Call me a cynic, but isn't this what normally happens in a normal, non
pre-aligned game that you join without your friends.
A few people are on Email, a couple don't have Email or phone, etc. etc.
After a while, the EMailers can't be bothered to write letters, the letter
writers don't write, no-one phones, everyone starts doing their own thing,
and soon (after dropouts) you have a 5 vs. 5 with the neutrals (who joined
knowing they had no allies to start with) asking what's going on.
This maybe slightly exaggerated, but I've seen it happen.
I do however, like your idea of a 4th Age free-for-all, but with enhanced
resources (say double current allowance). With Harlequin choosing starting
locations, having your friends in the game might not help you in the initial
melee.
M
ยทยทยท
----- Original Message -----
From: baerauble <baerauble@geocities.com>
To: <mepbmlist@onelist.com>
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2000 6:34 AM
Subject: Re: [mepbmlist] Neutrals
From: "baerauble" <baerauble@geocities.com>
I rather fancy a 23 Neutral players "Blind" & Pure E-Mail Only FA game w/o
Kingdoms
and starting positions are randomised with each player only having one
single
MT/City and one town.
No contact addresses given till T5.
Yet I'm afraid players will still make alliances with their friends who
will join up
together.
One way to solve it is to wait till 46 players signed up and then
determine randomly
which 23 players gets into the first game and the second.
A Solo game for once with heavy dplomacy work required. (Sure go ahead and
don't
talk to others, I see how long you survive).
b.e.
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