an intelligence It is critical to the mid and end games for teams to be Silmarillion represents for him a gathering strategy, the team needs to dedicate mages working on a good espionage and counter-espionage dream fulfilled. to learning artifact and character location spells. Other strategy. Players should look at what steps are characters need to be trained for recon and scouting necessary to build up a number of good agent companies orders. Finally, a prioritization of targets is necessary and emissary companies quickly. Further, the long slow so as to avoid duplication of efforts. Once again, process towards forming a curse squad (a company of good early communication is the key. mages, all of whom have learned various Spirit Mastery Your team will need to examine the Artifact list spells) needs to start early on. Credit carefully and decide which to go after. Although details of artifact powers are not listed in the rules, Nations’ goals there are lists commonly available from the various Just as each team needs a strategy for success, so does Payments websites (or one of your team-mates). It is not each nation. Upon receiving the initial setup sheet, unusual for both sides to be searching for the Ring of you should carefully evaluate what resources your nation can bring to bear, as well as what resources are Payments to Middle Earth PBM Wind on turn 1, for example. Most teams probably go first for the so-called ‘agent artifacts’, followed lacking. Itemize the spells that were randomly selected Games not Harlequin. 5% charge for mages, as well as random character starting locations. for UK Credit card payments & by the artifacts that allow access to Spirit Mastery. As to agents, teams will probably use scouting and Determine how many characters can be devoted solely you can pay directly through our to the team effort and how many must be reserved for website (World Pay [WP] will recon in the early game to find out what basic military strategy the enemy is attempting. Are the South the day-to-day running of the nation. It is also appear on your statement). You important to decide whether the nation can be can also set up a monthly payment Gondorians loading up ships to attack the Quiet Avenger? Does the Dragon Lord have sufficient consolidated by ignoring outlying population centres, with us for a SET amount taken placing new ones centrally, pulling characters in from from your credit card at the troops to protect Goblin Gate? Finally, many teams completely neglect the use of Palantir as an single locations and unifying them in armies and beginning of each month. Ask for companies, and massing resources at one or two more details if interested. If your information gathering tool. This is a foolish waste of a unique resource! population centres. Decisions need to be made both in account is low funds there will be terms of what the nation needs to do immediately, but an administration charge of £1 for Espionage and counter-espionage also where it needs to be in the future. Should armies the first turn, and 50p for be raised, moved or abandoned? Are certain starting subsequent turns on Low funds. Teams need to have a good espionage and counter- espionage strategy. They need to decide whether to characters just dead weight? What are the immediate have starting agents steal from team mates in order military and character goals? Once these questions are Note that CC payments are answered (or at least guessed at), the orders necessary accepted in the following to train more quickly. Further, what enemy nations will the team try to steal gold from and in which to run the nation successfully will be much easier to currencies: UK£, US$ & AUS$ as select and you can run your realm with confidence! well as some other currencies. enemy nations will the team try to assassinate characters? The team needs to contemplate what This article first appeared in Flagship, issue 94, steps will be taken to get a company of mages with and is reprinted here by permission. Contacting the MEPBM What If ... Office A literary phantasia on what might have been UK: Office A, 340 North Road, One of the cult novels of the 1970s turned out to be "Still waters run deep, Sir Grishnakh?" Cardiff, Wales, CF14 3BP Lord of the Rings. Written by one of the unlikeliest "Er, with respect, Dark Lord, if waters are still, then TL: 029 20913359 of best-selling authors, it affected a large number of they can't run at all, deep or shallow." [dial code 011 44 2920 for US players. 10am-6.30pm UK time (BST - British people, not least of them being those people now "Thank you, Bernard. Where would we be without Standard Time); 5am-1.30pm (EST)] saddled with names like . How would this you. What's the gist of my speech?" FAX: 029 20625532 book have turned out had it been written by someone "Essentially, Lord , that the policy of the Dark EM: [email protected] else? Lord Administration is to avoid having a policy, and that the absence of a policy does not betoken a lack of USA: PO Box 280, Medford, Ian Fleming policy, but a policy of policy limitation, limiting policy OR 97501-0019, USA Aragorn placed his hand on the cool, ivory hilt of his intiatives to initial policy outlines, without precluding Phone & Fax: 541-772-7872 (10- 6.38 Anduril sword, half-holding it in as casual disparate policy intiatives within the policy outlines." 