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I'm considering running a long epic campaign set in Middle-Earth using Cubicle 7's "The One Ring".
I'd be looking for players who A) love Middle-Earth both as setting as a particular "feel" or "flavor", who are dedicated to getting the feeling right; and B) are okay with not sticking rigidly to canon.
I don't care if you're a Tolkien expert or not, but you should pass if your only familiarity with Middle-Earth is the movies (Jackson, Bakshi or Rankin-Bass). I also don't care if you're familiar with "The One Ring"; I'll teach the rules.
Fair Warning: I have no interest in telling a small cozy story about local heroes in Dale. You will be thrust into a large-scale epic tale about saving the world... just not from the One Ring.
If you're interested, please indicate so and tell me why you'd be interested. No characters, please.
And remember that this is just an interest check. I've a long way to go to make this campaign a reality.
Dotting for interest Tarondor.
Why? - I'm a longtime fan of Middle Earth - MERP and Rolemaster we staple systems in my halcyon days of youth, and any chance to immerse myself back into Tolkien's lands and rich cultures would be heartily welcomed :)
Always hankered to play a Drúedain of some description as I never explored the race with MERP and RM...
While I have zero familiarity with Cubicle 7's One Ring system - I've had a wee scout into it and flavour and crunch look very different and interesting.
Cheers
BD
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Big time interest here as well. Loved the movies, but loved the books even more... even finished the Silmarillion, though I had to listen to it on tape to keep awake. Also, lived through and still possess most of the ICE Middle Earth stuff.
Love the way that Tolkien makes Dwarves, and would love to play a Tolkien Dwarf. I do have the One Ring core book, and a couple of expansions, but have never really delved into them. Also, have the new 5th edition stuff they've just put out, and I'm impressed with those as well.
(waves to Scranford) Hail and well met old friend :)
On an aside Tarondor - know you mentioned teaching the rules, but I'm not averse to purchasing systems that I play here on the boards. Have done it with M&M and Iron Kingdoms.
I'm interested. I enjoyed the books and movies. The world is one of my favorites. I've got several years playing Lord of the Rings Online under my belt so I'm used to not quite cannon to tell epic stories. I liked it so much I co-hosted a podcast about the game for almost four years.
Extremely interested. I love Middle Earth and Tolkien. I'm not familiar with "TheOne Ring", but I enjoy learning new games.
Very interested. I've only ever played one Lord of the Rings game on here, but I loved playing my Elven character so much. Long time fan of Tolkien's books and the movies based on the books. I adore Tolkien's Elves. If I have to learn a new system and rules, I'm okay with that. And the more epic, the better! Something to truly sink my teeth into. :)
It occurs to me that some of you may not even know what "The One Ring" is. I've only got a moment, so this can't be too long.
In short, most games bearing the "Middle-Earth label" (including Middle-Earth Role Playing (MERP) by Iron Crown Enterprises, The Lord of the Rings Adventure Game, also by ICE, and The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game by Decipher Inc.) have been traditional role-playing games with a few "Lord of the Rings" related rules. They never really felt like Middle-Earth.
The One Ring by Cubicle 7 isn't perfect, but it is built from the ground up to feel like Middle-Earth. Its basic mechanics are simple, and revolve around Hope and Shadow, Wisdom and Virtue. It's really very well done, and the supplements are of top-notch quality.
Interestingly, Cubicle 7 also has out a second Middle-Earth RPG built specifically for D&D 5E. I know nothing about it, but feel that The One Ring is the game for Middle-Earth fans. The "Rivendell" supplement has a 98% score at ENWorld, which I think is the highest ever.
Anyway, that's the short version.
I picked up the PDFs for The One Ring in a Bundle of Holding a while back. I'll download the PDF and read up on it. It's been on my someday/maybe list for a while.
I am beyond interested. I've run TOR games for friends and love the game. I do generally avoid the Traveling rules, instead using homebrew systems to determine if anything happens on the road. But I dig the heck out of the game and have all the PDFs and many of the physical books
Can you share your homebrew system, EW?
I'll have to dig through my stuff...I wrote it down by hand and moved so it's in a box but I'll be happy to. I'll search it down over the weekend. If I can find it I also had a list of magic items for the campaign with full names, regions of creation, names of smiths and all that that you're welcome to.
I would definitely be interested in playing TOR system and giving it a good try. I adore using new systems and seeing how they work and like many, the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings were one of the first fantasy books I ever had a chance to read.
A lot of games try to capture the feeling and theme but to actually be within the setting and themes would be amazing. I have no idea what I'd play but I would love to play for sure.
