I understand that there are many difficulties
to making sweeping changes to MEPBM.
Keeping that in mind I would submit that the
following simple changes could go a long way
towards addressing game balance in 1650.
1> Randomize the dragon encounter responses.
The current state of affairs is a perversion of
the ME world and the intent of the game design.
2> I find it hard to believe that an orc, no matter
how silver tongued, could persuade a city of elves
to reject their morals and choose to serve Sauron.
On the other hand I understand the ideals and game
balance issues behind the 525 order. I would submit
that the effect should be reduced to a 1-10 loyalty
loss versus enemies that dislike your nation, and
1-5 versus enemies that hate your nation.
3> In order to address character balance without major
changes;
Insure that one non-army commander character with command
rank starts the game in Northern Gondors capital.
Insure that one non-army commander character with command
rank starts the game in the Sinda capital.
Insure that two non-army commander characters with command
rank start the game in the Eothraim capital.
Insure that one non-army commander character with command
rank starts the game in the Northmen capital.
Never allow Gorthog to start in the Ice King capital.
Never allow Ji Indur or Erennis to start in the Cloud
Lord capital.
These character start changes while subtle would have
far reaching implications.
These three small changes in combination would, IMHO,
do a lot to even out the 1650 scenario.
Interesting. How about also making sure that Din Ohtar & Lomelinde don't
both start from 4215. With Lomel's agent arts, Din can assassinate anything
that moves.
Altho, I recall one occasion when Din went to the Nor capital and challenged
a wet-behind-the-ears E30 before trying to assass somebody else...... and
lost! Laugh? Had to to change my pants!
Richard.
···
----- Original Message -----
From: <apoger@ntplx.com>
To: <mepbmlist@egroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2001 8:54 PM
Subject: [mepbmlist] My thoughts on addressing the imbalance in 1650
I understand that there are many difficulties
to making sweeping changes to MEPBM.
Keeping that in mind I would submit that the
following simple changes could go a long way
towards addressing game balance in 1650.
1> Randomize the dragon encounter responses.
The current state of affairs is a perversion of
the ME world and the intent of the game design.
2> I find it hard to believe that an orc, no matter
how silver tongued, could persuade a city of elves
to reject their morals and choose to serve Sauron.
On the other hand I understand the ideals and game
balance issues behind the 525 order. I would submit
that the effect should be reduced to a 1-10 loyalty
loss versus enemies that dislike your nation, and
1-5 versus enemies that hate your nation.
3> In order to address character balance without major
changes;
Insure that one non-army commander character with command
rank starts the game in Northern Gondors capital.
Insure that one non-army commander character with command
rank starts the game in the Sinda capital.
Insure that two non-army commander characters with command
rank start the game in the Eothraim capital.
Insure that one non-army commander character with command
rank starts the game in the Northmen capital.
Never allow Gorthog to start in the Ice King capital.
Never allow Ji Indur or Erennis to start in the Cloud
Lord capital.
These character start changes while subtle would have
far reaching implications.
These three small changes in combination would, IMHO,
do a lot to even out the 1650 scenario.
Wow -- are you still around ME? I thought
you said ages ago that you were bored with ME.
Glad to see you still around. Are you doing
1650 or 2950 or both? (I'd bet you aren't
into 4th-age!)
(Also -- why haven't you signed up for my 4th-age
LAS or NKA games?<g>)
I like your suggestions (below), I agree they
have the potential to make a difference in
the right direction.
I understand that there are many difficulties
to making sweeping changes to MEPBM.
Keeping that in mind I would submit that the
following simple changes could go a long way
towards addressing game balance in 1650.
1> Randomize the dragon encounter responses.
The current state of affairs is a perversion of
the ME world and the intent of the game design.
2> I find it hard to believe that an orc, no matter
how silver tongued, could persuade a city of elves
to reject their morals and choose to serve Sauron.
On the other hand I understand the ideals and game
balance issues behind the 525 order. I would submit
that the effect should be reduced to a 1-10 loyalty
loss versus enemies that dislike your nation, and
1-5 versus enemies that hate your nation.
3> In order to address character balance without major
changes;
Insure that one non-army commander character with command
rank starts the game in Northern Gondors capital.
Insure that one non-army commander character with command
rank starts the game in the Sinda capital.
Insure that two non-army commander characters with command
rank start the game in the Eothraim capital.
Insure that one non-army commander character with command
rank starts the game in the Northmen capital.
Never allow Gorthog to start in the Ice King capital.
Never allow Ji Indur or Erennis to start in the Cloud
Lord capital.
These character start changes while subtle would have
far reaching implications.
These three small changes in combination would, IMHO,
do a lot to even out the 1650 scenario.
Altho, I recall one occasion when Din went to the Nor capital and challenged
a wet-behind-the-ears E30 before trying to assass somebody else… and
lost! Laugh? Had to to change my pants!
Richard.
I didn’t find it so funny in game 14 when Din Ohtar challenged Dudannis on turn 2 & lost. Mind you, it got worse when Dudannis assassinated Lomelinde about 5 turns later.
Still, anything’s survivable. By the end of the game my armies had captured the Sindar capital, my emissaries had taken a couple of S Gondor major towns and my curse squad was heading out to the West, to try to find some enemies. Admittedly this was only possible because of good play by my teammates while I tried to recover my position but it just shows you should never give up.
I was that Northmen player - in my first game of Middle Earth ever! My teamates could hardly believe it, quote “You probably ruined the Long Rider’s whole game.”
However, that was my only piece of luck in the whole game. You guys managed to assassinate Dudannis past an 85 Agent guard, two characters were killed in encounters and I then proceeded to lose five 50/50 challenges in succession. That was just the big stuff.
The rest of my team did no better in luck terms - I think we got the “Guys, you aren’t going to believe this but somehow I managed to bankrupt the (insert FP nation)” message three times.
Subject: Re: [mepbmlist] My thoughts on addressing the imbalance in 1650
<snip>
Altho, I recall one occasion when Din went to the Nor capital and challenged
a wet-behind-the-ears E30 before trying to assass somebody else… and
lost! Laugh? Had to to change my pants!
Richard.
I didn’t find it so funny in game 14 when Din Ohtar challenged Dudannis on turn 2 & lost. Mind you, it got worse when Dudannis assassinated Lomelinde about 5 turns later.
Still, anything’s survivable. By the end of the game my armies had captured the Sindar capital, my emissaries had taken a couple of S Gondor major towns and my curse squad was heading out to the West, to try to find some enemies. Admittedly this was only possible because of good play by my teammates while I tried to recover my position but it just shows you should never give up.
