Who are your heroes?

[Heilemann]

How did you hero group get together? What do they do when they're not hunting orc?

[Mordagnir]

My heroes are Rangers of the North. The plus is that their captain gives them orders and missions and the heroes have to figure it out from there. The downsides are that, to be vaguely realistic, the adventures have to be in the interest of the Rangers and the Wise (enough so that it's worth it to risk the lives of a few Rangers) and that the heroes don't have much flexibility to go off and explore. I have some long-term schemes to introduce some sandbox elements but that depends on the heroes getting enough credibility amongst the Rangers to be given a large degree of initiative.

[Etarnon]

I wrote a complete roster from when I recruited each player from Roll 20 two weeks ago. They met by chance in the Late Fall of TA 2952 outside the Town of Buhr Ailgra, just east of the Mirkwood Bight.

A lone Hobbit by a campfire. Another who was refused accommodations in town, as were the rest. A Ranger from the North, hunting Orc, going to town for supplies. Two elves and an aging Hobbit Treasure-hunter from the Anduin Valley. A dwarf, swearing oaths at the Innkeeper. A Beorning Axeman. They crowded around the fire, cut some bigger logs threw those on, broke out the Pipeweed, and some Elven Wine, and talked of the dangers in the Land and how Evil must be stopped and how they were almost all "too poor to even pay attention."

Thus, led by an Elven Sniper from an Elite Guard, they set off looking for treasure with an eye to the growing Darkness in Southern Mirkwood.

Capsule Descriptions follow, just because I took a long time typing them up in the huge preparations for this game. Elf and dwarf stuff I cheated and used 3.5 races of stone and wild. So yeah it's not Kuzdul or Sindarin proper. And the Dragon Guard is my own deal. We're filling in the blanks here in the Canon with our own stuff.

I think why Wilderland was chosen as setting sio we could play with it.

Most of these writeups the players gave me. Or they gave me notes and I pushed into the characters from there. Nobody has to this point said, "I don't like it, change it." Everyone has to this point, "played as described."

ELVES
Naka Karabuta (Elv. Na'Ka Ka-ara'Bae-tha) "Ancient Wyrm Guard" - Elf of Mirkwood - Slayer - An Elven sharpshooter trained in military combat. He is Athletic, Honorable, quick of hearing, and skilled in Elven and Dragon Lore. His motto is "Shoot once" with his specially crafted Woodland Bow as a lead scout of the Dragon Guard. His family has always sent the eldest to the Royal Palace. No matter how many of his brothers were sent they never returned, and his relatives have all perished. He vows to avenge himself one day with his deadly arrows. He is also skilled at fire-making and boating. He regrets the loss of his comrades in Mirkwood, and vows to be a better leader.

Liliana Kimiko (Elv. Lielianae KiMyKoeh) - Elf of Mirkwood - Scholar - Clever, and Keen-Eyed, she is a Scholar of Rhymes of Lore, Old Tomes of Ancient Elven Lore, and the secret language of the rocks, trees, and streams.. She's was an imposing presence, in a leather corslet and cap on the Strategic Staff of her father in an advisory role, but is also trained in use of the bow. Athletic, also an expert Hunter, and especially good at Fire-Making in difficult conditions, and Swimming. The waterfall told her "Knowledge is power and both destiny,and undoing." She thus decided to find a group of travelers to explore the ancient ruins of the Second Age.

HUMANS
Damrast, the Stong-willed son of Amaril, Dúnedain - Warden of the North Downs. - Of Numenorean blood, but not of the royal lineage. Despite this, he is known to be Generous and Merciful. He has studied the ancient tomes as a Warden, and knows the Old-Lore and Shadow-Lore. He has a warm personality, that can inspire awe in those he leads. A veritable Jack-of-all-Trades, but expertly trained and gifted at long arduous marches, and post-battle healing. Trained in the use of all swords, and high endurance, that is exceeded only by Bombur and Willicar.
He is skilled as a healer and a leader of men. His chieftain, Arathorn, sent him forth to aid the folk of Wilderland and bring hope to them before the Shadow rises once again. Alone, he traveled the wide leagues of Middle-earth until he reached the banks of the Anduin, and found much to be done.

Vesdrayth - Barding of Dale - Slayer - Vesdrayth is of semi-noble birth. Although not an extremely affluent family, they were still fairly well-off. From a young age, Vesdrayth engaged in archery training to uphold his father's teachings. He was never one to let his guard down purely for the sake of being privileged. Few, but dedicated, the fleet of 5 family horses had always served them well. Leanne, however, favored Vesdrayth as her companion. Vesdrayth learned the importance of respecting both his own bloodline and his pride, though at points leaving him a tad hasty and irrational at times in protecting them. Never forgetting his roots, he sets off from his homeland after his father had succumb to illness in search of what challenges lurk in Middle Earth, what company he can meet, and what he can do to honor his lineage.

