Whats the score?

[iPad]

I am a big fan of Tolkien. Read loads of his stuff and I know my Gothmog from my err Gothmog. I saw early news on this game in a mag last year, thought "oh thats cool" and didn't look back into it since. So is it running? Where is it availible from? What are the costs? Do you need broadband to play it? It is roleplay-ie where you run around middle earth as a character and not soley an exercise in "grinding" (SWG) or mass organised leveling up ala Liniage 2?

[Steve-Law]

Hiya. It's a NWN (Neverwinter Nights) multiplayer Persistant World. If you have NWN with it's two official expansions (SOU and HOTU) you just start the game, go to Multiplayer and look for it in the lists (I think it's under Role Playing, it's been the only one I've ever been too so I've never looked in the lists since I bought the game).

Anyway, it's completely free (apart from the cost of the game, but you can buy NWN and the two expansions all rolled into one now - Platinum or Deluxe version). You don't need broadband, I know of a few players who use dial up.

The emphasis is totally on RP (Role Play). I've spent many nights on the server where I haven't even earned 1 XP and some of those were the best sessions! (Of ocurse we have loads of fun killing things together, but it's always just something to hang our RP around).

Anyway, I'll go now and let someone official answer you ;)

[DM_Aule]

Hello, and welcome.

Steve-Law gave a rather good introduction to MERP UK. All you will need to buy is Neverwinter Nights and its two expansions, which are available for £18 (http://www.play.com/play247.asp?pa=srmr&page=title&r=PC&title=184465) these days.

You will then have to download some 200 MB's worth of additional stuff -- models, textures and items that give us more flexibility in the way we design our world. We use the Community Expansion Pack (CEP) for NWN as well as some other custom content -- you can find links to everything on our website (http://merpuk.wireplay.co.uk).

MERP is indeed about Middle Earth Role Play. The module and world has been carefully balanced to make it suited for party play, and you will get the most out of it if you find groups of people to travel and interact with.

Our official website should answer most of the questions you probably have. Still, if we can help out further, let us know. :)

[iPad]

Cool and groovy. I just wish I had broadband to be able to play it reliably.