French
DeutschFirst World (game)
| Publishers | White Lion Enterprises, De Boje Games |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1985 to unknown |
| Genres | play-by-mail, fantasy, wargame |
| Languages | English |
| Playing time | open-ended |
| Materials required | Instructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil |
| Media type | Play-by-mail or email |
First World is an open-ended, mixed-moderated fantasy play-by-mail wargame.
History and development
[edit]First World was an open-ended play-by-mail game.[1] It was mixed-moderated.[2] The game was initially published by John and Mike O'Brien of White Lion Enterprises.[3] It was released in August 1984 after about a year of playtesting.[3] Within several years, "a combination of factors slowed turn processing to a virtual standstill" and De Boje Games acquired the game in July 1988.[4]
Gameplay
[edit]The game was set on Earth in 100 million BCE.[1] Players could role-play two types of tribes: a lizard race called Nazgars, and apes or humans.[3] Gems were key to gameplay. According to reviewers John Kelly and Mike Scheid, they were used "to recruit followers, make magic, build robots, or for trade."[3] Players had a wide variety of options during gameplay with no apparent restrictions.[3]
Reception
[edit]First World tied for 10th place in Paper Mayhem's Best PBM Game of 1986 list alongside Ad Astra, Atlantrix, Beyond the Stellar Empire, and Empyrean Challenge.[5] Terry Cale reviewed the game in a 1986 issue of Flagship. He stated that "for a pleasant romp in a surprisingly viable and well-run small game, I heartily recommend First World."[6] He warned that the game was not necessarily historically and scientifically accurate (e.g., humans and dinosaurs existing together), but that the game had the qualities that made it enjoyable for players.[7] Reviewers Kelly and Scheid said the game was "probably not for everyone" but thought it would appeal to players who liked open-ended games with great freedom and rapid turnaround times.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Cale 1986. p. 18.
- ^ White Lion Enterprises 1985. p. 14.
- ^ a b c d e Kelly 1985. p. 26.
- ^ Scheid 1989. p. 31.
- ^ Editors 1986. p. 3.
- ^ Cale 1986. p. 19.
- ^ Cale 1986. pp. 18–19.
- ^ Kelly 1985. p. 27.
Bibliography
[edit]- Cale, Terry (Summer 1986). "First World". Flagship. No. 11. pp. 18–19.
- Editors (September–October 1986). "Best PBM Game of 1986". Paper Mayhem. No. 20. p. 3.
- Kelly Jr., John W.; Scheid, Mike (May–June 1985). "Prehistoric PBM: First World in Review". Paper Mayhem. No. 12. pp. 26–27.
- Scheid, Mike (July–August 1989). "First World: A Classic PBM Returns from the Brink of Extinction". Paper Mayhem. No. 37. pp. 31–32.
- White Lion Enterprises (January–February 1985). "Gameline – News and Items: White Lion Enterprises". Paper Mayhem. No. 10. p. 14.
Further reading
[edit]- Iwan, DeeAnn (January–February 1987). "Magic and Midget Dragons". Paper Mayhem. No. 22. p. 33. Short article on playing a Nazgar magic-user.
- Scheid, Mike; Kelly Jr., John W. (September–October 1985). "The Adventures of Brollochan and Grunt". Paper Mayhem. No. 14. pp. 26–28. Fiction article about First World.
- Kelly, John; Scheid, Mike (November–December 1986). "The Adventures of Brollachan and Grunt —Chapter Seven—". Paper Mayhem. No. 21. pp. 39–42.
- Kelly, John; Scheid, Mike (July–August 1987). "The Adventures of Brollachan and Grunt —Chapter Eleven—". Paper Mayhem. No. 25. pp. 48–51.