5pm weekdays) (fax24hrs) manner as possible. His eyes swept the room of the "Pardon?" Prancing Pony, eyeing up the potential threats. He "You'll tell them they can do what they like, Lord AUSTRALIA: took out his pipe, made from the warmed heartwood Sauron.".... PBM Enterprises, PO Box 278, of a mature oak. In the palm of his left hand, he Emerald Victoria, Australia 3782 unwrapped his leather tobacco pouch filled, as he Rudyard Kipling Phone & Fax: +61 3 5968-5652 preferred, with Gondorian Silk Cut. Aragorn I went round to an elven inn, to buy a glass o' beer preferred it to the harsher, stronger Numenorian The owner looked at me long-nosed, "We don't serve WEBSITES blend... your kind here" www.middleearthgames.com The maids giggled fit to die, pointing out my height www.harlequingames.com PG Wodehouse But I swim in booze whenever there is Evil in the "Sam, I've decided to go and overthrow the Dark Night. EMAIL LIST Lord by tossing his jewellery into a volcano." Check out the websites (above) "Very good, sir. Should I lay out your crazy Yes it's Gimli this and Gimli that for more information. adventure garb? I presume that this will pose a delay And go away you brute to tea-time. I would remind your Hobbitship that But its To the Front, our faithful friend your Great Aunt Lobellia Sackville-Baggins is When the bows begin to shoot..... expected for tea." "Blast! I say, bother! How can a chap overthrow the Raymond Chandler Shelob's Dark Lord? I suppose I'll have to delay my campaign." "?" said the old in the doorway, rain "Very good, sir. I believe you will be free in about a dripping from his oversized hat with all the ease of a Web decade." burrowing after gold. "I'll do it then. Make a note, Sam." "That's the name on the door. Guess I'm gullible enough This time we concentrate on to believe what it says about me." Tolkien-based web games ... Bernard Cornwell The old man came in a dripped water on the earth floor. "God save Rohan, we ye look at all those orcies," Added a touch of class, so I didn't complain. http://www.lordotrings.com/ said Sergeant Eomer, looking down the slope near "Frodo, you've got a problem." noflash/quiz.asp Helm's Deep. "Thousands upon thousands of them, "I pay my taxes, and I'm clean with the Rangers. What's There are 111 questions divided and not a single guard." my problem?" over 6 levels corresponding Aragorn looked at the multitude. He was a "Bilbo shafted you with that heirloom. Gold ring? Gold with the 6 books of The Lord of professional soldier, born and bred in a hedgerow, ringer, more like." the Rings. You have to play good only for war and fighting. Unlike the other "A dud, huh. Can't say I'm surprised." through each level to ultimately officers, he didn't come from the Nobility, and was "If it was a dud, you wouldn't have a problem. Your looked down by most. problem is that this little heirloom has a history, a reach the end and destroy the 'Nosey' had given him his commission, and history with a pearl-handled stiletto in the back. It . The top difficulty his sword, for saving his life in battle. "You're right, goes back all the way through the biggest string of levels are, well, difficult! Sergeant Eomer. Let's see what we can do with these mugs you find as wallpaper on Minas Tirith's finest. Numenorian bows".... Goes all the way back to Night-Time Sauron....." http://www.barrowdowns.com/ thangman.htm Oscar Wilde George Lucas Hangman Hobbit style. For "He bested me in a riddle contest." "Did you ever wonder who your father was, Frodo?" every letter you get wrong, the "A riddle contest?" "Uncle Bilbo was my father, Obi Gan Dalf." Black Rider will hang a hobbit. "It was so. And he cheated." "Your Uncle is a fine man, but he is not your father. "To cheat in a riddle contest is a riddle in itself, and Your father was a fine warrior and a great captain, It's fun trying to lose ... is therefore not cheating, but just another riddle." strong in the Force. He was called Sarumann the Wise, "He cheated and asked me what he had in his and he was a good friend." http://myprecious.co.uk/ pockets." "Was? Is he dead?" precious.htm "He picked and pocketed a pretty prize, performing "He is no more. It is your destiny to avenge his death, Three simplistic but fun perfidious behaviour. young Baggins." webgames: Hob , How very noble, so like our own Lords and Trivia, and Bounce-a- Masters".... Dylan Thomas Baggins. The site is rather fun I whistled defiantly as I walked down the streets of to explore. "Yes, Dark Lord", by Lynn & Jay Under . Auntie Grima was baking orc "Ah, Lord Sauron. I have here the draft of your speech bread, and the smell wafted over the streets like a to the Nazgul Committee on Running Water." miasma of wonderment. She was a dried-up woman, who cursed everytime the pit was mentioned, that wine drinker? Yeah, I knows I drunk it, but that's not The Secret death-dealing, life-giving pit. It was precious to us the