the elf path

[barefoottourguide]

This came up in my game and darrelmillers. Does travel on the elf path get calculated the same as any journey through that part of the forest? It is clear although it twists and dips. Seems it would be quicker than trudging through the undergrowth.
garrett

[Fenton Hardy]

I have followed the example from Tales of the Wilderland, which gives the elf path the same difficulty rating (severe) as the surrounding forest. The advanatge of being on the path is that the TN for corruption rolls in the forest are higher. It would make sense that the path would be less difficult than trudging through the woods. In the future I might reduce the difficulty for the path from severe to hard.

[Otaku-sempai]

Hi, Garrett! Well, I would guess that taking the Elf Path would still be better than using the Old Forest Road (unless the road has been restored in your game). The Loremaster's Book gives the difficulty of using any road through Mirkwood as 'severe' but during the good years following the Battle of Five Armies you might reduce that to 'hard' (the rating for "woods with good tracks". I'm also assuming that either the stone bridge crossing the Enchanted Stream has been repaired or that some other portage is being provided across the stream.

[barefoottourguide]

I like the idea of decreasing the difficulty by one notch. That feels right.
Garrett

[Mytholder]

In any games I run, the really really big benefit of the Elf Path is that you can't get lost while following it. You don't get hit by Hazards that make you lost - and in Mirkwood, those get messy...

[barefoottourguide]

Thanks Gareth.
Good point.
Garrett

[Otaku-sempai]

Question: If the Old Forest Road has been restored and is being regularly maintained, should it count (at least in the Good Years before the Darkening of Mirkwood) should it's difficulty be much reduced? If so, how much?

The road is ten feet wide, and is paved with stone... The road is flanked on either side by a ditch for drainage and a raised stone embankment to keep the forest back. The Dwarves built a waystation every twenty miles. These were sturdy stone buildings with extensive cellars and stables for ponies. They also built three larger keeps, one at either end of the road and the third roughly halfway.

The Westfort would have to be rebuilt and the Eastfort would need to be moved south to the new east end of the road. Many of the waystations would need repairs or to be entirely rebuilt as well. Could the project be finished in time to actually be useful before Sauron declares himself in Mordor?

[Terisonen]

I would say that Sauron would never allow the Old Road to be a safe passage in Mikwood. Let people go as they please counter the goal to divide, instill fear and ignorance in the heart of men. And it would be a perfect road to move quickly army and reinforcement from each side of the Great Forest..

[Otaku-sempai]

I would say that Sauron would never allow the Old Road to be a safe passage in Mikwood. Let people go as they please counter the goal to divide, instill fear and ignorance in the heart of men. And it would be a perfect road to move quickly army and reinforcement from each side of the Great Forest..

I'll admit that if Bofri, son of Bofur, is investigating the viability of restoring the Old Forest Road in TA 2948 then the odds are that it will not be repaired before Sauron openly declares himself in 2951. During the Darkening of Mirkwood any efforts to restore or maintain the road would doubtless be hampered by the servants of the Enemy. And during this period the Elf Path would also again become more perilous and the difficulty in using it would revert to 'severe'.

[Glorelendil]

In any games I run, the really really big benefit of the Elf Path is that you can't get lost while following it. You don't get hit by Hazards that make you lost - and in Mirkwood, those get messy...

I really like this solution. Far more interesting than just modifying a TN.