{{short description|1984 fantasy play-by-mail game}} {{italic title}} {{Infobox game | name = ''Landlords'' | subtitle = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | width = | label_width = | other_names = | AKA = | manufacturer = | designer = | publisher = Quest Computer Services | years = 1984 to unknown | genre = Fantasy | language = English | system = Computer-moderated | players = | setup_time = | playing_time = Fixed | random_chance = | materials = Instructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil | media_type = Play-by-mail | website = | footnotes = }} '''''LandLords''''' is a fantasy play-by-mail game that was published by Quest Computer Services, beginning in 1984. The game was a computer moderated, closed-end game with the goal to retrieve treasures from castles in a medieval setting. The game received generally positive reviews in periodicals of the period, with specific mentions of its combat, maps, and low error rates on turn sheets.

==Development and gameplay== ''LandLords'' was a computer moderated play-by-mail game in which players compete to find the three treasures in the vaults of the 30 castles located in a barbaric land.<ref name="SG"/> The goal of the game was to be the first player to return three treasures to your fortress.<ref name=Horn>Horn 1985. p. 8.</ref>

In 1985, the game had six maps available for players to choose from: Africa, Appalaccia, England, Europe, the Holy Land, and North America.<ref name=Horn/> Maps were updated every turn to aid players in planning their gameplay.<ref name=Horn/>

At the outset of the game, players had two computer-generated "tactical maps" with villages, castles, towers, and country locations to help plan the fortunes of the single country at their disposal.<ref name=Horn/> Players needed to manage a number of possessions and variables such as caravans, fortresses, and peasants to affect outputs such as gold income and food available.<ref name=Horn/> Advancing further into the game introduced additional elements, such as combat involving caravans and villages, as well as dragons which had "artifacts" that could aid players.<ref name=Horn/>

Orion Scott reviewed the game ''BattleLords'' in the January 1992 issue of ''Flagship'', noting that it was upgraded from ''LandLords'', which had been reviewed in issue #5 of ''Flagship''.<ref>Scott 1992. p. 35.</ref>

==Reception== Richard Derham reviewed ''LandLords'' in ''The Space Gamer'' No. 76.<ref name="SG">Derham 1985. p. 45.</ref> Derham commented that "''LandLords'' is slow-paced at the start, but it stands the test of time. And for those seeking combat, there's plenty of chance for that in the mid-game. A good addition to the family of PBM."<ref name="SG"/>

Michael Horn reviewed the game in the Nov/Dec 1985 issue of ''Paper Mayhem'', a magazine for play-by-mail gamers, commenting positively on the ease of use the turn sheets, the fact that he had zero errors in sixteen turns of play (a first in nine years of PBM gameplay), simple rules, and maps which were "the best [he'd] seen in any game".<ref name=Horn/> Yet Horn thought the game was challenging enough for a wide range of players.<ref name=Horn/>

==See also== * List of play-by-mail games

==References== {{reflist}}

==Bibliography== * {{cite magazine|last=Derham |first=Richard |date=Sep–Oct 1985 |title=Capsule Reviews|magazine=Space Gamer|publisher=Steve Jackson Games|issue=76|page=45|ref=Der85}} * {{Cite magazine |last= Horn |first= Michael |date=November–December 1985 |title= Landlords — A Review |magazine= Paper Mayhem |number=15|page= 8 |ref=Hor85}} * {{cite magazine |last= Scott|first= Orian |title= BattleLords|magazine= Flagship |date=January 1992 |page= 35|number=35|ref=Sco92}}

==Further reading== * {{cite magazine |last= Horn|first= Michael |title= Winning at Landlords|magazine= Paper Mayhem|date=September–October 1986 |page= 16|number=20}} * {{cite magazine |last= Kelly|first= John W. Jr. |title= Landlords: A Game Where Planning is Everything|magazine= Paper Mayhem|date=September–October 1986 |pages= 14–15|number=20 }} * {{cite magazine |last= Tackett|first= Greg |title= Landlords: Playtest Review|magazine= Flagship|number=5 |date=Winter 1984|page= 29|ref=Tac84}}

{{Play-by-mail games}} Category:American games Category:American role-playing games Category:Fantasy role-playing games Category:Multiplayer games Category:Play-by-mail games Category:Strategy games Category:Wargames