Coming next for The One Ring™

[nazgul_2000]

Magic in the third age seems mostly relegated to objects- doors of durin, the entrance to the lonely mountain, Elven cloaks, enchanted swords, etc. I wouldn't be opposed to more if these things, but at this point in the history, magic and the forces which still have it (elves, dwarves, istari and other beings) are largely fading away and/or leaving as the prevalence of Men increases. So on that note, I wouldn't mind seeing perhaps more artifacts or ancient treasures or possibly more things like Broken Spells, but not a full fledged culture or supplement.

Having just re-read the Silmarillion, it occurs to me that magic in Middle Earth isn't really magic at all . . . it's more of a divine energy. I base this on the observation that anything "magical" has its origins in Aman, the realm of the Valar. This is where the Istari originated, and the Maia. The Noldor living in ME had visited the Undying Lands, and there they learned to use some of this divine energy. So to the extent they use magic in LOTR, that's because they have been exposed to divinity.

Compare that to D&D, where (most) magic is based on the arcane study of matter, the elements, etc. The magic ability is really just a greater understanding of physics, as the secrets of energy and matter are unlocked for those who study it diligently enough, thus allowing them to create a fireball or teleport objects.

So I would be opposed to any kind of magic-using player characters. I do agree with the post that the game could use an infusion of more rare artifacts. I plan on including more in my home game.

[Glorelendil]

"Any sufficiently advanced technology..." etc.

[aramis]

So I would be opposed to any kind of magic-using player characters. I do agree with the post that the game could use an infusion of more rare artifacts. I plan on including more in my home game.

Funny, but almost every PC I've seen in TOR is using magic to some degree or another by wisdom rank 3, and most of the Valor Rewards can be as easily construed as magical in nature.

The Elves and Dwarves explicitly have "spells" that they use. The ship has sailed.

[zedturtle]

So I would be opposed to any kind of magic-using player characters. I do agree with the post that the game could use an infusion of more rare artifacts. I plan on including more in my home game.

Funny, but almost every PC I've seen in TOR is using magic to some degree or another by wisdom rank 3, and most of the Valor Rewards can be as easily construed as magical in nature.

The Elves and Dwarves explicitly have "spells" that they use. The ship has sailed.

Yep, you'd have to disallow Elves, Dwarves, Beornings and Woodmen pretty much out of the gate if you don't want any non-object magic.

Plus, the entire attitude is foreign to me: both Aragorn and Denethor have explict "magical" abilities, not to mention things like Shelob's aura of fear, the Mouth of Sauron being called out as a sorcerer, the Witch-King's blasting spell at the gates of Minas Tirith, etc.

Yes, magic in Middle Earth is not "rootkiting physics" like magic in other game settings is often portrayed; it is understanding the music of the universe and working within it. But it is possible for people to do things that we (as modern non-magical people) would call magic: it is a subtle magic born within the world and not outside of it.

[alaskan15]

you'd have to disallow Elves, Dwarves, Beornings and Woodmen pretty much out of the gate if you don't want any non-object magic.

You would have to disallow Bardings too, since their 'Woeful Foresight' virtue lets them see the future and that is an innate magical power. [1]

Have fun with your all Hobbit campaign, or consider adding in 'Men of the Lake', since if you exclude magic powers that is all that you will have left.


[1]It might be 'psionic' in some settings, but Tolkein's not really one of them, and it is a fine distinction anyway.