Servants of Saruman

[zedturtle]

So I'm going to be running a game on Sunday at Gen-Con that presumes that the company is in the service of Saruman, before he goes capital 'E' Evil. It being a con game, I need pregens and there's no particular reason to imagine that they have to be starting characters. So I'm going to post some character ideas here, and hopefully y'all can give me suggestions on both mechanical aspects and roleplaying aspects (since I am terrible at backstories).

Here's the first one:

Name: Talorg

Culture: Dunlending Standard of Living: Frugal
Cultural blessing: Fierce Folk
Calling: Slayer Shadow weakness: Curse of Vengeance
Specialties: Misty Mountains Lore, Tracking, Giant-lore
Distinctive features: Bold, Hardened
Body: 4 Heart: 2 Wits: 7
Body (favoured): 7 Heart (favoured): 4 Wits (favoured): 8

-Common Skills-

• Awe: 2 Inspire: 0 Persuade: 0
• Athletics: 2 Travel: 2 Stealth: 2
• Awareness: 2 Insight: 2 Search: 1
• Explore: 2 Healing: 0 Hunting: 3
• Song: 0 Courtesy: 1 Riddle: 2
• Craft: 1 Battle: 2 Lore: 2

-Weapon Skills-

• Spear: 3
• Dagger: 1
• Bow: 1

-Rewards-: Spiral Armour, Heart-Seeker
-Virtues-: Champion of the Hillmen
-Gear-

• Spear damage: 5 edge: 9 injury: 14 enc: 2
• Bow damage: 5 edge: 10 injury: 14 enc: 1
• Dagger damage: 3 edge: G injury: 12 enc: 0
• Leather shirt enc: 4
• Shield enc: 3

Endurance: 22 Starting Endurance: 22 Fatigue from Encumbrance: 10 Fatigue from Travel: 0 Total Fatigue: 10
Hope: 8 Starting Hope: 8 Temporary Shadow: 0 Permanent Shadow: 0 Total Shadow: 0
Armour: 1 Headgear: 0
Parry: 7 Shield: +2
Damage: 4 Ranged: N/A
Wisdom: 2 Valour: 3
Experience: 0 Total Experience: 10
Fellowship: 0 Advancement: 2/20 Treasure: 0 Standing: 0

Background: Talorg is a warrior, but one of higher ideals than most of his kin; he has little use for the strife borne of small slights among his kin and their enemies. Instead, he has long studied the giants of the Misty Mountains and longs for combat with one of the legendary foes. But giants are hard to find these days, and practicality has meant that he is more likely to be found on guard duty in Nan Curunir than hunting the high slopes for giants.

— • —

The goal being to build a 'ranger' (in the D&D vein). Suggestions? Comments? Criticism?

[Glorelendil]

If I were building a Dunlending Slayer (which I did here) I'd make him more of a hunter than a warrior. They're just too awesome at sneaking. Also, although Champion of the Hillmen can justify higher skills, a player at a Con won't get to directly enjoy using the benefit. So for both reasons I'd go for A Secret Folk.

And are they going to be fighting Evil Men? I'd only include Heart-Seeker if that's the case.

Are you looking for more pre-gens? Maybe a fun way to do this thread is to "allow" (ask nicely) for each poster to post one character.

[zedturtle]

If I were building a Dunlending Slayer (which I did here) I'd make him more of a hunter than a warrior. They're just too awesome at sneaking. Also, although Champion of the Hillmen can justify higher skills, a player at a Con won't get to directly enjoy using the benefit. So for both reasons I'd go for A Secret Folk.

Interesting. I was figuring that I'd end up with a few Dunlendings, so I was trying to go for the non-obvious choices. Using Champion got more bang for my buck with the 20 AP that I spent, but I see your point.

And are they going to be fighting Evil Men? I'd only include Heart-Seeker if that's the case.

Yeah, maybe Keen or Fell might be better. But tempting people down the wrong path is so much fun...

Are you looking for more pre-gens? Maybe a fun way to do this thread is to "allow" (ask nicely) for each poster to post one character.

Yes, please! With extra helpings of thanks on top. Anyone who's interested, please post... I'd love a group of about eight characters, with maybe the slight majority from Dunland, a few straggling Rohirrim and exiles from other places. Hobbits and Elves are the least likely characters.... Hobbits for a story-specific reason, and Elves since I don't think Saruman is too fond of them.

[Falenthal]

I love the character of Edelyn of Stanshelf, Daughter of Trumbold (p.59 of Horse-lords).
Would love to make a similar character, standing between the dunledings and the rohirrim. What would be her culture? Dunleding, but trying to imitate the Traits, Skills, etc of the Rohirrim?
Or Rohirrim but using the most "wild" abilities, traits, etc possible?

I'll give it a try as soon as possible.

[Glorelendil]

Yeah, maybe Keen or Fell might be better. But tempting people down the wrong path is so much fun...

Well if you're going for Warrior (rather than Hunter) then the Great Forest Axe...

If you want multiple Dunlendings, I'm going to post a variant of my Aobh character. How many XP/AP? She's a good candidate for two virtues, one reward, so she would have Champion of the Hillmen.

[zedturtle]

Yeah, maybe Keen or Fell might be better. But tempting people down the wrong path is so much fun...

Well if you're going for Warrior (rather than Hunter) then the Great Forest Axe...

If you want multiple Dunlendings, I'm going to post a variant of my Aobh character. How many XP/AP? She's a good candidate for two virtues, one reward, so she would have Champion of the Hillmen.

10 XP, 20 AP. That should get you a 2/3 split whichever way you want to do it, and a chance to raise a couple of Common Skills.

