''Middle-Earth Play-By-Mail'' (or ''Middle-earth PBM''), is a turn-based, strategy play by email and

play-by-mail A play-by-mail game (also known as a PBM game, PBEM game, or a turn-based game) is a game played through postal mail, email or other digital media. Correspondence chess and Go were among the first PBM games. ''Diplomacy'' has been played by m ...

game set in the world of

J.R.R. Tolkien John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, ; 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was the Rawlins ...

’s ''

The Lord of the Rings ''The Lord of the Rings'' is an epic high-fantasy novel by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, intended to be Earth at some time in the distant past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's boo ...

'' and ''

The Hobbit ''The Hobbit, or There and Back Again'' is a children's fantasy novel by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. It was published in 1937 to wide critical acclaim, being nominated for the Carnegie Medal and awarded a prize from the '' ...

'', including elements from

ICE Ice is water frozen into a solid state, typically forming at or below temperatures of 0 degrees Celsius or Depending on the presence of impurities such as particles of soil or bubbles of air, it can appear transparent or a more or less opaq ...

Middle-earth Role Playing ''Middle-earth Role Playing'' (MERP) is a 1984 role-playing game based on J. R. R. Tolkien ''The Lord of the Rings'' and ''The Hobbit'' under license from Tolkien Enterprises. Iron Crown Enterprises (I.C.E.) published the game until they lost the ...

under licence from GSIL. The game is now run as ''Middle-earth Strategic Gaming'' by Middle-earth Games, Ltd.

History and development

''Middle Earth Play-By-Mail'' (or MEPBM) was created by Game Systems Inc. (GSI) and inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's books The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. In 2001, the game had multiple variants including ones set in the year 1650 or 2950 "War of the Ring, or the Fourth Age". There was also a "mini-module" called "Battle of the Five Armies".

Gameplay

Simply put, to win this game, you work together with your teammates to take control of the lands of Middle-earth. There is no one way to achieve this aim; instead, victory is gained through a combination of martial strength, magical prowess, and economic power. Each nation has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the best teams utilise the strengths of each of its members whilst taking advantage of the weaknesses of their opponents. Gameplay includes factors such as "character development, nation management, economics, diplomacy, and warfare". There are several scenarios with smaller maps, including ''The Battle of Five Armies'' - based on ''The Hobbit'', ''The Untold War'' based on the battles from ''The Lord of the Rings'' not focused on in the novels, focusing on

Dol Guldur Mirkwood is a name used for a great dark fictional forest in novels by Sir Walter Scott and William Morris in the 19th century, and by J. R. R. Tolkien in the 20th century. The critic Tom Shippey explains that the name evoked the excitement of t ...

and

Lothlórien In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Lothlórien or Lórien is the fairest realm of the Elves remaining in Middle-earth during the Third Age. It is ruled by Galadriel and Celeborn from their city of tree-houses at Caras Galadhon. The wood-elves ...

which are only covered in the appendices, and variations on the main game, including ''Kin-strife'' and ''Gunboat'' variations.

Reception

''Middle-Earth'' has won a number of awards since inception. It won the

Origins Award The Origins Awards are American awards for outstanding work in the game industry. They are presented by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design at the Origins Game Fair on an annual basis for the previous year, so (for example) the 1979 aw ...

for Best New Play-by-Mail Game of 1991, and won the Origins Award for Best Play-by-Mail Game of 1992, 1995, and 1996. ''Middle Earth PBM'' won ''Paper Mayhem's'' Best PBM Game of 1993. ''Middle-earth PBM Fourth Age, circa 1000'' won the Origins Award for Best New Play-by-Mail Game of 1997, and the Best Ongoing Play-by-Mail Game of 1998 and 1999, and ''Middle Earth FA 1000'' won for "Best Play By Mail Game" in 2001. In 1998, the game was inducted into the Origins Award Adventure Gaming Hall of Fame. The game continued winning awards in the 21st century as well. It won the Origins Award ''Gamer's Choice: Best Play-by-Mail of 2003''.Origins Award Winners for 2003 and Hall of Fame Inductees

References

Bibliography

External links

Middle-earth Games
{{Play-by-mail games Games based on Middle-earth Origins Award winners Play-by-mail games