Personally, I enjoy playing neutrals because it lets you find out something
about the other players before you are perminantly locked into an alliance
with them. In game 32, for example, after only a few messages from Laurence
about what a shiftless untrustworthy lot neutrals are I felt a great joy
that I could attack his team. I also think that the neutrals add an element
of uncertainty that keeps the game from running in nearly identical patterns
every time. Also please remember that while Harad and Corsairs can enter the
VP slots almost by default, the Duns and Easterlings have to work for them
just like anyone else, and we all know about Rhudaur.....
But then maybe it's just because I'm an American,
Winn Keathley
ยทยทยท
>
>As I have said before on this list, I play for fun, not primarilly to
win.
>Although, I do of course try to win. I find it strange that people join
>games as neutrals just to be on the winning side.
>
>It seems to me that the main purpose of being a neutral is to maintain
>balance and make the game more enjoyable.
That's a very English attitude though. Favouring the underdog.
Remember that dreadful TV series with Edward Woodwoodwoodwood, "The
Equaliser"? The game is written by Americans, and the weakest parts of
it are the parts that work against team play - the annoying and unfair
Victory Points, and the stupid and out of context Victory Conditions,
and yes, the very idea of neutrals. If you role-play the nation, as a
powerful nation which doesn't commit itself to wars readily (remind you
of anyone) then your objectives have to be: Join the winning side and
make as much profit out of the situation as you can.>On the few occasions that I have
>been a neutral, I have joined to losing side so as to try to stop one
team
>being overrun.
That's why we now have great enthusiasm for the pre-aligned games. I'm
playing 6 positions in 5 games at the moment. The best of these are
pre-aligned. As well as a conventional no Easterlings game, you should
check out Game 33, where Mike Sankey gave Clint a revised setup - there
are no neutrals, and all of their pops and some of their armies are
shared out. It is turning out to be a VERY interesting variation.
>
>Maybe I'm just nuts
You and me both then.Regards,
Laurence G. Tilley
http://www.lgtilley.freeserve.co.uk/
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