[Glorelendil]

Dianach has been trained in the mystical ways of the Dunlendings to be a healer, emissary, and seer. Although competent with her spear, she prefers to solve problems in more subtle ways. Although still young she already thinks like an older and wiser leader, and masks her own intentions as effectively as she discerns those of others. Why she is interested in Adventures is her own business, but surely it must be for the benefit of her own folk. In the meantime if her goals coincide with those of strangers she is happy to be allies for now, although even if she tells herself that doing so is only a means to end her sense of loyalty may, over time, become a more important reason.

Name: Dianach

Culture: Dunlending Standard of Living: Frugal
Cultural blessing: Fierce Folk
Calling: Warden Shadow weakness: Lure of Power
Specialties: Herb-lore, Story-telling, Shadow-lore
Distinctive features: Nimble, Quick of Hearing
Body: 3 Heart: 3 Wits: 7
Body (favoured): 5 Heart (favoured): 6 Wits (favoured): 8

-Common Skills-

• Awe: 1 Inspire: 0 Persuade: 2
• Athletics: 2 Travel: 3 Stealth: 2
• Awareness: 2 Insight: 2 Search: 1
• Explore: 2 Healing: 3 Hunting: 3
• Song: 0 Courtesy: 0 Riddle: 3
• Craft: 1 Battle: 1 Lore: 0

-Weapon Skills-

• Spear: 2
• Dagger: 1
• Bow: 1

-Rewards-: Spiral Armour
-Virtues-: Champion of the Hillmen, Ill Omen
-Gear-

• Spear damage: 5 edge: 9 injury: 14 enc: 2
• Dagger damage: 3 edge: G injury: 12 enc: 0
• Leather shirt enc: 4

Endurance: 23 Starting Endurance: 23 Fatigue from Encumbrance: 7 Fatigue from Travel: 0 Total Fatigue: 7

[zedturtle]

A new version of Talorg:

Name: Talorg

Culture: Dunlending Standard of Living: Frugal
Cultural blessing: Fierce Folk
Calling: Slayer Shadow weakness: Curse of Vengeance
Specialties: Misty Mountains Lore, Tracking, Giant-lore
Distinctive features: Bold, Hardened
Body: 4 Heart: 2 Wits: 7
Body (favoured): 7 Heart (favoured): 4 Wits (favoured): 8

-Common Skills-

• Awe: 2 Inspire: 1 Persuade: 0
• Athletics: 2 Travel: 3 Stealth: 2
• Awareness: 2 Insight: 2 Search: 1
• Explore: 2 Healing: 0 Hunting: 3
• Song: 0 Courtesy: 1 Riddle: 2
• Craft: 1 Battle: 1 Lore: 1

-Weapon Skills-

• (Axes): 3
• Dagger: 1
• Spear: 1

-Rewards-: Great Forest Axe, Grievous
-Virtues-: Champion of the Hillmen
-Gear-

• Great axe damage: 11 edge: G injury: 20 enc: 4
• Dagger damage: 3 edge: G injury: 12 enc: 0
• Dagger damage: 3 edge: G injury: 12 enc: 0 (not carried)
• Leather shirt enc: 4
• Shield enc: 3

Endurance: 22 Starting Endurance: 22 Fatigue from Encumbrance: 11 Fatigue from Travel: 0 Total Fatigue: 11
Hope: 8 Starting Hope: 8 Temporary Shadow: 0 Permanent Shadow: 0 Total Shadow: 0
Armour: 1 Headgear: 0
Parry: 7 Shield: +2
Damage: 4 Ranged: N/A
Wisdom: 2 Valour: 3
Experience: 0 Total Experience: 0
Fellowship: 0 Advancement: 0 Treasure: 0 Standing: 0

[zedturtle]

A hunter who wants gold and more, and stuck her hand into the wrong treasure chest but was not burned too bad by the experience:

Name: Einthe the Huntress

Culture: Dunlending Standard of Living: Frugal
Cultural blessing: Fierce Folk
Calling: Treasure-Hunter Shadow weakness: Dragon-sickness
Specialties: Beast-lore, Tracking, Burglary
Distinctive features: Hardy, Nimble
Body: 3 Heart: 3 Wits: 7
Body (favoured): 4 Heart (favoured): 5 Wits (favoured): 10

-Common Skills-

• Awe: 1 Inspire: 0 Persuade: 0
• Athletics: 2 Travel: 1 Stealth: 2
• Awareness: 2 Insight: 2 Search: 2
• Explore: 2 Healing: 0 Hunting: 3
• Song: 0 Courtesy: 0 Riddle: 2
• Craft: 1 Battle: 2 Lore: 2

-Weapon Skills-

• Spear: 2
• Dagger: 2
• Bow: 3

-Rewards-: Fell
-Virtues-: A Secret Folk
-Gear-

• Spear damage: 5 edge: 9 injury: 14 enc: 2 (not carried)
• Bow damage: 5 edge: 10 injury: 16 enc: 1
• Dagger damage: 3 edge: G injury: 12 enc: 0

Endurance: 23 Starting Endurance: 23 Fatigue from Encumbrance: 1 Fatigue from Travel: 0 Total Fatigue: 1
Hope: 9 Starting Hope: 9 Temporary Shadow: 0 Permanent Shadow: 0 Total Shadow: 0
Armour: 0 Headgear: 0
Parry: 7 Shield: 0
Damage: 3 Ranged: 3
Wisdom: 2 Valour: 2
Experience: 0 Total Experience: 0/10
Fellowship: 0 Advancement: 2/20 Treasure: 0 Standing: 0

[Glorelendil]

Interesting...Dagger skill raised to 2, and Bow to 3. That's a lot of Background XP and regular XP.

You could instead raise Short Sword to 3, using 6 Background points and 6 XP. You'd still end up at Wisdom 2 and Valour 2.