On turn 21 the game was concluded with a victory for the freepeople.
Let there be much rejoicing and many songs of victory.
The freepeople yahoogroup “mepbmgame50” is now open for membership for anyone that wishes to see the state of things.
Jesper, Sinda and Easterlings
Congradulations to the FP for a well earned victory. Browsing through the FP messages I noticed that DS speculation was correct. The FP started with aa unannounced mini-team of four persons, at least one a former GM. I’m interested in what role these persons played in overall team coordination and policy making. Thanks again for a good game.
Try browsing some more messages. That group of players which joined with the former GM were inexperienced and uncommunicative. As I recollect they dropped their positions around t3-5 (including the former GM), leaving severly weakened Noldo (no/few camps placed or characters developed) and Cardolan positions, an a under utilized SG.
Although, it is correct that we were 3 persons joining together playing WM, Sinda and NG - this was never any form of secret - We used it as an argument to sway neutrals to our side. To my knowledge this in the spirit of the game…you think not ??
Regarding policy making - we had little or no strategy, which you must have noticed. Mostly people only coordinated tactically and locally or when somebody needed help.
Cheers, Skage
The FP started with two mini-teams?
Yes, 3 players knew each other and 4 other players knew each other.
The last of those groups were rather inexperienced and unentusiastic.
If you played a DS in this game, you would know that there was no
grudge-like coordination going on (see message board). we had great problems the first 10 turns just trying to avoid to many special services.
What about the DS, why are you so quiet as to what went on with your team ?
Something interesting must have happen (I got a strange offer from a DS a couple of months ago, although I’m not sure wether it was a trap).
Anyways it was fun playing against the DS, just wish it would have lasted longer. I played WM carrying ring of wind, ring of curufin and cloak of duvorn…that was nice.
Skage
SG+WM of game 50
You played a great game. Identify the DS (by nation) and I can tell you if it was a trap or sincere.
Flattering will get you everywhere.
Well if it was a sincere offer I wouldnt give away the poor traitor (against my policy of confidentiality - take notice potential traitors, I can be trusted). If you were on the team you would know if you had initiated such a trap ?
OK, both the BS and IK deliberately bankrupted their nations. This put us on the downward slide If it was either of them, then the treachey was sincere. We are pretty sure one, or both, fed the FP inside information since FP characters showed up at places that it is unlikely they would go.
…neither of those nations. They didnt feed us information - none did. And the offer we were given never evolved in to reality. I suppose you are speaking about those incident were our agents turned up at BS or IK character locations. That was because we kept track of artifacts, and Sinda/Jesper really wanted Tinculin.
Thanks, that is good to know.
Hi HC, Jesper, Skage and other Freeps
Congrats with your victory in a rather strange game, kind of lucky the quartet left early:D. To my knowlegde the Noldo was played worse than bad, and the rest wasnt that great.
Loke/Holger:D:D:D
I would like to modify your comment by adding “until the position was taken over by a skilled player”
Hya Guys - anyone got any problems they’d like me to address here? Ed has brought up some issues on the MElist that I’ve tried to address but if I’ve missed anything the do please get back to me.
Get back to me if you want any help.
Clint
My proposal was that the existence of mini-teams in a new game be announced by The Company during the setup period.
Anyone else feel the same? Generally ALL games have mini-teams in it. I can’t think of any that have started without someone joining with an ally in recent memory. GSI used to have a different system where they had games for solo players, teams with 2-5 players and grudge games. We combined the solo and 2-5 players games.
As noted in the MElist I attempt to balance teams (and I think I did that with the new players) to make it a fair game at game start and then let you guys play the game within the rules set-out in the rulebook and House rules.
Ed mentioned that there was a GM in the game - who was that? What GM intervention did we do? Direct quote below for reference.
“It is the one where an overzealous GM intervened in such a manner as to aid the FP (which contained the two mini-teams abd former GM).”
Did anyone else feel this way?
Clint
Interested persons might like to follow the mini-discussion between Clint and myself starting June 21, 2004 in the thread titled “Gunboat Game Devotees”.
You got to help me out with this one, as I am a bit slow. What kind of GM intervention are you talking about ? And how does the above thread relate to that ?
I would like to see the breakdown on turn 0 of solo players and mini-teams on each side.
For 2950, making a solo and a team game would only add to the 3-month wait time in my view.
I do not think MEG’s intentionally loads up one side or the other but stuff does slip though cracks. This is due to the hectic environment and the need to run a business, IMO.
To players who feel disadvantaged, I would suggest finding 2 or 3 players you enjoy playing with and always join with them so you at least have 2-3 quality allies.
Pray tell who was it who bankrupted the IK and BS on purpose I see you say
Vandal
The mystery is now revealed. A careless BS posted his stuff, presumably by accident, to a site a FP50 person had access to. Hence a partial answer to FP clairvoyance in this game. This would also explain why the BS dropped in such a manner that he went bankrupt–to redfaced to admit same to the other DS, i warrent.
A good lesson that reinforces the old adage “loose lips sink ships”. In the real world men would die from such a security breach. Something for all of us to reflect upon.