point..." even though it killed us, our precious it was, but we Diaries didn't care Christopher Martin-Jenkins (A celebrated cricket about it as much as we cared about the grilled human commentator) The Secret Diary of , ears we had for tea. "It's a lovely summer's evening here in the Paths of the son of "Dopey!" called my friend across the street to me, Dead. Aragorn has won the toss, and has decided to his voice echoing around our brown fields. "Dopey, bat. Interesting decision, and Jonathon Agnew has some Day One: you going to see the game?" There was always a news on that, so I'll pass you over to Jonathon while Went to Council of Elrond. Aragorn acting game on. We didn't watch it, we devoured it, and Fred cuts me a slice of that delicious orc cake sent in by all superior as usual. He thinks he's so when it was over, we played it out again and again, Mrs Galadriel of Lorien Wood. Thank you Mrs great because he's shagging that bit of elf with a ball instead of a Galadriel." crumpet on the side. I mean just because someone has a broad chest, firm, defined captive's head. "Well, Chris, I've muscles, an outdoorsy tan and loads of Grishna was just been speaking manly stubble doesn't mean that....what? always Garth with Eowyn, who Got distracted there for a bit. Seem to Lliwams, and I said that she had have agreed to go on some sort of mission was always recommended that while distracted by Aragorn's enormous...rudeness. Ooops. Jaypeeare. He Aragorn should was magic, and send the other side Day Three when we in to the Paths of Stupid Ring, stupid Quest, stupid finished, we the Dead first. It Fellowship. would go home seems that opening Day Four and dream of in there can be Frodo dropped Ring today. Picked it up, Nazgul.... nasty. Bit of an but Aragorn made me give it back. uncomfortable Arrogant bastard. Wonder how he'd feel George pitch. The green with Horn of Gondor shoved right up his... MacDonald slopes of Pelenor Stupid Ring. Fraser Fields are much Day Four: I never could more suitable to Is obvious that Aragorn is strangely stand that the opening pair of attracted to Frodo. Ha Ha! Ha! Sam will Boromir. Stuck Aragorn and kill him if he tries anything. up and Eomer. Raggers Day Six: arrogant. Still, seems keen to play Aragorn still into Frodo. "Boromir, give I fixed him a Captain's innings the Ring back to Froooodoo." "Boromir, good in his turn. I remember thinking, when the today. I gather the bearded wonder has some statistics let *me* carry Frodo up Caradhras." halflings rushed off, that's yours, Boromir. But I'm for us?" "Boromir, quit trying to cut off Frodo's getting ahead of the story. It all started back in "According to my records, the last time anyone went head while he's asleep so you can get at the Ring." Rivendell. It was all Gandalf's fault, of course. Nearly in on the Paths of the Dead, it was a sticky wicket." Blatant favoritism most annoying. every disaster of the Third Age was. But this time "I wonder if we'll see that again today. Well, Raggers he outdid himself. His idea of a good plan was to has come out, and I must say, his new sword looks a Day Ten: take this wonder weapon we had chanced upon, and lot better. Reforged, I hear. Fred?" Why isn't Aragorn into me ? throw it away. Couldn't even throw it "I don't know about forged or reforged, but he'll need Day Eleven: away in the sea, like any sane chap. No, his plan to show more application than he has done. Treated Carried Frodo out of Mines of . Kind was to take it all the way into the middle of enemy his sword like it were broken." of liked it, actually. Hope am not turning territory, where there were millions of and "That's true, but he has done some remarkable running into pervy hobbit-fancier like Uncle others, and throw it into a volcano knowing that the between the countries. Oh dear, it looks like they're Windermir. Not after what happened to d....d thing will explode. There was a long silence, going in for the day. Yes, they're definitely going in to *him.* Merry and Pippin are cute little things, too... and Gandalf then said "Volunteers only, of course." the Paths of the Dead...." In other news, Gandalf died. Then everyone looked towards me.... Andrew Lloyd Webber Day 30: Meatloaf Don't cry for me, Numenoria In Lothlorien. Galadriel quite a babe. Feel It was a hot summer's day in the Marsh of the Dead The truth is, you never sank down sure she was attracted to my rugged yet unwashed manliness. There was fog crawling over the swamp Beneath those wild waves took a bath in her fountain. Got I could listen to the screams of the Dead Men Calling Those deep sea wild waves in trouble. Ha. Ha. Big elfy git. Am quite I could see their empty You never left from sure he dyes his hair. Also, he has spot on eyes and the candles blowing in the wind. This Middle Earth his nose. Aragorn suggested we take baths You were licking your finger as well. Only realized in nick of time he did not mean with each other. Stupid With the Ring of Power and I was dying just to ask Gene Roddenbury Aragorn. for a taste "The Halflings, cap'n, they will na take the strain" We were dancing together up on the Crack of Doom "Strider, we've got to get out of this snow. Legolas, did Day 33 : And no-ones gonna know what we've done. you get a reading on that creature?" Frodo being all weird about the Ring. "Fascinating, Captain. It appears to be an unknown Won't even let me look at it. Must admit I had a bit of a tussle with him trying to Bagenders (a London-based soap opera) creature that lurks in the pool waiting for passing get a gander at it. Rolled around on him Gaffer Gamgee was relating the doings of the Baggins strangers. Ecologically implausible, captain." till he went invisible. Resisted urge to down at the old Green Dragon. "I tell you, they ain't "Do you know what it is?" have a little cuddle (made easier when he proper Bagenders, with them noses in the air, not "I believe I said it was unknown, Dr Gimli. Logically, if punched me in the face.) like our Samkin, who can turn up a turnip pretty as I knew what it was, then it wouldn't be unknown." Aragorn would be jealous. Ha! you please. Now Lobellia, she's all right. Nah, she "Cap'n, we're in some sort of temporal warp, stretching Day 35: is. But Bilbo? Remember that business with the Old and deforming the plot. The snow should take place a Killed by orcs. Dwarfs? And what did that Bilbo give me on his day before our encounter with this beastie." Stupid orcs. eleventy first? Wine. I asks you. Do I look like a "Captain, what are we going to do." "Boromir, put on that red armour."... The Khand Oh to be in Kala Dalakurth Speak More on game 228, from the pen of Marc Pinsonneault now that Spring is here!

Itana surveyed the battlefield. Much had happened, only six fort- A dramatisation of an incident in game 228 nights into the war. The Long Rider by Richard Devereux had lost his two villages and his mountain town. Now the armies Blobrog, commander of the Kala Dulukurth militia, nothing short of death would stop them obeying a of the Khand had burned the town pulled the moth-eaten bearskin rug back over his head command from Murazor. Blobrog had only met Murazor of the Blind Sorceror and were at and reflected through his hangover that it didn't matter once, and he shivered at the memory, not from the cold. the chokepoint of eastern Mordor. what season it was in this godforsaken outpost, it Surely the column could not have been wiped out by The slave fields of Nurn lay before was always bluggy freezing. If you could see the those wretched Dwarves? Dwarves were the only other them and a motley rabble of dog Grey Mountains to the south, it was going to snow; people hardy enough and stupid enough to try to scrape lord troops were all that stood in if you couldn't see the Grey Mountains, it WAS a living out of such terrain and in such a climate. Surely their way. A falcon flew in with snowing. not. But then - why had the column not arrived? news. It appeared that the Blind Blobrog cursed feebly and wondered, not for the There was a knock on the door and an orc, clutching Sorceror had hired an army in first time, what in Middle-earth the distillers put in a spear which identified him as one of the militia, entered. Urlurtsa Nurn - a desperate attempt the ardent spirit they called Dragonbreath. As usual, "Sir, there's a column of troops approaching from the to stall the inevitable. The war he decided that given the scarcity of natural ingredients south." He might have been smiling, but it was difficult council was convened. Kionid in this part of the world, he'd rather not know. It to tell with orcs. "Excellent," exclaimed Blobrog, spitting spoke first: "Should we battle the tasted foul but generated an inner glow and dulled the out the bits of cockroach which even a could not dog lord? If we do not they may senses. You needed that when you'd been on this ingest. "I'll come at once." hold us here. Sooner or later those bluggy posting as long as Blobrog. Blobrog doubted As he followed the militiaman towards the gate, fools will send their cursers to bat- if anybody knew he existed - except the miserable Blobrog tried to work out why he was so pleased. If the tle our armies instead of picking off citizens of Kala Dulukurth. column was carrying food, it would be for the proper heroes in our capital one by one fighting troops of the column, not the militia. Blobrog while their homeland burns! Some Kala Dulukurth. What a dump. In ages past, the might be able to beg or steal a few scraps if he was day they will realize that the Khand town's shafts and passages had been delved out of lucky. The column commander would certainly outrank are made of sterner stuff than they the frozen rock in a vain search for mithril. The him and bully him in his own town. So why was he can imagine; with every fallen leader debris was used to build a defensive wall - not that pleased? Was it just the novelty of a visit, showing that two rise to replace them!" anybody would want to attack such a blugg-hole, it Murazor maybe DID care about Kala Dulukurth? Itana paused. "They will rush was just something to do with the stuff. The builders Blobrog's head started to hurt again, and he realized that us, and the forces of the Blind didn't need mortar, the blocks of stone froze to