First Age RPG

[Antoine]

Hi

Just a note to say I've just finished GMing a Tolkien themed role playing game set in the First Age. It was a lot of fun.

Anyone else do much Tolkien role playing?

A.

[Nick]

Hi

Just a note to say I've just finished GMing a Tolkien themed role playing game set in the First Age. It was a lot of fun.

Anyone else do much Tolkien role playing?

A.

No (never really got into role playing), but tell us more - I know way more about the First Age than is healthy, and seeing someone else's involvement would make me feel more normal...

[HallucinationMushroom]

My friends and I would play Rolemaster pretty regularly but I haven't played in a few years now. Our campaign was set in the fourth age and didn't make much sense, but I had fun rolling on the critical tables which were very detailed. Some of my favorites would sound like this ..."Blow smashes foe's forehead, foe's eyes are destroyed and foe will die from severe brain damage in 3 rounds after writhing like jelly, +30 to your next attack, carry on". I found a treasure trove of MERP and Rolemaster manuals and books at scribd.com that are still there that you might find useful or interesting.

Middle Earth Roleplaying books:

http://www.scribd.com/document_collections/2410241

[Shockbolt]

I used to both play and be a GameMaster for many years, unfortunately we stopped playing a long while ago as people moved to different parts of the country, and we never seemed to be able to get the bunch all together for a weekend-marathon again. I got hooked on pen/paper/dice roleplaying as a kid, when I was introduced to the MERP/Middle-Earth roleplaying system, then the step to the more advanced Rolemaster system was short. I've created my fair shared of fantasy worlds and campaigns in them, an experience I still draw upon when I paint and create fantasy stuff today. Damn, it would be fun to still be able to rpg using the rolemaster system

[Antoine]

I know way more about the First Age than is healthy

I'm sure you do!

The story takes place 50-100 years before the Dagor Bragollach. The first group of characters are primitive Men who have come west over Ered Luin. Unfortunately, they head too far south and wander into Taur-im-Duinath. On the way they find the body of a Noldor warrior (who was going east to help guide the race of Men, but was ambushed by orcs) and burn it on a pyre with all the ceremony they can muster.

It then turns out that the players have a second group of characters, who are Noldor of high rank. Travelling east, they find the pyre and are puzzled that barbaric Men would have behaved in such a civilised way. They decide to track the Men into Taur-im-Duinath and find out more about them.

Of course the dark woods are full of all kinds of bad guys and mayhem ensues. Needless to say the Eldar are far more capable than the Edain and the two groups deal with challenges in a completely different way.

I didn't use a fancy role playing system, rather a simple hand rolled one. Primary stats are Melee, Missile, Endurance, Agility, Woodcraft, Wisdom and Magic. Condition indicators are Fatigue (Rested, Exercised, Fatigued to Exhausted), Wounds (Healthy, Wounded, Maimed to Dead), and Destiny (Carefree, Forewarned, Ill-fated to Doomed).

A.

[Nick]

That sounds really cool.

[Antoine]

That sounds really cool.

Well, I enjoyed it but then I'm a Tolkien buff. I always feel bummed when people say the Silmarillion is boring, because for me the Wars of Beleriand are a real "ripping yarn". So much happens in so few pages!

A.

[Nick]

Well, I enjoyed it but then I'm a Tolkien buff. I always feel bummed when people say the Silmarillion is boring, because for me the Wars of Beleriand are a real "ripping yarn". So much happens in so few pages!

A.

I love the description of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad - probably proves I'm some kind of masochist. As if any more proof was needed.