Middle Sea, subtitled "Empires of the Feudal Age", is a board game published by Fantasy Games Unlimited (FGU) in 1979 that simulates the rise of medieval empires in the Mediterranean basin. The game started as a play by mail game before being converted into a board game.
Middle Sea is a game for 2–12 players set in the Mediterranean circa 1200 where players utilize warfare, navies, economics, and diplomacy to maximize their empire. The map is divided into Christian, Muslim, and pagan provinces, and each province is ruled by a leader who can control a certain number of armies.[1]
2-piece 64.5 cm x 28 cm mounted map of Mediterranean basin
266 die-cut counters
384 cards
16-page rule booklet
Gameplayedit
Each game turn represents one year and is divided into four seasons. In Spring, Summer, and Fall, armies and navies move simultaneously according to written orders; in Winter, players are confined to "at home" activities such as raising funds, and building fortifications.[2]
The purpose of the game is to invade provinces to gain access to more resources as well as the province's leader, who can then lead more armies and navies. Combat can take place on land, and also at sea if two navies occupy meet.[2]
Because of card effects; leadership, fortifications, and ships are facedown. Players can employ spies to try to find out more information about these.[1]
Publication historyedit
Middle Sea was originally a play-by-mail game,[3] and then was converted to a board game by Wilf K. Backhaus and Terence Peter Donnelly, and published by FGU in 1979.
Receptionedit
In Issue 33 of the British magazine Phoenix, Paul King was a bit disappointed in the quality of the components, especially the leader counters, finding that the printing was "not crisp enough for my liking." He also noted that there were no spare blank counters in case a counter was lost and no storage provided for the counters. And King found the map a bit small, considering that it was designed for up to twelve players. Given the quality of the components, King questioned the high price of the game (£13.95 in 1980). He noted the game's similarities to Diplomacy, but indicated he preferred the original game. He concluded with some ambivalence, saying, "Overall this is a good multiplayer game; however, at a cost of £13.95 I think the quality of some of the components could be improved."[2]
In Issue 32 of Dragon, James Ward thought that the game "does an excellent job of representing an era which man has been fascinated with since it happened." He thought the components were "first-rate." He concluded that "with a minimum of muss and fuss, one can play a Richard the Lionhearted or a Saladin and have a roaring good time back in an era when kingdoms could be made or broken with the strength of one good sword arm."[1]
^ abcdKing, Paul (September–October 1981). "Middle Sea". Phoenix. No. 33. p. 30.
^"Middle Sea: Empires of the Feudal Age (1979)". boardgamegeek.com. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
January 01, 1970
middle, game, middle, subtitled, empires, feudal, board, game, published, fantasy, games, unlimited, 1979, that, simulates, rise, medieval, empires, mediterranean, basin, game, started, play, mail, game, before, being, converted, into, board, game, contents, d. Middle Sea subtitled Empires of the Feudal Age is a board game published by Fantasy Games Unlimited FGU in 1979 that simulates the rise of medieval empires in the Mediterranean basin The game started as a play by mail game before being converted into a board game Contents 1 Description 1 1 Components 1 2 Gameplay 2 Publication history 3 Reception 4 ReferencesDescription editMiddle Sea is a game for 2 12 players set in the Mediterranean circa 1200 where players utilize warfare navies economics and diplomacy to maximize their empire The map is divided into Christian Muslim and pagan provinces and each province is ruled by a leader who can control a certain number of armies 1 Components edit The game box contains 2 2 piece 64 5 cm x 28 cm mounted map of Mediterranean basin 266 die cut counters 384 cards 16 page rule booklet Gameplay edit Each game turn represents one year and is divided into four seasons In Spring Summer and Fall armies and navies move simultaneously according to written orders in Winter players are confined to at home activities such as raising funds and building fortifications 2 The purpose of the game is to invade provinces to gain access to more resources as well as the province s leader who can then lead more armies and navies Combat can take place on land and also at sea if two navies occupy meet 2 Because of card effects leadership fortifications and ships are facedown Players can employ spies to try to find out more information about these 1 Publication history editMiddle Sea was originally a play by mail game 3 and then was converted to a board game by Wilf K Backhaus and Terence Peter Donnelly and published by FGU in 1979 Reception editIn Issue 33 of the British magazine Phoenix Paul King was a bit disappointed in the quality of the components especially the leader counters finding that the printing was not crisp enough for my liking He also noted that there were no spare blank counters in case a counter was lost and no storage provided for the counters And King found the map a bit small considering that it was designed for up to twelve players Given the quality of the components King questioned the high price of the game 13 95 in 1980 He noted the game s similarities to Diplomacy but indicated he preferred the original game He concluded with some ambivalence saying Overall this is a good multiplayer game however at a cost of 13 95 I think the quality of some of the components could be improved 2 In Issue 32 of Dragon James Ward thought that the game does an excellent job of representing an era which man has been fascinated with since it happened He thought the components were first rate He concluded that with a minimum of muss and fuss one can play a Richard the Lionhearted or a Saladin and have a roaring good time back in an era when kingdoms could be made or broken with the strength of one good sword arm 1 References edit a b c Ward James December 1979 Middle Sea Dragon No 32 TSR Inc p 32 a b c d King Paul September October 1981 Middle Sea Phoenix No 33 p 30 Middle Sea Empires of the Feudal Age 1979 boardgamegeek com Retrieved 2022 01 08 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Middle Sea game amp oldid 1172189637, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
