Trouble in the Shire

[Ferretz]

What I'm after is ideas for completely Shire-related hooks and ideas (and Eye Awareness trouble), so let us broaden the topic: How do you make a The One Ring mini-campaign set in the Shire exiting without involving anything from without the Shire?

-E.

[Glorelendil]

Lost and frightened Huorn somewhere in the northern shire (c.f. Ted Sandyman). Can be resolved through social skills with lucky rolls. Otherwise...well, you did say it was just an interlude, right? So TPK not a big deal?

[Falenthal]

Depends on how much you want to keep it a sort of "victorian-style" atmosphere, even with some humour.

The group runs out of handkerchiefs and get a reduction to the next Encounter's Tolerance.

Needing to stealthy approach the mushrooms, they spot one of the Big Folk (a Ranger!) sneaking too... heading their direction.

[Glorelendil]

Depends on how much you want to keep it a sort of "victorian-style" atmosphere, even with some humour.

The group runs out of handkerchiefs and get a reduction to the next Encounter's Tolerance.

Needing to stealthy approach the mushrooms, they spot one of the Big Folk (a Ranger!) sneaking too... heading their direction.

So...there's a shifty-looking Big Person in a travel-stained cloak, wearing a big sword, sneaking through the Shire? Could be trouble!

[Ferretz]

Lost and frightened Huorn somewhere in the northern shire (c.f. Ted Sandyman). Can be resolved through social skills with lucky rolls. Otherwise...well, you did say it was just an interlude, right? So TPK not a big deal?

Well, it is supposed to be a story a Hobbit tells, and then played as a flashback, so I would avoid TPK.

[Rich H]

My Hobbit Cricket rule supplement has gone down well whenever I've run it. I suspect you have to understand the game though for it to provide the fun. It makes for a good backdrop to other things that can happen around the event as well though.

[Otaku-sempai]

An infestation of vermin or a diseased crop will result in a poor harvest if not checked.

An illness starts spreading through at least a region of the Shire.

The presence of flocks of crebain are freaking out the locals. Perhaps they are becoming a nuisance.

I do have a home-brewed write-up for the Shire in the House Rules forum. There might be one from another user that is more detailed.

[Falenthal]

Being serious, I really think that The Shire should be a region where the Eye of Sauron has no interest and, therefore, should be free of this rule. Remember that, when Gollum is tortured and names The Shire, Sauron doesn't even know where this country is and sends his Ringwraiths first to the Gladden Fields.

The Shire is free of all malice, both from Sauron and from the Wild/the terrain, and that's why it's so important for Gandalf and the Rangers.

I would keep Revelation episodes, and dangerous Hazards, for those parts of the Shire that really are in the boundaries (Old Wood, of course, but also the North Downs and such).

Only if you want to introduce Saruman's ruffians in your series of adventures should there be anything resembling mortal danger (and not even that at my eyes) within The Shire. Saruman's ruffians should be more bullies from High School than cold blood killers. They also don't want to call the attention of the Rangers, remember.

[Glorelendil]

Being serious, I really think that The Shire should be a region where the Eye of Sauron has no interest and, therefore, should be free of this rule. Remember that, when Gollum is tortured and names The Shire, Sauron doesn't even know where this country is and sends his Ringwraiths first to the Gladden Fields.

The Shire is free of all malice, both from Sauron and from the Wild/the terrain, and that's why it's so important for Gandalf and the Rangers.

I would keep Revelation episodes, and dangerous Hazards, for those parts of the Shire that really are in the boundaries (Old Wood, of course, but also the North Downs and such).

Only if you want to introduce Saruman's ruffians in your series of adventures should there be anything resembling mortal danger (and not even that at my eyes) within The Shire. Saruman's ruffians should be more bullies from High School than cold blood killers. They also don't want to call the attention of the Rangers, remember.

Yes to all of this.

[gazery]

I would agree with what Falenthal said.

However, you said that this episode was going to be a Hobbit's retelling of the event. So those high-school bullies, who ran away at the first sign of trouble, May be described as a hoard of orcs or worse.

You could let little slips through that the story is not wholly true - like when the orc started crying!