We’ve been blown away by the fantastic reception to the game, culminating in the Origin Award nomination for the best RPG of 2011. Thanks for your support; it means a huge amount to us. If you haven’t seen it already, check out Words of the Wise, the free PDF adventure we released as a thank-you to everyone playing the game.

The design team has been hard at work on the supplements, as well as developing our plans for the game. We originally envisaged the game as a series of core sets interspersed with smaller supplemental releases, but while we were preparing material for the second core set, we realised that we would be repeating more information than we had expected. That didn’t sit right with us – both Cubicle 7 and Sophisticated Games strongly believe in producing quality games that give gamers value for money. The last thing we wanted was to leave people thinking that they had to buy the same information again just to get the new content. We also realised that moving away from the core set structure would give us a greater degree of freedom with our releases, and that we would be able to cover more areas of Middle-earth and playable cultures sooner.

So, we decided to keep the The One Ring: Adventures over the Edge of the Wild slip case as the core set for the game, and release supplemental material in sourcebook-sized chunks.

The current 2012 schedule is:

Tales from Wilderland - Adventure anthology playable as a campaign - May/June*

The One Ring Dice Set - Seven dice in hard plastic box - May/June*

Loremaster’s Screen and Laketown Sourcebook - Heavy duty screen, and information about the busiest city in the North, including a new playable culture: the Men of the Lake - July/August*

The Darkening of Mirkwood - epic campaign sourcebook and adventures spanning over thirty years - August

Rivendell (title TBC) - core supplement introducing 'unique' cultures: Rangers of the North and Rivendell Elves. Includes material on The Last Homely House, the surrounding areas, magical artefacts, and more - Autumn

* Shipping can sometimes be subject to delays causing the two-month release windows.

We’ll keep you up-to-date on the schedule as we confirm more titles. The books will be available for pre-order as soon as they are approved and go to print.

We are delighted to announce that Tales from Wilderland has just been approved, and the pre-order is now live at http://shop.cubicle7store.com/epages/es113...roducts/CB71003.

Our pre-orders also include the PDF of the book, which will be sent out as soon as it is ready in a week or so.

The dice sets are also now available for pre-order, and will being shipping in 4-6 weeks. It turns out that shipping dice sets is much more expensive than the equivalent weight in books – wrestling with this is part of the reason that the dice haven’t been available sooner. The result is that it costs about the same to send three sets as one, so you’ll find it more cost-effective to order three and split them with your group – take a look at the options:

1 set: http://shop.cubicle7store.com/epages/es113347.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es113347_shop/Products/CB71002a

3 sets: http://shop.cubicle7store.com/epages/es113...oducts/CB71002b

Thanks again for your enthusiasm and support, we’ll be back with another update next month.


Francesco Nepitello, Robert Hyde and Dominic McDowall-Thomas

I really loved 3-core idea. I have bad feelings about these news, even when I'm happy with next releases. I hope you don't forget what was expected in Errantries of the King and not included in Rivendel sourcebook: Men of Bree, Dwarves of Blue Mountains, Elves of Grey Havens, etc. My mind should fit the new form of publishing, whatever, I will keep my support for The One Ring!

Though I am happy with the move away from the three core set idea, I am concerned that this will extend the necessary life of the line before it covers all the basic PC options. Initially, we were looking at two years.

After Rivendell, I hope Eriador gets covered in a single book and Rohan and Gondor in one or two.

Hi, Dominic.

I'm having a geek-out moment here. I feel like a kid asking, Is it Christmas yet?? This all great news. Thank you and Francesco Nepitello and every one at Cubicle and Sophisticated Games for such a great Middle Earth RPG.

I just pre-ordered Tales from Wilderland and an extra dice set -- Very happy to give you my business.

Question: Doesn't the removal of the two other planned sets make the title of the Core Set (The Adventures Over the Edge of the Wild) a misnomer? Since, presumably, the game encompasses the whole of Middle Earth.

Given the core set's focus, I think that it is still an accurate subheading.