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Okay, it looks like we have some interest.
I'm deciding among four different plot (in three different Ages)(I wish I could run them all). Once I get something together, I'll PM everyone who noted an interest. No promises and no time frame, but suffice it to say that it's much on my mind.
Thanks, everyone!
Put me on that list please:)
I would also agree that I prefer TOR to the 5e version.
So, Here's some more information on what I'm thinking.
I considered four very different campaigns:
1) Return of the Shadow - it's a classic, set in the early Fourth Age where the PCs begin to realize a vast conspiracy to undermine the United Realm and restore Mordor to greatness. There's a few big reveals that I don't want to spoil.
2) Find the Blue Wizards - Another classic, about the time of the War of the Ring or a little before, searching eastern Middle-Earth to seek help from the missing blue wizards (five wizards went to Middle-Earth - Gandalf, Saruman, Radagast, Alatar and Pallando. Alatar and Pallando went east and were never heard of again).
3) Isildur Rex - Set in the early Third Age Isildur doesn't die at the Gladden Fields and instead takes the One Ring and creates a powerful kingdom of Men, a kind of King Arthur's court with an evil cancer (the One Ring) at its core.
4) Apocalypse Now - At the time of the War of the Ring, the heroes learn of an even greater, more secret threat to Middle-Earth - a bid to bring about the Last Battle (Armageddon, Ragnarok, etc.) right now before the Valar are ready for it.
Others designed the first three, the last was my brainchild. However, the more I thought about it, the more my option felt more like being superheroes than being Sam and Frodo, or even Aragorn and Legolas. It had the mythological feel of the Silmarillion, but also the gonzo feel of a comic book. I kept thinking, this isn't Tolkien - it's Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. So, I decided against it. Although, Galactus as Morgoth -would- be interesting. :-)
Anyway... I've decided developing the Isildur Rex idea. History changes three thousand years before the War of the Ring. The One Ring is never lost. Gollum never finds it. Angmar never rises. Sauron, if he ever returns, won't do so for thousands of years. The kingdom of Arnor is like Numenor raised from the sea, and Isildur, now a few hundred years old, is hailed as the new Elros, the greatest king of Mankind. Fair, just, powerful and all-seeing, he sits in Annuminas amid splendor greater than anywhere in Middle-Earth. You, his loyal knights and advisors, are the heroes of the greatest realm ever seen by Men or Elves. Surely even the Valar are jealous of such magnificence!
Interested as well, if there's room. Have the One Ring core book set, just never had a chance to play it.
Isildur Rex sounds very interesting.
Well I may need to crack open my silmarillion and other tolkien bibles for this.
Return to shadow and Apocalypse now have me hooked.
My first choice would be Return of the Shadow, followed by Isildur Rex. I think either would be rather fun. While I do like the concept of Apocalypse Now, I feel that that would be better supported by a different game system.
I couldn't find my homebrew so I had to reconstruct it. I *think* I got everything. PM'ing you now.
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Interesting premise.
Not to push, but just to help us start thinking: Dunedain would be the obvious choice for "loyal knights and advisors", but I assume others could be worked in. Not really a novice out on their first adventure game though.
The various Cultures in at least the main One Ring book aren't really in place either - especially the human ones. We'll need new or reskinned mechanics. Not sure what else would be around for human Cultures.
Are hobbits known yet? This branches off long before the founding of the Shire - hobbits would likely still be in the Vales of Anduin, unless they'd moved or spread west and settled during Isildur's peace.
There would be elves in the Greenwood and in Rivendell. Dwarves in the Ered Luin and in Khazad-dum.
Oh. Is there a separate Gondor? Or is that also under Isildur? Seems likely it would be.
There are many cultures explored in the supplements. Reskinning those would work fine, I think. There are rules for the Noldor in the Rivendell supplement, for instance. The new Adventurer's Companion should have even more. I'm also thinking that a strain of prejudice against non-humans might be spreading.
Yes, the elves would be in all the usual places. Khazad-Dum is still a going concern, its doom nearly two millennia in the future. Galadriel would be in Lorien by that time, but Celebrian is married to Isildur, not Elrond. Thus, there is no Elladan, Elrohir or Arwen. Hobbits would possibly live in the Vales of Anduin, but nowhere west of the Misty Mountains.
Gondor is technically independent, but acknowledges Isildur as the High King. I'm thinking that Eärendil of Gondor (not his more famous ancestor Eärendil) is king of Gondor at this time.
I'm picturing Isildur's court as very much King Arthur's court before the Dolorous Stroke, but with a different evil lurking at its heart. Who will be true to their oaths? Who will turn away from the growing Shadow? What will happen to certain great figures as the Shadow grows?
