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Post by Armadi on Jun 28, 2004 22:18:48 GMT 1
The politics aspect of this game is intriguing. Can anyone explain it (to someone who hasn't played the game).
My understanding (or guess) is that when the various nations are attacked they become active and also gain points on a political track. Activation can also occur through the use of certain cards and maybe character actions. Also, actions may be used to move the nations up the political track (I guess with the muster die). A nation must be active before it can muster or move its armies and it must be at war to send armies out of the nation's boundaries.
So am I anywhere close?
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Post by deadeyethingy on Jun 28, 2004 23:20:40 GMT 1
Some info is contained in the FAQ:
>>Yes, the initial attack Activates the nation and advances them one step on the Political Track. If the Settlement is captured by the enemy the nation is advanced another step on the Political Track.
I guess one question I have is what is the political track used for? I thought it was used (exclusively) to determine whether a nation was capable of mobilizing its forces in the fight for ME. But here, it appears that you can mobilize/activate the armies of a nation (with a leader or as the result of an attack) and the nation is pushed forward on the Political Track still...
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Veldrin
Lord of the Nazgûl
Posts: 1,305
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Post by Veldrin on Jun 29, 2004 9:45:03 GMT 1
You are very close Armadi.
Activation of a nation occurs
a) when an enemy Army enters a Region of the passive Nation
b) when one of its Armies is attacked
c) when the Fellowship is declared in in a City or Stronghold of that Nation
d) when a Companion with the appropriate Nation icon on his character card enters a City or Stronghold of the Nation (see Gimli's card in the Sneak Peek section, he has the icon of the Dwarves).
Movement on the Political Track occurs
a) when a Muster die result is used to move it one step towards War.
b) when an Army is attacked by the enemy.
c) when a City, Town or Stronghold is captured by the enemy.
d) when the text on an Event Card allows it.
Remember that no nation can advance to "at War" unless they allready are Active and no Nation can muster new troops unless they are at War!
[glow=green,2,300]Veldrin[/glow]
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Veldrin
Lord of the Nazgûl
Posts: 1,305
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Post by Veldrin on Jun 29, 2004 10:27:08 GMT 1
What is the political track used for?
The Political Track consists of four boxes, each bow is "one step", the final step is "at War". Like this: I II III IV At War!
No nation begins the game at War and no Nation can move down to the final "at War" box without being Active!
Sauron and Isengard start the game Active and on the third step, this means that all that is needed to bring thme to a state of War is a single Muster die each.
The Southrons & Easterlings start on step II and is Active.
Gondor also starts on step II but is Passive.
The North, Rohan and the Dwarves star Passive on step I.
The Elves start Active on Step I.
Like this (Green=Passive, Red=Active)
I Dwarves, Rohan & The North, Elves II Gondor, S&E III Sauron & Isengard IV
[glow=green,2,300]Veldrin[/glow]
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Post by Kris on Jun 29, 2004 15:22:47 GMT 1
An interesting system. Does an active not-at-war nation have any abilities that a passive not-at-war nation does not?
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Veldrin
Lord of the Nazgûl
Posts: 1,305
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Post by Veldrin on Jun 29, 2004 15:33:11 GMT 1
Does an active not-at-war nation have any abilities that a passive not-at-war nation does not?
No, no abilities per se but...
If the Nation is active it can advance to War by any of the listed options that moves the nation on the political track.
This is most often used when the nation is one step away from war. If they are one step away and active they will automatically become at war when a Shadow army attacks one of their armies or capture one of their Settlements.
The Shadow ofcourse wants to attack (and activate/advance on the political track) a nation that have several steps to move on the Political track before becoming at war since this prevents the Free Peoples' Nation from Mustering new troops in time to prevent the assault.
[glow=green,2,300]Veldrin[/glow]
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Post by deadeyethingy on Jun 29, 2004 17:58:40 GMT 1
Thanks for the clarification. That really solidifies the process for me.
I play quite a diverse number of board games - and I have never encountered quite the assortment of innovative concepts that appear to be bundled into WOTR. This political process is quite unique (at least to me) - and it sounds like an elegant system.
Now... only a million more days to wait!!!
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Post by Kris on Jun 29, 2004 18:02:03 GMT 1
Sounds like an elegant system designed to force more difficult decsions on the players. I assume the Free People's player will have to decide in the early turns if he wants to use muster die rolls to advance a likely target (Gondor or Rohan) along the political track, or if he should spread the muster rolls among several nations and get his whole alliance closer to war. Sauron will have a less pressing version of this problem: does he concentrate on empowering Mordor and Isengard, or should he bother to activate S&E.
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Post by deadeyethingy on Jun 29, 2004 18:51:27 GMT 1
That sounds about right (and good).
It seemed like from what I have read of the play tests, it is generally very difficult to move all the FP nations to war.
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Veldrin
Lord of the Nazgûl
Posts: 1,305
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Post by Veldrin on Jun 29, 2004 21:19:59 GMT 1
Yes it is not that common to get all your Free Peoples Nation to War.
What you can do as the FP player is to make the decision of where to strike a difficult one for the Shadow player.
Normally it is the Shadow player who dictates where the fighting is taking place but luring him into attacking where you seem the most fragile (i.e no or few active nations in the area) and then use Muster cards from your hand to bolster your armies since Muster Cards can be used even if your Nations are not yet in a state of War.
[glow=green,2,300]Veldrin[/glow]
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Post by Armadi on Jun 29, 2004 23:14:02 GMT 1
Thanks for the excellent and in-depth answer to my question Veldrin.
I can't wait to get my hands on this game!
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Post by deadeyethingy on Jun 30, 2004 8:47:10 GMT 1
Yes, thank you!
I was not aware of the rule that allows you to play muster cards regardless of the nations' place on the political/active track - sounds like a good tactic!
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