each trolls shouldn't think too much, it was dangerous. Sorceror will march along the Sea other as soon as they touched. Now the little to delay us. We will ignore the rab- community survived by mining a little copper and tin "Dwarves!" yelled the lookout. "It's not our lot, it's ble and march through the desert. which they made into bronze. If they were lucky blugging Dwarves!" Blobrog peered at the column and We are on a mission of vengeance they found the occasional nugget of gold. Whatever laughed. "Dwarves they may be," he sneered, "but now." As the Dog Lord troops they found, the Witch-king took it to pay and equip there's only a few hundred of them. They must've run swarmed towards them the Khand his armies. By way of thanks to his frozen, starving into our relief column and suffered a good few casualties. warlords raised their scimitars and citizens, the Witch-king imposed exorbitant taxes too. We'll see 'em off easily. Get to your posts, you bluggers!" rode into battle. A scant fortnight Blobrog tried to yell for his slaves, but all he Blugg, blugg blugg, thought Blobrog. No relief later they stood at the walls of the could manage was a mouth-like-the-bottom-of-a- column, not even the smallest chance of any extra food, Blind Sorceror stronghold of birdcage croak. Cursing, he swung his legs out of bed, just see off these few Dwarves, and then back to the Urlurtsa Nurn. A grinning scout then cursed some more as his bare feet landed on the frozen, starving tedium of garrison duty. Blobrog reported back. "It is empty. They icy stone floor. Eventually, dressed and booted, he wondered if it were possible to die of these things. Death have left to chase us!" took a long swig of water from the chipped pitcher would be preferable to another year of this. Itana roared with laughter. next to the brazier. The brazier had died but luckily "Burn it!" Another falcon came in, there had not been time for the water to freeze again. "Dwarves!" yelled another voice. "Dwarves to the and the news was good. north!" Blobrog trotted as fast as he dared along the Minas Morgul lay in ruins. There was a scrabbling noise at the door and a slick, icy wall-walk to the north wall. He didn't know Urig to the south stood poised over scrawny goblin slave poked a cautious head around how many Dwarves there were in this new army, because the Adunaphels major town, soft it. "Breakfast, sir?" "Blugg off!" snapped Blobrog, he couldn't count, but he could tell instinctively that the and vulnerable with a scant few de- purely for the satisfaction of having someone to swear two Dwarf armies between them were more than capable fenders. And the Northmen stood at. "Get back here, you putrid maggot!" roared of storming Kala Dulukurth. Every troll, orc and goblin ready to sack the mountain strong- Blobrog. "What the blugg is there for breakfast?" would die - the Dwarves would show no mercy to their hold of the dragon lord to the east. "The usual, sir. Fried rat, crispy cockroach, that's ancient foes and had no use for prisoners. Mordor was in flames, and all that about it." remained in eastern Mordor were Stores of conventional food had long gone. Blobrog's spirits rose, uncomplicated now. "Fetch scattered camps. The heart of the They'd even eaten all the maggots. Blobrog wondered me a mug of Dragonbreath," he snapped at his slave. kingdom of the Dark One sur- where the relief column had got to - according to the When it arrived he drained it in a single gulp. As the rounded them, ripe for the torch. crebain it had been due six weeks ago. Foul weather Dwarves swarmed over the walls, Blobrog laughed as And the mighty fleet of the Cor- would not stop a column of orc troops - indeed he led the doomed counter-attack. sairs had more than met its match from the brave sailors of Southern Gondor. Feel Inspired? Want to write for Bree? Then contact the editor: Onwards men! The Easterlings will repay the debt from their mis- [email protected] takes in earlier ages! Face to Face MEPBM Order Companion Games Part One: 175 - 375 UK Game: We're planning a by Brad Brunet Cardiff game July 26th (Fri) - 28th (Sun) Clint writes ... In this article, I will attempt, in sequential order, to 175, 180, 185 - Change Allegiance or Relations Okay, I have 24 players and have enlighten the newcomer to how the game works. I These orders are crucial to ensure your characters/ allocated nations as per requests. will refer to orders, or sections of orders that I feel nation are/is effective. Virtually every order that involved On the day if players want to swop require some clarification or further exploration. another nation/character/army has a relations modifier nations that is fine with me. I have Everything in-between would include those that are of some sort or another. They are also listed as "easy" now taken the deposit from your either self-explanatory, or those that I have orders, but commanders below 40 do NOT have good account. So with that in mind unless inadvertently left out. track records. there is anything else I will see you in July... I have 12vs12 1650 game. The most important thing to realise is that the 205 - Use Combat