A Few Second-Rate Notes on the Second Scenerio: A Kindler, Gentler Middle-Earth?

Here he (or she) is, the veteran of many wars, on the verge of opening his (or her) new set-up for ME-PBM circa 2950 . A wise and prudent player, master of strategy, and a general of vast and victorious armies. The first reaction after scanning through the set-up and attempting to digest the information is.... belch! gasp! "What it this? My puny forces! My meager nation! My armies couldn't seige a camp. Doomed, I am doomed!"

I can envisage it now, the experienced 1650 player talking with the first-timer who enlists in his first ME-PBM through the 2950 scenerio: "Oh, sonny, I can remember a time when armies reached 5000 heavy infantry, and the citizens of a city/keep shook from fear of invasion. Dol Goldur was merely a speed bump for the Dwarves on their way to Mordor. Yes, they were grander times."

I am sure that some players called GSI with a few questions about the new set-up: "I think you guys forgot a zero or something on the end of my troop numbers; shouldn't it be 3,000 heavy infantry? And I'm almost positive you left out a city or two in my pop. center report." They hung up the phone, scratching their heads and staring at the set-up with disapproving looks.

Then, all at once it seems, the beauty of it settles in. We see it is not a wimpy version of its older sibling-- not at all the runt of the litter. Far from being a kindler, gentler Middle-earth, the new scenerio is meaner and leaner. For example, in the 1650 scenerio a 500 or 750 pt. combat artifact carries little importance, having only a minor impact in most battles because of the relatively high army constitution numbers: remember, 1500 heavy infantry (a merely average army in 1650 standards) with bronze armour has a constitution of about 20,000, so of course a 750 pt. weapon is not likely to sway the outcome of most battles.

How does that same weapon affect army combat in the second scenerio? In many cases, an artifact will contribute more strength to an army than all of the initial troops in that army. A 750 pt. sword has greater strength than an army of 600 Men-at-Arms, and most nations do not greatly exceed those kinds of starting troop numbers. That fact makes things exciting! These artifacts now have an aura of importance, a truly magical and precious status. Its mere presence may be enough to bring victory to an army.

Just think, the outcome of a battle could now be swayed with a single spell. The Sorcerer-king appears at a critical moment in a battle with the Dunadan Rangers and with loud incantations he sends chill bolts through the enemy infantry. The damage is just enough to rout the rangers, who took the field with less than their full strength. Such incidences could also happen in the 1650 scenerio, but with less frequency. I think these close battles will be more familiar in the second scenerio. To mention an example from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Faramir's ambush of the Southron troops in Ithilien is a good account of the battles you can expect to see in ME-PBM's second scenerio. Remember, heroes stand out more profoundly with a meager backdrop: any commander can win battles with 3000 or 4000 troops, but it takes genius, team-work, (and a ton of artifacts!), to win with 1000. And the raising of strong armies to topple castles will now take cunning, craft, and much preparation.

Speaking of great characters, I want to give one more appreciative plug for the 2950 scenerio. Several impressive characters are longer wandering NPC's but in the hands of the players. You have probably heard of them by now: Saruaman the White and Galadriel and Celeborn. Aside from the fact that their mere presence makes things more interesting, they bring into play some powerful artifacts. Galadriel's elven ring of power is perhaps the most important. It is no longer a passive, aimless artifact. In the hands of the active Galadriel it becomes a purposeful tool, an item of immense power. And that status makes it coveted by the enemy with all its theives and assassins. Perhaps the White Wizard will bargin with Din Ohtar, whispering "deliver one of the elven rings to me and the services of Saruman our yours." Thus beautiful, wicked plots are born.

Meanwhile, small elite armies skirmish on the plains of Calenardhon, and the dark keep of Mirkwood is paid due respect: only the Grey Pilgrim has dared to travel there, and even he likes not to speak of it. Yea, a lean and mean world has come upon us, and I am loving every minute of it.