~Lords Of Midnight A RPG Adventure from Beyond, originally released on the Spectrum 48K, available on the PC through conversion (Available on the Cheet Sheets BBS) A Playing Guide by John R. Barnsley ~The Concept An attack by 25,000 Free/Fey on Ushgarak from the North using the Eastern approach route via Ithrorn, the Plains of Lorgrim and Deadhenge. The main events in chronological order now follow. Recruitment of Free/Fey Lords as quickly as possible. Holding battles on the Plains of Blood and Dawn to allow recruitment and deployment of more distant Lords. Dispatch of a small force, approximately 3,000, North along the West flank for deception, recruitment of Lords Gloom and Lotheril in the Northwest, and the protection of Morkin on his quest. Dispatch of Morkin with Farflame to sieze the Ice Crown and hide it. Movement of recruited Lords via the Forest of Whispers and the Plains of Logrim towards the rendezvous point, just South of Deadhenge. Defence of Corelay and Dawn by four Lords and 5,500 men with a progressive withdrawal towards Xajorkith. Combined and simultaneous attack on Ushgarak by 25,000 men made up of the Main Army (19,000) assembled at Deadhenge and a Second Army moving East from Gloom (6,100). This takes place on the 22nd day and succeeds in the following night period (23rd Night). ~The Aim To win the wargame, assuming Morkin and Luxor stay alive, all you have to do is capture Ushgarak. In principle there is no need to defend Xajorkith or defeat Doomdark's armies in the field. You should constantly ask yourself if your actions are really necessary to achieve this aim and therefore avoid unnecessary battles. ~Enemy Capability The computer controls very large forces but they move to a preset plan and without coordination. Doomdark's armies tend to attack 'piecemeal', take little notice of the odds and do not respond to feints or deception. Thus, if you avoid the main enemy lines of advance, it is possible to attack Ushgarak without first fighting any large battles. ~Supply This is a vital aspect to the game and easily overlooked. Tired armies fight poorly and take heavy casualties. In essence, armies become tired following movement and, in particular, battle. They can be re-supplied by rest, that is NOT moving, visiting Settlements (Villages, Keeps and Citadels) and - best of all - Lakes. However, Lakes and Settlements can only be used once, although they will replenish a force of any size. When moving a large force over roughly the same route it is essential to plan the allocation of supply resources in minute detail so that all the armies are in a good condition to fight. For instance, an army which arrives early at a rendezvous can regain its strength by resting and leave the Lakes untouched for forces that arrive later. ~Defence of Xajorkith Even though it is unnecessary it is fun to try to defend Xajorkith, and gives a nice contrast to the straightforward offensive campaign required to capture Ushgarak. This can be done for at least 23 days - by four Lords and forces totalling 5,500 including Garrison Troops at Xajorith and other Keeps. The mobile soldiers should be concentrated under one Lord to improve re-supply because a Lake will utterly invigorate one army of ANY size - BUT ONLY ONE. The other Lords can monitor the approach of the enemy forces towards Xajorkith and the situation at the capital, while the main force switches from flank to flank to attack and destroy each enemy thrust as far from the capital as is practicable. As the enemy tends to advance and attack 'piecemeal' this strategy can work as long as the timing of attacks is spot on and the re-supply carefully arranged. ~Routes to Ushgarak The Eastern approach route via Whispers, Ithrorn and the Plains of Logrim, has the following advantages:- It is already held by the Free/Fey and it has good re-supply.....many Villages, Keeps and Lakes. It also has good 'going', much open ground - note the clear route through the Forest of Whispers. Most Free/Fey Lords are already situated on the Eastern side and, finally, it is not a route used by the enemy armies in their move South. ~Farflame Use this character as a 'minder' for Morkin, a scout for the main armies or to capture Keeps single-handed! ~Cowards Pick out the fearful Lords early. Make them give up their soldiers at Keeps and Citadels and allow more reliable Lords to recruit them. ` A SAMPLE STRATEGY ` (One of