PbP and Tolkien's style

[Glorelendil]

Well, sure. If you're a big enough fan of X that you become a scholar in it, and X got changed by Y, you'll probably feel that Y ruined X.

Think about musical styles, for example.

[Majestic]

Fascinating. Interesting how many instances of leaped and sprang there were.

[BobusX]

Thanks for this, I am trying to brush up on my style more before I start running my next One Ring game, so this will be really handy.

[zedturtle]

Or else, care to submit a post you're proud of? Bonus points if you can tell us why it's Tolkien-y.

Ehh... This is hard for me to do, because most all of my players do a very good job at keeping the proper mood. And I don't want to single anyone out and have others feel slighted. But here's an exchange that I thought was pretty good:

"Mithrandir, what labors shall we perform to ferret out these agents of darkness? For the Red Lion would prowl the streets at night if such unceasing vigilance is what it shall take to keep safe the world of men and all free folk."

Gandalf smiled kindly at Amroth. "Vigilance is needed, but subtlety as well. Tonight, I announce myself to the Gibbet King, his attention will be on me. You must use that as you would a feint in battle; and not draw attention to yourself."

Bergmál said "I may have been thinking too simply, as if the G... err, Tommy Rawhead could be tracked like a deer or kinslayer. Tracking the living who do his bidding may be more within my experience, but might not be easy. Not every unsavory fellow will be one of his, and no doubt there are some more subtle and fair-seeming than Wida."

"Indeed," replied Gandalf. "Open eyes and thinking minds must be your weapons, not blades and bows. You have done much already; identifying and drawing out those of power in attendance... my heart says that at least one of them is capable of much mischief, in the service of his master."

Brannock frowned, " Master Wizard, is there anything we can do to prevent the fell thing from fouling our minds while we hunt it?"

Gandalf leaned in and whispered to all of them. "You know already that names have power. And among all of the powers that watch over the world, there is one whose face shines with the light of creation, one who brought forth the stars before the coming of the Sun and the Moon, one who will hear you when you are in the deepest pits of despair." He smiled and his face shined with kindness and warmth. "The Elves call her Elbereth Gilthoniel. If you find yourself in the most desperate need; cry out her name... she is the Adversary of Darkness; she will hear you."

He leaned back, and continued "But only at the most desperate need... there may be others listening, and it would not do for them to hear her name said too freely."

But a lot of the stuff is great. We've had songs about Turín, great speeches from a number of characters (including a very loquacious elf named Amroth) and a ton of fun. Some sad times and some frustrating times along the way, but that's to be expected in something that lasts for a long time.

[Majestic]

I don't know for sure, but I'd imagine that actually composing the occasional verse (or song) is probably easier to do with a PbP or PbEM, at least compared to a FTF group. My group tends to say "My character regaled the group with a song!" or the like, rather than actually coming up with anything.

BTW, that's great stuff, zedturtle. Feels like one is reading a lost chapter of Tolkien!

[cuthalion]

I want to start a PbP game where everybody has to write in verse.

Sounds kind of fun--especially if the setting matched. 1st age? Not sure my writing skills are up to it though!

@zedcrusher: Nice. Good and Gandalfy. I'd like to take a closer look at dialogue at some point.

One thing that might help you understand Tolkien is that he is supposed to have only used words that originated in Early English, Anglo-Saxon or Norse i.e. the words have the root forms in those languages. I presume he did so for the purpose of having the rhythms and phrasing of the material he studied. In an oral culture the rhythm and phrasing is what makes the story memorable and I'm sure that kind of thing is behind the use of language in his books.

Yes--well, I've studied some Anglo-Saxon, so have had the uncanny feeling of seeing Tolkien everywhere there. Rhythm and phrasing sure--but I think he was often most interest in just the pure sound, according to what I've read--just perfect euphony. This--in my opinion--is what makes it so hard for other fantasy to stand up against Tolkien: their names and turns of phrase often just sound so rubbish.

Thanks for this, I am trying to brush up on my style more before I start running my next One Ring game, so this will be really handy.

Great--that was the intention. Feel free to suggest other topics if it's any help.

Fascinating. Interesting how many instances of leaped and sprang there were.

Seriously--both, of course, germanic. Good to have a magic bullet to make it sound right, huh?

***

Well, I might add to this at some point. Until then, post here if you have a good post or writing hint.

[zedturtle]

Hmmm.... zedcrusher? Either you mean zedrocunknowndamianturtle or that's the most hilarious conflating of user names I've seen.

I've talked elsewhere about how scary Gandalf is to write for, it's easy to screw up and ruin the mood. I'd love to get more feedback on the dialogue because that's as tricky as the description, at least.

[Glorelendil]

Hmmm.... zedcrusher? Either you mean zedrocunknowndamianturtle or that's the most hilarious conflating of user names I've seen.

I've talked elsewhere about how scary Gandalf is to write for, it's easy to screw up and ruin the mood. I'd love to get more feedback on the dialogue because that's as tricky as the description, at least.

Contest winner right there.

[zedturtle]

Hmmm.... zedcrusher? Either you mean zedrocunknowndamianturtle or that's the most hilarious conflating of user names I've seen.

I've talked elsewhere about how scary Gandalf is to write for, it's easy to screw up and ruin the mood. I'd love to get more feedback on the dialogue because that's as tricky as the description, at least.

Contest winner right there.

If you become zedcrusher then we must become enemies. I will leap forward hewing as I spring to bring down the hated enemy!

Or something.

[cuthalion]

Send me the dice!