Time for my two cents!
I think the Gunboat variant is excellent for a number of reasons.
1) While I enjoy a good team game, there are moments when the time to
do all the coordinating and other things that are required just isnt
avaliable. The answer to this is Gunboat. I can work out my orders
when I can, rather than when someone else needs me to.
2) Secondly, I think it allows for different strategies than
a "normal" game. Without seeing what is going on everywhere, you can
do more interesting things, such as move off the map of your
immediate enemy, or run around in his back field and burn his pops
etc. Hell, I think it may even make the Dragon Lord a more viable
position simply because the FP wont be able to coordinate against
him!
3)It also lets you make use of all those nifty spells that you never
really use in a "normal" game. While normally you can check teammate
number x's pdf to see whose army that is, now you actually have to
work for it.
4) It also limits alot of the abuses. For example, the Cl has to do
his own scouting rather than relying on a QA character to do it. Who
is going to go after all the high powered artis? The BS doesnt need
to locate stealth artis really, so why should he, or then again,
maybe he wants to build some agents and horde these for himself. You
get the idea...
5) Its mystery and comedy all in one! I get my turn and ask, who is
that? what is he doing there and what does he want? Next turn that
army icon is gone and didnt bother me...now, where did he go? what is
he doing to someone else and will it be back? Was he assassinated by
one of my allies? Did he disband? Hmmm, maybe he went here, if only I
had a scy spell or a palantir...Guess I should just pray that wasnt
<blanks> 8 trillion HC steel/steel that would normally invade me etc
So, having said that, I am a fan and look forward to doing another
one in the future (depending on how soon I get slaughtered in the
current one!) Kudos to Chris for coming up with such an enjoyable
scenario!
Fletch
--- In mepbmlist@y..., "arnheim2001" <arnheim@g...> wrote:
As the person who suggested and outlined the rules for this variant
I
suppose I must muster a response to the, in my humble opinion,
tripe
being pedalled about.
When GSI designed MEPBM I believe it reasonable to assert that it
was
not intended as an e-mail game nor did the designers intend players
to have the level of knowledge about each others turns that is
currently available. To assert that all players having each others
pdfs along with constant discussion by email is somehow a purer and
better way to play the game than any other is ludicrous. By rights
we
should be writing letters and telephoning each other if we want to
play the game as the designers intended.
But times change and e-mail is a reality that has to be lived with.
Gunboat was an attempt to regain some of the classic early games in
which players had to carve their positions out of chaos through
sheer
good play on the game board without the god like knowledge
available
nowadays. Sure the lack of communication is a big hurdle but there
are two positions to counteract that along with the expectation of
only experienced players who know the game taking part. New players
should steer well clear of it of course but it is a real test of a
players ability to play the game rather than their ability to
communicate.
When I suggested it as an experiment I was not sure how well it
would
work. From my own experience it has been great fun and achieved
what
I hoped. For players who like the game but have neither time nor
inclination to communicate it is an option as well as being a test
of
playing skills for those who fancy a challenge.
For some it may not be of interest but for others it obviously is.
Surely the point is for people to have fun in whatever manner they
choose rather than be forced to play in some Politbureau approved
manner. When my current game ends, I will play another if others
want
ยทยทยท
to. I'm happy, they are happy, whats the problem?
Regards
Chris Courtiour
