Recommendations for a First Adventure

[Deadmanwalking]

Thanks for the advice.

Note also my additional advice on Arradaer (edited in above).

Frier is meant to be on his last adventure and in all likelihood might die in this one doing something noble.
We'll see how things go. It's a one-session adventure, so 'imbalance' isn't an issue.

Okay, that definitely makes that not a problem.

I'd still very much worry about low Travel scores and Virtues that aren't gonna be too useful. Those can make the game actively un-fun. And having two archers just doesn't work mechanically and will likely result in issues.

Will have a fiddle with the character generator and see how the changes go.

Cool.

[Burgonet]

Alright, I've made the changes as suggested.

Now as to how the session will run, I've made a few basic changes in light of having the afternoon only to run this.

1. The game starts with Bella and Frier arriving at the camp of the two other players, forgoing events at the Easterly Inn. This is to get the ball rolling early and makes arriving back at the Inn something to do at the end of the adventure.
2. I've written a short piece of fiction for the players to read beforehand, that I'll probably read aloud to get them into the mood of things. Underlined names are the characters available. Will post this very shortly.
3. While I will have a go at using the travel rules as is, will skip them if the game session is running slowly or if I find they detract from play on the day. Would use them in a campaign, not entirely sure about a single session.
4. I'm serving Elevenses, Luncheon and Afternoon tea on the day with food and drink planned for all three times. Food shall reflect Warwickshire/'Shire' food and includes pork pies, some sort of fruit pie, biscuits, elderflower cordial/juice, coffee and tea and other offerings depending on which meal.

[Burgonet]

This is the introduction to the adventure that I've written to convey the ideas that the game is going to be a)Fellowship focussed and b)a Tolkien adventure. Not quite used to using so many exclamation marks!

So here it is, the introduction.

----

Dody Brandybuck had not been a fellow of usual cheer of recent times.
His brother Dindy, whose nervous temperament perhaps indisposed him to life beyond Buckland was late in returning from the Shire to the Easterly Inn.

Dindy was a kind, jovial fellow if mercurial and prone to acts of leisure when left unsupervised.
“To live life like Bilbo, yes that’s the ticket!” Dindy had said upon hearing of his brother’s plan. “Wealth beyond measure, a life devoted to leisure and to live like a King!”
“Yes brother but you are a hobbit and a Brandybuck,” said Dody. “Work is in your blood. Now help me tap this ale and put thoughts of treasure back into your dreams!”
It came to pass that the two Brandybuck brothers travelled across the mountains to meet with Beorn and gain his leave to build the Easterly Inn. Dody brought his family with him, beautiful Agatha and their two sons Dando and Rodry. And their wilful daughter Belladonna Brandybuck who was as always was proving quite the handful on this early autumn eve.

“I will go!” said Belladonna Brandybuck and she meant it with all her heart. Her father Dody would have none of it. He had caught Bella trying to sneak out of the Easterly Inn with her blankets and provisions and even with one of Frier’s swords stolen and under her belt!
“I said enough of this foolishness!” said Dody. “Who will help your mother look after your brothers Dando and Rodry? No, I will find someone else to help find your Uncle and my brother, you mark my words!”
“Dando and Rodry will be fine!” said Bella. “They play in the woods all day and rest at night. And with autumn settling in you and Mum can handle the visitors.”
“Then think of your mother,” said Dody. “She would worry every day you are gone!”
“I fear you are the one worrying Dad,” said Bella. “Mum will take care of you until I get back. Good night!”

And with that Belladonna Brandybuck strode out her father’s door and from the warm hearth of the Easterly Inn into the evening that was cold and dark. The trees around the Inn had begun to shed their leaves and fireflies dances from thicket to copse. Bella had not walked more than twenty steps before her adventure accrued its first surprise.
“You’re heading the wrong way!” said Frier with so much of a start that Bella thought she’d jump right out of her skin. “You will want to head south, that is the way to the Old Ford.”
“Oh Frier, please don’t do that!” said Bella with a quiver in her voice. “I’m not sure my heart can take it!”
“You’re as stubborn as your mother, I’ll give you that!” said Frier. “But these lands are not safe west of the River. It is dangerous to travel alone.”
And the old Dwarf knew in his heart that he could not let the young Hobbit undertake this task unaided.
“I have heard that a strange pair of hunters camp not far from the Inn this night,” said Frier. “Perhaps we will call upon them and ask what they have heard?”
Sure enough in time they came upon a glade where a fire burned warmly and the duo approached with some trepidation. Even so it was quite the surprise when a large, mangy figure leapt from the shadows and fell upon them snarling. Bella found herself prostrate on the ground as a hound leapt upon her.
“Whisper!” said a lone female voice. “Good dog!”
“Explain yourselves,” said a second voice and stepped from behind a nearby tree. It was an Elf! His bow was drawn with arrow pointed towards the Dwarf.
“Don’t shoot!” said Frier and raised his hands. “We mean no harm!”
“It’s the Innkeeper’s daughter,” said the female voice again as she also stepped from the shadows in livery of the wood with golden hair flowing. A woman of the Wild! “And she’s brought the tinker with her.”
“Good dog!” said Belladonna in a wise attempt to placate the ambushing beast that towered above her.
The woman knelt beside her dog, rubbing and whispering into its ears before she helped Belladonna to her feet.
“I am Aehlvira, and this is Arradaer!” said Aehlvira. “Come by the fire and get warm. What brings you both to our campfire this night?”
----

While I could have written longer individual pieces about each character it was easier and frankly far more prudent to do a 'group' piece to give the players an idea not only of their character but how they might choose to relate to each other. There won't be any 'right' or 'wrong' way to play them barring the usual disdain for pointless murder and villainy.

[Majestic]

3. While I will have a go at using the travel rules as is, will skip them if the game session is running slowly or if I find they detract from play on the day. Would use them in a campaign, not entirely sure about a single session.

I'd highly encourage you to reconsider this. Journeys are one of the three main components of TOR (along with Encounters and Combat), and (a) are kind of fun, in a board-gamey way, (b) are pretty quickly figured out (condensing as much as a couple of weeks worth of travel into a few rolls), and (c) they do all the 'work' for you in Tales (giving you potential Hazards, telling you what the TNs are for the regions travelled, and generally making it very easy on the LM).

FWIW, I think the travel rules greatly capture that 'Tolkien feel', and allow you to quickly cover what happens to the characters going from Point A to Point B.

[Majestic]

Excellent introduction, Burgonet!

[Burgonet]

Excellent introduction, Burgonet!

Almost like I do it for a living, or something.


That was a first draft and written in about 30 minutes but I feel it gets the Hobbit! style of storytelling across.

[Burgonet]

In an hour or so the players should all be here and play can begin.
Thanks to everyone who leant an ear, an eye and a hand.

[zedturtle]

In an hour or so the players should all be here and play can begin.
Thanks to everyone who leant an ear, an eye and a hand.

Good luck and have fun!

[Deadmanwalking]

Indeed!

I hope it goes well and everyone has fun.

[Majestic]

I'm sure it will be awesome. We're looking forward to hearing how it went!