First World is an open-ended, mixed-moderated fantasy play-by-mail wargame.
History and development
First World was an open-ended play-by-mail game.[1] It was mixed-moderated.[2] The game was initially published by John and Mike O'Brien of White Lion Enterprises.[3] It was released in August 1984 after about a year of playtesting.[3] Within several years, "a combination of factors slowed turn processing to a virtual standstill" and De Boje Games acquired the game in July 1988.[4]
Gameplay
The game was set on Earth in 100 million BCE.[1] Players could role-play two types of tribes: a lizard race called Nazgars, and apes or humans.[3] Gems were key to gameplay. According to reviewers John Kelly and Mike Scheid, they were used "to recruit followers, make magic, build robots, or for trade."[3] Players had a wide variety of options during gameplay with no apparent restrictions.[3]
Reception
First World tied for 10th place in Paper Mayhem's Best PBM Game of 1986 list alongside Ad Astra, Atlantrix, Beyond the Stellar Empire, and Empyrean Challenge.[5] Terry Cale reviewed the game in a 1986 issue of Flagship. He stated that "for a pleasant romp in a surprisingly viable and well-run small game, I heartily recommend First World."[6] He warned that the game was not necessarily historically and scientifically accurate (e.g., humans and dinosaurs existing together), but that the game had the qualities that made it enjoyable for players.[7] Reviewers Kelly and Scheid said the game was "probably not for everyone" but thought it would appeal to players who liked open-ended games with great freedom and rapid turnaround times.[8]
Cale, Terry (Summer 1986). "First World". Flagship. No.11. pp.18–19.
Editors (September–October 1986). "Best PBM Game of 1986". Paper Mayhem. No.20. p.3.
Kelly Jr., John W.; Scheid, Mike (May–June 1985). "Prehistoric PBM: First World in Review". Paper Mayhem. No.12. pp.26–27.
Scheid, Mike (July–August 1989). "First World: A Classic PBM Returns from the Brink of Extinction". Paper Mayhem. No.37. pp.31–32.
White Lion Enterprises (January–February 1985). "Gameline – News and Items: White Lion Enterprises". Paper Mayhem. No.10. p.14.
Further reading
Iwan, DeeAnn (January–February 1987). "Magic and Midget Dragons". Paper Mayhem. No.22. p.33. Short article on playing a Nazgar magic-user.
Scheid, Mike; Kelly Jr., John W. (September–October 1985). "The Adventures of Brollochan and Grunt". Paper Mayhem. No.14. pp.26–28. Fiction article about First World.
Kelly, John; Scheid, Mike (November–December 1986). "The Adventures of Brollachan and Grunt —Chapter Seven—". Paper Mayhem. No.21. pp.39–42.
Kelly, John; Scheid, Mike (July–August 1987). "The Adventures of Brollachan and Grunt —Chapter Eleven—". Paper Mayhem. No.25. pp.48–51.