Elric: Battle at the End of Time

Elric is a board wargame published by Chaosium in 1977, an update of a previous game simply titled Elric.[1]

Gameplay

Elric is a game about Elric of Melniboné, the central protagonist in a series of novels by Michael Moorcock. In each scenario of the game, players are assigned primary personalities from the novels, and then draw cards from a deck which may be used to "muster" other personalites and armies.[2]

The original 1977 edition came packaged in a ziplock bag with a rule book, a paper map and counters.[1]

In 1982, the rules were updated and revised, and the production values upgraded. The game now came packaged in a box, and included a 12-page rules folio, a 22" x 34" map, and 320 die-cut double-sided counters. The price was increased from $12 to $20.[1]

Reception

In the November–December 1977 edition of The Space Gamer (Issue No. 14), Neil Shapiro liked the game, saying, "Elric is more than a game. It is a very accurate, emotional representation of one of Fantasy literature's greatest sagas. It is a myth made real and brought to the gameboard. As an examination of one Cycle of Moorcock's Eternal Champion, it is unique. As a game, it has few equals."[2]

Gary Porter reviewed Elric for White Dwarf #6, giving it an overall rating of 7 out of 10, and stated that "Elric is a credit to its designer, publisher and original begetter. The lack of hexes on the map and the movement and replacement rules are very reminiscent of Russian Civil War - no bad thing. The original features: the magic cards, the battalia, the cosmic balance, etc., make this a fantasy game apart."[3]

Several years later, Patrick Amory re-reviewed Elric in the October 1980 edition of The Space Gamer (Issue No. 32), and judged that the game had held up over the past three years: "the first scenario is smooth-playing, pleasantly unpredictable, and entertaining. As it simulates very accurately the chaos and adventure of Elric's world, the game will appeal to Moorock fans."[4]

Murray Writtle reviewed Elric for White Dwarf #33, giving it an overall rating of 7 out of 10, and stated that "All in all an enjoyable game, recreating the books quite successfully, though a little slow to play and subject to a fair degree of chance."[5]

In the December 1982 edition of Dragon (Issue #68), Tony Watson reviewed the revised edition, and although he liked the new components, he found for a game of strategic army combat to be too simple, and questioned the replay value: "The rules for conducting these campaigns are simplistic and uninteresting... I found the play of the game to be a bit meandering and lacking direction. This is not a game that seems to have much replay value... If atmosphere were all that mattered, Chaosium would have a winner, but as it stands, Elric is basically a game that’s all dressed up with nowhere to go, recommended for die-hard Elric fans only."[1]

References
  1. Watson, Tony (December 1982). "New edition of Elric is best left to die-hard fans". Dragon. TSR, Inc. (68): 79–80.
  2. Shapiro, Neil (November–December 1977). "Reviews". The Space Gamer. Metagaming (14): 39–40.
  3. Porter, Gary (April–May 1978). "Open Box". White Dwarf. Games Workshop (Issue 6): 12–13.CS1 maint: date format (link)
  4. Amory, Patrick (October 1980). "Capsule Reviews". The Space Gamer. Steve Jackson Games (32): 25.
  5. Writtle, Murray (September 1982). "Open Box". White Dwarf. Games Workshop (Issue 33): 13.
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