Does anyone have any unofficial resources for playing Bree-landers, northern Ranger-types, etc. ?

Did a version of Ranger of the North: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7954177...the%20North.pdf

... Was going to put together a Bree Lander culture but non of my players were really interested so I ended up not bothering.

Is this what you were looking for?

http://cubicle7.clicdev.com/f/index.php?tr...&showtopic=4312

Though your players may not have cared for it, I believe that many here would be grateful if you posted it here.

Wow, I am definitely interested! Very well done.

Consider this snatched for our campaign!

- Sageryne

If I get some spare time I may revisit it, but like I said, no players were interested so I didn't work on it beyond some very embryonic ideas.

I don't blame them - playing a Breelander embryo does not sound appealing in the least.

Yes! Many thanks. Incidentally, I had already planned on using your Rohirrim write-up, so doubly thanks.

Awesome

I should point out that there is at least one other Rohirrim right up somewhere on here by.. Chrissett, I think. Overall opinion about our two pieces of work varies, but I thought it only fair to let you know should you prefer his

A few of their Virtues were linked to their incredible powers of diffusion and osmosis.

But can they see in the dark?

Only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Bree-hobbits, at least, should be very much like Shire-hobbits, just significantly less leery of strangers ('though still suspicious of strange ways). I imagine that the Big Folk of Bree would have a similar attitude. Outside of Hobbit-lands, Bree and the surrounding towns (Archet, Staddle and Combe) would be the most settled and agricultural communities in the North. This should be reflected in Cultural Blessing, Backgrounds, and Virtues. The following aren't fully developed ideas, but they might get you started:

Cultural Blessing - Bree-landers

- Eye for Details -
Bree-landers tend to be orderly and quickly notice when persons or things look out-of-place. Like the newly arrived stranger with the queer accent. Blamed if he isn't an Easterling. Or maybe one of them Harad-folk from yon South.

Backgrounds

1 - Restless Farmer (see Hobbits of the Shire)

2 - Son (or Daughter) of Tradesman.
Your father was a blacksmith in Bree, or perhaps a carpenter in Staddle. You are expected to take over the family trade someday, but somehow that isn't enough for you. Before you settle down, you want to see more of the world.

3. Strange Blood.
One of your parents have lived in Bree-land from birth. However, your other parent is from -- somewhere else. You never quite feel fully accepted by those outside of your immediate family. Whenever something happens, you find that you are often the subject of suspicion. Well, enough of that! Perhaps there is a place for you far from home, where you will be accepted without question.

Cultural Virtues - Bree-landers

Kinship with the Land

Bree-landers are dependent on the land and have developed a knack for sensing when something is amiss. You can tell if you are in an unclean environment or if your surroundings are wholesome.

Weather-sense

You have a knack for predicting the weather. You know days in advance of an oncoming storm. You just know that there is going to be an early Winter or whether to expect a drought.

Improvised Weapon

There aren't many swords in Bree--nor spears nor battleaxes neither. But you can always pick up a hatchet or a machete. And a pick-axe or just a solid piece of wood can be surprisingly effective in a pinch.

You know how to use any improvised weapon to best effect.

Cultural Rewards- Bree-landers

Sword of Westernesse (longsword)
Most folk avoid the nearby Barrow-downs. Occasionally, though, someone does explore them and manages to bring back something of interest. These blades were forged many years ago by the Men of Westerness and buried with the dead lords and fallen warrions beneath the Great Barrows. The sword overcomes a Wight's increased resistance to physical damage; when used against a Wight, the weapon's injury rating is raised by one.

Nice write up. Thanks for posting.

Aye. Second that. Many Thanks!

Great ideas, Otaku.


To round out the backgrounds (usually there are six I think):



One that is tied to the Old Forest and/or Barrow Downs


One that is of the sort of someone who spent a lot of time hearing stories and seeing queer folk due to hanging out at the Prancing Pony (much like one of the Shire Hobbit backgrounds that speaks of hanging out at the Bird and the Baby).

Yes, you are right, there should be six backgrounds, each with its own Basic Attributes, Favoured Skill, and Distinctive Features. As I said, this wasn't a full, completed write-up, but just my musings of what one might start with.

Another section that I skipped is the one about Bree-lander's attitutes towards others. Since Barliman Butterbur probably wasn't even born yet in the time when TOR starts out, I'm not sure who should speak for the Bree-landers. Anyone know what Barilman's grandfather's name might have been?

Suggested Callings: Treasure Hunter, Wanderer. A sharp Bree-lander youth might feel that he is wasting his potential by remaining home or might just want to see what the larger world has to offer.

Unusual Calling: Scholar. Few Bree-landers have much use for literacy, much less scholarship.

What Master Butterbur Says...

- Bardings:
I hear where the Men o' Dale has themselves a king again. We'll be lucky if any of their trade comes our way. Just the same, that's all we need is more strangers coming through bringin' their odd ways.

- Beornings:
Folk ruled by a man who turns into a bear! Now I've 'eard everything. Be off with ya'!

- Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain:
Lords know I've nothin' against Dwarves. Hard-working folk who keep to themselves as it should be. That Thorin feller was staying right here in this inn the Spring before all that trouble broke out in the East. Was deep in conversation with Gandalf the Wizard, was he.

- Elves of Mirkwood:
Them Wood-elves are a strange folk, I hear. Not too fond of visitors. Likely to shoot yer eye out as to look at ya. Still, travelers from Dale say that relations have gotten better since the Dwarves've returned to the Mountain up there.

- Hobbits of the Shire:
Good, solid folk, them Shire-hobbits. A little odd in their ways compared to our own Hobbits 'round here maybe. Loook at that Baggins fella and all the trouble he's said to 'ave gotten 'imself into. Me, I just mind me own business.

- Men of the Lake:
I've got no opinion, one way or t'other. We've got us no waterways 'round here, so I don't suppose we're likely to see any o' those Lake-men any time soon. I do hear that a lot o' trade flows through there and I wish them well.

- Woodmen of Wilderland:
Strange folk dwell in the Wild. I wouldn't trust none of them further than I could sees 'em. I'm sure some are just simple, honest folk; but, you never know, do you?

I have had an interest in playing a Bree-lander for awhile and you have provided a great write up.

One thought though would be this, maybe you might consider switching slayer with scholar. IMO I don't see them as war-like. While I could see someone teaching them their "letters and a bit-o-history" about when the King ruled in the north.


HN

Thanks. Your suggestion regarding Unusual Calling seems reasonable. My thinking was that Bree-land is near the edge of the Wild and bandits or raiders destroying a homestead and leaving a survivor desiring revenge, while not a common occurance, might not be too unusual. Still, feel free to switch it up if you feel that Slayer is still more appropriate.