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So, I'm flipping through Horse Lords of Rohan and looked over the sample Rohirrim character, Herubrand. His Endurance is 26 and his fatigue is 23 (mail shirt, helm, shield, sword, bow). For all intents and purposes, if he gets hit once in combat, he becomes weary. Encouraging heroes to wear minimal/no armor, and carry only one or two weapons is very fitting for the setting, but I think the fatigue/encumbrance rules are too punishing and not reflective of the books. Thoughts?

Bonus trivia: during the playtest in 2010, the Body attribute was called Strength. The three attributes were devised to reflect a quote from Gandalf in LOTR: "But you have been chosen and you must therefore use such strength and heart and wits as you have." Strength was changed to Body when playtesters reacted negatively to Strength, feeling that the skills associated with it didn't mesh well with the word. I suggested using Vigor instead. Francesco liked it, but they went with Body.

Bear in mind that the Rohirrim can benefit from their horses. When mounted, they reduce their Encumbrance due to armour by the value listed on page 134 of Horse-lords of Rohan. So Herubrand isn't quite so bad off as he might seem at first.

What zedturtle says. If in need to dismount, Herubrand should probably take away his helmet to reduce a few points of Fatigue.
A foot soldier of Rohan probably wouldn't carry a bow, and would reduce his armour to something a bit lighter.

From my experience with the game, only rohirrim who will fight and travel on horse, and dwarves thanks to their Cultural Blessing, will carry such defensive equipment as chainmail, shield and helmet. All other cultures will have to sacrifice one or another gear of protection.

As has been pointed out other times, a margin of 10 points between your starting Fatigue and your maximum Endurance is a good way to start.

Realistically, in a battle in which you're heavily armored, getting "hit" by a blow you fail to block or parry, and which gets through your armor, but which doesn't cause lasting injury, is likely to reduce your performance. I see no issue here.

Talking about realism, the only senseful reason for a warrior in close combat to throw away his well fitting helmet is when it's broken. A hit to the head is quite deadly and despite Hollywood's vision of dramaturgic directed swordfighting in movies where one should clearly see the actor's faces, experiences from e.g. reenactement combat fighting talk quite a different language.

First thing you want as a warrior in an early medieval oriented combat situation is a shield. Then a helmet. Body armour comes third.

Quite true. Early Medieval weapons were normally not used to parry with. Of course Middle earth weaponry might be somewhat better than that.

Historically, those with heavy armor either only wore it when they were going into a battle, or were mounted troops with spare mounts to help mitigate some of the effects of wearing armor for long periods.

Fortunately this has nothing to do with early medieval. This all takes place in an alternate, imaginary universe with its own timeline.

Glorelendil wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 23, 2018 2:45 pm

Fortunately this has nothing to do with early medieval. This all takes place in an alternate, imaginary universe with its own timeline.

And without body location hits.

Glorelendil wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 23, 2018 2:45 pm

Fortunately this has nothing to do with early medieval. This all takes place in an alternate, imaginary universe with its own timeline.

Exactly. In a middle earth game, I'm personally not interested in combat realism. I'm interested in combat that feels like the scenes from the source material. I agree that hauling a lot of gear should contribute to getting weary, but not after a single blow. Perhaps allowing the expenditure of a point of Hope to ignore the weary effect until getting hit again? Or am I forgetting a rule that is already in place?

Glorelendil wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 23, 2018 2:45 pm

Fortunately this has nothing to do with early medieval. This all takes place in an alternate, imaginary universe with its own timeline.

Half true. Middle Earth is clearly inspired by the early medieval period and northern mythology. Guess why there are no breastplates or crossbows. And Jon's art is also clearly inspired by early saxon or vendel age armour, clothing, weapons and such.

And even in an imaginery universe I want my most vulnerable bodypart be better protected than bodyparts that have less impact on my survivability in close combat. Common sense.