Kill that guard before he rises the alarm

[Otaku-sempai]

Agreed. I feel my hackles rise whenever someone tries to say they are just like Dark Side points. They simply aren't. I actually try to always present them to my players as something that simply can't be avoided and are certainly not a reflection of them doing anything wrong (with the possible exception of a Misdeed under specific conditions) or playing the game in the wrong way. It's why I describe them as being 'awarded' when I apply them; they aren't 'rewards' but aren't a penalty either.

An important difference being that one gains Shadow as opposed to losing Sanity.

[Glorelendil]

I see Shadow as analogous to Endurance, if Endurance also came with a permanent disability sub-system (e.g., if you take a Wound under some conditions, you lose an eye or gain a limp or whatever). It's not something you want, but it does rise and fall over the course of the game, and if it didn't the game wouldn't be as interesting.

[Rich H]

I like that way of looking at it too; very cool and makes sense.

[I really wish we could have a 'rep' / +1 button; would save on these kind of posts!]

[Feanor]

We should rename this thread to "Morale in Middle Earth", or perhaps "A MUST read for all GMs in Middle Earth !".

I enjoyed this thread ALOT.