Loot the Castle
Play-by-mail role-playing game
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Loot the Castle (or LTC) is a closed-end, hand moderated, play-by-mail role-playing wargame. It was published by Tom Webster.
| Other names | LTC |
|---|---|
| Publishers | Tom Webster |
| Years active | 1981 to unknown |
| Genres | role-playing |
| Languages | English |
| Players | 5 to 9 |
| Playing time | Fixed |
| Materials required | Instructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil |
| Media type | Play-by-mail |
History and development
Loot the Castle (LTC) was a hand-moderated PBM game.[1] It was published in 1981 by Tom Webster, who also ran other PBM games such as Empires of the Gonzo Galaxy (EGG).[1]
Gameplay
At two pages in length, its rules were simple.[2] Games comprised 5, 7, or 9 players each.[1] The game was closed-end.[3] Each player role-played the leader of a dwarf or orc army.[2][a]
The game map comprised 550 hexagons of varying terrain.[3] It also included structures which could be looted.[3] Combat and intrigue (spying) were elements of gameplay.[3] Players were assigned victory points when "all of the castles, temples, and towers have been looted".[3] Victory points came from the order of final standings as well as a player ranking highest in various areas such as wealth.[3]
Reviews
Mike Drew reviewed the game in a 1983 issue of Nuts & Bolts of PBM. He praised its simple gameplay but found aspects of the rules lacking. In general, he "found Loot the Castle to be an enjoyable game".[3] Bob McLain reviewed the game in a 1983 issue of PBM Universal. He stated that "Although simple, Loot the Castle succeeds in its small way and deserves more publicity and players than it's gotten."[2]