Need help understanding TOR

[fjw70]

I always thought that the Shadow represented the threat of Sauron, and that is the way I would use it in my game. This is why I usually avoid established settings. I like to do my own thing instead of being constrained by someone else's work.

[Curulon]

I always thought that the Shadow represented the threat of Sauron, and that is the way I would use it in my game. This is why I usually avoid established settings. I like to do my own thing instead of being constrained by someone else's work.

Seems a bit odd to me to play The One Ring without using Middle-earth, or at least, the eras presented with so much history where you can have awesome stories that aren't told in the books.

But, to each their own.

[Corvo]

As I am familiarizing myself with the system my issue isn't necessarily the general complexity but too many little fiddly bits. One example of this are the attributes. Three attributes are great and clean, then you have a favored version of each (instead of applying a straight +2 when using a favored skill).

Also the advancement system has too many moving parts.
(...)
I am thinking about removing a few things (the shadow corruption for one) and standardizing the advancement resources.

If you want to cut down on the "fiddly bits", these are my 2 cents:
-favored stats and skills: you can ditch them without serious problems.
-traits: you can ditch them without serious problems.
-standing: as above.
-xp and ap: you can have them rise at a fixed rate if you like (say, 2 xp and 4 ap for session, for example).
-Valour and Wisdom linked to Rewards and Virtues... well, here I would thread carefully. Valour and Wisdom are not-so-useful if decoupled from Rewards/Virtues... especially if you take Corruption out of the equation, as you mentioned (see below)
-ditching Corruption... well, I would avoid this. Without Corruption, Hope lose its balancing element... and without Corruption, Wisdom is pretty much useless.

[fjw70]

I always thought that the Shadow represented the threat of Sauron, and that is the way I would use it in my game. This is why I usually avoid established settings. I like to do my own thing instead of being constrained by someone else's work.

Seems a bit odd to me to play The One Ring without using Middle-earth, or at least, the eras presented with so much history where you can have awesome stories that aren't told in the books.

But, to each their own.

If the rules of the game are good then it would make sense to play the game with a different setting.

However, Middle Earth is one of the few established settings I would consider playing in, but would probably advance the timeline beyond the defeat of Sauron. That way you still have the rich history and places, but don't have to worry about conflicting with the established story.

[Angelalex242]

Not exactly. Pretty early in the 4th age, all elves and dwarves are pretty much gone. Hobbits may be gone too. So you've got...just humans, since the other races aren't worth the paper they're written on in 4th age.

[Curulon]

Not exactly. Pretty early in the 4th age, all elves and dwarves are pretty much gone. Hobbits may be gone too. So you've got...just humans, since the other races aren't worth the paper they're written on in 4th age.

Unless we're talking pre-120 FA, which is when Aragorn dies. They could play around with hunting down the last of the Haradrim and Easterlings.

[fjw70]

I envision a different 4th age. In my version dwarves are still active in the world. Some elves chose to remain in ME and become "mortal" elves with life spans of only a couple thousand years. I wrote up a history of the 4th age a while ago. Basically during that age Gondor unifies with Arnor and Rohan to become a mighty empire. They even subjugate the elves and dwarves.

Eventually the Emperor falls in battle against an army from the East without an heir and the empire breaks apart. The Southrons lay waste to Minas Tirith and the Witch-King returns to Angmar (his "death" at Mina's Tirith releases his spirit from the domination of The One Ring so his spirit survives its destruction) to challenge Arnor.

I feel more comfortable changing the 4th age stuff since it is far less detailed than the previous ages.

[Curulon]

I envision a different 4th age. In my version dwarves are still active in the world. Some elves chose to remain in ME and become "mortal" elves with life spans of only a couple thousand years. I wrote up a history of the 4th age a while ago. Basically during that age Gondor unifies with Arnor and Rohan to become a mighty empire. They even subjugate the elves and dwarves.

Eventually the Emperor falls in battle against an army from the East without an heir and the empire breaks apart. The Southrons lay waste to Minas Tirith and the Witch-King returns to Angmar (his "death" at Mina's Tirith releases his spirit from the domination of The One Ring so his spirit survives its destruction) to challenge Arnor.

I feel more comfortable changing the 4th age stuff since it is far less detailed than the previous ages.

Is this after Aragorn dies? I'll be honest, I have a REALLY hard time seeing him letting ANY of that slide - the dude is basically the best king to have ever lived, and Eldarion probably is similar.

Maybe a few hundred years down the line, but I couldn't see this happening pre-120 FA - or even before Legolas and Gimli leave Middle-earth.

You can do what you want, of course, but yeah stuff prior to 120 FA is documented.

[fjw70]

No this happens way into the 4th Age. Thousands of years after the fall of Sauron. Aragorn is still a great king but some of his later descendants aren't as righteous (and some are corrupt).

[Etarnon]

Let me jump in here by suggesting these players with language barriers are lost in what it does, not the mechanics, which people keep explaining.

The problem seem to be that they are used to a D&D / Pathfinder setup where it is encounter and treasure.

One Ring is, as I see it:

More like a TV show that you are writing, with the characters as stars, with the long term stories.

Much like a historical record of an ancient warlord and his warriors struggling against the enemy of the kingdom. This game allows you to tell these stories.

Not so much as killing the bad things but, what moral price must the king pay when he finds out he has an assassin in his court? Can he execute every aide in his employ? He could but what is that price?

One ring better tells the rise and fall of heroes and the way they must face the darkness outside themself, and within themself.

D&D and similar do not really go there, it is concerned with killing things and taking things from those killed.

Also the emphasis on one ring is narrative, telling the story...

Not just I hit for 14 points of endurance, but:

"As I swing upon my enemy, I hear the roar of blood in my ears, I'm tired, weary, yet, I manage to land a bow upon him, knocking him back ten feet, he staggers and falls, and cannot do anything for a moment. I step up and..." That's one Combat round.

You're telling the story enough to be your own Lord of the Rings novel.

All of the mechanics that follow are:
- Trading off the weight of armor and weapons against how quickly you tire in battle.
- How to use Favored skills you are best at to your advantage.
- The loss of Hope that leads ultimately to madness, fear, cowardice, all sorts of negative traits
- How adventuring with friends and comrades keeps up your morale.




Good luck.