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"A fortnight!" said Frodo. "A lot may happen in that time."
J.R.R. Tolkien. The Fellowship of the Ring, A knife in the Dark |
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Featured Game: Fourth Age All vs. All
At the end of the Third Age of Middle-earth, Sauron was thrown down, his armies scattered, and the One Ring destroyed. But as light has no meaning without darkness to bound it, so with Sauron defeated, the forces of good also departed Middle-earth, Eldar and Istari making their final voyage from the Grey Havens. The age of elves is over. Now begins the true age of man.
In all vs all games, it is every man, elf, dwarf and orc for themselves, as each player fights alone for victory.
One of the format's greatest strengths is that it lets you try out new tactics and ideas, without the worry of letting your team down if they go horribly awry. And nowhere is this more the case than in Fourth Age, where you can experiment with unusual nation designs.
These games are always a lot of fun. So if you'd like to sign up, click the button below...
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From the Vault: 20 Years Ago Today
Twenty years ago, the world was a very different place. But, as this newsletter from September '05 shows, the concerns of MEPBM players were not so very different from today.
So whether you're an older player who fancies a wander down memory lane, or a new player wanting a glimpse of a time when our newsletter was actually printed out and sent to players in the post, it is well worth a read.
PS: Is there an article or guide that you have found particularly useful or interesting? Then let us know, and we'll include it in the newsletter!
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JOverseer Tip of the Week
Order Results, the pane you never knew existed! Found under Tools/General, it lists every imported character's order results for the entire game. This has many potential uses. For example, if you want to quickly find all starting character bonuses for you or your team, just scroll to the top and type 'special' ability in the Text search box.
Got any good tips you're willing to share? Then send them in! |
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Q&A
We regularly get asked questions about various aspects of the game's mechanics. We answer each of these privately, but often feel that they might be of wider interest. So here is this week's question:
Q: I issued a Name Character order for a 10 emissary, but the character ended up with 20 command rank as well as 10 emissary. Is this a bug? I really do want a 10 emissary!
A: Characters named with a 725 must have 30 skill points. This from the rules: "The maximum number of total points which can be allocated is 30, and all 30 must be allocated. If any are not allocated in the order, then they are automatically added to the character’s command rank." If you really want a 10 emissary, you would need to have a 10 emissary issue a 734 Name Emissary order.
If you have anything you would like answered, just send us your question. And a full list of all our previously-answered questions, check out the Questions and Answers section of our website. |
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All Games Starting Soon(Last updated 24th September '25)
The following games are currently accepting setups, and due to start soon. Click on any of the links (game numbers) below for full details or to sign up.
Champions of Middle-earth
Try a game of our two or four player module, now with rebalanced NPCs and sickness items.
Game 904: 1650 Gunboat
3 nations per player.
Randomised artifact IDs.
One champion character per nation.
6 rewards per nation.
No shared results among team.Most GB restrictions on offensive orders removed .
3/8 positions available
Game 907: 1650
Pre-aligned neutrals to ensure a balanced game.
Randomised artifact IDs.
Up to 2 nations per player.
One champion character per nation. Bonuses for new players.
16/24 nations available 6 rewards per nation.
One nation free as long as you have three nations in play!
6/8 positions available
Game 269: 2950 Gunboat
3 nations per player. Rewards to spend on your starting nations Randomised artifacts. Shared turns. One nation free as long as you have three nations in play! 7/8 positions available Game 656: Kin-strife 3 nation Gunboat3 nations per player. New combos: Loyalists: 2/5/21and 3/4/6, vs. Usurpers 11/14/15 and 12/13/16. Boosted setups - 30% extra points for nation 1, 15% extra points for nation 2. Shared turns between team. One nation free as long as you have three nations in play!
4/4 positions available
Fewer players, and restricted regions.
16/18 nations available
Game 442: Fourth Age Gunboat
3 nations per player.No s hared results among team.
