I need some pointers. I'm in a situation of learning to be a Loremaster because I don't know anyone in my area who plays TOR. While there are Tolkien enthusiasts about, most of them don't "have time" (sheesh, can you believe that?) to "play games" (what?), or have no rpg background, other than dressing up like a hobbit at movie premiers and occasionally donning a Gandalf hat. On Halloween, for example.

There are some table-top rpgers around, but they all play D&D and don't really have any interest in anything else, not to mention they are all about 20 years younger than myself.

SO, I'm resigned to being a Loremaster even though I'd much rather have someone ELSE be Loremaster (I'm a sadly DM-dependent RPer, can't help it). The amazing Rich has been very helpful in sending me some info on how to lead a game (thank you, RICH !!!!), and I'm giving it a go, but what I'd like pointers on is actually getting a TOR community going.

I know that some friends have spent good money on LOTR costumes, and I'm thinking of hosting an LOTR party with a dress code of "Middle Earth". When they arrive, I could spring TOR on them. I could then point out that playing TOR would give them an opportunity to utilize those costumes, which they spent so much time and money on, EVERY WEEK, thereby really getting value for their efforts and hard-earned cash!

Too much, you say? Then help me!

How did any of you get your parties together? Or find them? Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to promote TOR (without becoming annoying - Eru knows people get enough of that on facebook), and get people interested enough to play?

Hi (again!) Morwen.

Okay, it sounds as if you're right at the beginniong of trying to put a group together! So, before you get into running a game it would seem that you have some decisions to make on how to build a gaming group. I'd say from what you have told us above that you have two options:

1) Run it for those role-players younger than you and into D&D

OR

2) Try and get your friends into playing it that are already Middle Earth fans. I'm assuming here that they aren't already RPGers. If they are then some of the things I'm going to suggest below aren't really necessary.

The way you're leaning seems to be option 2 and given the choices I'd agree with this.

What I recommend you do, and it is going to be a fair amount of work, is:

i) Mention/show TOR to your Middle Earth friends and try and explain to them (without getting into a lot of detail) what it is about. I have a guide to being a player, as well as the GM one I sent you, which you could refer to in order to get your friends interested:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/79541775/How%20to%20Play%20RPGs.pdf

Don't *give* them the above document, you read it and use it to find your own way of explaining RPGs to them. At this point try not to get into too much detail about the rules or anything - just tease them with the thoughts of adventuring in Tolkien's world. See what their response is... If they are interested (you're going to ideally need around 4 to 6 that are although those numbers can be flexible) then explain to them what you're going to do (ie, the points below) and say you'll get back to them soon!

ii) Sit down and read both books cover to cover

iii) While you're doing that, read/search the threads here for discussions that you're interested in and/or need help on

iv) If the above threads don't give you what you need then start a thread here, just for your questions about the game, and fire away - we'll all try and answer things for you

v) Once you're feeling more confident about RPing, being an LM, and TOR then go back to your friends with more information and detail. When you get to this point then get back to us and I think we'll be better placed to offer information about ideas for starting a campaign, creating characters, etc... Before that happens it still sounds like you have some other work to do (ie, the above points)

Now, the above (like I said earlier) assumes these Middle Earth enthusiasts aren't role-players already. If they are, then your task is somewhat easier as they'll already know about RPing and will be able to help you - assuming they are interested in playing TOR! You may want to read the Adventurer's Book and then let other people read it as well. You never know, one of your friends may actually want to LM the game which would let you be a player instead (if that appeals to you more). If not, then at least some of your players will have read the rulebook and be able to offer support with regards to understanding the rules of the game.

Thank you (again!), Rich! Well, I've certainly got the "read the books from cover to cover" part done. I haven't been able to put them down since the postman dropped them on my front porch. I've practically got the information inside my Loremaster screen, and the Lake-town book, memorized, too. My family is using the word "obsessed" a lot around me. Not sure what they're talking about, exactly, because I'm just not paying that much attention. I'll read that pdf document next, thanks!

You're correct, my Tolkien freaks - er, I mean, friends - are not RPGers, and my DM is only interested in D&D, so I'll be following the advice for getting the non-rpg folks on board. I've been re-immersed in the Lore Master's guide for the last hour or so, and I'm starting to get an odd sense of power. Is that bad? .. No, seriously, I am beginning to love the idea of being Lore Master more and more. It's a bit different from DM, in that it involves my beloved Tolkien world that I already know so much about, and the mechanics of the game are - I don't know, different, in a way that I think I would actually enjoy leading the game.

Thank you again for all the helpful docs and the quick responses to my posts! I'll work on some things on the list.

