I was curious in the description of the sourcebook it mentions the inclusion of unique cultures: The Rangers of the North and Rivendell Elves. Are there other cultures planned as well for the book? I am not looking for specifics (likely can't be mentioned) I would be happy with a "yes/no" type of answer.

And I would love to learn if Rivendell Elves means we can create Noldors?

Well, if it appears anywhere, I would expect it here.

I am really looking forward to this book...

BTW Noldor is plural form of singular Noldor, so Noldors doesn't make much sense

I'm also looking forward to this supplement & it will probably be one of my favorites of the series.

Bree and The Shire will probably be my favourite, but I do like the Rangers.

I ssoooo hope they publish a supplement that covers the Bree-land & the Shire. I figure they'll wait till they can announce the Darkening of Mirkwood & Heart of the Wild, & then discuss their future progress concerning Eriador & the South.

Dom & Jon have both stated that they intend to continue ToR. I try not to get too stoked about their future releases, but oh, if they only write one for Rivendell & one for the Bree-land & the Shire.

We wants them my precious

I thought the singular was "Noldo", but perhaps that's non-canonical? Anyway, back to the topic at hand...

I'm sure all the major regions will get its own sourcebook treatment in their own good time.

For myself the Rohan sourcebook will more then likely be my overall favourite, but I look forward to whatever regional books that get released.

I think Rangers of the North should be a priority. I'm not sure about Noldor. Probably, we'll see Sindars but in the 3er age should not be so much noldor's elves adventuring. Even a Sindar should be weird. And the second problem is the balance.

The Rangers of the North, remaining Dunadain of the fallen Arthedain, are a key piece in the 3er age. I'm excited to see more about Eriador and this culture.

If I have to wish something it's a magic system. At least some simple but more extended than the virtues. And an optional money system. I don't like the treasure rating stuff.

There are some rules about money in the Lake-Town sourcebook.

One of the things I'm really pleased about with TOR is the fact that they've weaved the magic of Middle-earth so subtly into the Rewards and Virtues. I far prefer that over allowing spell-casters, which should be exceedingly rare in the setting.

I guess since I started this thread I can safely derail it a bit.

I am not sure about a magic system for the game. If we a re going strictly by canon a Wizard would throw the game balance off quite a bit I would think.

As to the money thing; this is one of the big hang ups I have with the game. And we have run into a few minor problems in game with it in my group. I fully understand the Treasure point system is to avoid Monty Haul type games and I think it works very well from that perspective. However, what if a PC wants to buy some simple equipment for a journey; or, in my groups case how many TP do you need to buy land around Lake-Town? Even if it is just a very simple one, you do need an economic system set up in any game world.

"One of the things I'm really pleased about with TOR is the fact that they've weaved the magic of Middle-earth so subtly into the Rewards and Virtues."

Again, something I am on the fence about. I feel that this might have taken a bit of the discovery feeling from the ME game world. Glamdring, Orcist, and Sting were found weapons; how do you replicate this if the PCs already have weapons that could be equal objects of power right from the start? Why would a PC even look at another sword found amongst a troll hoard?

Majestic summarizes it well.

The apparent lack of a large-scale magic system similar to other games bothered me at first, however, as I've read the books I realize that they do incorporate a wonderful system that fits the balance of Middle-earth. Every hero has the opportunity to cast some type of spells or use spell-like effects.

My only concern is that they continue with their future releases for other cultures. For example, create a Seer background for Rangers of the North that contains the option to develop Cultural Virtues similar to Wood Elf Magic or Dwarven Broken Spells (or something like that)

If a particular PC (or group of PCs) is about to come across a troll hoard of this magnitude (remember that - according to the RAW - this is a cache with a Treasure Rating of 200!), that should be a pretty special circumstance. It definitely wasn't a common occurance in the books, and seemed to be a way to get the party their cool gear for later adventures (they were practically unarmed before this!)

I suppose a clever Loremaster could even use such a scene as a way of awarding Rewards, rather than having them bestowed by their leader/patron.

Once a hero has a weapon on the caliber of Sting, Glamdring, or Orcrist, I would imagine they don't need another. In our CODA campaign, we ended up having to continually come up with circumstances that allowed for the group to get new (magical or special) gear. The Rewards and Virtues system, perhaps supplemented with the rare discovered hoard, strikes me as a better way of fitting it into the narrative.

I really like the current subtle Magic system of the TOR and wouldn't like it to change.

Well, I wasn't exactly meaning how do you replicate the finding of Glamdring et al, but how do you replicate finding any type of magical weapon at all?

To use an alternate world as an example; if TOR was a game about Arthurian Legends, instead of middle earth, why would Arthur need the sword in the stone? He would have started out with a normal long sword and before long he could have added all the qualities to make that original weapon a more powerful item. Ignoring he needed it to unite the country.

I know that ME isn't about loot, but it is about discovering the history of the world again and even though rare, magic weapons are part of that heritage.

Not to be nit picky, but Arthur was a squire when he drew the sword from the stone and did not possess one of his own.
However, Beren has a valid point as Arthur sets aside this sword in order to use Excalibur when it is gifted to him by the Lady of the Lake.

