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I agree a hobbit or two would be a good addition--I know I would want to play one! If you want to do 10 pregens I'm happy to help come up with backgrounds once they're built (I'm terrible at figuring out the best mechanical choices for a character). In addition, it might be pretty easy to use some of the original pregens' backgrounds while still modifying their stats to something more favorable to the players...

Rue wrote:I agree a hobbit or two would be a good addition--I know I would want to play one! If you want to do 10 pregens I'm happy to help come up with backgrounds once they're built (I'm terrible at figuring out the best mechanical choices for a character). In addition, it might be pretty easy to use some of the original pregens' backgrounds while still modifying their stats to something more favorable to the players...

Well, for logistical reasons, I'd like to keep the pregens to 8 (that keeps the booklet to 16 pages, which is four signatures). But I could certainly rebuild Roderic as a Hobbit.

I am very interested in any suggestions to make the characters more effective while still keeping them 'legal' starting characters.

zedturtle wrote:Well, for logistical reasons, I'd like to keep the pregens to 8 (that keeps the booklet to 16 pages, which is four signatures). But I could certainly rebuild Roderic as a Hobbit.

I am very interested in any suggestions to make the characters more effective while still keeping them 'legal' starting characters.

Even if he's a hobbit, you could still use the idea of Roderic as a treasure hunter and trying to get a dowry together--maybe the hobbit lass in question has an overprotective father, or one who is eager to increase his standing by trying to marry his daughter to the most important/wealthy suitor he can (i.e., not Roderic)? Maybe she's very beautiful and so her father thinks that even though he is of relatively humble origins he can aim higher for her due to her beauty? Therefore Roderic needs to get together quite a bit of "oomph" as PG Wodehouse might say in order to compete?

Or alternatively, maybe the girl in question is very poor and so Roderic needs to amass enough to support both of them (and maybe a widowed mother and younger siblings... hobbits do eat a tremendous amount)? Maybe he's promised her he will seek his fortune over the Misty Mountains and return to her when he has his fortune made? It could explain why he's a hobbit so far from home.

My advice would be to make sure each has a virtue or reward that will get used without requiring special circumstances. I.e., don't give a Beorning the Splitting Axe because he might not roll a Gandalf. You want everybody to feel good about their character in their first session.

Glorelendil wrote:My advice would be to make sure each has a virtue or reward that will get used without requiring special circumstances. I.e., don't give a Beorning the Splitting Axe because he might not roll a Gandalf. You want everybody to feel good about their character in their first session.

But... But... But... Think about how they'll feel when that Gandalf does come up!

Hmmm... What do you think I should give Dhuoda... Noble Armour?

Noble Armour for one Beorning, pot-brownies for the other.

P.S. I started working on a list but will have to come back to this later tonight.

Name: R-something of the Shire

Culture: Hobbit of the Shire Standard of Living: Prosperous
Cultural blessing: Hobbit-sense
Calling: Treasure-Hunter Shadow weakness: Dragon-sickness
Specialties: Gardener, Herb-lore, Burglary
Distinctive features: Fair-spoken, Nimble
Body: 4 Heart: 6 Wits: 4
Body (favoured): 7 Heart (favoured): 8 Wits (favoured): 5

-Common Skills-

• Awe: 0 Inspire: 0 Persuade: 2
• Athletics: 0 Travel: 2 Stealth: 3
• Awareness: 2 Insight: 2 Search: 2
• Explore: 0 Healing: 0 Hunting: 0
• Song: 2 Courtesy: 3 Riddle: 2
• Craft: 0 Battle: 0 Lore: 0

-Weapon Skills-

• Bow: 3
• Dagger: 1
• Short sword: 1

-Rewards-:
-Virtues-: Fair Shot
-Gear-

• Bow damage: 5 edge: 10 injury: 14 enc: 1
• Short sword damage: 5 edge: 10 injury: 14 enc: 1
• Dagger damage: 3 edge: G injury: 12 enc: 0
• Helm enc: 6

Endurance: 22 Starting Endurance: 22 Fatigue from Encumbrance: 8 Fatigue from Travel: 0 Total Fatigue: 8
Hope: 18 Starting Hope: 18 Temporary Shadow: 0 Permanent Shadow: 0 Total Shadow: 0
Armour: 0 Headgear: 4
Parry: 4 Shield: 0
Damage: 0 Ranged: 0
Wisdom: 2 Valour: 1
Experience: 0 Total Experience: 0
Fellowship: 0 Advancement: 0 Treasure: 0 Standing: 0

Glorelendil wrote:Noble Armour for one Beorning, pot-brownies for the other.

P.S. I started working on a list but will have to come back to this later tonight.

Huh. I gave Biarnor Great Strength because otherwise Beorning's Parry sucks. Have fun with whatever you're up to...

- - - - - -

Here's the current version of the backgrounds only. Roderic is still in there, but I'd really appreciate any feedback on design, typos, or other issues that anyone spots. Thanks!

Really like Luthwen! There is an "entures" instead of "ventures" in her background.

Rue wrote:Really like Luthwen! There is an "entures" instead of "ventures" in her background.

Thanks! And fixed... her background saw some heavy editing for space.