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Hey everyone I was wondering why beornings don't have access to the ability to change into a bear like Beorn? From what I've read about the Beornings from Tolkien sources it is stated they can skin-change just like their master.

Was this purely for balancing issues?

No, they can't. Only Beorn's line has this skill (and not all). Beornings are northmen who choose Beorn as their leader, but they don't share common ancestors.

Arthadan wrote:No, they can't. Only Beorn's line has this skill (and not all). Beornings are northmen who choose Beorn as their leader, but they don't share common ancestors.

This is correct. "Beornings" are not Beorn's descendants. They are pockets of nomads, and others living in seclusion during the days of the necromancer - descendants no doubt of Riders of Rhovaniona / Eeotheod etc who continued to dwell in/around the anduin vale in small numbers.

They then flocked to his banner if you will - after he established the northern end of the Anduin Vale as under his protection after the events of The Hobbit concluded.


Robert

Paige712 wrote:Hey everyone I was wondering why beornings don't have access to the ability to change into a bear like Beorn?

The Beorning Cultural Virtue 'Night-goer' on page 126 of the Adventurer's Guide is the closest thing to changing into a bear, but if a Beorning who possesses this virtue were to get into a battle and lose Endurance, his spirit form would quickly disappear and his real body would suffer the consequences.

There is a little more on this in the Loremaster's Guide, turning it into a mystery of sorts regarding a possible connection with his diet, whether or not he passes his secrets on, etc.

Trotter wrote:a possible connection with his diet, whether or not he passes his secrets

Beorn poops out his ability to change his skin?

I have thought about this question a fair amount. There is a fellowship phase undertaking for Beornings mentioned in the heart of the wild sourcebook. I am thinking, if a Beorning has taken all of the cultural virtues, and is starting to take certain undertakings from Beorn, based on the undertakings listed in call of the wild (like first taking the Beast speech undertaking), then perhaps they could work Their way up to skin changer. they would have to have Born
as a patron and his house as a sanctuary.

While I think being a skinchanger would definitely be fun, isn't it mostly implied that skinchangers, i.e Beorn, are a different race altogether?

well since a Beorning can get a spirit bear as a cultural virtue, and Beorn can teach him to talk with animals as an undertaking, it is not too much of a stretch that, should be Loremaster wish it, the player hero can learn to be a skin changer too.

I suppose so. I was going off of Gandalf's statement that he believes Beorn to be 'of the mountains'. It also seems more of a case of 'you're either born with it or you aren't'. But hey, that's just me