several!!) ` Gathering The Lords ~LUXOR Send him NORTHEAST on the first day, EAST on the second day to recruit Blood. Now move him EAST to the Citadel of Marakith and recruit him. Then send Luxor NORTH, around the mountains to recruit Herath at his Keep. Move EAST between the mountans of Kumar to the Citadel of Kumar to recruit him. Now head SOUTH/SOUTHEAST to the Keep of Utarg. Head SOUTH around the side of the Forest of Dregrim to the Keep of Trorn. To finish his journey, move Luxor to the Citadel of Xajorkith. ~MORKIN On the first day send him NORTH - WEST - NORTHWEST and NORTHEAST and recruit the Lord Shadows. Move Morkin NORTH up a passage between the Mountains of Ashimar (to the West) and the Mountains of Dodrack (to the East). Keep going until you see a Tower to the Northeast in the Mountains of Dodrack. Move to the Tower and then recruit Farflame at the Ruin. Under the protection of Farflame, move NORTHWEST onto the Downs of Mirrow and NORTH to the edge of the Forest of Lothoril. Enter the Forest and recruit Lothoril at his Keep. Now head NORTH out of the Forest and then NORTHWEST to the Citadel of Gloom (you will be unable to recruit Gloom). Stay here until after the battle of Xajorkith along with Gloom, Farflame and Lothoril. ~ROTHORON Move him SOUTHEAST to the Keep of Brith (about 2-3 days travel) and recruit Brith. Now move EAST and then NORTHEAST to Mitharg and recruit him. Go EAST to a Lith and then SOUTH/SOUTHEAST to recruit Morning at his Keep. Send Rothoron NORTHEAST to the Citadel of Dawn before finishing at Xajorkith, ready for the battle of Xajorkith. ~CORLETH On the first day send him SOUTHEAST - SOUTHEAST - SOUTH - SOUTH -SOUTH -(seek at Lith) - SOUTH - SOUTH - (seek at Lith) - SOUTH - SOUTH - (seek at Lith) - SOUTH - SOUTH - (seek at Lith) - SOUTH - SOUTH - (seek at Lith) and then WEST to the Citadel of Gard to recruit Gard. Now go SOUTHEAST to the bottom of the land and start moving EAST towards Xajorkith, recruiting Rorath and Thrimrath the Fey as you go. Once at Xajorkith, send Corleth NORTH to the Keep, then NORTHEAST and EAST to the Forest of Dregrim and the Lord Dregrim at his Citadel. Take a short rest before moving NORTH to the Forest of Whispers to recruit Whispers at his Keep. Go NORTH to Ithrorn then WEST to the Forest of Dreams. Wait here until the end of the battle of Xajorkith. ~LORD BLOOD When recruited, move him SOUTHEAST to recruit Lord Shimeral. ~LORD OF SHADOW Get a horse for him just NORTH of the Forest Edge, then get him to recruit Thrall. ~MARAKITH When recruited, send Marakith SOUTHEAST onto the Downs of Athoril and then EAST to recruit Athoril. The Lords' main goal is to reach the Citadel assigned to them by about the sixteenth day:- ` XAJORKITH GLOOM DREAMS ` Blood Morkin Shadows ` Marakith Gloom Utarg ` Herath Lothoril Thrimrath ` Kumar Farflame Dregrim ` Trorn Whispers ` Brith Ithrorn ` Mitharg Dreams ` Morning Thrall ` Dawn Corleth ` Gard ` Rorath ` Luxor ` Rothoron ` Athoril ` Shimeral All the Lords must make it to the above Citadels by about sixteen days as this is about the time when Doomdark's troops reach Xajorkith. While moving Morkin with Farflame to Lothoril, Farflame acts as Morkin's bodyguard and must be sacrificed if you are spotted! With any luck Farflame should survive so send him after Morkin. ` Battle Of Xajorkith Xajorkith is the major Citadel of the 'Free' and all Doomdark's troops eventually come to attack Xajorkith as it is the first half of Doomdark's expected victory. Thus, Xajorkith MUST be defended!! For over forty days, Doomdark's troops will arrive and attack Xajorkith, with the battle beginning around Day 16 and finishing around Day 60 - in some cases it could even extend to Day 70! With all the Lords at Xajorkith (as indicated) you can emerge from the battle without a single loss of life! Do not try to put more Lords in as the Citadel will not be able to contain them. ` Morkin's Victory This can be achieved by sending Morkin to the Tower of Doom and seeking the Ice Crown, then standing next to either Farflame, Fawlkrin the Skulrin, Logrim the Wise or Lake Mirrow. Fawlkrin stands at the Moon Henge, while Logrim stands at his Tower. ` Military Victory After the battle of Xajorkith, move all Lords to the Citadel of Dreams. Then rest until all are 'utterly invigorated'. Now ATTACK and TAKE the Citadel of Ushgarak to win!!!!!! `* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *