Since, as I understand it, the Heart of the Wild will be about the monsters and a sourcebook around the Vales of Anduin, what will the Darkening of Mirkwood about, exactly? Should I wait something like the Tales, 30 year old spanning adventure anthology? Or something different?

No ideas anyone?

One is an area source book, the other a campaign source book - so info on adventures, events, etc - I guess it's building up to the war in the North mentioned in the timeline in the back of LOTR, where Dol Guldur went up against the Elves of Mirkwood, Dwarves Lonely Mountain and Men of Dale - all whilst Minas Tirith was fighting to save itself.

Just a wee fyi - there won't be much more official info on these books until we have all the necessary boxes ticked, he says, once more hurling himself manfully onto your collective understanding!

Here's what The One Ring page on the c7 site has to say:

The Darkening of Mirkwood - a campaign sourcebook for The One Ring: The Shadow falls once more on Mirkwood, shattering the short-lived optimism of the forest’s inhabitants and neighbours, and endangering all those within reach of Dol Guldur’s clawed grasp.

Heart of the Wild The Heart of the Wild is a region sourcebook for The One Ring: Covering Mirkwood and the Vales of Anduin, The Heart of the Wild gives your adventurers a vast expanse to explore, packed with enchanting s, terrifying creatures and stories to tell. From the dark depths of the forest to the heights of the Carrock, from the Hill of Sorcery to the Vales of Gundabad, The Heart of the Wild presents enough adventure to occupy your characters for years.

Interesting. I didn't know Heart of the Wild will be including adventures.

... Those sound incredibly useful and full of great ideas. It's going to be a difficult wait for them!

Nope, it won't, read carefully.

I understand Darkening of Mirkwood will be inspired by Great Pendragon Campaing. I guess it would offer every year with theirs events, adventures hooks, rumors, relevant NPC, etc... something like that. A chronological campaign with sandboxing elements to add some freedom.

... Yeah, if either of them have adventures I'd say its more likely that it'd be "Darkening..." and would deal with a period of time after Sauron declares in 2651.

Darkening is supposed to be a campaign from 2951 spanning 30 years. Sure I read that somewhere, but can't find where.

Yeah, I've heard discussions along a similar line - I think fbnaulin's comparison to the GPC also means that others have too.

Please correct me if I'm wrong for I don't remember exactly how things proceed after 2941. Doesn't Sauron leave the Mirkwood and go back to the newly rebuilt Barad-Dur after the events of The Hobbit?

He does, but he openly declares himself in 2651 (in Mordor) and sends agents back to Mirkwood (headed by the Nazgul, Khamul) in order to blight the area again - hence, "The Darkening of Mirkwood". The whole campaign has the potential for the players to be involved in shaping/delaying/resisting (depending on how close a gaming group hews to canon) the progress and history of the area leading up to the War of the Ring. Whatever happens I think its a really exciting period of time and one not covered heavily in previous works (both Tolkien and actual RPG material).

But I thought the book will be set after The Hobbit and before the War of the Ring.

It is, 2651 is a typo. Rich meant 2951.

I did, sorry! Bloody typed it wrong twice as well!!! ARSE.

My concerns are about when War of the Ring comes to the TOR line. (I'm not pushing things, I'm glad at this moment, enjoying every publication).

I mean, War of the Ring affects the North, we know there was fiery battles in Dale, Erebor, Woodland Realm and Lórien. How publishers will resolve this? The North will be included again in those future supplements?

And... thinking about it, for sure the system will include strongh Warfare rules. What will happen with Loremaster's Screen, since those possible tables are not included? Anyway, will you narrate a Gondor campaign with a Lake-Town illustration in the back? I guess we will have a second LM Screen in the future.

Just speculating.

I think I'm enjoying the current products and theme a lot and really want to stay in this area and timeline as much as we can. Rhovanion has a lot to offer

Hey farinal! I was inviting you to make some super theories xD Now I'm feeling like a rushing moron... hahahahaha.

No of course not It's just that I think the game really captured the Middle Earth feeling and I think I'm really enjoying this theme of Wilderness and area because it's not been so much used in the movies or other popular LOTR franchises like video games etc. TOR feels and smells a lot like the LOTR books and make me feel like the first time I've read them. I fear if we move into more popular places like Minas Tirith for example this "magic" can be disoriented.

Does this makes sense? lol

You are totally right. Wilderland is amazing and I love The Hobbit tone and I'm very happy with this very focused design they are developing. Actually, I don't care about when Eriador/Gondor/Rohan will be released, I just hope the whole collection is consistent in the end.

I'm glad Adventures over the Edge of the Wild line will benefit from The Hobbit movie hype. So, I expect many new players early 2013.

"Actually, I don't care about when Eriador/Gondor/Rohan will be released..."

I am looking forward to the release of the Rohan information, myself. What I hope is that even though I find the current setting of the game somewhat boring, I am looking forward to seeing it used as a Northern Front in TWoR period.

I enjoy all facets of this game & will continue to support ToR whatever they release.

That said, however, I hope that they consider introducing future supplements to address other characters & realms within Middle-earth, such as they originally envisioned with Rivendell.

There are a wide variety of fans on here & some of us prefer different time frames or realms, & that's fine. Whatever works for you

I'm particularly looking forward to Eriador, though will also happily purchase anything they publish for the rest of the show

I too am looking forward to Eriador, though not just the so-far planned Rivendell region (Trollshaws, Coldfells, etc.). I would liked the original 3 core sets to have been kept, rather than a swathe of supplements, but I can see that we will perhaps get more details this way. With the Wilderland supplement adding area detail, I'm hoping that the Rivendell supplement will give the same in addition to new cultures.

I'm also looking forward to Rohan and Gondor, hoping that it will not just be the Minas Tirith area of Gondor that gets a look but also Ithilien, Lebennin, Belfalas, etc.

Let's not derail the thread and concentrate on getting more info on this book from our beloved staff members

Good luck with that - I think Jon's told us all he's willing to for a good couple of months at least. If you wiggle anything else out of him then I'll buy you a jam scone*!

* I have a jam scone in front of me, by the way.

Tea at half ten in the morning Rich? A bit early don't you think?

I think I'm developing a large hobbit streak to my personality, but yes you're right! I have a big cup of tea with it as well. Very enjoyable!