Facing a Nazgûl

[Falenthal]

Our next session will confront the players face to face with a Nazgûl as a Dark Undead (DoM p.127)

Among other abilities, they have Thing of Terror and Black Breath.
From what I've read, it seems that both abilities are "automatically activated", without Hate cost, the moment a character faces the Nazgûl.

Does this mean that the first round the players confront the Ringwraith, they have to roll for a Fear test (Thing of Terror), a Corruption test (Black Breath), and all that without the Nazgûl having make use of his action for the round (allowing him, for example, to use Deadly Voice in the first round against someone who has failed the Fear test of Thing of Terror)?

[Indur Dawndeath]

My players faced a Nazgul for the first time last session.
They were searching Dol Guldur, and suddely started to feel a dreadful presence (Thing of Terror)
I let them continue to roll for Fear until all had either failed or succeded with a Great success.
Next they heard a scream (All daunted characters became Weary)
AND then the shadow approached. (Corruption to resist Black Breath)
(Lots of Hope were spend to resist all these tests, no one wanted to fail)
They fled, without looking back! As Radagast shouted. Run you fools, this is a foe beyond any of you

It was a very nice scene

Cheers

[Lara Redleaf]

Well, they are Sauron's most terrible servants. A troll might possess greater strength or wield bigger weapons, but the Nazgûl are most dangerous because of their ability to inspire fear.

By my reading you are correct in how these abilities work. Furthermore, the Nazgûl can spend Hate to keep using the Black Breath on victims who successfully resisted. Add to that the fact that the Ringwraith's Attribute is doubled for its own rolls, the Morgul-blade they wield, and their other dark magic, and even the weakest Ringwraith is a terror in battle. And they're not even at their full power yet!

It should be a memorable encounter, but not one to be taken lightly. These are the Enemy's chief lieutenants, terrible undead warriors with great power to inspire fear—or inflict wounds that strike beyond flesh and blood to pierce the very soul. Your players should be experienced, lucky, or preferably both, but if you have a big enough group, it might work out. If the encounter goes south, you can always have the Nazgûl flee, even if it looks like it could win; Heroes are formidable and the creature has no desire to risk needless destruction.

If the player scores a great success (or better) on the Fear test, they don't have to make them for the rest of that fight. You could make a case for not needing to make one again for the rest of that story, unless the situation changes (such as encountering multiple Nazgûl).

[Falenthal]

suddenly started to feel a dreadful presence (Thing of Terror)

Next they heard a scream (All daunted characters became Weary)
AND then the shadow approached. (Corruption to resist Black Breath)

I like this approach where, from what I read, the characters have to face Fear BEFORE they even see the Nazgûl.

It would be interesting to clarify whether the Fear test comes before or after the Corruption test, as a Daunted characther cannot spend Hope to overcome the next tests.

It seems from the narrative of the abilities that Thing of Terror "activates" as soon as the creature is engaged in combat, but not when it is seen or feeled.

A hero facing such a terrifying creature must make a Fear
test at the beginning of every round of combat

I prefer the "you feel a dark presence nearby" approach, so I will use the ability as soon as there's a chance to feel it, but I'd like to know what others thing about the RAW.

The Black Breath leaves more room for interpretations, as it doesn't state that the Nazgûl has to be faced or engaged in combat:

Black Breath
Anyone who comes near the Nazgûl must immediately
make a Corruption test.

So, it seem that Black Breath/Corruption could come first, and Thing of Terror only when in combat.

As for the circumstances of the encounter I'm preparing, it will be Crossing of the Celduin (TotW) with the Ghost of the Forest instead of the Gibbet King. My idea is to mantain the "fight the darkenss with fire and water" approach of the original adventure.

[Falenthal]

Additonal question:

Does Deadly Voice affect all daunted companions for the cost of 1 Hate point, or just one each round at the cost of 1 Hate point each?

Reduce the creature’s Hate point score by one to make a
companion who failed a Fear test and thus was daunted
to additionally become temporarily weary.

[Falenthal]

the Morgul-blade they wield,

I think I'm going to avoid using the Morgul-blade during the Darkening campaign.

It may not be present in the supplement just because it wasn't still created for the game until Rivendell was released, but I like to think that the Morgul blade was forged and given to the Nazgûl when they began their Hunt for the Ring and the next War of the Ring.

I don't have any real reasons to think that, as it seems that Glorfindel, Elrond and Aragorn knew about them and the consequences of their wounds. And the Nine were a (bad) surprise for the Wise when they appeared chasing Frodo, so they had to know their blades from some time before that (2951 and the rebuilding of Dol Guldur at least).

For now, I'll "simply" use the Nazgûl as a Fear-producing machine in battle.... Like the Evil Clerics from D&D that throw Drain X spells at the heroes while their minions tear them down.

[Grands-Pas]

On the non-mechanical side of things, facing a Nazgul is one of the few place where I would use something straight out of PJ's movie. The music. In the case of my players I know it would immediately put dread in the heart and set the perfect mood for the scene.

[Indur Dawndeath]

Additonal question:

Does Deadly Voice affect all daunted companions for the cost of 1 Hate point, or just one each round at the cost of 1 Hate point each?

Reduce the creature’s Hate point score by one to make a
companion who failed a Fear test and thus was daunted
to additionally become temporarily weary.

You are correct. 1 hate to get one player Weary.
But I chose to rule that all Daunted players were affected. It was in Dol Guldur...
Regarding the Terror, then I think it fits wery well with Tolkiens description, that terror is felt well in advance...

[Falenthal]

Thanks, Indur!

[Angelalex242]

A trick I like to use....if you've got any High Elves in the party facing Nazgul, have them sing at it (identical to using intimidate foe.)

The music of the beauty of Arda drains the hate away from the dark undead...