I *would* be interested in playing through attempting to stem the tide or corruption of neo-Numenor
Assuming this becomes a thing, would you be using the material in the Adventurer's Companion?
I'm waiting for my copy, so I can't say yet.
I'll leave everything I've got about dwarves in the books on my plane flight tonight.
Cool. Would you be allowing advanced cultures (Elves of Rivendell and Rangers of the North)?
I know it's just an interest check so feel free to tell me to simmer down :p
I like the idea of playing a Noldor smith who is attempting to recreate the great works of her people.
Interested - I love Middle Earth, mostly because I love its cultural influences. Tolkein really and truly studied to make that setting what it is, gave it a life and flavor of Celtic, Norse, and Christian influence to make it awesome. I've always wished he'd done more to flesh out the Haradrim and Easterlings, but overall his work is something I love.
The Hobbit is a dear favorite of mine as far as books go. It was my number one favorite book when I was a kid, mostly because I loved the riddles and rhymes and songs, and I still love it more than I do the trilogy today. It feels like an adventure should, and it's definitely inspired me in my own writing. (I write as a hobby.)
So yeah, very interested. As far as characters go, I won't offer up any builds or the like, but I'd be happy playing a Hobbit, Dwarf, or one of the 'evil' races of men (Man of Umbar, Haradrim, Dunlander). Not sure if that's an option in the One Ring, but their cultures interest me.
Personally, I'd vote for either Return of the Shadow or Isildur Rex. I'm actually very against the 4th option - the last battle is too high powered in my opinion. I'd rather avoid that.
Inlaa; there's rules for Dunlendings in the Adventurer's Companion.
Inlaa, the game is going to be Isildur Rex. The others were just me commenting on my process. They're not options to be voted upon.
As a result, Umbarim and Haradrim aren't really options and I'm not seeing how Dunlendings would fit into the story, but I'm not saying no, either.
Realize that this is -not- the Recruitment thread, so beyond that I'm not going to comment on the feasibility of a character concept here.
EW, I don't really know what character creation will be like, yet. I'll try to keep your options open within the needs of the story.
At the moment, I'm thinking of no more than five to six players, the majority of whom will be dúnedain humans. Beyond that, I can think of ways to put other Middle-Men, elves (Silvan, Sindar or Noldor), dwarves and even hobbits into the story.
Oh, hah. I misread the last paragraph in that post. D'oh.
Anyway, I did say I'd be happy with Isildur Rex, so that's good news as far as I'm concerned. I'll keep an eye out for the recruitment thread.
And playing a Dunedain human is fine. If you make room for a potential Dunlander, Hobbit, or Dwarf application, that'd be cool too. I like the concept and am also a fan of Arthurian legend to some degree (again, another good inspiration for the style of writing I enjoy), so this all works out.
Those interested appear to be:
1) Black Dow
2) scranford
3) thejeff
4) CariMac
5) Eminem80
6) Ariarh Kane
7) Elegantly Wasted
8) WarForgedMan
9) Spazmodeus
10) James Keegan
11) Teiidae
12) Inlaa
More than enough for a game!
I'm sure more people will apply once a recruitment is up as well.
>.>
I'm not, like, getting together options or anything right now, no sir...
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Fair warnings:
1) I've been thinking about this for more than forty years, but never had the tools to do it. You might say I'm a wee invested in it. I love Middle-Earth more than I usually like to admit out loud. Reading The Lord of the Rings was for me like being struck with lightning, lightning that never receded. I'm not someone who can speak elvish, but I can tell you the names that Tolkien considered and then rejected for various characters in the Silmarillion.
2)I can be an acquired taste. Some people want to play in my games again and again. Others rage-quit in the first days (I had two over the weekend in the Dragon's Demand game I'm starting). I suspect the former stick with me because I am a nice guy and fair and am in it for the long haul. I suspect the latter can't leave fast enough because I insist that my players also be invested in the story -there are plenty of places for the casual gamer to go for a beer-and-pretzel game. I love my beer-and-pretzel games as a player, but not as a GM.
To be fair, the folks that quit my game quit because I requested a character have an actual name. The second quit because I then opened the game up to the general public for recruitment. So... I'm not really all that demanding.
Prior to that, the last person to rage-quit on me was a few years back. I committed the sin of asking for the players to clearly state what they planned to do (everyone had spent a week talking about what the characters -ought- to do, but no one was willing to say "I do 'X'.")
I have many games online here at Paizo. Feel free to check them out to see my style.
