Hello,
Forgive if this has been covered elswhere. We read the rules on page 27 of the AB

To determine the quality of a success, the player counts how many special icons (Tengwar) showed up on his Success dice, if any:

Ok we got that.

But what about if you roll a (Sauron) on the Feat die, and still make the TN with the Success dice plus Tengwar(s)?

We read it that you would still have the Greater Successes regardless of the number turned up on the Feat die.

So does the (Sauron) result affect Combat at any time? Or is that just for Journeys?

We read it that you would still have the Greater Successes regardless of the number turned up on the Feat die.
You are reading it well.

So does the (Sauron) result affect Combat at any time? Or is that just for Journeys?
In combat, If an adventurer got an Eye, his opponent do a Called Shot on him in his next attack.

If you miss a Called Shot and roll and eye it's a fumble.

But otherwise, for actions employing common skills, an Eye icon merely counts as a zero. If you succeed even with that zero, nothing bad happens.

Unofficially, some loremasters have been known to apply "success, but" results in such instances.

Correct and this is how I will adjudicate it often. If I can conceivably come up with a fun and plausible "Yeah, BUT.." scenario quickly enough, I'll use that; but many times considering there are six players doing skills all the time, there's a high frequency of EYES to be had in a gaming session, and many times it's just not feasible to spend that much time trying to figure out what happened.

Yes, guys, you are right! Everyone scares when an Eye shows up, so, you have to do something with it, even when the test was successful. So, the "Yes, but…" even when it's not a RaW, it's a natural thing to do.

Here's a quick ref of eye results RAW:

triggers Called Shot (if rolled in combat)
fumble (if trying a Called Shot)
Hazard (travel)
Bout of Madness (if Miserable)

For a Called Shot specifically triggered by an Eye of Sauron result I rule that the adversary does not need a great or extraordinary success.

There is precedent in TfW for custom results for an eye. Such as getting hit by an arrow in a battle (4 End or something like that). So I do custom triggers for eye results too in some circumstances. But I usually plan what the misfortune is beforehand and let my players know that there are consequences for rolling an eye in the particular situation. I never make them too much. And when I do I usually add custom bennies for Gandalf rolls. Nothing too much either way unless it's a climactic scene and the stakes are high.

But only if the roll otherwise fails.

Unless you're using the Revised rules - there, the Eye alone triggers a Hazard.

Re. Called Shots - does an Eye trigger merely an attempt or does it make any successful hit into a called shot?

Yeah I use the revised travel rules. Should have clarified that.

RAW just says they attempt a called shot on you if you roll an eye.

That brought up questions for me like do they use it otherwise and the like. IMHO attempting a Called Shot is not a big deal since it mechanically makes the PC harder to hit after they roll an eye and that seems counter. So I make it so one adversary attempts a Called Shot and it succeeds on a regular hit (no 6 required) for that one attack after the PC rolled an eye.

That was my thinking too, but you can also read it as the adversary seeing an opportunity and getting ambitious - he either wins big or misses completely.

Eeeek, I have a feeling that can turn really ugly fast - considering an EYE appears 1 in 12 chance.

I don't mind the enemy deciding to make a Called Shot after an EYE - but to then make it easier to succeed also......that's a real doozy.


Out of curiosity, what benefit do players receive if/when an enemy rolls an EYE for its attack?

You mean a Gandalf? None. It just means zero.

Yes a Staff is what I meant.

Hmmm, so players are penalized (beyond what the book suggests) when they roll and eye, but no such detriment is assigned to an enemy when they roll a Staff.

Are you and your players okay with the way this plays out?

IMO, it would seem unfairly stacked (against the players), so I'm just curious what the reality has been experienced.

For what it's worth, I too play that an "eye" result is for me (the Loremaster) a mechanical tool to introduce an antagonistic or plot element. While it doesn't change the possibility (and degree) of success, I sometimes use it as a "you succeed but". Usually, the higher the stakes, the more important the "but". (I also noticed that thus far, successful rolls with a "eye" result are oftentimes great or extraordinary successes).

In combat, an eye triggers what I would otherwise consider a "dicky GM move" or a particular ire on that particular player. I'm not so concerned about not being fair in return with monster not suffering from a "G rune" given that the system is already asymmetrical, but I use it as a mechanical tool to let the players take control of the narrative when it happens (I roll the die openly).

In reality it's never come up, probably because it's one of those fiddly rules that I'm always forgetting.

I ONLY do Called Shots when they roll an eye. I think other LMs might do them arbitrarily but I think they are most appropriate on an eye result and the rules are not clear to me that adversary Called Shots can even be used otherwise.

The reason I removed the 6 requirement is that in my first four sessions Called Shots were never coming up at all despite the fact that a big part of adversary write ups is Called Shots.

Here's what I was looking at to get a Called Shot:

Hero must fail attack roll AND
Hero must roll an eye AND
Hero must be engaged with adversary AND
Adversary's weapon must have a Called Shot AND
Adversary's Called Shot must apply (Shield Break requires shield for example) AND
Adversary must hit AND
Adversary must roll a 6

That's like a perfect storm and Called Shots were not coming up. I have only removed the last requirement, which is balanced in my opinion by the fact that heroes can use Called Shots anytime while my adversaries only use them on an eye result.

Once weapon skill reaches 5ish in reality the hero can often hit by spending Hope even if they roll an eye and avoid a Called Shot if they want.

I made this decision to make battles more dramatic. I reserve the right not to make the Called Shot. Also, I often set moderate custom outcomes for both eye and rune results based on the circumstances of the battle.

I have had no complaints and the players know this rule.

That said, I'd be happy to hear what other LMs do and what their experiences are because this board is great.

Thanks for the great replies... I see there are many possibilities for the "EYE"


I was thinking of adding some minor, non-detrimental effect if an EYE is thrown in addition to or in lieu of the triggered Called Shot- that would cause minor cuts, scrapes and bruises one might get in a physical contest.
These might cause temporary limping or favoring a limb with a bruise but not affect the mechanics in any way, strictly for role play (with the exception of rolling two EYE in a row).

Roll the FEAT die again-
1- Busted Knuckles
2- Busted knee
3- Busted Shin
4- Blackeye
5- Funnybone
6- Bloody nose
7- Deep Scratch
8- Stubbed Toe
9- Painful Bruise
10- Bloody Lip
11- Minor cut- Bleeding- 1pt END/ rnd
12- No Effect