Just finished reading the Vales of Anduin section of Heart of the Wilderland during downtime at work today. I have to say that I really enjoyed it and look forward to the Mirkwood section. The regions were well described and the boundaries of each clearly illustrated on the maps; though there were terrain features mentioned in the descriptions that weren't shown on the maps a couple of times. However, that is a fairly minor nit pick.
The one thing that did kind of erk me was the need to reference Tales of the Wilderland for the Village of Stonyford and the Mountain Hall (plus a couple of the NPCs). Particularly since other information (creatures and the Gallow-grass) were repeated here in this volume. If you are going to include a locale then explain it fully; because telling me I need to buy another book that I am not really interested in to get info that should be right in front of me (insert Marvin the Martian voice here) "makes me very angry." Otherwise top notch work. I am excited to see what comes next.
PS: Is there anyway I can get the full run down on the missing info without having to shovel out the clams to buy a book I really don't want otherwise?
HotW: The Vales of Anduin.
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Hermes Serpent
- Posts: 1651
- Joined: Wed May 08, 2013 9:28 pm
- Location: Sunny South Coast of Britain
Re: HotW: The Vales of Anduin.
You could just get the pdf at about 45% discounted from rpgnow and make use of other parts of the material in your own game. The pictures, maps and location information are nice and being a pdf means you don't have to bend the spine of your book to scan them to show the players.
Some TOR Information on my G+ Drive.
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing
"The One Ring's not a computer game, dictated by stats and inflexible rules, it's a story telling game." - Clawless Dragon
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing
"The One Ring's not a computer game, dictated by stats and inflexible rules, it's a story telling game." - Clawless Dragon
Re: HotW: The Vales of Anduin.
Beran:
Can I ask why so much hate for TfW? I think it's a fantastic campaign, (2 of the adventures don't personally appeal to my tastes, but I don't think they are bad). But even so, aside from the adventures, the book is filled with great background information about all the places the adventures take you.
Can I ask why so much hate for TfW? I think it's a fantastic campaign, (2 of the adventures don't personally appeal to my tastes, but I don't think they are bad). But even so, aside from the adventures, the book is filled with great background information about all the places the adventures take you.
Rignuth: Barding Wordweaver Wanderer in Southron Loremaster's game.
Amroth Ol'Hir: High Elf Vengeful Kin Slayer in Zedturtle's game.
Jakk O'Malli: Dwarven Orator Treasure-Hunter in Hermes Serpent's game.
Amroth Ol'Hir: High Elf Vengeful Kin Slayer in Zedturtle's game.
Jakk O'Malli: Dwarven Orator Treasure-Hunter in Hermes Serpent's game.
Re: HotW: The Vales of Anduin.
I sympathize with Beran. The One Ring product line has always been designed to dole out bits of information at a time, to make you buy more for the full setting. I don't blame Cubicle7 for this; it's probably the only way to make the game continue to be profitable and perceived as relevant and up to date.
This strategy also has the effect of scattering bits of the setting across lots of books, without an easy way to find them. Rather than a book about the setting and a book of adventures in that setting, you get two (or more!) books with some information about the setting and some adventures set therein, and you have to find what you want between them.
This strategy also has the effect of scattering bits of the setting across lots of books, without an easy way to find them. Rather than a book about the setting and a book of adventures in that setting, you get two (or more!) books with some information about the setting and some adventures set therein, and you have to find what you want between them.
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Hermes Serpent
- Posts: 1651
- Joined: Wed May 08, 2013 9:28 pm
- Location: Sunny South Coast of Britain
Re: HotW: The Vales of Anduin.
This is one reason why I get PDF's as I can extract the relevant material and concatenate it into a single file and just use that for gaming. I get to eliminate all the fluff and just keep the actual rules for use when running a game.
I can also customise a package for players with just the information relating to the area they come from (no secrets of course). It helps immersion when players know something and can reveal it to the others as local knowledge.
I can also customise a package for players with just the information relating to the area they come from (no secrets of course). It helps immersion when players know something and can reveal it to the others as local knowledge.
Some TOR Information on my G+ Drive.
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing
"The One Ring's not a computer game, dictated by stats and inflexible rules, it's a story telling game." - Clawless Dragon
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing
"The One Ring's not a computer game, dictated by stats and inflexible rules, it's a story telling game." - Clawless Dragon
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PaulButler
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Sun Nov 24, 2013 9:03 pm
TfW and why you should just buy it (Spoilers)
I love TfW as a campaign.
That being said, I understand the OPs frustration, but I heartily recommend you buy the thing anyway.
I'm the kind of guy that will frequently re-write large sections of pre-written adventures to suit my group, and while I didn't mess with TfW much at all, there's LOTS of stuff that can just be lifted to enrich your setting.
Besides Stonyford and Mountain Hall, there's the Easterly Inn, Valter the bloody and his band of outlaws, history for Elendil's Camp (also mentioned in HotW), the town of Celduin, the Dwarf watchtower at Zirakinbar. SOO much stuff that can be mined for use in homebrew campaigns.
