I’m looking to branch out a bit and though I might give Middle Earth’s sister games a try: Legends and Serim Ral.
Legends actually brought me to MEPBM years ago when I was researching a PBEM game to begin gobbling up my time. It seems a bit more layered than ME and customizable in the manner of 4th Age play. I’ve printed out the rules and read through the Harlequin site and am interested in giving the game a go.
Serim Ral seems to be more roleplay based, though I didn’t give it as close a look and could be wrong.
Anyway, if any players have experience with these games please reply with your thoughts and opinions - what brought you to these games, the overall experience, differences between them and MEPBM, etc. Thanks in advance!
Greg
Just a feeler here - does anyone remeber a PBM from 15 years or so back called Blood Pit? It was fantasy based gladitorial combat and great fun, my first real experience with PBM. Feeling nostalgic and weepy, better go…
I’ve never played the sister ME games but am willing to give Legends a go… Want to join up together so we can be 2 ignorant rookies together?
I started with Adventure Kings, Global Supremacy and Tribes of Crane many
many moons ago!!
Legends is a much more complex game than ME. For example you have Guilds where you can learn ancient arcana spells, 9 different Mage classes (1 Priest but a spell list for each religion) etc.
I’ve played it personally a few times - my advice is start with a Lair Bashing hero and go from there.
Flagship has printed a number of reviews and strategy articles for both Legends and Serim Ral. Some of these are on our website (www.flagshipmagazine.com and click on Reviews) - alternatively drop me an email at colin@flagshipmagazine.com with your postal address and I’ll send you some of the relevant issues of the mag (free of course).
Harlequin generally promote Legends as “the most complex PBeM in the world” (possibly the most complex game!)
There’s always more to learn, hidden depths within hidden depths etc. It’s got a lot of reward for what you put into it if you can stand the “picky” aspects of playing the game. As to which is the better game - which is the best colour?! :eek: (Deliberate!)
I run Legends and play ME. If I were rating PBM games, I’d give ME 5/10 for complexity, Serim Ral 6/10 and Legends 10/10. I’m not saying that this makes for a better game, just a deeper one.
In fact I have yet to find any other game, in any format, which competes with Legends for depth. 100 players, 3-5 years, 300+ page rulebook plus 50-100 page module book. That’s a lot of stuff!
Legends has a very steep learning curve, so don’t think about playing it unless you’re the type that likes that sort of thing. It has slightly less communication required than ME, more of which is diplomacy and less of which is team coordination.
It has much more expansion and empire building. It has less wargame than ME (the map is quite a bit less important) - its more of an economic power game, with a very developed character aspect.
We run a one to one mentor system to help people get into the game.
Get in touch if you’re interested.
My thanks to ME Games Ltd for allowing me to post this message on this forum.
I tried Legend some months back, and started out with a “Lairbasher” (the most simple setup for playing Legends) which can be seen as a solo hero that runs around and kills monsters to get loot and get stronger (at least in the beginning). I must admit that I lost interest fairly quick. Not because I didn’t understood what was going on, but I think it was a bit boring. My point (and advise) is that people should consider the different types of setup, not just the lairbasher (or maybe Legends staff speculates people will collaps from info overflow if starting with other types of setup?)
Not defending Legends but boring is something I’ve not found it. It’s got so much depth. With a Lair basher once you’ve picked up the basic skills you can then go into Influencing characters (convincing NPCs to join you) pick up Cities and troops and go the ME route of armies/pc etc.
My thanks to ME Games Ltd for allowing me to post this message on this forum.
Yeah, debated if I’d break etiquette in the posting of this thread but I figured since Harlequin is the parent company I’d probably be okay. Apologies to Clint & Company if I’ve offended anybody.
Thanks for the advice though. I think simple is probably better to begin, especially if there exists the possibility of an evolution in character some turns into the game.
I tried it also and did not care for it. I don’t feel it is as polished of a game as MEPBM but it is lot more in-depth. It did not live up to what I envisioned it would be so I was disappointed. Others may like it.
It seems a bit more layered than ME and customizable in the manner of 4th Age play. I’ve printed out the rules and read through the Harlequin site and am interested in giving the game a go.