Tell me about your Magic Items!

[Timmity Took]

So I gave it Fireproof because I hope that a hero may find it and wear it against a dragon I may include in a future adventure, most likely one from the forthcoming The Laughter of Dragons

You can make your own dragons of three different types, fire-drake, cold-drake and long-worms, and of many different ages, with the rules in the Concerning Dragons chaper in the Erebor supplement

[Mim]

Thank you.

I really like their chapter on Concerning Dragons, it's very evocative.

I'm considering a couple of 'em - Kibiluzn, The Silver Shadow, or Cûtoel, a Fire-drake of the line of Ádfyr.

Have you decided to introduce any of the dragons into your game?

[Timmity Took]

Not yet. I play a lot of rp games and have been for 20 years now, alot of different systems, but I am all new to the ToR system. We have only played 2 sessions and seen one combat... so I don't even know what I can put my players up against and expect them to survive(or at least have a chance to)
I was concidering scaring them with hints of a dragon guarding a hoard, but when they get there it is a great spider...

[Mim]

That should work well for you, actually. Great Spiders are chilling foes and can rattle your players.

On your other post you asked about The Darkening of Mirkwood. That's one of my favorites of their books so far, and I love the scene from The Staff of the Roadwarden when they meet Tauler, the Hunter:

The monstrous Spider clearly feasted on the boars and is now sleeping off a heavy meal, or else it is very much awake and watching the companions. It’s hard to tell with the glassy-eyes of Spiders…

[Kurt]

These are excellent examples. I particularly like some of the names of these magical items and the histories behind their creation and use. Thank you for sharing.

Cheers,
Kurt

[Timmity Took]

@mim: I own the Darkening of Mirkwood and I like it. But I am still thinking about if I should use the tale of years or not, or how much... I like the open and free time and place that is Wilderland between the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, I want to be creative with that, but the stuff in the Darkening of Mirkwood is great, so... hmm.. but this is a subject for another thread.

My next session will start with a combat against a Warg Leader, an Orc Guard and a Goblin Archer.
My four players are a Beorning(based on Brian Blessed), a Woodman(boy of 16 and his huge dog), two Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain (a classic axe-dwarf and a scholar)...
Will they have an ok challenge you think?
And will they be able to handle a great spider a few days later?... If they survive they will have a huge hoard and can roll for treasure

@kurt: Yes, I appreciate the contributions I have gotten.
I would like to use more middle-earth languages too, but...

[Mim]

You ask an excellent question and it's that age-old RPG dilemma about challenging your players and yet, writing a balanced scenario.

Depending on how you adjudicate the battle they should be able to handle that, as well as the subsequent fight against the Great Spider, just as long as they have a chance to heal in between. Perhaps you can give them something, or your Woodman can have Staunching Song?

If those options are not possible, another old trick (you probably already know) is to reduce the Endurance Points, Attribute Level, or abilities of one or more of those monsters - if you're concerned.

[Timmity Took]

The woodman (woodboy..) has three ranks and is specialized in song but chose the Hound of Mirkwood as his first Virtue.
I think it is likely Staunching song will be the next one.
If he finds one of the magic items that this thread was supposed to be about it might take longer as xp might be used on those :p

I was more concerned with the combat being too easy or over too quick, with old the build-up it got last session...
But you don't think that will be a problem?
I have some tactical solutions that might help me though...

[Mim]

The Warg Leader and the Orc Guard should both prove challenging, especially if you give them the option of surprise and/or an ambush from good terrain. The Goblin Archer may not be too much of a fight, but you can always add one or two. A devastating opening volley can do wonders in changing the situation very quickly.

I have to get going and good luck with the battle!

[Timmity Took]

We have already resolved combat advantages and opening volleys. The Archer is on the wargs back and can only be attacked as if in rearward position...
I can't add more, because they are an established "horror tale" in the narrative of our story. Two maimed woodmen twisted by the Shadow of Mirkwood, turned into goblins, and their faithfull Warg. Was she their hound, twisted too, maybe the wolf that killed their mother when they were small or a mad warg who took them as their pups, unable to have her own... They heard the tale before entering Mirkwood. The legend of Brothers Broken and Bitch Barren. I would post it here, but I wrote it in norwegian and I don't want to translate it right now :p
They were hunted and lurked on for days, and finally attacked before we ended last session. They rolled well and noone was surprised by the ambush...
You would think fighting a legless Archer a onearmed spearman and a skinny and scarred wolf wouldn't be too hard... we'll see