Artefact program runs the game IN SEQUENTIAL order. After many times issuing this order, some kind US game is a no go though - can't Thus, combat (200's) comes before recruiting (400's) veteran on my team tactfully pointed out that my get enough definites or replies so which comes before movement (800's). characters were always "using" their swords/staffs/ better than flog a dead-horse I'll Where this is of crucial importance toenail clippers of woe... Only in the bury it for the time being. Maybe will be expounded upon below. odd event that they happened we can resurrect it as a different There ARE situations where upon a more powerful artefact version or have a team of 12 play order number does not would they have to issue across the Atlantic over a w/end? necessarily show this order, one time only, Would anyone be interested in that? exactly how the to "switch" between game works. them. The character You will will automatically notice, as you carry the item into play, that many battle, and is Stand-by different sets always gaining its of related benefit during Positions orders are challenges or intentionally encounters. Drop-outs available - don't forget ordered to Note: Every battle you get a free turn for taking these ensure that you report only up... can't get too mentions primarily much out of one involved characters, E [Early] = 0-10 turn, turn! For and only mentions M (Midgame]= 11-20, example, Creating them ONCE each. L [Late game] = 21+, Camps (555) is Your mage may be [A= Aligned if a Neutral, N= not AFTER Improving mentioned casting a spell, aligned if a Neutral] Population Centre (550), so but he's using his sword too. P = Postal and Email game, you can't have a group of BoFA: Veteran NM - e emissaries on a hex and create and 225 - Cast Combat Spell 1000: One "instant town" or so. Similarly, you can't All combat spells affect the First round of Improve a Harbour to Port (530) the same turn you combat ONLY. This can be quite important when 2950: Dwarves (m-P), Quiet (e - P), Fire (e-P), (e - P), Long Add Harbour to population centre (535). Careful deciding which spells to Cast or Research. If you are (e - P), DarkL (e-P), Rhun study of the rules will enable you to understand heavily outnumbered, you may prefer to cast an (e-n), White (e-n) exactly how the game works and enable you to plan Offensive spell to do as much damage as possible before 1650: Witch-king [l - 1w], Dark more effectively. Be aware that the rules are often you're to be wiped out. Similarly, if you heavily Lieutenants (e), Rhudaur [e quite subtle; a general understanding is more than outnumber the enemy, or it is close, you may prefer to - N],Dunlendings [e - N], enough to get going, but careful study of all related cast a Defensive spell to ensure you maintain the largest Dog Lord [m] issues will sometimes be necessary to ensure the possible surviving army. Thus, if you're going to success of each order you issue. stampede across the board with huge armies, defensive Another thing to mention: Difficulty levels. spells can keep them that way. Or, if you're primary Orders and spells are rated as "Easy", "Average", or military endeavour is to send out blocking, defensive "Hard", and the rules provide a rough guide of skill armies, Offensive spells may be your best choice to News from level required to perform them. Unfortunately, there better whittle away at your attackers. are many things that can have an effect on these orders, Bree not the least of which is the fact that the games runs 240 - Defend My thanks to everyone who has on percentages and randomised results. A 95% chance Mostly useful to designate tactics if you are sent articles. I am still looking for of succeeding means you have a 5% chance of failing, attacked. The Standard tactic automatically used is not more though! Please try to keep so don't be surprise when that happens. so bad that it's worth wasting a precious command order your articles to about 900 words And last of all: re-read the rules. In fact, until to "Defend". If you have the extra order and are just (or shorter), otherwise I may have you are certain (through experience) it's useful to read planning on sitting there, you'd still be better off issuing to edit you severely! through all sections of the rulebook related to your a recon... orders. Many sections of the book, and rules Editor: Colin Forbes, themselves, are quite subtle. Be careful that you are 270 - Destroy/Capture Ships 2A Guinea Street, Exeter, Devon certain of what you are reading While you may just do your enemy a favour by [email protected] reducing his maintenance costs, destroying ships on the Gunboat beach is much more effective than during combat. If sheet. Sometimes you get more money, other times you you're up against a naval nation, you'll want to find get less. The order is as such: Rules his ships sitting and get them, relegating him to land options. The Long Rider, for example, has only the 300 - Taxes A 1650 Variant one large recruiting centre on an island. Destroying You will earn tax money from all your population his ships on shore keeps him out of the military game, centres (not camps) that are still existing and not under We're running another Gunboat game and keeps you in it... siege at this point. Thus, any pop centres you LOST 36 - same sets of nations as before. I during combat (250, 255) you do NOT earn taxes from. will create a list of players that you 285 & 290 - Reaction to Encounter and Investigate Any population centres you GAIN during combat (255) CANNOT talk to about this game when Encounter you do NOT earn taxes on because they are Under Siege we get to filling the game. No discussing There are different kinds of encounters. Some are that turn. Any population centres that you have that with potential team-mates nations before hand please... [:-)] "fixed" in certain hex locations. Hidden valleys, for had combat at them last turn are listed as Under Siege in example. When a character receives an Encounter your turn report are NOT included in your Economic 2 nation game - you must play 2 nations. Message, it either gives a choice of Reactions (use Projection, but you DO gain the tax income from them. Nation combos are below - no Easterling 285), or the encounter says something or other "can This is because they WERE under siege at the time your nation. be investigated" (use 290). If an encounter is fixed in turn was printed, but no longer are come the 300 order... 4+22 Arthedain +Harad, 6+23 N Gondor +Duns, 7+1 S Gondor +Wood, a location, any character can "investigate" it at any You will receive tax income at the rate that exists AFTER 8+2 Dwarves+North, 9+5 time until it is solved. Some encounters can be this order: if you increase your taxes, you will receive Sinda+Cardolan, 10+3 "investigated" successfully over and over again. the increased amount. Noldo+Eothraim. Similarly, there are encounters that can be "reacted" Note: the expected revenue listed on your turnsheet 18+14 Fire King+Cloud Lord, 20+24 to again and again also. Other encounters wander the also includes gold production. Doubling your tax rate D.Lieut+Rhudaur, 16+19 Ice King+ L.Rider, 11+15 Blind + Witch K, 17+13 land, staying in a hex for only that turn or so. These will NOT necessarily double that expected revenue. QA+Dog Lord, 12+21 DragonL can still be Reacted to or Investigated by Any +Corsair (Note character in that hex. For example, if one member of a 310, 315, 320, 325 - Buying and Selling from/to change to normal) company of 5 gets the encounter message, any one of Caravans them can issue the encounter order. Who gets the You have now received tax income and can use it to Rules for this game: Players are allowed to take offensive actions against unknown message and who gets to "react" to it if more than one purchase as much steel and leather as you like, or, more characters upon their OWN population issue the 285 or 290 order is not known. commonly, sell all you have for more coin! NOTE: the centres. In other words, if Elrond, . This is the order used when one tax money is there, you can use it... Erestor and John Smith appear on the meets a Dragon (and the above applies...). If the Cloud Lord capital the latter is now a correct response is given to recruit the dragon, then: 330 - Cast Conuring Spell legitimate target for challenge, curse etc by the Cloud Lord even The dragon shall join the army led by the character Note this comes after buying and selling. If you though the nation of the character is with the highest sum of all skill ranks, artefacts plan on conjuring mounts, you will not be able to sell unknown. included. Not straight command rank, Not Challenge them in the same turn. List of Dropped nations once every rank... Once dragons are plentiful, you can manipulate two turns. List of players who are where they go by transferring artefacts around in order 340, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 360, 363, 370, playing but not nations nor side. No Diplomacy - under ANY circumstances to ensure the dragons join different armies! 375 - Various Transfer Orders [:-)] Subcommanders and other characters travelling with Read each transfer order carefully, and keep the Order Note Game ENDS (then and only the army make no difference. Sequence in mind at all times. The 355 order can transfer then are the players names revealed) after troops from one army to another, but does not transfer 50 turns - highest total team victory points 300 - Change Tax Rate anything from the baggage train with them. The 357 wins (unless within 10% - then draw declared) - Or one side has a greater Use this order wisely! Taxes and loyalty are order can transfer ships to another army, but if giving than 4 to 1 player advantage. directly related. Every tax rate change WILL have a your ships to another nation, you must have friendly Drop outs can be filled - but we random effect on the loyalties of all your population relations with them. If you transfer food from an army will be discrete. centres: raise the taxes, loyalty decreases, and vice to a population centre, you will not be able to sell it in Individual victory points at end of versa. The loyalties of every population centre can the same turn. If you transfer an artifact from one game = average of your two nations (dead nations = 400 ) change randomly each and every turn, based on the character to another, the new holder of that tool will Nations (normal WChamp rules nation's tax rate. Taxes of 39% and less will incur only benefit from it using orders after this point. except 21 +22 swopped around, Fort on either an increase in loyalty, or no change. Taxes Etceteras 1910 & 4217, Easterling Capital with from 40% to 60% (inclusive) result in loyalty changes a camp - not to be affected by Players). of -1% to +1%. This occurs randomly per population Note: 363 - Transfer Hostages to Character If you are playing nations 21-24 you will have a character called: Lead a-d centre. 