I for one plan on writing detailed backhistory for the hermit in the tree and the axe Wolfbiter, and tying it into the tale of Ingomer Axebreaker and Mogdred.
That being said, I understand the OPs frustration, but I heartily recommend you buy the thing anyway.
I'm the kind of guy that will frequently re-write large sections of pre-written adventures to suit my group, and while I didn't mess with TfW much at all, there's LOTS of stuff that can just be lifted to enrich your setting.
Besides Stonyford and Mountain Hall, there's the Easterly Inn, Valter the bloody and his band of outlaws, history for Elendil's Camp (also mentioned in HotW), the town of Celduin, the Dwarf watchtower at Zirakinbar. SOO much stuff that can be mined for use in homebrew campaigns.
I for one plan on writing detailed backhistory for the hermit in the tree and the axe Wolfbiter, and tying it into the tale of Ingomer Axebreaker and Mogdred.
Re: HotW: The Vales of Anduin.
Don't hate it just not interested as our original game ran a couple of the adventures and they just didn't do anything for me.Rocmistro wrote:Beran:
Can I ask why so much hate for TfW? I think it's a fantastic campaign, (2 of the adventures don't personally appeal to my tastes, but I don't think they are bad). But even so, aside from the adventures, the book is filled with great background information about all the places the adventures take you.
Re: HotW: The Vales of Anduin.
Can I be so bold as to ask which ones? (just curious if your experiences matched mine)
I personally found "Stay on the Path" a bit underwhelming (I thought the "climax" should have been the Spider rescue, and the Thing in the Well bit left out entirely, or showing up in a different adventure). However it works well as a "starter" adventure to get new players into the game.
I loved Leaves and Stewed Hobbit. The flavor of this one is perfectly matched with the Hobbit.
Those who Tarry was my least favorite for reasons I have mentioned in other threads.
Kinstrife was decent.
And then I love Darkness in Marshes (possibly my favorite one of the whole campaign), Crossing and Watchtower, with the caveat that Raenor as the BBEG might eclipse DoM as others have said.
I personally found "Stay on the Path" a bit underwhelming (I thought the "climax" should have been the Spider rescue, and the Thing in the Well bit left out entirely, or showing up in a different adventure). However it works well as a "starter" adventure to get new players into the game.
I loved Leaves and Stewed Hobbit. The flavor of this one is perfectly matched with the Hobbit.
Those who Tarry was my least favorite for reasons I have mentioned in other threads.
Kinstrife was decent.
And then I love Darkness in Marshes (possibly my favorite one of the whole campaign), Crossing and Watchtower, with the caveat that Raenor as the BBEG might eclipse DoM as others have said.
Rignuth: Barding Wordweaver Wanderer in Southron Loremaster's game.
Amroth Ol'Hir: High Elf Vengeful Kin Slayer in Zedturtle's game.
Jakk O'Malli: Dwarven Orator Treasure-Hunter in Hermes Serpent's game.
Amroth Ol'Hir: High Elf Vengeful Kin Slayer in Zedturtle's game.
Jakk O'Malli: Dwarven Orator Treasure-Hunter in Hermes Serpent's game.
Re: HotW: The Vales of Anduin.
I LOVE the TfW. But my least favourite was the Those Who Tarry No Longer too. I really liked the Elf-Friend trait and introducing a Noldor character but some parts were just not "connected" to my group.
Of Finarfin's children I am the last. But my heart is still proud. What wrong did the golden house of Finarfin do that I should ask the pardon of the Valar, or be content with an isle in the sea whose native land was Aman the Blessed? Here I am mightier.
Re: HotW: The Vales of Anduin.
Beran,
I have read TfW, and honestly I think the bits missing aren't a problem.
Hartfast is old and cranky: all info are in HotW page 45.
Mountain hall is described in the LM Book, page 104. All you lack is the map, and you can live without it.
Edit: I forgot about Stonyford. Again, all important info are in HotW. Old Hartwulf is -well- old and cranky (again) her daughter is the real leader, and she's stern and cranky (it's genetic). My players feel that beornings are sorely lacking in Courtesy skill, by the way.
The Easterly Inn is run by a family of nice (naive?) hobbits immigrants.
The stronghold in the Gladden Fields is only relevant if you are running that adventure. Otherwise, skip it (there already plenty Shadow Strongholds in the southern Anduin, for my liking).
Believe me, C7 didn't withhold any key information.
I have read TfW, and honestly I think the bits missing aren't a problem.
Hartfast is old and cranky: all info are in HotW page 45.
Mountain hall is described in the LM Book, page 104. All you lack is the map, and you can live without it.
Edit: I forgot about Stonyford. Again, all important info are in HotW. Old Hartwulf is -well- old and cranky (again) her daughter is the real leader, and she's stern and cranky (it's genetic). My players feel that beornings are sorely lacking in Courtesy skill, by the way.
The Easterly Inn is run by a family of nice (naive?) hobbits immigrants.
The stronghold in the Gladden Fields is only relevant if you are running that adventure. Otherwise, skip it (there already plenty Shadow Strongholds in the southern Anduin, for my liking).
Believe me, C7 didn't withhold any key information.