Legend of Lothian - David W Meny
                (Amiga RPG on SynTax PD 399)

                    Review by Brian Burke.

Lothian is an Amiga Public Domain RPG. Written by an American -
David W Meny - from sunny California, it is an Ultima IV clone.
As David took a year on and off to write the game and never having
written a game myself it's a little churlish to be too critical.
BUT ..... not shirking from my public duty etc etc I did find it
all too easy. At least it would have been even easier if one
didn't have to stop every few strides and fight another load of
Monsters. After attaining the highest Class level I didn't see
much point in being forced to fight as often as the game made me.
It's true that there is a Flee option but you still have to fight
until the program decides to let your man loose.

Movement is four directional only either by Keyboard or Mouse. The
game is mouse/Icon driven with Keyboard options. Each move
consumes a Food unit. Food can be bought and Gold to purchase same
won from Monster encounters provided you don't flee before all the
enemy have been beaten. Weapons and Armour can be bought in most
towns.

The Map graphics are acceptable with the main sprite being very
basic, a sort of white early Gingerbread Man style. People in the
Towns were the same but each Person or Monster encounter brings up
a non-animated picture.  Conversation interchanges are also basic
with only a couple of instances where Player typing input is
required. Some characters obviously have items to give you but
basically you must talk to everyone - especially those hiding
round obscure corners.

The on-disc documentation is good and will allow you to play the
game without any problems. There's a scene setting introduction
and a few helpful hints. The bad news is that there is only one
saved game. Initially you die very easily so once you have bashed
a baddie or two it's best to hightail it to the nearest Town and
recuperate then Save before venturing forth again.

I found that the game was bugged in situations where your
Character is in an Inn, pays their Board & Lodging cash then can't
open the door to the Bedroom. Despite that I initially enjoyed
achieving my Character promotions but ultimately (no pun intended)
found the Monster bashing too tiresome.