How do you guys handle the new equipments in the game? how do you allow the players to buy new items and armour pice and when?

I just give it to them. I feel The One Ring is not a game about purshasing or collecting things. It doesn't have a monetary system or equipment lists. So this element is out of the session. When a character needs something for the purpose of the story, she just have it (never forgetting to be 'authentic').

Yes but there is also the question of balance.

Not for me.
They can buy common goods without problems (for their personal use, if they start trading, it's another problem).
And if they want something special, it's a Reward. Or a reward (lowcase r) from the scenario. Or they can use Treasure points.

Depends on their cultural wealth. A Dwarf or Barding is likely to be able to afford more off-the-bat than a Woodman or Beorning. You're also likely to be able to get equipment more quickly in Laketown, Dale or Erebor - spending treasure to do so. Woodmen and Beornings are more likely to gift an item, if it can be spared, rather than accept money. What use is gold if the item is needed? If is can be spared, then gift the item and a debt of favour will be owed that could be called on later.

Mmmm, I think there is not balance. Some PC are Frugal, some are Rich. They are encouraged to use this indicator in an authentic way. So, I don't manage what they can buy or not, we manage the Standard of Living as a group.

The laketown book has a rough guide to equipment, just use that.

Or you could say for 1 treasure point you can get "Floi's Famous Foul Weather Kit" which contains essentially a really good adventurer's kit full of all the small tools they would need (Rope etc) but leaves space for special rewards like (Errr Elven Rope)

the book details horses and carts too, so if your pc's do try to become merchants they'd have to save for a while first

The balance doesn't come from cost, though; it comes from encumbrance.

At character creation, players can pretty much outfit their characters with standard gear however they want. There is nothing stopping someone from starting out with the heaviest armor with a full helm, armed with a great axe, sword, and bow. The reason that players don't do that is because they have to balance the utility of equipment with the fatigue penalties they will suffer for carrying it.

It's best illustrated in play. Allow your players buy whatever standard gear they want, and you will most often watch them strip down to bare essentials to avoid fatigue – especially if they have some experience playing.

The only limitation you need to place on picking up basic equipment is limiting them to buying it at larger settlements that would actually have the gear they want. Other than that, let them have all the stuff they can carry.


As for exceptional gear, moisty is right about the Laketown sourcebook having things you can buy for treasure.

What kind of new equipment do you mean farinal?

If you mean new weapons or armour, then use the wealth levels as a guide. Same for horses, boats, travel gear etc.

If you mean new weapons/armour from rewards, then make them gifts, or find them in treasure hordes, rather than say the characters buy them at the market.

Another reason why cost is not a balancing factor in TOR: gifting.

In many of the ancient cultures, it was customary to give gifts to friends and travelers who visited. Generally these were commensurate with the social status or general need of the recipient.

So it would be completely possible for a poverty stricken character to be handed valuable, possibly priceless treasures (mithril coats, magical weapons, etc), simply because they visited Elrond's house and minded their manners.