3) I plan to try to walk a fine line between adhering to Tolkien canon and smashing it over the head with a rock. Story comes first.
4) I'm busy. In addition to work and kids, I run a face-to-face Pathfinder campaign as well as five Play-by-Post campaigns here on Paizo (four Pathfinder, one Traveller). I also play in eleven PBP games here at Paizo (two are long-term campaigns while eight are short PFS games).
However, in the forty years I've been GMing RPG's, I've finished dozens of long-term campaigns, only once ending a long-term game before its time. So if you stick with me, I'll stick with you.
Sold!
I also play in eleven PBP games here at Paizo (two are long-term campaigns while eight are short PFS games)....
I am also apparently bad at math.
@Tarondor: Know you stated that you're thinking of 5-6 PCs max, am wondering if (given the epic scale) you might have those core PCs be members of Isildurs court, with a secondary tier being members/ambassadors/envoys of the lesser court (and most likely non-dúnedain)?
I'm very interested in the game concept, but playing a dúnedain - less so (and with the non-dúnedain slot[s] likely to be filled with other races of men, dwarves, elves and sneaky little hobbitses) the above might have merit (and keep things on a grand scale) whilst allowing for oddballs such as my drúedain a potential fit?
Course it could also be akin to herding a bag of tipsy cats!
My 2 rings worth :)
Speaking of rings... Are any of the PCs in possession of cursed rings, a la the nine rings that made the ring wraiths or anything like that?
Likewise, but given that we're heroes in his court, I wouldn't be surprised if we did.
@Tarondor: Know you stated that you're thinking of 5-6 PCs max, am wondering if (given the epic scale) you might have those core PCs be members of Isildurs court, with a secondary tier being members/ambassadors/envoys of the lesser court (and most likely non-dúnedain)?
I'm very interested in the game concept, but playing a dúnedain - less so (and with the non-dúnedain slot[s] likely to be filled with other races of men, dwarves, elves and sneaky little hobbitses) the above might have merit (and keep things on a grand scale) whilst allowing for oddballs such as my drúedain a potential fit?
Course it could also be akin to herding a bag of tipsy cats!
My 2 rings worth :)
As much as I might love to run a huge, sprawling game with a dozen or more PC's, I have neither the time nor the story for that. And if I did, this wouldn't be the one. I've run many different games (my Iron Gods game comes to mind) where it's the more, the merrier and any wacky concept is welcomed.
This is not that.
Despite derailing canon from the start, this has to -feel- like a story Tolkien could have written, from both the GM and the players. We all have to commit ourselves to telling a story that isn't an over-the-top D&D story with Middle-Earth trimmings, and while maybe a dedicated GM with little else to do could manage that with a dozen players, I'm sure I can't.
As to the party make up, my answer is similar. Of any game I have ever run, this is the one least tolerant of wacky character concepts. The Drúedain definitely fall into that category, although there is every chance that they will make an appearance somewhere in the story because I love the hairy little guys, too!
Having a majority of the party be Dúnedain is an absolute must for this tale. But between Silvan, Sindarin or Noldor elves from Lindon, Rivendell, Dol Amroth, Mirkwood or Lothlórien, dwarves from the Ered Luin, the Iron Hills or Khazad-dûm and hobbits from the Vales of Anduin as well as Middle Men from Eriador, Gondor or Rhovanion, I think there will be plenty of non-dúnedain choices.
Speaking of rings... Are any of the PCs in possession of cursed rings, a la the nine rings that made the ring wraiths or anything like that?
Not yet, no.
The Dúnedain could start with, effectively, a magic ring or some such by selecting the appropriate Cultural Reward, though it's not a Shadow-touched object...more likely it's of Numenorean make, an heirloom precious to their family.
Elves of Rivendell may start with a magic ring, and that one IS touched by the Shadow. It's one of the lesser rings forged by the Elven smiths and passed down through the Ages. Similarly a Cultural Reward.
A note to those interested: I am proceeding apace with planning. At the moment I have only a bare-bones idea of a campaign structure (more than an idea, less than a plot). I will alert you when I am ready.
Would elves of Lorien be available?
A note to those interested: I am proceeding apace with planning. At the moment I have only a bare-bones idea of a campaign structure (more than an idea, less than a plot). I will alert you when I am ready.
Glad to hear it. I'll keep watching this space.
As will I!
A note to those interested: I am proceeding apace with planning. At the moment I have only a bare-bones idea of a campaign structure (more than an idea, less than a plot). I will alert you when I am ready.
Take your time. I'll be watching and ready to prepare a character.
Me too.