Letters

@~Any letters sent to me that aren't marked 'not for publication'
@~and which deal with adventure-related matters will be considered
@~for inclusion, maybe being edited in the process.
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From Simon Poxon, Ashby-de-la-Zouch

I've been looking around in magazine mail order adverts to see
what role playing games are available for the Amiga 1200 without
much luck. Most of the best ones only seem to be brought out on
the PC.  A few games in the Amiga section sound interesting but I
don't know if they're any good or compatible. I've read that some
games require a hard drive, which I haven't got, and I know that a
lot of the older Amiga software won't run on the A1200. I must
admit I'm very confused by it all!  I'm still fairly new to the
Amiga and finding it hard. I'm forced to buy software through mail
order because none of the local shops sell Amiga software any
more.  A couple of games that sound interesting are Dungeon Master

and Ultima 6. Do you know if Ultima 6 is playable without the
other 5?

Hopefully you can give me some advice (anything would be
helpful!). Maybe you could do a short buyers guide to role playing
games in a future edition of SynTax with a short percentage rating
system.

@~The buyers guide would be a good idea for a future issue. You
@~could also check out the Top Ten list to see which RPGs have
@~been rated highly by the readers.  Yes, you can play Ultima 6
@~without having played the others. The early ones are very dated
@~now, someone told me that they are worth playing from Ultima 4
@~onwards but that it is from 5 that they really get good. I've
@~only completed the first one and half of the second!

@~As you know, I don't have an Amiga, but Amiga RPGs which readers
@~have told me are good include Abandoned Places (a very big
@~game), the Ishar series, the SSI Gold Box games (though they are
@~combat-intensive), Dungeon Master (of course!) and Captive
@~(another big game).  What other suggestions can readers come up
@~with? And would all those work on the A1200?
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@~I always try to run the same character, Zeke, in an RPG, and
@~always think of him as an individual in his own right. But this
@~is the first time he's had a letter addressed to him! Luckily we
@~have an understanding postie!

From Arnie (aka John Moore, another nutter)

Dear Zeke,

Just a short scroll to let you know that the boys and me had a get
together last night and voted you "Minotaur Slaughterer of the
Year 1994". Congratulations. We were going to get a little trophy
made up with a pair of minotaur horns on top but due to your
efforts we couldn't find a minotaur to get the horns off.  In my
official capacity as Hon Sec of the Blood & Guts League I must
point out that finding " Zeke wuz here" on tunnel walls was deemed

to be letting the side down a bit. So if you could possibly
refrain or learn to spell, it would be appreciated.

On a more personal note I feel that the months that I spent at
Knight classes learning Rune Reading were made slightly cheapened
after battling through herds (or is it hordes) of nasty thingies
into a cave only to translate "ARNIE EAT MY SHORTS" on a magical
wall.  Maybe some day we could start a quest together rather than
me following your infantile trail all the time. Might bump into
you in Might and Magic 6. Possibly we could get together one day
and sup a few mana potions and pull a few wenches, there again
forget the latter as I have heard that you are a bit effeminate on
the quiet.
                  Aye yours
                      ARNIE

@~Zeke is currently working under a pseudonym in the Urbish Mines.
@~I have forwarded the letter by carrier-dragon and will print any
@~reply that comes, assuming I can read it.
                              - o -