Willicar the Awesome - Beorning - Slayer - A Grim, Suspicious, Awe-Inspiring when he carries his wood-splitter's axe into combat. An accomplished Hunter who travels the local forests and marshes, making his living from hunting, selling furs and skins, and Orc bounties. He can be direct and Insightful, but often stays silent, and lets his axe speak for him at need.

Sharker the Woodman - Warden - An Elusive expert at wilderness survival, he is normally a Scout that travels the Southern reaches of Mirkwood seeking the minions of shadow. He sometimes acts as a Look-out, knows of all bows and carries a Long-hafted Bearded Axe capable of splitting a shield, or disarming an enemy. He is forthright, and honest, trained as a healer, who knows a lot of herb-lore and beast-lore.

DWARVES
Bombur the Dwarf Treasure-Hunter. He's a former miner, somewhat of a loner. A wary, hardened, seasoned adventurer, who is well-travelled, carries a deadly long-hafted axe, and finely crafted dwarven chainmail on his missions of exploration and searching for treasure. He does not often speak, and sports an unusually long beard.

Reigen Glangirn "Ravenstone" of the Lost Mountainhold - Dwarf Scholar of Erebor. Eager, Robust, stout of body and skilled in lore, has been known to recite inspiring speeches of the Bearded Kings, along with the Ancient Phymes of Lore. Well-travelled, he carries a giant Mattock that he crafted himself, as he searches for lost lore and Relics of the Ancient Dwarves. He crafts and carries little dwarven puzzles made of metal that he tests the wits of other party members with. Wild looking, when he's not working on a forge.

HOBBITS
Darofium Proudmead - Hobbit from the Shire - Scholar - He's nimble, courteous, and true-hearted. An honest storyteller and a seeker of lore who enjoys cooking tasty meals. He's trained as an Archer, and is a fair shot with a bow, as well as stealthy. A very polite gentlehobbit, wishes to offend no one. In awe of Damrast the Ranger, the first Tall to treat him with respect.

Jarad Proudfoot - Hobbit from the Shire - Wanderer- Courteous and Bold, yet stealthy, and elusive. He's skilled in Gardening, and Folk-lore, enjoys a good pipe of Longbottom Leaf on the rare days when he's troubled. He has great courage, and is a jack-of all trades, except he doesn't have a lot of book knowledge, nor does he hunt, as he grows his own food. He's slight of stature which has helped him out in battle against the local bandits who have preyed upon the roads near Bree.

Fellowship Points : 12 Total

SLAYER X 3
SCHOLAR X 3
TREASURE HUNTER X 1
WANDERER 1
WARDEN 2

Semi-Retired Character
Logen Guidling - Wild Hobbit of the Anduin Valley - Treasure Hunter - Clever, Keen-Eyed, An expert wilderness guide, and stealthy movement. He's also proud of his garden back home along the Anduin, and knows much of herb-lore. He would be more than happy to stumble upon a treasure of an old, dead king. Formerly the party guide, now proudly journeys in his new role as a look-out for the fellowship. Aging, now semi-retired, running a small place called "The Fellowship Inn" in Bree.

[Heilemann]

That's a rather large company; how does the game run at that size?

[Etarnon]

Usually we have 1 or 2 players unable to make it for work or family reasons. The missing people vary.

Every once in a while we have a problem with skype getting alittle reverb. The players are polite so if someone is talking they wait for an opening. Many of the players are new to roleplaying in General. I schedule scenes for players who have not had a turn or been quiet, so we'll just have
"Two Hobbits Talking"
"Leaders make plans"
"Elves discuss Shadow"
"Front line fighters talk about fighting orcs."

In and around that are the narration for the journeys, encounters.

Combat we use the Journey Grid and the Combat Grid done by the Masters that haunt Cubicle 7.

I use screencaps from LOTRO Online, for say an orc camp, plus sometimes Campaign Cartographer 3 map, to give the flavor.

3 players of the above joined on a trial basis. Last night after the game, I asked them if they wanted to stick with it and all agreed.

[Glorelendil]

broke out the Pipeweed

Not to derail this thread, but I read the above and suddenly thought of a sub-culture of hobbits, living communally somewhere (Blue Mountains?), growing a..."different"...variety of pipeweed with curious properties.

Then again, I live in Boulder, CO.

[thewisewizard]

My group consists of Thorgrim Ironblood dwarf of the lonely mountain and Togo baggins a hobbit scholar. They met when they were both hired to guard the same merchant caravan. Later they were joined by hjarlsmear a beroning wanderer who joined them when he spotted them escorting lady ireme to the high pass and followed them out of curiosity.