60% is thus the highest tax rate that gives a Commanders will often capture enemies during these are there for you to 175 (correct net zero change. Taxes of 61% will cause either a combat, but all the orders dealing with hostages are Agent allegiance) and 740 - no other orders decrease in loyalty, or no change (thus, a net decrease). orders, so this order would then be used. Hostages get a allowed. Raising taxes is almost always necessary in the random shot at escaping every turn. This is variable Trust the players not to try and find game. But, there are situations when lowering taxes depending on the Hostage's agent rank, and the agent out who their team mates/oppo are - and not to diplome even if they come by such is a viable option. Lowering taxes also affects rank of the person Holding them. Thus, an agent has a knowledge - it being deemed loyalties: by increasing them. Higher loyalties make much better chance of keeping hostages. Holding unsportsmanlike. You are not allowed it easier to improve population centres, and provide hostages has many advantages. Agents can interrogate to use camp or character names to defensive bonuses during combat. I've heard about a them for information, not common but may be useful exchange information. player who would continually lower his tax rate the towards the end game... Hostages, whether captured No influencing, stealing, cursing etc on or from or to your team. No turn before someone was trying to attack him in order during combat, or kidnapped by agents (order 605) are influencing, stealing, cursing etc on or to get the huge defensive bonus that high loyalties still considered characters. The nation they belong to from or to your team. No ass/kid if you provide. has to pay for them, and cannot replace them like they do not know the nation of the character can a dead character. It's a good idea to keep hostages if you are not at your own PC. If you 300 THROUGH 375 - Maintenance and the whenever possible, but agents may injure their keepers think it is forbidden by the rules it probably is so don't do it (ask us for Economy when they escape.... It's all a delicate balance...I've had clarification BEFORE the event). If you When your nation goes bankrupt, you are out of my nation's leader held hostage one game for 27 turns. can provide feedback that would be very the game! Watch your economy very closely and make There was much rejoicing when Celdrahil returned to useful - the first game is going very well sure you plan at least 2, if not more, turns ahead! Dol Amroth after a year away! so we hope to make this one better. Your maintenance costs are projected on your turn [To be continued ...] Star Quest The Aftermath

A galaxy devastated by centuries of war, where the very stars themselves were counted among the casualties. On worlds where spires and stations of numinous beauty once reached for the stars, now there are only broken bones and homes of twisted metal and glass and stone. Where once civilisations spanned worlds and stars, now shattered factions struggle for survival, alliances born of need and broken in desperation. And where flights of ships once leapt in cascading dance across the night of space, now worn and war-torn ships limp and inch, bearing those fleeing dying worlds.

Yet even as the dust settles, the remaining clans struggling for space and survival amongst the debris of a dying galaxy, there arises once more from its own ashes the empire of the Overlords. Once their regime was thought destroyed forever. But amidst the wreckage of war they have awakened, reaching out to regain what was lost, worlds and stars falling to their growing might.

And amongst all of this, there is you...

Ø Star Quest can be played entirely online.

Ø Free front-end software allows you to: Ø send and receive your turns by email Ø automatically export information from your turns into a database for easy reference and access Ø export information to your allies Ø write, edit, save and send your orders Ø locate and map stars

Ø Email start-up including 2 free turns: £5. Ø Start-up with hard copy of rules and map including 2 free turns: £10. Ø Start-up alone: FREE Ø Turns cost: £3.50

Ø Games run both weekly and fortnightly.

Ø Play one position or two, alone or allied with friends.

Ø For further details, contact Harlequin Games...

email: [email protected] web: www.harlequingames.com tel: 029 2062 5665 post: Harlequin Games, Office A, 340 North Road, Cardiff, CF14 3BP