One thing that I think would be very useful would be a Battle Aid.

I see this as an A3 sized piece of paper which you can place on the table that records combat detail and provides a reference to certain rules.

Does anyone with visual/layout want to undertake this task?

The way I see it is that you want the main part to be four areas for Stances, allowing each PC to be represented by some kind of token. I think a pie slice would look best with Close Stance being in the narrow end and Rearward being on the wider end.

In faded out text in each Stance segment could be a summary of the non-combat task.

Also, I think that the ratio of 1 Rearward to 2 Melee should be placed just under the pie slice.

Outside of the pie slice, summaries of combat advantages and engagement rules could be listed at the bottom of the sheet.

Thoughts?

This is a good idea. I think I will be more inclined to use cards for each player indicating their stance (and resultant stats) that they could place in front of them to show their actions. Then, next to the cards could be placed monster tokens (if it really seems needed) so that we all can keep track of which enemies are bearing down on which PCs.

Cards could work well, though you may not have be able to sumamrise a couple of the more general rules that I think may be helpful, like engagement.

That's what I was referring to by using the Monster Tokens (or figs).

Cool. Sorry I was thinking more of the rules for choosing engagements rather than the engagements themselves

I tinkered with pasting all of the tables in the books onto a few sheets, but I didn't like the final product... I am going to have to revise it.

However, I absolutely agree that a combat crib sheet would be helpful to LMs in the beginning... As well as a Journey crib sheet, and an Encounter crib sheet, and a Fellowship Phase crib sheet...

I've been tinkering with an idea an old D&D 4e GM used to use that I once played with. You can get these circles from craft stores....foamy like colored circles....and you place them under your mini to indicate what stance you are in currently.

Red = Forward
Green = Open
Blue = Defensive
Purple = Rearward

I am desperately looking for the kinds of crib sheets listed above for combat, journeys, fellowship phase, etc.

PLEASE if you make any or find any please link here.

Does anyone use Maptool?

I use a laptop plugged into a LCD tv used in split screen mode.

I start the Maptool Server and Client on the same laptop and drag the client out to the Tv for the players. This allows the GM/LM to keep secret things out of view of the players, notes, hidden monsters etc.

You can display maps and player tokens to be moved by the players

In MERP I have "Information" tokens along the side of the map that has any information I might need to access at a click.

The Player's tokens could be given different colored "halos" indicating stances and even had health bars that are adjustable.

I am not very far along in TOR yet to offer much more than this.
But maptool could be used online in lieu of a play-by-mail system as well

I think I'm just going to go with crib sheets for players, and keep track of everything as the LM. I'm glad this game doesn't have the need for large play spaces and maps and miniatures. I wouldn't want it to turn into a tactical combat board game, as many rpgs appear to.

I have made a prototype combat card for putting under miniatures for my first game tonight, but don't have a webpage or know how to upload to the forum without a link!

Is it possible to add an image (or PDF) without weblink?

If you don't find a place you could consider using MERP.com and upload it there.
There is a "Documents" tab that allows you to upload things like this

The site is undergoing rennovations but I just checked it and it's online