I’m pleased to see that most of us have found our way to the new (and improved) forum.
So now too, the eighth is here (live from the abyss). And I must advise the Free Fellows of my sincerest appreciation for sending my colleague, Ji Indur, to join me in this ink-black emptiness. Perhaps now we can have some heat down here! Hoarmurath has been keeping the thermostat quite a bit lower than I prefer.
After Ji arrived, got settled and rewrapped his turban, we sat down to talk and have some tea. So much news to catch up on! I was sad to hear that my old playground of Osgiliath has been utterly destroyed; but heartened to hear of the recent demise of Aragorn, Ecthelion II, and (gasp!) Galadriel. The DS have tallied an impressive number of kills by any standard. Hmmmm?
So many freepish folk have died this game that for some nations (are you listening Naughty Noldo?) scarcely a starting character exists. Visual aide available upon request! Let’s just say that if kills were dollars, then the Cloud Lord would be our Cash Cow. Cha-ching! Oh – Sauron got us a phone down here so Ji (like me) will continue to direct his assassins in absentia.
What about my nation you ask? My commanders are blue collar worker bees – swarming over Gondor like a honey pot. The commanders of the Fire King are pontificating advocates of the might of Sauron! Like a terrible cold, my troops keep coming back. Sure, the free have eliminated about a dozen FK characters through various means. But my boys embrace death with a purposeful pride (expendability is a plus on resumes) and scores more orcs are waiting for their chance to lead FK troops into battle. You’ll be seeing them soon, Denethor.
Game 230 is my very first go at MEPBM, and I enjoy it very much. Thanks to all for making this first game so memorable. I must say however, at the top of the list of game playing tips I amassed this past year, it is the importance of recruiting neutrals. I did my part to get ‘em this game for sure – heck, we all did. The resolve of the DS to get the remaining neutrals was steeled after the Duns’ intentions became known so early.
I also learned that diplomacy, treachery, misinformation, and truthful intelligence (where appropriate) are tools employed by all sides in this quest. It was more than frustrating beginning my first game on a team with dry rot – meaning three of the positions were in stasis, while the free orchestrated consistent systematic feints and attacks in the pass and elsewhere. I thought my first game would end as quickly as it began and I was pretty bummed. The core of the DS (you know who we are) kept fighting and recruiting.
From my perspective, I think the neutrals in this game paid their money for ten turns or so and wanted to join (and thus create) an interesting game – not a landslide. Hence – we have a good game going (coming up on a year, right?). Seems to me this game could keep going for several more turns and for my part, I’d like to keep playing and learning in game 230. I like the “in-character” stuff too!
It’s a nub by now, Denny, but I’ll put down the chalk and take my seat. Let’s not erase the board just yet, huh?
Respectfully,
Ren the Cleansed
