I agree. Mechanical game balance is something I do not care about in Middle-earth based RPG's as well. If they had it (long time MERP and RM here), I quickly introduced house rules to eliminate it. As I see it, some races are advantaged (some more so, some less) over others in this setting as far as things are concerned that can be well expressed by game rules.

Cheers
Tolwen

I like it Halbarad. Though I wonder, would it not make more sense for them to have extra points to spend during character creation instead of extra favoured skills?

Beleg,

Been pondering this and some other thoughts as well regarding this culture. What if you exchanged adding a new weapon with the addition of this culture? Instead, add new protective gear. One of the notes that I find most interesting, and Tolkien's footnotes often are the best thing about him. Or, so George Sayer recalls. But, that's a digression. The footnote in The UT about Dunedain war gear is detailed and evocative. When I read The LotR, the one thing about the war gear of the men of Dol Amroth that stands out particularly is the reference to vembraces.

Now, it might sound contentious, but plate style armor doesn't have a place in Middle-earth, or so I believe because it is utterly lacking in mention from all the material we have at our disposal to peruse. (Please, someone correct me if that is not true!) With the inclusion of your Men of Dol Amroth into the setting, maybe a unique piece of war gear to introduce as a new item for TOR is as simple, and as elegant as "vembraces" or something of the like.

The Encumbrance of a Buckler, but the Parry Modifier of a Shield. If Parry "reflects [a player-hero's] ability to deflect or in any way avoid an incoming blow," this might be a nice add to the system as a symbol of the superior technology evident in a people whose heritage is so strongly Numenorean. Also, with the Numenorean heritage of the knights of Dol Amroth so prominent in the narrative, this might be "technology" maintained by those precisely with this memory and cultural integrity.

Further, it can become the foundation for new Cultural Virtues and Rewards. That is something already suggested in the forum. Also, this might be part of the war gear of a Citadel Guard of Minas Tirith. Again, a noble and prestigious office where if not the actual technology to create the items remains, then the maintenance and re-use of existing items could be a strong flavor of that background as heirlooms of a glorious past. Assuming someone eventually creates a culture that includes this background.

That is my considered thought for what it is worth.

Regards,
E

Halbarad,

Not all that possess Numenorean descent, whether strongly evident or suggested, are referred to as the Dunedain. In fact, in The LotR only two groups are referred to as the "Dunedain" in the present indicative mode of the narrative. That is, as a present reality that exists at the end of the Third Age. (This, in fact, is very similar to Tolkien's use of "Noldor" and Tolkien is very intentional about the use of words as most know so this is worth noting!)

The Rangers of the North, and the Rangers of Ithilien are the only presently indicated Dunedain in the narrative of The LotR. Further, Faramir's identification with the cultural term "Dunedain" only comes as a consequence (again in the narrative) of his association with the Rangers and not as a Man of Gondor or a son of its Steward. Very interesting and worth noting, no...? Faramir, in the former context, is referred to by Gandalf in relation to to his father as one who the "blood of Westernesse runs nearly true," but Gandalf never identifies him as a Dunedain. Again interesting...!

To your question, I would not make "Faithful" a Cultural Blessing but a Virtue. For a player-hero with this Virtue, then, he or she possesses something that indicates (as Tolkien does in the story) these are ones who are living embodiments of the Dunedain during the Twilight of Third Age. Also, you can add another Cultural Virtue and that might be "Blood of Westernesse." The chapters in The RotK have some great material to work worth for a Cultural Virtue like this.

Just another thought to add...

Regards,
E

I like the idea of new armour, I already added in the idea of horse armour, though thinking about it, might replace that with special vambraces or such. I actually came up with a greaves/gauntlet/vambrace set idea as some treasure for my players, which they've yet to acquire.

Of course, even with this possibility, the issue still remains of what alternative weapon to allow them for the overall options (seeing as I made background specific ones for this culture to give my players more variety)

Perhaps a bow?

Hmm, Numenorean steel bows, that would be a nice introduction into TOR...! Give it a lower Encumbrance and a more agressive Edge!

Thanks for the input Eluadin. I have decided to leave the Rangers of the North alone. They will be covered soon enough(hopefully) by the Rivendell supplement and if not, theres the excellent PDF floating around here somewhere.

The Heroic Culture is now focusing on the Dunedain within Gondor. It's now called 'Men of Westernesse'(the Dunedain of Gondor).

It focuses 'specifically' on pure blooded Dunedain characters and that's why I chose 'Faithful' as their Cultural Blessing. One thing that all Dunedain share in common(unlike their Back Numenrean cousins) is that they are all descended from the 'faithful'. (I suppose that it depends though on whether that definition only applies to those who were on Elendil's ships or, if it also applies to those who already dwelt in Gondor but remained loyal?

Hmmmm?

Steel bows! I like the sound of that. Definitely has a more advanced, exotic ring to it. I guess one less on the edge rating? I'm pretty sure bows already have an encumbrance of only 1 anyway.. unless it was a steel great bow, which seems a bit unusual... hmm :S

The backgrounds I have selected on the following basis. Tolkien may not have specifically mentioned many of these backgrounds but, rather than stifle creativity, I chose Heroic Archetypes wherein I thought it might be reasonable to find Dunedain bloodlines.

I came up with the following

1) Man of the West - this could represent almost any background that the player desires. It's a bit of an 'everyman' background(if such a thing could truly be applied to a Dunadan).

2) Of Lordly Countenance- Most of the aristocratic/noble families are probably no longer Dunedain. This background assumes that one or two, perhaps might still be.

3) The Pursuit of Knowledge- Most scholars are likely to come from wealthy families. This background assumes some of these families may still have strong Dunedain blood.

4) in Bright Armour Arrayed- Knight of Dol Amroth. Say no more......

5) Watcher of the Sunset- Ranger of Ithilien. A reference to the Window on the West.

6) Light of Earendil - a mariner from Pelargir or Belfalas. Based on the historical traditions of the folk of Numenor and the sea. Inspired by another poster.... . This one is unlikely to appear too often in land based campaigns but I liked the idea and borrowed it.

Wow! This is whetting my appetite. It seems that the fan based materials produced here are all of high quality and scholarship.

HN

Right then. So, I took into account various things, and I've changed the special weapon to a steel bow, which is like an ordinary bow, but with an Edge of 9 instead of 10.
I've turned Heart-Driven into a Virtue and replaced the Leadership idea with it, and the Blessing is now along the lines of Halbarad's idea:

Noble-Blood: The heritage of Dol Amroth is strong, and the people of Dol Amroth probably have the highest concentration of blood from the Numenoreans settlers.

• When creating a Man of Dol Amroth, assign an extra point to one Attribute score, and an extra point to one Favoured Attribute Score. In addition, during Corruption Tests, roll the Feat die twice and keep the best result

Thoughts?