Rivendell Preview 1: What's in it?

[bigsteveuk]

Just read the preview OMG , absolutely MINT!!!

[jamesrbrown]

Perhaps Bree will be like Esgaroth... i.e it comes with a stand-up shield with relevant charts and tables on it, corresponding to the new rulebook?

You know, you could've hit the nail on the head with that. Perhaps to keep costs low, it wouldn't be a screen but would instead contain loose glossy sheets that could be stuck to peoples' already existing screens. After all the current GM screen comes with the Laketown guide so even for players coming to the game new it is still a useful product.

A Bree Sourcebook would be awesome, followed by a book covering western Eriador, and then another campaign similar to Darkening of Mirkwood, but including the errantries of the king.

Rich, I like the idea of glossy sheets or mats that can be added to the play area. Or better yet, how about a couple of panels that come with clips to expand the existing screen. That way, they would be the same size and thickness as the Lake-town screen, but with new fabulous art on the back by Jon Hodgson! I am imagining a beautiful painting of the streets of Bree focusing on the Prancing Pony.

[Andrew]

So apart from Rangers, High Elves and the lack of Bree, what are people most looking forward to/surprised at finding included? Was Francesco right in his closing comment on the blog?

[trystero]

So apart from Rangers, High Elves and the lack of Bree, what are people most looking forward to/surprised at finding included? Was Francesco right in his closing comment on the blog?

Eye of Mordor rules was the big surprise for me. Something the base game lacks, but that feels perfectly appropriate.

[Glorelendil]

So apart from Rangers, High Elves and the lack of Bree, what are people most looking forward to/surprised at finding included? Was Francesco right in his closing comment on the blog?

Your reference to the One Ring. I'm gonna roll me a dwarf, take "The Stiff Neck of Dwarves", spend all my Hope, and then go find that ring.

Moria is mine.

[Valarian]

We don't go quite as far west as Bree, but between the Barrow-downs, the Trollshaws, Angmar and everywhere in between, there's more than enough Eriador to start adventuring in.

Aren't the Barrow-downs west and south-west of Bree? Does this mean that there's going to be a supplement on Breeland (Bree and surrounds like Archet, Staddle and Combe) and The Shire? Will Ered Luin get a look?

[Lugija]

The hint of the One Ring itself was the biggest surprise. Up to now the game has stayed away from "Let's make stats for Gandalf", but The One Ring is the title of the product so it seems appropriate that it gets a look.

And I think that many who read the preview started to think of what-if-games: One of Bilbo's no-good relatives plays a prank to the old man and pickpockets him. What can a Hobbit do with a simple trinket, when nobody knows how important it is or, in the case of its maker, where it is? And how long can that last?

[Andrew]

Aren't the Barrow-downs west and south-west of Bree? Does this mean that there's going to be a supplement on Breeland (Bree and surrounds like Archet, Staddle and Combe) and The Shire? Will Ered Luin get a look?

You'll have to wait and see, I'm afraid!

[aramis]

So apart from Rangers, High Elves and the lack of Bree, what are people most looking forward to/surprised at finding included? Was Francesco right in his closing comment on the blog?

Eye of Mordor rules was the big surprise for me. Something the base game lacks, but that feels perfectly appropriate.

Yep, for me as well.

I'm not excited about the magic items, but know that it's a needed chunk, too. And, again, something the core lacks.

[Beran]

So apart from Rangers, High Elves and the lack of Bree, what are people most looking forward to/surprised at finding included? Was Francesco right in his closing comment on the blog?

My initial reactions were;

Noldor Elves: Neat!
Rangers: About frickin' time!. ME without Rangers is like Star Wars without Jedi (yeah, I'm looking at you Fantasy Flight.)
Inclusion of the Ring: Actually, I feel this is one item of power that should not be included in a LoTRs game.

I'm just looking forward to the entire line moving forward at this time. And I can't really say that I was overly surprised about anything that I have seen listed as being in the Rivendell book or the upcoming Companion.