While I was fine with the 3 core idea, I was secretly wondering how it would be laid out (i.e. how much of the basic rules would be straight-up repeated, how things like traits and adversaries would be covered, etc.). I'd assumed that there was some master plan that I wasn't considering, hoping that there wouldn't be too much "repeat" material. That said, I'm really happy with your decision to abandon the 3 core idea because you recognize that the formatting wouldn't work like you'd hoped. It shows that the design team isn't stubborn about sticking to their original vision, but rather is working really hard to give us the best product that they can.

Another factor is simply the disproportionate spread of useable material (geographically speaking). Eriador is relatively sparsely populated, and as much as I like the idea of that region (with all of its unexplored lands and ancient ruins) I really couldn't see how it should be given equal coverage with the lands to the south, especially if all of Gondor is to be incorporated (Ithilien, Lebennin, Lamedon, etc.). Factoring Rohan in (and possibly/hopefully the Druadan) I could see the third core set trying to cover much more material than AOtEotW, and the second possibly trying to squeeze less material into a full core set. But that's just a first impression. I'm sure it could be done in some way, but making all future releases supplemental will make it that much easier.

Anyways, the current release schedule definitely looks solid, and I'm looking forward to each and every one of the new books!

Could you clarify this? Are you worried about too many books?

Rules-bloat is bad, but the Core set doesn't have that feel to it.

Personally, I see extending the game's production is a good thing.

With three core sets, you would presumably get 18 Cultures (6 in each). If this is split 1 or 2 per book as with Laketown or Rivendell, it will presumably need at least three times as many supplements.

Though I like lots of supplements too, extending PC information over so many books is practically difficult. It also concerns me as very few RPGs have the kind of lifespan that would cover so many books.

Hmm, well as far as I'm concerned the Men of the Lake culture is more of a "bonus" than anything. Just because Rivendell only has 2 cultures doesn't necessarily mean that's going to be the pattern going forward. The thing is, those are really the only two cultures that makes sense for a Rivendell book. I'm assuming that everything else related to Eriador will be contained in 1 or perhaps 2 other books (depending on how much ground they plan on covering, and whether Errantries of the King will become a campaign guide in the vein of Darkening of Mirkwood). For additional cultures I doubt we'd get more than Breelanders (Men and Hobbits), Elves of the Grey Havens, and Dwarves of the Blue Mountains in addition to the Rivendell cultures.

I can also envision a single southlands supplement that contains the Rohirrim, Druadan, possibly Elves of Lorien, and of course various Gondorians (or maybe just backgrounds for things like Men from Lebennin, Dol Amroth, Ithilien, etc). Other books would be a War of the Ring campaign setting, and perhaps some regional supplements (like Rivendell and Lake Town) for Minas Tirith, Rohan, and/or South Gondor.

Adventure books like Tales from Wilderland would be mostly unaffected by the core/supplement format.

In general, keeping in mind that the core sets were abandoned in order to avoid rules duplication, if anything I can see future supplements as having more room per book for different cultures. In any case, because the change in format seems to be a relatively recent development I'm sure that the design team is still ironing out how everything is going to be presented, which makes it tough to speculate about anything.

There is already rules duplication in the core set between the two books. Also, there is the curious organization of splitting rules between the two books so that the combat section in one is incomplete (for example, there are many more). I find this annoying running a game and trying to remember which combat section is that rule in?

So I'm glad that the core sets were abandoned in order to avoid rules duplication. It is my hope that they revise Adventures over the Edge of the Wild into a better organized set of books -- or book.

Me, too!!!

I, as well.

I really find the division of both combat and task mechanics to be suboptimal; I'd have minded it far less if the content of the PB for those was ALSO in the LMB.

But, it isn't, and so book-swapping is essential.

