Battle Cry (play-by-mail game)
| Publishers | Post Age Games |
|---|---|
| Years active | ~1989 to unknown |
| Genres | fantasy wargame |
| Languages | English |
| Players | 15 |
| Playing time | Fixed |
| Materials required | Instructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil |
| Media type | Play-by-mail |
| Synonyms | Battle Cry: Lord Series |
Battle Cry is a closed-ended, hand moderated, play-by-mail (PBM) fantasy wargame. It was published by Post Age Games. Players vied for control of a fantasy kingdom with victory depending on controlling a sufficiently large area for two turns. The game received mixed reviews in various gaming magazines in the late 1980s and 1990s.
History and development[edit]
Battle Cry was a fantasy wargame published by Post Age Games of San Antonio, Texas.[1] The game was hand moderated.[2] The hand-moderation provided flexibility similar to a role-playing game.[2] Kris Bowling was the gamemaster.[3]
Gameplay[edit]
Gameplay occurred on a 15×15 map.[1] Players vied for control of a fantasy kingdom. At the outset, players started with "a wizard, a warrior knight, a dominion lord, a castle, a castle garrison, and two armies".[3] Winning required controlling a sufficiently large region for two turns.[3] Players controlled three character types, the indispensable Lord, Warrior Knights, and Wizards.[3]
Reception[edit]
Stewart Wieck reviewed the game in a 1985 issue of White Wolf. He described it as "a straight-forward, no-frills fantasy wargame".[4] Out of 5 points, he rated it 2 points for Materials and Moderation, 3 points for Strategy, 4 points for Diplomacy, and an overall score of 3 points.[4] John Schlosser reviewed the game in the March–April 1989 issue of Paper Mayhem. He stated, "Personally, I found Battle Cry lacking in depth and a bit simplistic. I prefer games that give you more options and that involve more than simple conquest. However, I think it could prove very entertaining to someone who is looking for an inexpensive ($3/turn) uncomplicated game which isn't very time consuming. Overall an excellent game for a PBM novice."[3] Bert Cushman reviewed the game in a 1989 issue of Flagship, stating that it was "a fairly generic hand-moderated game, with no special features that distinguish it from many other fantasy wargames." He added that it was "reasonably priced, and may appeal to role-players and fantasy wargamers who feel constrained by computer-moderated games".[5]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Wieck 1990. p. 20.
- ^ a b Cushman 1989. p. 24.
- ^ a b c d e Schlosser 1989. p. 39.
- ^ a b Wieck 1990. p. 22.
- ^ Cushman 1989. p. 26.
Bibliography[edit]
- Wieck, Stewart (June–July 1990). "Play-By-Mail Game Reviews: Battle Cry: Lord Series". White Wolf. pp. 20, 22.
- Schlosser, John (March–April 1989). "Battle Cry". Paper Mayhem. No. 35. p. 39.
- Cushman, Bert (1989). "Battle Cry: Flexibility and Limits". Flagship. No. 24. pp. 24–25.