High Races and Magic Treasure

[Angelalex242]

Seems to me the Dunedain and High Elves have a more bitter choice to make when it comes to finding magical treasure. They need that XP more with their higher xp costs then do the lesser races.

Is this intentional? In the game I played today, both I, as a high elf, and the dunedain player found a big treasure, but we both decided we need the xp for virtues and rewards more.

[Michebugio]

By my experience, everything is intentional in The One Ring. So yes, it's meant to be a harder choice... at least for some players.

In my case, if I score a Gandalf on a Treasure Roll and I have 6 experience points in my bag, there's no doubt I'll spend all of them trying to put my hands on some legendary weapon, even at the risk of wasting them. After all, more experience will come for sure but a long time may pass before I score another Gandalf on a Treasure roll, so if you get the occasion I say don't waste it and waste experience instead.

And when you'll finally get your sweated legendary weapon, you'll be free to start investing all the exp you take in Wisdom and Valour.

And this is valid both for normal AND higher Cultures, I guess.

[Rich H]

In my case, if I score a Gandalf on a Treasure Roll and I have 6 experience points in my bag, there's no doubt I'll spend all of them trying to put my hands on some legendary weapon, even at the risk of wasting them.

Why are they a waste? You never spend the XP and get nothing. You choose to spend the XP after the category of treasure has been determined.

[Angelalex242]

Well, the key to High Elves is minimizing Shadow gains. That means you need wisdom and valor...and the maps reward...more then you need any magic item that may exist. High elves have a biatch of a time getting rid of Shadow once gained, so the idea is to not gain it at all. Or reduce the odds, at least.

And yes, you can get nothing if you choose the magic item. You roll a bunch of d6s and only get a magic item on a 6. So there's a 1/6 chance per d6 rolled. 'striking out' yields the same nonmagic valuable treasure you would've gained without spending xp.

[Rich H]

And yes, you can get nothing if you choose the magic item. You roll a bunch of d6s and only get a magic item on a 6. So there's a 1/6 chance per d6 rolled.

That doesn't cost you anything. You spend the XP once the number of tengwar successes has been determined not before.

[Angelalex242]

Waaaait a minute.

I rolled a Gandalf rune on the treasure roll. Great.

My GM then told me 'Pay 1 XP per d6 you want rolled to determine if it's a magic item....in advance, no refunds.'

Is that the RAW way to do it?

[Rich H]

Waaaait a minute.

I rolled a Gandalf rune on the treasure roll. Great.

My GM then told me 'Pay 1 XP per d6 you want rolled to determine if it's a magic item....in advance, no refunds.'

Is that the RAW way to do it?

No.

Read page 86 of Rivendell (assuming you have it).

Your unspent XP determines the number of success die that you roll (up to a max of 6); one success dice for each point of unspent XP you choose to commit*.

If you don't get any tengwar successes then you just get a precious object.

If the roll got a single tengwar, you may have a Precious Object OR gain a Wondrous Artefact if you choose to spend a number of Experience points equal to half the number of Success dice you rolled for the Magical Treasure roll (rounded up).

If the roll produced two or more tengwars, then you may spend a number of Experience points equal to the number of Success dice he rolled to receive a Wondrous Artefact possessing two Blessings or a Greater Blessing or even a Famous Weapon or Armour.

* I say 'commit' because you'll note from the above that the XP cost equals half the number of success die rolled (for a Wondrous Artefact) or the number of success die rolled (for a Wondrous Artefact with two Blessings or a greater one or Famous Weapon/Armour). So, for example, a lucky player could get a Famous Weapon for just 2 XP whereas the same may cost an unlucky player 6 XP.

[Angelalex242]

Ah. So he botched the process. Well, I'll link him to this thread and hope he corrects it next session.

[Rich H]

He's not the only one. I do remember when Rivendell came out that this was discussed; I think it was over on RPGnet though rather than here.

[Majestic]

I have to admit I interpreted this a bit wrong before as well. This might be another topic that it would be good to put into the FAQ.