If anyone else out there wants to chime in on how you got your TOR group together, please do !!! I'm eager to hear every detail! Not that I'm obsessed . . .

You're welcome and I hope they help!

To answer the question: I have always been blessed to be in an area of many gamers. I live in the Bay Area of California (between San Francisco and Sacramento) and there are LOTS of RPG enthusiasts. There are many sites online to help find gamers in your area.

Try

PenAndPaperGames.com



I also live near a military base - our armed service are full of gamers looking to find something to pass the time between shifts; and good/bad scenario - they move in and out often, so you're always finding new ones, while losing some too.


My current RPG social network is made up mostly of Pathfinder RPGers - many of them Pathfinder Society play. I have spent most of my 30 years of gaming days as the DM/GM, so I know my way around a rule book and how to manage a group/table/campaign. Luckily many in my circle are Tolkien enthusiasts. Whether its more recent thanks to Peter Jackson, or old school having read the books in middle-school as I did, or even from the LOTR-Online MMO. Also, I'm blessed to have players with an open mind interested in other ventures and many of them are veterans from previous editions of D&D when the rules were lighter, and easier to manage, and not as cumbersome as 3rd/4th/Pathfinder rules are - and are very much more interested in the story-driven and roleplaying aspect of games vs the more strategic nature of miniature use that is heavily relied upon with the newer D&D rules. So the concept of playing Middle-earth game with these older school rules light renassaince feel was intriguing to a few, and it became easy to "sell" them on the game after I fell in love with just reading the rule books.

Since then, three of my players all bought the book set, and begged me to run it. Having been a DM/GM for so long with these rules heavy D&D and Pathfinder rules, I had truly grown tired and fatigued from all the rules bloat, rules arguements and prep-time needed; none of which plagued my TOR games. I now have pretty much written off running Pathfinder as a GM for the immediate future, and instead put my focus primarily on running campaigns of TOR. My players followed suit - most of which for no other reason than they know they can expect a great game - I'm sorry if that sounds conceited, I'm not trying to be; but they know I do take it seriously, and do put out quite the effort, and have had plenty of years to hone my craft as a GM; and they would all tell you that they also know to expect a good game when I'm at the helm. So they trusted me, took my word for it, that it will be a great experience, and were now getting ready to start year two - my player count has grown to 9 people now interested in playing at my table of TOR; and that's AFTER losing 4 players from last year due to either moving away or other family obligations.


How can this help you?

Learn to GM - and invite some of your D&D friends - without causing a conflict in schedule to the D&D game that they play (so that you're not forcing them to choose), and invite the DM of that game.

If he likes what he sees - see if he's interested in trying his hand.

I know for many people, change from routine is hard and a bit daunting. It's possible this DM is simply uneasy with having to learn a whole new thing and afraid to give up that mastery he already has over the current game system.

It's also possible that some of the Middle-earth nuts you know do have some historic experience or has a family/friend who used to play that they can draw experience from.

The best-case scenario - get a couple of the Middle-earth enthusiasts that don't play D&D and a couple of D&D players to all come to your game and it will rub off and create a buzz at the social circles these people belong too. Eventually others from the D&D table, and other Middle-earth enthusiasts will want to try and and the excitement becomes contagious and suddenly you have people asking/wanting to play it more and more, and who knows, maybe even an ex DM of D&D will want to try running TOR, and allow you the chance to be a player.

Luckily it's easy to learn, and even easier to become fascinated by it.

Hi Morwen, you've had great advice from Rich H and SirKicley, so I've got nothing much to add there. However I did think I might be able to offer some additional encouragement by mentioning that I too was a DM-dependent roleplayer for many years, until I recently overcame some initial trepidation and donned the Loremaster hat. It's been great. I'm loving it and haven't looked back!

So my one piece of advice is go for it. Drum up some interest in your friends and get a game on.

Wow, I must admit I was a little nervous putting the question out there, but you guys are great with the encouragement! I'm amped now, kind of like the army at the Black Gate after Aragorn's speech.

Thanks so much, guys !!!

*runs off to read the books again, with a will!*

Morwen,

I went through a change of players recently and know what you mean. We had been gaming with MERP for many years and interest was waning in it. When TOR first came out I tried to bring up TOR to replace MERP at coincidentally about the same time the group was starting to splinter for various reasons, life happens ya know, schedules and family matters and available game days became more limited.

I thought a new game system would spur new interest, but (one fellow in particular) was "tired" of playing in Middle Earth in general, been grumbling about it for months, and actually he never really liked the MERP so I thought TOR might be a welcome change, but as I came to find out, he saw the direction I was going and didn't want to EVEN give TOR a whirl, so I guess he needed a change.

