Balance

[Angelalex242]

Is it just me, or do Dunedain suffer significantly more then Noldor?

I've never had a problem managing my Shadow as a Noldor. I start with Skill of the Eldar (Every time) go straight to wisdom 3 (Beauty of the Stars, which contains a hope bonus), then to Books and Maps for the -2 TN to blighted zones.

But there's no efficient way for a Dunedain to manage his hope problems that I can see.

[Falenthal]

But there's no efficient way for a Dunedain to manage his hope problems that I can see.

Having a Fellowship focus is the only one I see.

[mica]

Absolutely don't limelight. The heightened abilities makes it so easy to jump in with every skill check because their stats makes them almost guaranteed to succeed - just the cost of a hope... Resist the urge, they are not a one-man-army they are particularly suited to the role of Support Leader rather than main protagonist:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... TheAragorn

[Deadmanwalking]

They also benefit heavily from the Taking Courage rules in the Adventurer's Companion, though you need to be playing one alongside experienced characters for that option to be workable. That plus a Fellowship Focus is a valid combination.

[Glorelendil]

The character I've enjoyed least was my Ranger, partly because I didn't have a very good concept for him, but I also found the XP and the Hope penalties together to just feel...punitive.

[Angelalex242]

Hmmm. Anyways, Noldor seem to be able to handle their double penalty just fine. Shadow Management isn't that bad unless the LM just throws it at you before you've got the dice to deal with it.

If the Dunedain penalty is harsher though...Should the balance be altered (and this discussion moved to house rules) or are there tricks (besides taking courage, as many people will want to play a Starting Ranger with starting other characters....) to help them deal?

[Curulon]

I've never found it to be a problem at all.

[doctheweasel]

I eliminated the xp penalty and things work just fine.

[Falenthal]

Also, you can find a lenghty discussion with some neat ideas here:
viewtopic.php?f=56&t=6556&hilit=rangers+north