MERP UK - All things Middle Earth!

[DM_Kev]

Myself and the entire MERP UK team are proud to announce the start of our newest venture!

With a second server imminent, we plan to shift Untold Tales II to our powerful new server and use the existing server for this new project!

We are going to create some small campaign games for a single party only, with a maximum of 5 players per session. Dm's will also be present to assist with storylines and AI.

These games will be set in Middle Earth and will be spin off's of our main module, Untold Tales Of Tolkien II. These small games will focus on a specific region, a past tale, or a 'what if' scenario of our own devising. The main point will be that the experience will be different somewhat. This will be pure story driven, lasting for about 3-6 hours, full roleplay in a single party, more complex challenges since we need not worry about persistance (respawns, etc).

You will of course recognise much - We will use MERP PRC, our game rules and all the items you are familliar with in the Untold Tales series. We will also use familliar monsters on occasion.

So remember, these are NOT persistent world. They are tiny in size and you wont have freedom of the whole world as we are trying to tell one story, not several hundred :P

Up our sleeve for first release is a game targeted at epic characters. It is called 'The Iron Prison', set in the time of Melkor's reign as dark lord. The story follows a group of five good aligned heroes/heroines as they escape from Angband's prison cells with nothing - no items, no gold. With legendary foes blocking the ways out, how will they possibly survive?

Secondly on our list, a tale of rescue. 'The love for a mother' see's a band of adventurers aid Elladan and Elrohir in the rescue of their mother who was captured by a host of orcs. (As given in the books!)

Because some of these tales may require higer level characters, we will be accepting local vault characters in these cases. You should save your server vault character to your local vault and you will be allowed to level him up in the game.

The availability of these games to play will be simple. When we are running a game, we will post the date and time it is run. Those interested can send a single e-mail to me with all the names of the party. Party limits will be 5 strong and we will operate a first come, first served basis. The game will be passworded so only those who applied to play will be able to join the game.

As our range of these smalelr games grows, players will also be allowed to 'book' and select which game they wish to play. UTT2 will still recieve the majority of our time. The majority of the small games work will be mine.

So what can you expect from us this time? More... more detailed middle earth environment, more tricks, more traps, more gripping stories, more amazing battle sequences, more of the unexpected!

Your comments are welcome and I hope you enjoy this exciting new venture.

[Teado Truesoul]

This sounds exciting. I look forward to the first.

T

[Argon Balros]

just to clarify should you organise a party of 5 before the email then email the list to you?

if thats so would'nt it be fairer to just email showing your interest and you pick the first 5 to email you?

[SNarfel]

luvly jubbly:lips:

I think these small campaigns will be much more fun problem solving and rp wise.

I suggestion/request if I may... each time a party takes part in a game no member of the said party should have taken part in said campaign before.

I think it would be most unfair to other players if anyone other than the DM knows what is going to happen.... thats the current problem with persistant worlds. So in other words, I would like to see no player redoing any campaign even as another character.

hope that makes sense.:)

[ghost81]

That does seem like a good idea.

I personally think it would be best if it was pre-determined parties, as these games will probably need balanced groups.

What happens if the first 5 e-mails recieved are all from people who want to play as a rogue? - They'll probably all die quicky. Whereas if you sort out a party of 5 before making your application you can be fairly sure you have a balanced party. Also by sorting a party in advance you can be fairly certain that you'll all be available at the same time.

[SNarfel]

I agree, ghost.. parties would probably work better if predetermined. Unless Kev chooses the first five emails which give a balanced party.

Although... not every one may think that a fully babalnced party is an absolute necessity with a DM present;)

[Gloin]

*chuckles* Why... a balanced party is surely all the more important with a DM present... considering all the fun things they will undoubtedly throw at the players :)

I also believe players arranging parties and requesting slots on the campaign server will be the best way of handling it. It also makes sense to me not to allow the same player in the same event.

[DM_Kev]

I will go over the booking process soon. There may be requirements for certain classes, dependant on the map. You will be informedof these.

[Silverleaf]

Please don't allow local characters in! WAAAY too many ways to 'cheat!' I would suggest having server vault, and then either 1: have the server give you 15-20 levels or whatever for the epic campaign, OR the Dm could level you up.

[DM_Kev]

Dont worry about it. Only the first game will allow locals since its epic. Second game will actually be very low level.

Though in the first game we will be stripping characters of everything (you'll know why when you play!). We have safeguards for most haks now and most we can easily detect.

[SNarfel]

Also.. the main people who will be taking part are regulars I assume... and they would be an honourable bunch.... I would be most surprised if anyone tried anything silly.

[Teado Truesoul]

Another thought..

Will the games be available for multiple parties, though not all at the same time. What I mean is if you get 10-15 emails but only select 5 will you offer another 'go' for the 10 that were not selected?

I think that would be fair to those who live in a different country/timezone, or work a wierd schedule. Just want everyone to have a chance as this idea sounds great.

T

[DM_Kev]

Of course. We would run 1 game for each party, in the order they booked.

[Teado Truesoul]

That is good to hear.


Thanks

T

[dsan1]

i have one more question: will the utt2-scripts be in (e.g. the timelock on spells, the resting system...)

[DM_Kev]

Yes, everything will be there.

[Silverleaf]

oh! good point. Perhaps the timestop spell script could be edited so that party members can move freely?

Time stop spell script name: nw_s0_timestop

[Lorien]

If its using our MERP system - which I believe it is there will still be no timestop spell.

[DM_Kev]

We'd also like to hear other story lines you would like us to use for future games.

[SNarfel]

Well... I'm game to have a go and try and come up with a story line.. so here goes.


Set some time between Bilbos return from his first adventure and before he leaves at the beginning of LOTR FOTR.

Gandalf, now aware of the ring that Bilbo posseses and suspicious of its origiins and what it might be is seeking out any lore pertaining to it. As part of this task he seeks out trusted adventurers and tasks them to find Gollum and if possible bring him to Gandalf so that he may question him. If they cant bring Gollum to him.. even knowing of his wanderings and whereabouts would be helpfull to him.

For the time being Gandalf himself is deep in to parchment and scrolls readin all he can about the one ring and cannot himself look for Gollum :)