Terra II (game)

*Terra II*
Publishers	Clemens & Associates
Years active	~1983 to unknown
Genres	play-by-mail
Languages	English
Playing time	Unlimited
Materials required	Instructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil
Media type	Play-by-mail or email

Terra II is a open-ended, play-by-mail (PBM) wargame published by Clemens & Associates.

History and development

Terra II was a tribal-based play-by-mail game published by Clemens & Associates of San Clemente, CA.^[1]^[2] The game was computer moderated and open-ended.^[2]

Gameplay

The game's setting was the medieval period.^[3] Its map comprised 10-mile hexes with 22 types of terrain.^[4] In the game, players led tribes displaced by an ice age.^[2] Available tribe actions included "herding, hunting, weapon making, mining, and most of the other actions that would be found in a medieval period".^[2] The game featured realistic and detailed combat.^[2] Player could choose from a variety of paths, including exploration, trading and economics, combat, and business pursuits.^[3]

Reception

William Callaway reviewed the game in a 1984 issue of Paper Mayhem. He stated that the only game drawback related to its complexity which "may only appeal to the most sophisticated and experienced PBM gamers".^[3] John Rees reviewed the game in a 1984 issue of Flagship, stating, "I recommend this game with slight hesitation", pointing to a preference toward more active closed-end games.^[5] In a later 1984 issue of Flagship, John Muir stated, "this is an excellent, fast-paced game with moderate charges".^[6] The editor of the U.S. edition of Flagship, Tim Sullivan, reviewed Terra II in a 1988 issue of the D2 Report. He stated that it was "one of the most realistic and reliable tribal clan simulations around".^[7]

References

^ McLain 1983. p. 31.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Callaway 1984. p. 5.
^ ^a ^b ^c Callaway 1984. p. 6.
^ Rees 1984. p. 8.
^ Rees 1984. p. 9.
^ Muir 1984. p. 7.
^ Sullivan 1988. p. 30.

Bibliography

Callaway, William (July–August 1984). "A Game Review... Feature: Terra – II". Paper Mayhem. No. 7. pp. 5–6.
Frink, Chris (June–July 1984). "Terra II review". Fantasy Gamer. No. 6. pp. 32–33.
Harlee, Jack (Autumn 1987). "A Strategy for Terra II". Flagship. No. 16. pp. 46–47.
McLain, Bob (November–December 1983). "Gamealog". PBM Universal. No. 1. pp. 27–33.
Muir, John (Autumn 1984). "Advanced Terra II". Flagship. No. 4. pp. 4–7.
Rees, John (Spring 1984). "Terra II". Flagship. No. 2. pp. 8–9.
Sullivan, Tim (February–March 1988). "From the Helm". D2 Report: The Play-by-Mail Gamer's Reading Companion. No. 15. pp. 29–30.