Hobbit Day

[Wbweather]

Zedturtle had commented in an post a few months back about making Hobbit Day (Sept 22nd) a fan sponsored promotional day for TOR and Hobbit Tales.

It sounds like an idea to make Hobbit Day our "Tabletop Day", as a fan created/promoted idea.

Having tried to run a game at convention in Kansas City this weekend and getting no players to sign up, I'd really like to help make people more aware of the system. I cannot find a local store who carries any of the TOR books or the Hobbit Tales game. Is there any interest in organizing some sort of "unofficial" promotional event for Hobbit Day this year?

[Glorelendil]

Maybe what we need is a media pack for promoting public games, such as at cons or at our FLGS. A slick PDF for putting in windows, some JPGs for use on social media, an online resource to which we can direct first-time players, etc.

This is what I started thinking about when I saw beckett's thread about the MeetUp in NYC. What headline would catch the eye of non-gamers who like Tolkien and might be the sort to enjoy it?

And, of course, this also brings up the idea zed surfaced about a "Beginner's Box" with a light version of the game, include pre-gens in lieu of character creation rules.

Heck, maybe C7 should consider following Wizards' lead with the "Basic" set and make a free PDF version of the Beginner's Box.

[zedturtle]

Zedturtle had commented in an post a few months back about making Hobbit Day (Sept 22nd) a fan sponsored promotional day for TOR and Hobbit Tales.

It sounds like an idea to make Hobbit Day our "Tabletop Day", as a fan created/promoted idea.

Having tried to run a game at convention in Kansas City this weekend and getting no players to sign up, I'd really like to help make people more aware of the system. I cannot find a local store who carries any of the TOR books or the Hobbit Tales game. Is there any interest in organizing some sort of "unofficial" promotional event for Hobbit Day this year?

Maybe what we need is a media pack for promoting public games, such as at cons or at our FLGS. A slick PDF for putting in windows, some JPGs for use on social media, an online resource to which we can direct first-time players, etc.

This is what I started thinking about when I saw beckett's thread about the MeetUp in NYC. What headline would catch the eye of non-gamers who like Tolkien and might be the sort to enjoy it?

I can certainly put together some stuff, especially stuff that focuses on Theft of the Moon. But we have to be very careful... we wouldn't want to step on C7's toes (either with artwork rights or 'implied officialness') and make it so that they are in the regrettable position of telling us to stop trying to help.

How about this... we make up a couple of posters advertising potential events on Hobbit Day, with form-fillable text for the details. I think most PDF readers will have an 'export to jpeg' option, otherwise I can walk folks through the process of doing a screenshot on a PC or a Mac. Make one set for those who will run Hobbit Tales (which I suspect would go over well in any bookstores doing Hobbit Day events) and do one for running The One Ring at a game store.

I wouldn't be able to do anything until August at the earliest, but that would still be a month and a half of lead time.

What do folks think?

[Wbweather]

Most importantly is what the good folks at C7 think. I don't want to do anything inappropriate, but if this is okay with them, that would be great.

[Lorimez]

And, of course, this also brings up the idea zed surfaced about a "Beginner's Box" with a light version of the game, include pre-gens in lieu of character creation rules.

Heck, maybe C7 should consider following Wizards' lead with the "Basic" set and make a free PDF version of the Beginner's Box.

That is a great idea - many companies like Shadows of Esteren did the same thing and it's one reason why I'd try a new system - a beginners box is win/win imo

Lorimez

[Seosaidh]

I would be down for using this sort of thing. There is a Christian D&D group near where I live, and I was toying with the idea of introducing some of the people to TOR using the Theft of the Moon. My one downer is that I have only LMed 3 sessions of TOR, and have never run another type of game, so I'm a bit shy of trying to introduce complete strangers who are old hands at RPGs.

[Wbweather]

My one downer is that I have only LMed 3 sessions of TOR, and have never run another type of game, so I'm a bit shy of trying to introduce complete strangers who are old hands at RPGs.

Seosaidh, having played with you for the last year, I know you would be a great LM. You know the rules far better than I (not hard to do), you know Tolkien's work inside out, you are creative, and you love the game. That's all anyone could ask for in an LM.

[zedturtle]

I would be down for using this sort of thing. There is a Christian D&D group near where I live, and I was toying with the idea of introducing some of the people to TOR using the Theft of the Moon. My one downer is that I have only LMed 3 sessions of TOR, and have never run another type of game, so I'm a bit shy of trying to introduce complete strangers who are old hands at RPGs.

Go for it! Enthusiasm and a willingness to help people have fun is all you need.If they're D&Ders, bear in mind some things:

Endurance is not Hit Points. Adding Fatigue is not losing HP!

A Wound on most Adversaries means Save or Die. The Protection Test is their Saving Throw.

Weary is a status. It takes certain things (at least a prolonged rest) to fix it.

Your Parry is sort of like part of your AC. But your choice on how aggressive to be in combat (Stance) determines the rest.

Roll the dice and then explain the fiction.

- - - - - -

Honestly, most gamer groups are going to be receptive to playing something new, if it's a one-shot. Since it's a Christian group, you might also talk about the moral stance of the game... how it encourages you to do the right thing even if it's the hard thing and how murder-hoboing is discouraged.

Good luck!

[Glorelendil]

TOR > D&D for Christian groups.

Well, TOR > D&D pretty much in general, but especially for Christian groups. There's no such thing as Chaotic Evil in TOR.

[zedturtle]

Okay, here's a couple of draft images for Hobbit Day promos. Note that these are me putting stuff together and are not at all official:





Let me know what y'all think and then I can make form-fillable versions...