I agree. There is concern, but the future is not certain. I think the sourcebook following Rivendell will be telling as to how the approach is going to pan out. But as you say the rest of Eriador only really needs another couple of Cultures to cover it - Men of Bree and maybe Dwarves of the Blue Mountains. Hobbits of the Shire have been covered and Rivendell Elves should be pretty close to Grey Haven Elves IMO

I know I stand against the tide here, but I for one like the two book split, or at least the idea behind it i.e. to keep GM only rules in the LMB and shared player focussed rules in the AB.

The problem is that the idea behind it was not adhered to so it causes confusion. To give examples, the split for Encounters and Journeys is cool but the split for Combat is not.

I'm not against the two book split. Many rpgs have been organized in that manner. It's just my opinion that the execution (that is to say, the organization) needs much improvement.

Take the Player's Handbook and the Dungeon Master's Guide as the easiest example of organization. I'm taking about pre 4th edition as I don't own the 4E books so I can't speak to their organization.

The mechanics of the game should be all together in one book. There should be one chapter on Combat and it should include ALL the combat rules. The same for Encounters, and Journeys, Fellowship Phase and so on. That should be in the Adventurer's Book along with character creation.

The Loremaster's Book should contain mechanics and information on The Shadow and Corruption, the adversaries, setting information, and the obligatory "How to be a Loremaster, how to narrate in Tolkien's Middle-Earth" information.

So, taking the D&D example, you're flipping through the PHB to find an answer to a rule's question on the fly and once you find the chapter you need, everything is there. Instead of flipping through the AB, finding the chapter realizing it's not there, flipping through the LM. It makes no sense to organize the books in this way. It's not user-friendly.

All of this is not to say that I don't LOVE this game. I LOVE it. I just wish the organization had been better. It's my one and only criticism. The game is genius. Hands down the BEST Middle Earth RPG and possibly the BEST RPG system period.

As I posted on another thread, I would really like to see a single book (or pair) collecting all of the rules together in one place. Obviously publication of this will need to wait until the bulk of the. Supplements have been released. There is no point in releasing a core rules document if it doesn't contain all the core rules. It could also be a living PDF or other electronic format document.

I remember well the frustrations of games that spread rules, character types, etc, etc through out the whole corpus of published works with no comprehensive index and rules in earlier publications often superseded by rules in later publications.

I like that idea, too.

Really, tho' the biggest thing for the PDF side would be a "printer-friendly" version - no background yellow. I've not poked around with a PDF editor to see if I can zipyank the background image out... but I did that with several other games in the past to make a much reduced ink version.

Complete guess, but you're looking at either TOR v2.0 (whether a real second edition or just a revision) or some kind of rulebook amalgamation product. Either way, my guess is you're looking at a minimum of 2 years from now. Once several products have been released, tested and found wanting in those tiny ways that can only be revealed under real-gaming conditions.

My own guess is that we aren't going to see a rules compilation! Not even of there is a TOR2. Though it would be convenient for a player, there is little reason for C7 to release such a product.

One good reason for such a product is, as Agents of Gaming did with B5Wars, because you can move them to distribution just before your license expires, and close out the product line with a final bang!

True. Hopefully, we are many years away from that eventuality.

The main reason for C7 to issue such a product would be TOR enjoying both massive popularity and great growth in the number of rules.

The first is to be hoped for.

The second, not so much. By growth in the number of rules I do not mean things like character options for new Cultures, or an expanded Bestiary. I mean new rules mechanics for things that will occur often and apply broadly across the sole game, combat options, magic and spells, poisons, that sort of thing.

An expansion to include the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains is just fine to have only in the sourcebook covering he Blue Mountains.

I was thinking also of having the rules systems which are currently split across the two volumes of the core set integrated into a single volume. A TOR SRD if you will. The whole concept is a blue sky idea at this point. Years away from any need.

There is a need, and quite at the present, tho'...

the current split pattern makes it harder to grasp and to run tasks and combat, by splitting important elements of a given chapter across the two books. If nothing else, a revised LM book with the combat and task mechanics of the players book added in (but no CGen materials) would be a major improvement in utility and ease of learning to run the game.

not a pressing need, mind, but present already.

