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One of the things I love about The One Ring is how the mechanics bring out that Tolkien feel during play - I'm thinking the Hope/Shadow mechanic, the journey rules, Fellowship Focus, among other things. And of course the non-mechanical stuff is spot on as well.

I'm wondering what other things of their own people bring into their games to increase the feeling of being in Tolkien's world. I'm not necessarily thinking of mechanical things here, (although it could include that) but things like verses, or moments where ancient Middle-earth history is revealed - or anything else that adds to the feeling of being present in Middle-earth rather than a generic fantasy setting.

Some things I've enjoyed using is music like this (I had Irimë sing this song when my players first met her in Thranduil's halls during Don't Leave the Path): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6XnzglBjxc

or giving the characters thematically relevant dreams - revealing snippets of the ancient past, or forbodings of the future (the latter particularly nice for Bardings with Woeful Foresight), like Frodo had in the house of Tom Bombadil.

So what other things have people used?

We often serve food that's appropriate to where the characters are. Sausage rolls, mashed taters, and seed cakes at the Easterly Inn, for instance.

HunterGreen wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2017 11:33 am

We often serve food that's appropriate to where the characters are. Sausage rolls, mashed taters, and seed cakes at the Easterly Inn, for instance.

Ha! That's great, HunterGreen! I would definitely borrow this idea if I wasn't running PbF. Pictures of food just aren't the same...

I haven't, myself, had the opportunity to implement these ideas in-game; however, I have tried to create opportunities to introduce other Tolkien characters such as Thorin's sister Dís in what I hope are interesting ways.

Otaku-sempai wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2017 4:24 pm

I haven't, myself, had the opportunity to implement these ideas in-game; however, I have tried to create opportunities to introduce other Tolkien characters such as Thorin's sister Dís in what I hope are interesting ways.

Nice! This is making me want to look up some of those family trees Tolkien created, to see what other obscure characters could be brought in.

That song (Galadriel's Lament) is awesome!

I always play music from the New Line films, both The Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. While many here criticize the films, Howard Shore's soundtracks for all six of them are top-notch and very evocative!

Majestic wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2017 7:50 pm

That song (Galadriel's Lament) is awesome!

Yes it is. The translation is stunning too: http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Nam%C3%A ... ranslation

Majestic wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2017 7:50 pm

I always play music from the New Line films, both The Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. While many here criticize the films, Howard Shore's soundtracks for all six of them are top-notch and very evocative!

Good idea! I think his soundtracks are fantastic, as well.

The One Ring RPG system.

At least once a session I destroy something beautiful and irreplaceable.

Glorelendil wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 23, 2017 4:31 pm

At least once a session I destroy something beautiful and irreplaceable.

Thanks - that's really good.