campaign setting in other ages of ME ?

[nook5733]

Hi,
I'm interested in getting the core rulebook but would like to know whether the game allows for the campaign to be set in other ages? (particularly interested in First age campaign) and also whether there's a sourcebook available pertaining other ages as well?
Thanks
Nook

[Indur Dawndeath]

Hi,
I'm interested in getting the core rulebook but would like to know whether the game allows for the campaign to be set in other ages? (particularly interested in First age campaign) and also whether there's a sourcebook available pertaining other ages as well?
Thanks
Nook

The setting is late third age, but you can use the system in any age you want.
But, you’ll need to make your own cultures, since the ones that are included in the Core Rules are specific for Wilderland.
And you’ll need to make you own adventures and region descriptions.

[Otaku-sempai]

There is no sign yet of any supplements for setting campaigns in other ages. And many of the Heroic Cultures of the late Third Age did not exist in earlier periods. However, the High Elves of Rivendell gives you a place to start for designing the Noldor of the First Age. The Sindar were also Eldar and probably weren't too far behind the High Elves in power and ability. Combining elements of the Rangers of the North with the Men of Minas Tirith might provide a base for the Three Houses of the Edain. And the future boxed set for Moria might be worth waiting for.

Do you have a copy of Karen Wynn Fonstad's The Atlas of Middle-earth? I recommend it for maps of Beleriand in the First Age, and Númenor and Middle-earth in the Second Age (though I do disagree with her placement of the Dwarf-city of Belegost far south of Nogrod, instead of some 20 miles to the north). She also illustrates the voyages of the Númenórean mariners in the Second Age.

[Girithan]

Thank you for starting this thread. I, too, am interested in TOR campaigns set in earlier ages. Most recently I have been putting together some notes for a campaign set in the 27th century of the Second Age. Lots of wide-open opportunities for PCs to adventure, and, importantly, to persue high-stakes objectives against the Enemy.

The period is relatively free of any restrictive narrative by JRRT, but there are useful and exciting elements nonetheless: a general state of war against Sauron; the presence of the Nine; Mannish settlements coming under increasing - and, perhaps, unwanted - influence by Numenorean colonists; tension and conflict between the King's Men and the Faithful, etc; Eregion in ruins and Khazad-dum isolated; etc. Also, the TOR material doesn't need too much adapting to be useful for this period.

[Otaku-sempai]

The period is relatively free of any restrictive narrative by JRRT, but there are useful and exciting elements nonetheless: a general state of war against Sauron; the presence of the Nine; Mannish settlements coming under increasing - and, perhaps, unwanted - influence by Numenorean colonists; tension and conflict between the King's Men and the Faithful, etc; Eregion in ruins and Khazad-dum isolated; etc. Also, the TOR material doesn't need too much adapting to be useful for this period.

Indeed, as the Númenóreans begin to establish their own domains in Middle-earth they do meet resistance from others. We see much of this occur in the region of Enedwaith where much deforestation was taking place. Some of the ancestors of the Dunlendings inhabit the cape of Eryn Vorn; others have settled further north in what will become Bree-land. Drúedain (cousins of the Woses) inhabit parts of Enedwaith and the peninsula of Andrast. Sauron was still concentrating on expanding and consolidating his power in the East during this time. The twenty-seventh century of the Second Age became a time of strife in Númenor itself following the death of Queen Tar-Vanimeldë of Númenor in the year 2637 as the Sceptre is seized by her husband Herucalmo, who takes the name Tar-Anducal.

Was this around the time that Sauron claimed the title King of Men, or was that still some years away? I guess there's some wiggle room there.

[atgxtg]

There is no sign yet of any supplements for setting campaigns in other ages.

And there probably won't be. If I recall correctly C7's liscense only allows them to use stuff that's in the Hobbit and LotR, and so can't expands things much as far as other ages go. At least not at present. I think the Doctor Who license originally only included the new series but was later expanded to allow for Classic Series (probably in part because so much classic series stuff is finding it's way into the new series).

I would think that most of the heroic cultures from the First Age would be "advanced" cultures, and overall the game would need a bit of a power up. Not that that's bad, but it would be a bit of work for the LM.

[Otaku-sempai]

If I recall correctly C7's liscense only allows them to use stuff that's in the Hobbit and LotR, and so can't expands things much as far as other ages go. At least not at present. I think the Doctor Who license originally only included the new series but was later expanded to allow for Classic Series (probably in part because so much classic series stuff is finding it's way into the new series).

I would think that most of the heroic cultures from the First Age would be "advanced" cultures, and overall the game would need a bit of a power up. Not that that's bad, but it would be a bit of work for the LM.

I believe you are right, but remember that the LotR Appendices also includes a timeline and notes for the Second Age that would be sufficient to provide some content for C7 (subject to approval, of course). But without knowing the details of their contract, I can't be certain of what is theoretically allowed.

[atgxtg]

Yeah the Appendices on LoTR do cover quite a bit, but they obviously don't cover things in much depth. I suspect they could probably mention some stuff from earlier ages in passing, but aren't allowed to draw on other sources or expand something beyond whatever was mentioned in the appendices.

That's probably not such a bad thing either. Usually when someone tries to expand upon existing material for a licensed product line, they end up add or changing things in ways that don't necessarily mesh with the original authors intentions. Escpially when it's fleshing out a setting for an RPG. So less might be more here.