Starting TOR with a Bang!

[Afterimagedan]

Hey all! I'm starting the campaign with my players tomorrow and would love any ideas you have about starting the campaign with a bang! Here's my plan so far:

1. Read Balin's letter to Bilbo on page 6 of the revised rulebook to the song "A Conspiracy Unmasked" on The Fellowship of the Ring Complete Soundtrack. It seems to flow well with the message of the letter. This will help establish the undertone of the campaign. "Respite" but also "a shadow, felt but unseen."
2. Put up the LM screen with the Lake-Town image and let them marvel about it a little to the Lake-Town musical theme and then give them their dice.
3. Have them introduce their characters and then let them collaboratively explain why they would all be coming together in Lake-Town.
4. Tales from Wilderland

Ideas if what to add to make this cooler??

[Elmoth]

Besides Tales, what do you want your campaign to be about? ANy idea of the characters that will be played?

[Indur Dawndeath]

Hey all! I'm starting the campaign with my players tomorrow and would love any ideas you have about starting the campaign with a bang! Here's my plan so far:

1. Read Balin's letter to Bilbo on page 6 of the revised rulebook to the song "A Conspiracy Unmasked" on The Fellowship of the Ring Complete Soundtrack. It seems to flow well with the message of the letter. This will help establish the undertone of the campaign. "Respite" but also "a shadow, felt but unseen."
2. Put up the LM screen with the Lake-Town image and let them marvel about it a little to the Lake-Town musical theme and then give them their dice.
3. Have them introduce their characters and then let them collaboratively explain why they would all be coming together in Lake-Town.
4. Tales from Wilderland

Ideas if what to add to make this cooler??

I would set the scene up before the introduction. So if you are planning for the party to help Belgo, then explain why they are out close to Mirkwood together, perhaps part of a hunting party or whatever, and let them immediately make decisions to help fight the bandits.

After this go to introduction.

Good luck

[Robin Smallburrow]

My "The Dragon's Ring" adventure (see link to it in my sig) starts with a 'Bang' - there is an initial fight with orcs at the Lake - one of the reasons I like this adventure, BTW!

Otherwise you could modify the Marsh Bell perhaps if you want that 'Bang' at the start - perhaps you could have a dwarven assistant struggle back to Lake-town and die in front of one of the PC's perhaps???

Robin S.