I recently sent in my nation setup and signed myself up for the next game of 4th Age (Game 143). The setup for this game is moving at a snail’s pace and it’s taking very long to fill. What gives?
When I first discovered MEPBM the idea of a game years beyond Tolkien’s recorded history, one in which history would be recorded, very much appealed to me. Think of playing Gimli’s descenants in the Glittering Caves, the last remnants of the elves in Greenwood and Lorien, or an orc warlord struggling to eke out an existence in the wastes without the iron will of Sauron behind him.
Those players who have played 4th age please respond with what you liked most/ least about the scenario.
And if you’re interested by all means sign up so that I can get my nation moving!!
I’m about to play the all-neutral game, so I can’t do 4th Age now, but I would like to at some point.
What dissuades me is the need to buy a whole 'nother rulebook, and do the nation setup, knowing that I’ll probably screw it up, have a crappy nation, and get hosed in my first game.
You FA1000 players need to recruit the 1650/2950 players more - tell us why we should try it, and help us make great nations. You’ll get more players that way!
What dissuades me is the need to buy a whole 'nother rulebook, and do the nation setup, knowing that I’ll probably screw it up, have a crappy nation, and get hosed in my first game.
You generally don’t need the rules - the set-up sheet pretty much tells you what you need to do. Saying that I generally do advsie players to get it though as it has some bits on it (especially about Kingdoms).
Jason - first, see you in the all neutral game!
second, there was a big thread that’s probably in the archives on this forum about fourth age setups, SNAs, what works, what doesn’t, etc. If you’re interested, check out the archives on this forum.
I’ve played 4th age twice with GSI, and although my side won both times, I didn’t enjoy the experience.
(1) There are blatantly better places to start than others. The rich lands of the south are far, far better than the poor terrain of the north, yet if you start in the north (with climate problems) you dont’ get additional populatoin centers, etc. It’s asking for trouble.
(2) three-way games tend to be unstable; you frequently develop a 2 on 1 situation… and I saw it both games I played.
(3) There’s no way to be sneaky, because the kindgoms start with all opposing capital locations.
(4) The agents are absurd. Hordes of starting 60 agents with +20 assassinate, for example, or as we did in my games, waves of 60+ emissaries snaring capitals.
(5) No way to run a mage nation-- with the randomization of artifacts, it gets terribly hard to set up a curse squad. Not that mages are useless, but it’s not a viable strategy.
I’ve not played a Fourth Age game yet - mainly due to the complaints I’ve heard about initial Nation placement, and the fact that the Kingdom nations start knowing the various capital locations. Two other limitations I see are the ability to start with 60 rank characters, and the +20 kidnap/assassinate abilities. If a game could have the Kingdoms not know starting locations, limited Agent power selection (no +20 K/A), and the max character 40 or 50 rank, I’d likely try it out. I’d also like to see the ability to better fortify your initial PCs (at least the capital) from the start - certainly at some cost, but not prohibitive. Towers just don’t seem to stop too many people!
I may try one eventually as it is, but I try to stick to 2 games at a time max.
Limited assasination SNA is called “LAT”. I belewe 80% of all 4 age games are LAT(LAS?). I think Harlequin should annonce now that the upcomming FA game will be a LAT.
I havent had the bad experience that some of you have had. More the other way round. FA is my favorite game.
FA is a chance to create something on your own. It challenge you to find solutions in new unknown situations. FA takes more than the other games. It gives more surprices. Its fun!
I challenge you all to join the FA game. I will play. Especially the freeps in game 64 should note this. Its not likely that you will get even with me in G64. If you join the FA game then you will either get a secound chance or you will get me on the team which was what you really wished in the first place.
I’ve only played in 2 FA games and learned more from vet’s complaining than the play in my games. Although the scenario has some definite drawbacks. Those already listed include the elimination of mage’s useful roles outside combat, the overpowering Agents and, when the ridiculous emissary abilities to start. The camp limit is hit by turn 5 and pops start getting stolen.
But consider - there is the potential for a 3 way game (diplomacy and significant strategic upset), while militaries aren’t as large and awe-inspiring, they aren’t required to be as there are precious few fortifications and the economics of losing productive camps is quite severe.
While the games I’ve been in have seen aweful agent and emissary devastation, it works for all. Try one out before you make up your mind. 1650 and 2950 play out very differently…so does FA.
Note to Clint: I asked twice for a set of the rules in my last game and never got them. I most certainly recommend them to anyone though! For example, it takes a com/em character to Move Map, or some such order. Potentially very useful. There are other things that can be done also…it’s certainly worth it. How about an easy pdf of “changes and additions” for the scenario sent out with setups, like the House Rules are…? It would be nice to know that one might want to consider even creating a c/e…
“Note to Clint: I asked twice for a set of the rules in my last game and never got them. I most certainly recommend them to anyone though”
Just send us a note if you want them. We’ve updated the set-up form so that we’ve removed a lot of this as it’s not upto date.
Most games (read 90%) don’t have the +20% kid/ass SNA (nor the Stealth nor Double scout nations). We’re playing with changing the set-up and economy at the start of the game along with the set-up locations (bonusing those in the North for example) due to the clear bonus you get for a Southern nation.
The most often picked SNA is +20% Buy/sell…
Clint (GM)
I’ve played very successful Conjure mounts and Weakness nations. Good fun. As a team we’ve done basically 412s/418/428s on all the items in the game and I reckon that de-prioritising these items is not the strongest play. The power items are still insane so spending some orders trying to get the most powerful items is very much worth it IMO.