Given the problems, costs and logistics, of releasing a second version of the core rulebook early on in the RPGs life, I would say its more a "nice to have" than a need. But I am guessing that its just semantics.

Personally I really like the two book split. The players have all the rules they need in the AB and the LM "only" rules are in the LMB. Only combat section fails to carry out the intention IMO as some rules the players need are in the LMB. The rest of the split has actually enhanced my game YMMV

Loving the Trailers BTW C7 for Tales from Wilderland, but cough up the book already!

Hi everyone! The PDF version of Tales from Wilderland is now available at http://www.rpgnow.com/product/101038/The-One-Ring---Tales-from-Wilderland?filters=0_0_0_0_0&manufacturers_id=54&affiliate_id=169435 ://http://www.rpgnow.com/product/10103...iate_id=169435

If you pre-ordered the book, you should have a download code in your inbox - if not, please check your spam filter and, if it's not there, get in touch with us at info at cubicle7.co.uk

I pre-ordered but I never got my download code. I emailed nfo at cubicle7.co.uk but it looks I"ll have to wait until tomorrow because I'm in the States (east coast) and it looks like it's almost 10 PM in the UK. Sucks.

Those two statements are inconsistent.

There are many instances of mechanics being split between two books. The One Ring does take a more unusual approach and I can understand why people dislike it, especially as I think it got muddled in the combat chapter.

However, as said, I like the way Interaction and Journeying is split. To give an exmaple, the Journey chapter in the AB gives everything the players need to make their decision and use their skills for a Journey. The LMB gives only LM specific tools on how to adjudicate those decisions. This helps maintain a clear divide that I have found of benefit in play. As the players don't know the LM mechanics behind the scenes they make their decisions more naturally. Also, they aren't overburdened with rules they don't use. I don't see this as any different from having rules for Corruption and Adversaries in the LMB.

As said, I agree that the combat chapter is muddled, but I think that had it not been so, this issue would have been less of an issue.

Dom --- thanks so much for the code! And thanks Jon for jumping in as well. Great customer service.

They are not inconsistent. The core mechanics of how to play the game should be all together divided by chapter in one place, not spread out among many chapters in two books (sometimes, in different chapters of the same book).

The Loremaster Book should contain information and mechanics on the Shadow and adversaries because those things are LM specific. You won't find Monster Manual stuff in the PHB (for example).

I simply disagree. All the rules for things like Interaction and Journeying should be in one place, in one chapter, in one book.

I understand what you are saying. However, the place where you are drawing the line is not as clear cut as it may appear to be. This is especially true when you move past "that's how its been done in the past" and actually look at how rules are split.

For example, in D&D 1e, the DMG contained most of the combat rules and the 'to hit' tables. The PHB only contained the rules needed for the player to make decisions in combat but nothing more. The rest were considered to be DM specific rules in application, much like monsters and corruption.

Why put rules for Wisdom and Callings in the AB but Corruption and Shadow in the LM? How is that different from putting rules for Interaction skills in the AB but rules for adjudicating Encounters in the LMB?

Again, I agree that TOR got this split muddled in places, but I actually think the idea behind the split in TOR is actually one of the most appropriate I have seen. All player rules are in the AB. The LMB contains all the additional rules only the LM uses.

I'm not stuck in the past. I'm only giving an easy example. I love how TOR is nothing like D&D -- it's better than D&D in my opinion, better on so many levels.

If I had the books in front of me I could find many examples of a rule being in the weirdest place, not at all where you would expect it. Sometimes, it's in two places. There's a lot of flipping pages, hunting for answers to rules questions. That's my only complaint. Other than that I love this game. It is the only RPG I'm playing at the moment.

Agree to disagree. Moving on.

No probs. I was not saying you were stuck in the past, just giving one example of many which you also raised.

FWIW I agree with you that the result in TOR was muddled, I just disagree that the intention was muddled.