I really don't know for sure. And sad because our style of role play, TOR would be worth a try. He convinced a couple other guys to go strictly GURP and I could convert MERP to GURP and continue as GM because they liked my scenarios, but that didn't make sense since he kept saying it was Middle Earth he was tired of... *shruggs* .

Converting was not an option for me tho and our 15+ years old MERP game ended.

Anyway, strictly by chance, a year down the line after getting TOR I met some new seasoned players who played other systems who are specifically interested in giving TOR a go, and we have been studying the system too.

Our first game is on March 10th.
With your enthusiasm you may be gaming soon, you never know, don't give up.

Good luck!

Thank you !! And good luck to you, too!
I like that quote in your siggie, by the way - what's it from? Should I recognize it? If it has any connection with Tolkien I shall be ashamed of myself for not knowing . . . .

No its something I made up.

I wrote that a few years ago as part of a game scenario and later employed it in a short story

Hey, Rich! We have characters created, and I am at the point of beginning the actual adventure (probably Sunday), and I need to know - Eagle's Eyrie is meant to REPLACE the Marsh Bell, correct? I downloaded that and I only have two players, so I thought it might be better for them to be traveling with Balin, in order to have a larger fellowship.
Thanks!

I'm not Rich, but I can tell you that YES, it is meant as a alternative journey that both mirrors and expands on the Marsh Bell premise.

Travelling with Balin is a good idea. In fact, I believe there are two dwarves that are travelling with the party - and since you only have two players, it may be wise to use them both as LM characters in the fellowship (with supporting roles).

Hi Morwen. It's really good to hear you've managed to get a game together.

In answer to your question, I'm not Rich either, but I concur with SirKicley. As written, "To Journey's End and Eagle's Eyrie" does indeed replace The Marsh Bell, offering you the alternative of travelling with the Dwarves to deliver the invitation to the Lord of the Eagles rather than going in search of them after they have gone missing. In my game I'm actually tagging Part Five onwards onto the end of The Marsh Bell, but this is primarily because I'd started The Marsh Bell before Rich posted this as an alternative.

As you suggest I think it's a good idea to travel with the Dwarves, of which there are three in Rich's version, Balin, Barrack and Torrun. Just make sure the Dwarves are cool but the players get plenty of the limelight.

Good luck and be sure to let us know how it goes.

Hi Morwen. Exactly what SirKicley and Fictionaut both said. ... Worryingly they answered for me far better than I could!

Tell us how it goes though, I'll be really interested to hear.

If you need any points of clarification then feel free to post them here. For instance one head's up for you is that the company visits Beorn in the scenario. I left this in the write-up that I posted but didn't really think of why beyond my own gaming group's requirements. I had this scene in my game as the only culture native to Wilderland that was not represented in my fellowship of players was the Beornings but other LMs running it may already have a Beorning PC. I wanted everyone to be represented when Balin met the Eagles but if you only have two players then that may not be logical (ie, why aren't your PCs visiting other cultures not represented and inviting them)? Personally, I would just drop the scene - your group will be meeting Beorn in a later adventure if you run "Kinstrife and Dark Tidings" found in "Tales from Wilderland" so you won't be losing out in any way.

Morwen, another alternative is the online game. Since having kids, I've been gaming using Fantasy Grounds and have managed to get a decent group of people together for games. I'm running The One Ring on Sunday nights (UK time). You're welcome to drop in and observe or play. You'd need to download the software but, with the license I have, you'd only need to install it unregistered (i.e. no license required on your side). Would mean you get to play as well as GM.

Thank you everyone !!!! It seemed obvious that it was a replacement scenario, but I considered the possibility that it was meant as an alternative for a different adventuring party, and that the Marsh Bell would have to be played "as is" in order to synch with some later adventure. I will skip the Beornings scene as you suggest, Rich.
And I will let you know how it went.

Can't wait to get my hands on "Tales" !!

Thank you !!! I might try that next week ! (too many St. Pat's things going on to do it today) ... but, if I just want to observe and see how it goes for a while, would that bother any of the other players? I don't want to be rude!

As a head's up, I'm going to be using the bits out of the "Marsh Bell" that I didn't use in my "... Eagles' Eyrie" adventure (ie, bits around the sunken ruins and the Marsh Dwellers) as the basis of a scenario where a group of brave adventures are sent with a task to clear the area with the hope that a trading point can be established there as a first step to opening the Old Forest Road. Something that may never be realised fully due to the eventual return of the Shadow to Mirkwood.

It will be something I'll type up and post here so if you can be patient, then...

Oooh sounds intriguing! No worries, I can be patient!



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