"Not to be nit picky, but Arthur was a squire when he drew the sword from the stone and did not possess one of his own.'

Ah, true. I did get the swords mixed up. Thanks.

Weapon Rewards are not meant to replicate swords like Glamdring and Orcrist, but rather Herugrim and Guthwine, the swords of Théoden and Eomer. Hoping not too tease too much, I'll say that Famous swords and other exceptional artefacts will be the object of the Magical Treasure rules included in the Rivendell sourcebook.

Francesco

I feel very much teased right now

“Look! The king has got a crown again!”

Thanks, Francesco, for that brief glimpse of the sun.

I think I speak for everyone when I say : Francesco, feel free to tease us any time you like!

" Hoping not too tease too much, I'll say that Famous swords and other exceptional artefacts will be the object of the Magical Treasure rules included in the Rivendell sourcebook."

Well, Hell! Why didn't you say so before. I was going to get this book either way...but, now you really have my attention.

I would hope that before any source books are made for settlements like Bree and the shire (which are currently completely off the map) that an expansion which includes hexed maps with terrain difficulties and danger ratings for the areas in question (in this case Eriador).

I love the hex map of Wilderland, and though I've only used the travel rules for a major journey once, I'm eager to try it again with the updated rules provided on this forum. Hopefully this time I'll generate a hazard or two! At this stage any journeys that take us to the shire are going to be wholly narration, which is fine... for now! I'm not holding my breath for expansions to the map... even though I REALLY want them! I'm especially interested in the areas south of the map... down into Rohan up to the mountain range that separates Rohan from Gondor. This seems more relevant to natives of Wilderland since there are no major mountain ranges blocking the way.... but I digress...

I'm very much looking forward to the Rivendale sourcebook.... Though I have one fear. I do very much hope that if there is a playable Noldor adventuring culture that it does not unbalance the game. For that matter I hope that the Dunedain rangers do not unbalance the game either. I was quite impressed with the restraint they used for the Mirkwood elves. On the other hand I saw a fan made supplement for expanding play to various elven peoples. It was quite well written, and though it seemed very well justified and grounded in the Simarilion, the Noldor in particular were just not balanced with humble northmen and Dwarves and hobbits... they had access to better rewards, and had an overpowered cultural blessing... which would bother me.... as a lore master I would not allow one player to chose a culture that far outshone all the others. As a player I might not have enough say to prevent it. Anyway cubicle 7 has done an excellent job so far in that regard, so I'm sure that whatever cultures they make playable will be balanced with the others already available.

Does the published release schedule for 2012 that says Autumn, refer to autumn 2013?

Please and thank you.

I am under the impression that the Rangers, at least, are considered an optional Adventuring culture. So, you may need permission from your LM to play them. This leads me to believe they may be a bit more powerful then the norm...but I could be wrong.

As far as Elves ...I just go with the flow. As I don't feel you can make an elf that is balanced. They have 60+ (at least probably much more) years training on humans and Dwarves before they reach Adventuring age. So, in my opinion the Elves should have a little more octane in their tanks when it comes to Virtue's, Rewards, and cultural blessings. But, that is another debate altogether.

Probably should add I don't play an Elf in our current campaign.

I really like how TOR balances some of this out with things like Standing. Suddenly that Hobbit (who is Prosperous) has an area that he completely outclasses the Mirkwood Elf (who is Martial) in!

I do agree that care needs to be given, especially with the Noldor Elves. I'm trusting that the design team will keep things fairly balanced.

Cynan,
As SG/C7 have abandoned the original idea of the extra 2 boxed sets as expansions, I think the maps you're looking for will actually be included in something like the Bree & Shire sourcebook.

It really depends on whether SG/C7 want to develop TOR in a "top-down" or "bottom-up" manner in the future. Top-down would be to release a broad Region, then more detailed close-up material like specific cultures, settlements, buildings, etc. Bottom-up would be to start with detailed info on specific subjects and eventually merge that into a braoder region.

D&D's Forgotten Realms was developed top-down. Generally regional information was provided with an overview and then specific details were developed later on off the regional foundation.

MERP's 2nd Ed material was released in a bottom-up manner. With adventures and books providing details that were later merged into regional sourcebooks.


I think the 2012 Release Schedule is now totally void.

"I think the 2012 Release Schedule is now totally void. "

Not exactly. Technically, Winter 2012 doesn't really end until March 20th, 2013. C7 is still within the pomised time frame.

I concur with the other posts Francesco - I've always intended to purchase Rivendell, but you've wetted my appetite. Now I can't wait for this one!

Every heroic character cannot cast spells. Only Wood Elfs and Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain have the option of selecting 3 spell like abilities each, and even that over time.

Beornings have magical powers too, mainly with Night Goer. Woodmen have their herb lore thing, which is kind of magical-ish. Bardings have their Foresight ability, and if I recall correctly, the line of Dalish kings could talk to birds and beasts. As for Hobbits, Tolkien clearly states that "there was nothing magical about them" (this may not be the exact quote), but their Art of Disappearing is rather extraordinary...

Thanks Glorfindel, that's what I meant to say

In summary, just about everyone can do something magical or unusual. Personally, I think they hit it & I like the magic system just the way it is.