At first I hated the idea of 3 core box-sets. But then I grew to love the idea.

With that said, I'm cool with the new release plans. I just think the core box-set name is kinda pointless now. I hope they re-release it at some point and just call it One Ring Core Set. The sub-title just looks really odd.

I'm hoping they eventually do a Bestiary and a Magic/Items/Weapons book as well. I'm really glad to see campaign books on the horizon.

Please include nice maps with the future supplements like the core set maps!

I've got to say that The One Ring is one of the most impressive (and more importantly, playable) RPGs that I've seen in the last few years. Possibly, of the last 20 years - although much will depend on how it evolves with supplemental support.

I was actually kinda pleased that they dropped the multiple core sets model. It obviously worked for White Wolf in previous times, and in the newer 40KRP games - but both of these offer substantially different games in the same settings. I'm not convinced that TOR would really want to do that. That is, the default gameplay being based around journeys and adventure would essentially be the same each time - all that you'd be expanding on is geography, culture and the timeline. That can be handled well with straight supplements.

If they were going to do a second printing, or the like, they might address some of the criticisms about organization by including a more vigorous index, and maybe consider releasing both books as a single hardback volume. Some of the gameplay aid 'cheat sheets' that we've seen on this site would be good additions too. I do really like the slipcase, as it stands, but these are just suggestions - the dice and maps (as part of a whole map set supplement) could be sold separately.

Agreed.

Having been in the hobby since c. 1990, I don't know if I'm ever been this impressed with a game. The only thing I can compare it to is the thrill I had opening the old West End Games Star Wars RPG, but I was also 12 at the time, and frankly didn't know from good vs. bad games.

That said, WEG's SW RPG has remained my all-time favourite game. After 20+ years, TOR might just dislodge it, though. I love TOR and WEG's SW for much the same reason: for me, both really capture the feel of their respective universes.

I think the TOR system is related in some ways to the old WEG system - except the use of a d12 rather than the 'Wild Die' D6. The system is more evolved with storytelling mechanics, however - the use of Attributes as booster scores with the application of a Hope Point is a really neat touch.

Moreover, like d6 Star Wars, the TOR designers seemed to know exactly the tone and style of game they wanted to focus on and built it up from that basis. Pendragon was also cited as an inspiration, and that relationship is plain to see too (especially with the emphasis on prolonged campaigns and seasonal play). The final inspiration, in my view comes from Vampire: The Masquerade - primarily in the manner of presentation (cultural splats and dot-based character sheets).

All that said, we could cite influences all day - the basic truth is that the presentation of the game is visually stunning, and the gameplay really appealing. I've yet to meet a gamer (or even a non-gamer) that it hasn't sparked an interest from, upon casual browsing ("I want to play that!")

I'm in love with my core rulebooks. They're nice (also smelling real nice lol), artwork is just amazing and I really like the game system. I was really happy with the relase of "Words of the Wise" and it is really great to have an adventure anthology releasing soon. I'll definitely pre-order it.

But I wish to know what is this "Darkening of Mirkwood" is about. Is it a area sourcebook for Mirkwood or an adventure? What does "epic campaign sourcebook mean?" For high levels? I wonder who do the players kill at the end of that "epic campaign".

"Words of the Wise" is just great a simple, low fantasy, story from Middle Earth, it's just great. I hope they do not ruin it with that "epic" campaign. Sorry I just hate the word "epic". It's really over used by game designers in Video Games industry.

Also can't wait for the LM screen (imagine it's artwork lol) and other books!

Keep up the good work, Cubicle 7

I believe what they mean by "epic" is that the campaign spans thirty years of game time. A thirty year campaign would be a good case for epic. After all Odyssey only covers a ten year span.

Darkening of Mirkwood is a book covering a 30+ year period in which the Nazgul return to Dol Guldur and set up the base for the forces that eventually burn Lothlorien. It won't be straight adventures like Tales from Wilderland but rather a list of events, people and hooks over that period. If any book deserves the word 'epic', this should be it.