Journey Hazards

[nazgul_2000]

Thanks Rich! I've been wanting just such a compendium of hazards for a long time. I just saved it all into a Word document for future reference at my gaming table.

[nazgul_2000]

This does, however, raise some questions about what the actual roles entail. In particular, the distinction between Guide and Scout is fuzzy to me.

When in doubt, turn to the books for examples.

In my opinion, when the Fellowship of the Ring first set out from Rivendell, Gandalf was their guide, and Aragorn was the scout. Perhaps Legolas was the Lookout, with his keen eyes.

Once Gandalf fell, either Aragorn also assumed the role of guide, or maybe the party had no guide for a time. You could argue that Boromir tried to play the part, by trying to entice the party to come to Minas Tirith.

When Sam and Frodo left the Fellowship and entered Mordor, it is pretty clear that Gollum was the scout and Frodo was the guide. Sam was probably the huntsman.

I agree, there is some overlap between the two roles, so it helps me to have some actual known characters to visualize.

[Stormcrow]

In my opinion, when the Fellowship of the Ring first set out from Rivendell, Gandalf was their guide, and Aragorn was the scout. Perhaps Legolas was the Lookout, with his keen eyes.

During this stage of the journey, Aragorn, Boromir, and Legolas all played Scout roles. Most of this had to do with navigating Caradhras: Legolas running ahead over snow to gather information; Aragorn and Boromir to plow a path through the snow for the others to follow.

In Moria, the Scout role fell to Gimli, who assisted Gandalf in choosing the right path.

Gandalf was certainly the Guide all the way to the Bridge of Khazad-Dum.

Once Gandalf fell, either Aragorn also assumed the role of guide, or maybe the party had no guide for a time. You could argue that Boromir tried to play the part, by trying to entice the party to come to Minas Tirith.

Aragorn was certainly the Guide. The only time any Scout-like role was shown was when Legolas first climbed a tree in Lorien.

Boromir never tried to be the Guide; he tried to convince the Guide—Aragorn—to go to Minas Tirith, and to get the rest of the Company to support him. Aragorn WANTED to go to Minas Tirith, but believed he had to guide Frodo.

When Sam and Frodo left the Fellowship and entered Mordor, it is pretty clear that Gollum was the scout and Frodo was the guide. Sam was probably the huntsman.

Frodo was Guide, Gollum was Scout, yesss, preciousss. Gollum also played some part of Huntsman, too, rounding up water and nice rabbitses. Sam was, at best, a Lookout.

After Cirith Ungol, however, Sam was Guide, Gollum was gone, and Frodo was too helpless to do anything.

[aramis]

Resurrecting this topic to ask: Does anyone uses the Hobbit Tales cards for journey hazards? The rules are in line with the revised core rules. If you've chosen not to, how come?

The odds are somewhat different.

I'm using the deck in my off-n-on pickup campaign.

Things that are a problem:

1. The marks are too hard to read due to the subdued colors
2. The marks aren't memorable enough

So, I wound up having to do a list of the cards and their symbols.
There are 75 total hazard options in Hobbit tails.

Code: Select all

Hobbit Tales    All     Guide  Huntsman  Lookout   Scout     Sum
Corruption       2        1        1        1        2        7
Despair          3        5        1        2        1       12
Fatigue          3        1        0        1        4        9
Misery           3        1        3        3        0       10
Strain           1        1        4        1        2        9
Weariness        1        3        3        1        1        9
Wound            0        1        2        5        2       10
Wrong Ch.        2        3        1        1        2        9
Sum             15       16       15       15       14       75

And in the RPG:

Code: Select all

RPG              All     Guide  Huntsman  Lookout   Scout   Player    Empty     Sum
Corruption        1        3        2        2        2        1        1        12
Despair           1        3        2        2        2        1        1        12
Fatigue           2        6        4        4        4        2        2        24
Misery            1        3        2        2        2        1        1        12
Strain            1        3        2        2        2        1        1        12
Weariness         2        6        4        4        4        2        2        24
Wound             1        3        2        2        2        1        1        12
Wrong Choices     1        3        2        2        2        1        1        12
Dangerous Meeting 1        3        2        2        2        1        1        12
Sum              11       33       22       22       22       11       11       132

Note that HT lacks dangerous meeting, and evens out the distribution. It's different from the 2E rules...

[Majestic]

How many of you use them? (the cards from Hobbit Tales?)

I've ordered them, and figure I'll just use them once in awhile, perhaps for more mundane journeys (less likely to trigger dangerous encounters).

[zedturtle]

How many of you use them? (the cards from Hobbit Tales?)

I've ordered them, and figure I'll just use them once in awhile, perhaps for more mundane journeys (less likely to trigger dangerous encounters).

I use them in face-to-face games, though not always taking the results literally (letting it instead inspire an idea). I've also used them in other places, liking using them to provide subjects/inspiration for the Stage of the Nobles in Theft and that sort of thing.

[Elroval]

How many of you use them? (the cards from Hobbit Tales?)

I've ordered them, and figure I'll just use them once in awhile, perhaps for more mundane journeys (less likely to trigger dangerous encounters).

I used them for the first time recently, pulling Unexpected Guests (marked for the Guide, with the result of Despair), while running Kinstrife and Dark Tidings.

It was fun to improvise an episode, with a pair of travellers lost in the marsh seeking warmth at the company's fire. They turned out to be ghosts, delivering a vision of despair to the woefully-foresighted Barding.

Like zedturtle, I think the cards are great if you don't feel constrained to take the results too literally. The images are really evocative and great at stirring the imagination for some interesting episodes.

[Glorelendil]

How many of you use them? (the cards from Hobbit Tales?)

I've ordered them, and figure I'll just use them once in awhile, perhaps for more mundane journeys (less likely to trigger dangerous encounters).

I used them for the first time recently, pulling Unexpected Guests (marked for the Guide, with the result of Despair), while running Kinstrife and Dark Tidings.

It was fun to improvise an episode, with a pair of travellers lost in the marsh seeking warmth at the company's fire. They turned out to be ghosts, delivering a vision of despair to the woefully-foresighted Barding.

Like zedturtle, I think the cards are great if you don't feel constrained to take the results too literally. The images are really evocative and great at stirring the imagination for some interesting episodes.

That's awesome. Great way to use the cards.