Hello Everyone
Middle Earth news
Well we have had a hectic few months. Our aim this year is to try out lots of conventions; Role Playing, Board Games, Wargame and many others including EuroGencon earlier this year and last month USGencon. USGencon was cool, we met up with around 15 of our Middle Earth players over the 4 days we were there, got a decent amount of players to sign up (and now playing Battle of Five Armies, our introductory scenario to Play By Email), ran into Rick Loomis of Flying Buffalo fame (traded PBM stories for a couple of hours and chatted about the future of PBM). Added to this we chatted to Pete Stassun
(owner of GSI) and basically had a fun time.
Lots of time was spent hobnobbing with the elite of gaming (we shared a room with the guys who personally know Gary Gygax) and networking - lots will come of this in future months. Small world that it is we ran into a Boardgame company called Jeseret Games who are based in Cardiff (about 1 mile from the office)… 
MEBPM Games is about to become Limited; a big step in our development as a gaming company… Players hover around the 700 mark and we’re soon to release the Middle Earth Mapping program - an aide to collation and planning of turns in Middle Earth - and basically we are so bursting with ideas to
develop PBM that we can hardly sit still. Enthusiastic? Yes!
Letter for Flagship
Middle Earth PBM Games in conjunction with Flying Buffalo, Reality Simulations and Harlequin games are inviting other PBM firms to join them in an attempt to raise the public profile of Play by (e)Mail games.
We have various plans, including raising player’s awareness in Origins, a 12 month set of ads in gaming magasines, with articles and reviews, on-line reviews and much, much more.
Any firm that would like to be a part of this please get in touch for more details although I would love to see a debate on what we can do here.
Thanks
Clint
Bree 24 now out - articles include Agents for FP, FTF w/end, Blind Sorcerer - an effecive strategy, Riddle Competition and much, much more.
Mapping program: Okay 99% done and testing nicely at present. Lots of work and extras to add to it. What I do need is for everyone to start using the LATEST version of Automagic if they are using AM at all. Thanks - Soon to be released.
The following new games are filling up.
1000 2wk [Game 48]: 1 nation still available 8D 7N 9F taken: (25/7/03) Needs one more DS.
1650 2wk [Game 99]: 5 players needed - Gunboat game (see below for nation duos) - 2 nation game
1650 2wk [Game 95]: 9 nations still available. (25/7/03)
2950 2wk [Game 227]: 6 nations still available. (25/7/03)
Bofa Beginners game:
We need experienced players as mentors for new players in BOFA - expect several games to set up after GENCON. (Get in touch if experienced for a special deal here - all the game for CHEAP!!!)
Setting up in a game:
When I get all 25 nations into the game I will allocate you your choice of nation from the list of nations that you have sent me - please send multiple nation choices as this helps to get everyone their 1st or 2nd choices - if too many choose only 1 nation the system falls apart. All nations are potentially available until I set up the game.
Descriptions of the type of game follow - please check this when contacting me with regards playing in that game. When joining with allies please tell me so that I can help out. You cannot join 1650/2950 games as Neutral with an aligned or Neutral ally.
Up to 2 nation game: You can play one or two Aligned nations, or one Neutral nation.
2 nation game: You must play two nations.
Game 99: Duos available (as per usual send me a list of duo of nations):
4+22 Arthedain +Harad, 6+23 N Gondor +Duns, 7+1 S Gondor +Wood, 8+2 Dwarves+Northmen, 9+5 Sinda+Cardolan, 10+3 Noldo+Eothraim.
18+14 Fire King+Cloud Lord, 20+24 D.Lieut+Rhudaur, 16+19 Ice King+ L.Rider, 11+15 Blind + Witch K, 17+13 QA+Dog Lord, 12+21 DragonL +Corsair
Note please ask for variant games we can try to get you opposition for them if you are interested - mostly Grudge teams though - if I get 10 players for any single type of game then I will put it up for general availability below and push it;
Grudge Games we need opposition for:
1000: None
2950: Chris M (10)
1650: Claus J (DS 10 team - mostly new players), Aussie Team (12 player team - undefeated)
I have drop-outs available - don’t forget you get a free turn for taking these up…
E [Early] = 0-10 turn, M [Midgame]= 11-20, L [Late game] = 21+ [A= Aligned if a Neutral, N= not aligned if a Neutral, P = Postal and Email game, G= Grudge, 1w = 1week game, 3w = 3week game]
Bofa: None
1000: Neutral (m)
2950: White W (n-m)
1650: Har (n - l) Dwa(l), Cloud (m)
Gunboat: None. (Please note past turns for all these nations are available) Ask for specifics on what is available.
Thanks
Clint
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