I asked this a while back, but I would be interested in hearing more views because I'm not sure this is not errata. Or if not errata, perhaps could do with some clarification.

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“When a character is attempting to accomplish something in direct opposition with another hero, or when the goal of the action is resisted by a major Loremaster character, the action roll becomes an opposed roll (when an action roll is opposed by an individual of lesser relevance than heroes and major characters, it should be solved normally by rolling against a Target Number).”

Then on

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“Sneaking past someone, trying to persuade or intimidate him, attempting to judge whether someone is lying, even outrunning an individual are all examples of actions that do not need to be turned into opposed actions against a fully detailed character, but that can be handled simply and quickly as rolls against an appropriate Target Number.”

So do you make opposed rolls against Loremaster, Heroes and fully detailed characters, or do you roll against a TN?

As a general rule, I go with the target number when running things.

Occasionally I make opposed checks, but not very often.

The meaning seems pretty clear to me: rolls "do not need to" be opposed.

In other words, go with TN normally, but if it's against another PC or a major villain (the Bid Bad), use opposed.

It saves you making every single character the PCs might come across a "fully detailed character" with a full set of stats.

Ok thanks

Let me say, I love the rules for Loremaster Characters in the LB. Because of that when writing my campaign "Departure and Homecoming" I followed the standard rules for Loremaster Characters pretty close. That is, my LM Characters that are named fall into either characters with Traits and an Attribute Level, characters with statistics similar to Adversaries (not fully-fledged with individual Attribute values or Skill ranks), or full-fledged characters complete with individual Attributes and Skills ranks. Only when a LM Character of the last type is involved do I use an Opposed test.

Otherwise, for no-name personalities (e.g., the STERN Barding watchmen without or with an Attribute level) and most named LM Characters, I use TNs. I still use TNs even for my well-developed LM Characters like Avina Red-shield who is described in the campaign as a Beorning shield-maiden known for her captivating skill with stories (STORY-TELLING Specialty) and her ANDUIN-LORE. This has made Avina a perfect ERRAND-RIDER relaying messages and parcels along both sides of the river for Woodmen and Beorning alike. Well known among both peoples, Avina is still young and ENERGETIC despite the GRIM years of service already rendered to her chief. It was she who bore the messages between Mirkwood and Lothlorien as the gates of Dol Guldur were shattered by the White Council. This numbers her, though unassuming and of little rank, among the few Mortal Men to have conversed with the Elves of the Golden Wood.

For me, all the upfront work in detailing that text is to help improve my storytelling on the fly and avoid things like Opposed tests when TNs fit the bill.

However, with as many ways as we can apply the "Loremaster Characters" rules (and I imagine this is intentional on the part of the designers), there is probably no right or wrong interpretation hence no real errata.

Regards,
E