1/8 positions available Game 444: Fourth Age All vs All
2 nations per player.5/11 positions available
(Is a game you'd like to play not starting soon? Then get in touch, and if there is enough interest we will set it up!)
Grudge Games
Teams looking for opposition:
Do you have a group of friends who want to play on a team together? Then get in touch, and we’ll find you opposition.
Or if you really want a challenge, why not play an entire side on your own. Discounts available!
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JOverseer Needs You!
One of our upcoming projects is to create a browser-based version of JOverseer, which can be accessed anywhere, and does not require players to download software to their computers.
We're still at the planning stages, and are looking for help with the project. This help could be anything from offering general advice, to coding, to - further down the line - playtesting and bug-hunting.
So if anyone has any expertise in browser-based games, and would like to help out, please do get in touch. |
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Do you have the latest version of Joverseer?
The most recent version of JOverseer is: 1.19.1.
If you have not already done so, so please do take the time to update to this version.
The easiest way to do so is through JOverseer: go to Help, then select Check for Updates.
If this doesn't work, you may have a very old version of JOverseer, in which case click the button below to download it from our website. |
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The Modules
Third Age 1650
It's a classic for a reason. Our original module, still going strong after thirty years, pits the Free Peoples against the Dark Servants. Most games these days have pre-aligned neutrals to ensure a balanced game.
Third Age 2950
Our other classic module, featuring smaller nations. We used to describe this as a slower-paced game than 1650, but recent games have proved that this is not always the case!
Fourth Age 1000
Set after the events of The Lord of the Rings, Fourth Age allows you to completely customise your starting nation. This ensures that every game is different. Some games also have a third allegiance, the Neutral Nations, which adds to both complexity and interest.
Kin-strife 1450
Kin-strife features fewer nations than the previous modules, but they tend to be more powerful. Each nation has its own strengths and weaknesses, but as with Fourth Age, the nations are customisable, while recruitable NPCs add further interest.
Champions of Middle-earth
Our most recent module is a fast paced mini game, for two or four players. Each player starts with a micro nation, then recruits powerful NPCs with which to build their nations. You can either player a single game, or join in one of the ongoing tournaments.
The Others
Then we have those modules which are no longer played regularly, such as Great Years, Untold War of the Ring and Battle of the Five Armies. But if there is enough interest, we would be happy to dust them off again!
The Variants
Gunboat
In Gunboat games, almost no diplomacy is permitted between players. Each player typically runs two or three nations.
All vs All
In All vs All games, normal allegiances are broken, and it is every Man, Dwarf, Elf, Orc and Nazgul for themselves! These games are a lot of fun, and are never predictable.
The Others
Then we have games with Rewards, Bidding, Randomised Artifacts, Grudge Games, and a whole host of variations.
So, if there is anything that takes your fancy, click the button below to find a game starting soon!
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Resources
WebsiteThe first and perhaps most important resource is our main website. Here you will find, well, everything, including the various rulebooks and guides, our gaming software, dozens of articles offering advice and help, details of games starting, etc. gamesystems.comGaming GuidesOK, so these are part of the website, but they seemed deserving of a special mention. Worth checking out even before reading the rules, they offer help with all aspects of getting to grips with the game. www.gamesystems.com/category/advice/JOverseerOur game-play software. Yes, also on the website, but absolutely vital, helping with all aspects of playing the game. Don't leave the Shire without it! gamesystems.com/gamingsoftware/DiscordMoving away from our website, we have our active community of players on Discord. They are happy to discuss any and all aspects of the game. A great place to go to for help, advice, or just for a chat. discordapp.com/invite/6ZBDfr4
WikiOur player-written wiki site has a wealth of information, including details of many of the enemies, encounters and riddles you'll find yourself facing in the game. wiki.mepbm.com/
Us!Last but hopefully not least, there is us, the folk who run MEPBM. If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, we love hearing from you. info@gamesystems.com |
Middle-earth, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and the characters, items, events, and places therein are trademarks of Middle-earth Enterprises, LLC used under license by Game Systems International. All rights reserved.
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