RE: New Players

[Urzahil]

Certainly MeGames can come up with a list of SUGGESTED positions for new
players, and the reasons why each might be a good starting choice.
(Perhaps even send new players a "starter" pack with starting strategies
for these "novice friendly" positions.) However, the bottom line is
that, new player or not, they're paying the same turn fee as everyone
else, and if they want to play NG, SG, (or the NK/SK in 4th Age), then
they should have the same chance as anyone else of getting it. Their
team will just have to deal with it, offer advice, and try to help them
through it.

Being a "veteran" shouldn't allow someone more say in what nation they
start with than a newer player. (GWCs went away a long time ago, and
good riddance!) If you want to encourage newer players into the hobby,
don't come up with any plan that ends up saying "NO, you can't play
Elrond!" to someone who just watched the LOTR and is excited about
trying the game.

(In fact, if anything, I would think it would be the veteran players who
would be more tolerant of getting a less powerful nation. It makes the
challenge all that much more rewarding.)

Mike Mulka

[jmason86]

--- In mepbmlist@y..., "Urzahil" <Urzahil@o...> wrote:
> Certainly MeGames can come up with a list of SUGGESTED positions
for new
> players, and the reasons why each might be a good starting choice.
> (Perhaps even send new players a "starter" pack with starting
strategies
> for these "novice friendly" positions.) However, the bottom line is
> that, new player or not, they're paying the same turn fee as
everyone
> else, and if they want to play NG, SG, (or the NK/SK in 4th Age),
then
> they should have the same chance as anyone else of getting it.
Their
> team will just have to deal with it, offer advice, and try to help
them
> through it.

I hope they do and I also hope the suggested positions, unlike the
Bree article, don't start with Cloud Lord, Noldo, or Gondor! ;)

>
> Being a "veteran" shouldn't allow someone more say in what nation
they
> start with than a newer player. (GWCs went away a long time ago,
and
> good riddance!) If you want to encourage newer players into the
hobby,
> don't come up with any plan that ends up saying "NO, you can't play
> Elrond!" to someone who just watched the LOTR and is excited about
> trying the game.
>
> (In fact, if anything, I would think it would be the veteran
players who
> would be more tolerant of getting a less powerful nation. It makes
the
> challenge all that much more rewarding.)

Powerful or non-powerful I haven't considered. My point has been
that challenging nations should be suggested against and less
challenging promoted.

[Middle Earth PBM Games]

>
>I hope they do and I also hope the suggested positions, unlike the
>Bree article, don't start with Cloud Lord, Noldo, or Gondor! ;)

*** I've sent a list of nations, and an analysis of each to this list
already. I need more help with the 2950 as I have not played that much so
don't really know the strengths and weaknesses in depth enough to be able
to make an objective comment. Feedback welcome on what I sent out.

Clint

[Laurence G. Tilley]

At 22:16 12/11/2002, Middle Earth PBM Games wrote:
>*** I've sent a list of nations, and an analysis of each to this list
>already.

Pehaps you would be so good as to repost then. It will need to be CONCISE
if it is going to be read by MEPBM virgins who have also got the rulebook
to contend with. I _loved_ btw, the "drinking from a fire hose" analogy.

Laurence G. Tilley

http://www.lgtilley.freeserve.co.uk

[Middle Earth PBM Games]

Done this - see the article that I wrote and sent to the list.

Clint
> >Certainly MeGames can come up with a list of SUGGESTED positions for new
> >players, and the reasons why each might be a good starting choice.
>
>Well, I don't like "official advice" on how to play coming from the referee
>(as I said in the rulebook discussion) as it undermines their
>impartiality. But in spite of that, I have to say that Urzahil's
>suggestion is a breath of fresh air. This is a positive and practical
>suggestion.