Standing

[Angelalex242]

How strict is applying status within cultures?

If a High Elf has status 2, can he use that with Mirkwood Elves? If a Dunedain has status 2, can he use that with any human culture, so long as he makes known what he is?

[Deadmanwalking]

Uh...you mean Standing?

Standing is only applicable in one's own culture (barring a particular Fellowship Phase activity). Everyone else is a foreigner, and receive no benefits from their status among their own folk.

The Dunedain and High elf cultures do not (and likely should not) do anything to change that. I mean, look at Aragorn. Do you think his standing 5-6 among the Dunedain made much of a difference to the folk of Bree? It certainly didn't seem to...

[Angelalex242]

It didn't make a difference at Bree in Fellowship.

Did it make a difference everywhere on the Planet in Return of the King? You bet.

But yes, I meant Standing. Sorry.

More to the point, I don't think Thranduil would tell Elrond or Galadriel to go jump.

[Falenthal]

But Elrond and Galadriel had the Elf-friend trait. They could apply their Standing in every elven culture.

In fact, the rules give various ways to be known to foreign cultures. Maybe Aragorn's Standing wasn't used in Bree, but his Valour and/or Wisdom were. As they both top on 6, I don't think the difference would be very great.

[Rich H]

As a little aside, page 189 of the Revised Rules (Additional Modifiers) can also be used to explain cross-culture bonuses when conducting Encounters as well as racial prejudices (p188), etc.

I do use Renown house-rules in my game though to supplement the Standing rules. But then I also have altered how Valour/Wisdom (and Might!) are used in Encounters in my game. The RAW is perfectly serviceable and fit for purpose though, I just like tweaking/fiddling.

[Deadmanwalking]

It didn't make a difference at Bree in Fellowship.

Did it make a difference everywhere on the Planet in Return of the King? You bet.

Sure, but only after he proved himself. Which there's a Fellowship Phase Undertaking to do for another culture, and makes your Standing apply to that Culture. Aragorn pretty clearly did that Undertaking for Rohan and Gondor. And pretty clearly needed to, given the people of Gondor's original suspicion regarding his claims.

But yes, I meant Standing. Sorry.

No worries.

More to the point, I don't think Thranduil would tell Elrond or Galadriel to go jump.

Well, no, but they have Wisdom 6 and have likely been friendly for centuries (allowing time for the aforementioned Fellowship Phase Undertaking)...and all three might perceive themselves as part of the same Culture anyway (since they originate from a Culture that predates all the current ones).

But this isn't the right question to be asking, the elves you mention are ancient and famous within their own circles, of course others in those circles will've heard of them and respect them. But that's not the situation PCs start out in. No, what you need to ask to reflect PCs is "Would some random Elf of Lorien who Thranduil had never heard of get his respect just because he claims he became the Queen's cupbearer last year?" I think the answer's pretty clearly no, not instantly. Now, having a letter from Galadriel saying 'This guy is awesome!' sure, that'd help...but being given that kind of thing isn't an inherent aspect of Standing.

But Elrond and Galadriel had the Elf-friend trait. They could apply their Standing in every elven culture.

Indeed.

In fact, the rules give various ways to be known to foreign cultures. Maybe Aragorn's Standing wasn't used in Bree, but his Valour and/or Wisdom were. As they both top on 6, I don't think the difference would be very great.

Well, Standing does stack with Wisdom or Valour...so the difference would likely be around doubling his Encounter Tolerance.

[Amargen]

Thranduil might very well tell Galadriel/Elrond no: the relationship between the avari and the noldor was quite cool. having dealt with them both over the years would temper that, but the elves of mirkwood were still very insular and prideful. actually pride went before the fall many times in the silmarillion, so I would say how the matters were approached would be more important than usual.

Bree seems to me to be an extension in many ways of the shire-thinking, so it's no wonder that they don't know much of heroes. and less of the dunedain.

I like the renown rules and use them to tweak standing or use in place of it, but I prefer a more regional renown... not many heroes of the greenway will be known in gondor.