Tauriel as a beginning TOR character

[Otaku-sempai]

Considering she is a 600 year old Mirkwood elf, and is a "ruthless slayer", why give her a bow level of just 2. This level is what many beginning heroes start with. This makes no sense IMHO. Thanks for the ideas, though - I just really question the logic in this aspect.

The bow level of 2 was to allow for a broader range of skills; instead, I raised her Battle to 3. I can see, though, why Bow should arguably be raised to 3. Now that a number of clips with Tauriel have been released, I wonder if Warden would acually be a better calling for her than Slayer. Now that I've seen clips of her fighting, I would give Tauriel a 'Sword' rating of 3 over 'Bow' even though her 'Bow' skill is the favoured one.

A recent clip featuring both Tauriel and Legolas confirms her age at 600 years. Therefore, I have restored to her the specialty of "Elven-lore".

[Elmoth]

600 is quite youing for an elf. THe history of Middle Earth spans around 10,000 years, so 600 is not very long...

[James Harrison]

But starting character elves are not meant to be older than 500 by the book, page 58...

Adventuring Age: 100-500
Elves are invulnerable to age, and many become adventurers at any time after they reach adulthood (at about a century of age). considering the level of ability of a starting hero, players should avoid choosing an excessively venerable age for their character - heroes older than 300 years old should definitely possess the Elven lore speciality, to reflect there deeper knowledge of the past

So elven lore is right... and if things arn't quite fitting way not give her 16xp or so to spend - enough to get bows and swords to 3... or assume you are making her 100 years ago, so she has time to reach some awesome by the time she meets me jaxon

[Otaku-sempai]

But starting character elves are not meant to be older than 500 by the book, page 58

500 years. 600 years. What's a hundred years either way to an Elf? The movie sets Tauriel at 600 years, so I kept that for game purposes. I do appreciate the suggestion of advancing her a bit so that her experience as one of Thranduil's guards is represented. Even weapon ratings of 3 for both sword and bow might not accurately reflect the skill she possesses in the film(s).

Alternately, I wrote Tauriel up as a Warden for the "Heavy Hitters" thread. I still generated her as a starting Adventurer. Now I am thinking that I should modify that a bit (again, to reflect her previous experiences). I still suspect that Tauriel may die in the Battle of Five Armies.

[Elmoth]

I have always pictured the knowledge of the old times to be exactly that. A regular elf might get it, but these tend to refer to people that have either lived through it or made a concerted effort to learn about the period. The movie clips shown so far have not given me the slightest indication that Tauriel should have this knowledge at all. She is more physical than intellectual. I would also say that warden fits better as a motivation given his conversations with Legolas; legolas is moe the slayer-type IMO.

Cheers,
Xavi

[James Harrison]

just going by the book - i guess the rationall is that even if he doesnt spout the lore, an elf who has lived for 300 years will ahve been taught the lore...

...and as your not meant to be more than 500, you cant really have lived through it.

On the age thing - the "a bit more advanced" was what I was going for with her being 600, use it as a justification for that extra xp

[Hermes Serpent]

I see that Elves might, once they've reached the age of maturity, wish to experience the outside world but after a year or two of 'adventuring' then seek to return to contemplate what they have seen, digest it and think about the consequences. Unless they have a particular interest that keeps them returning to the world outside or external forces cause them to seek out people or places perhaps they are more likely to consider every aspect of that time outside the Elven realm. To you and me standing guard in the Halls of Thranduil may be boring duty but for an Elf that may set their mind free wandering in the corridors of experience while putting a small part of their mind on 'watch' the hours pass swiftly and without the boredom that a short-lived race may experience.

Years or even centuries may pass before an Elf bestirs themself and, by then, the Men that they have known will be long in their barrows and cities fallen and risen again much changed in appearance. The road goes ever on and even though time passes slowly for an Elf it passes much less slowly for the world of Arda and you and me.

[Otaku-sempai]

Here is my take of Tauriel as a Warden, written up as a beginning Adventurer:

Name & Culture: Tauriel - Elf of Mirkwood
Standard of Living: Martial
Cultural Blessing: Folk of the Dusk
Calling: Warden
Shadow Weakness: Lure of Power

TRAITS
- Specialities: Elven-lore, Mirkwood-lore, Shadow-lore
- Distinctive Features: Hardened, Nimble
ATTRIBUTES:
- Body: 6 (7)
- Heart: 2 (6)
- Wits: 6 (7)

Valour: 1
Wisdom: 2

COMMON SKILLS:
- Awe (favoured): 2
- Athletics: 3
- Stealth: 2
- Awareness (favoured): 2
- Healing (favoured): 2
- Hunting: 2
- Song: 2
- Battle: 2
- Lore (favoured): 3

WEAPON SKILLS:
- Bow (favoured): 3
- Sword: 2
-Dagger: 1

Damage: 6
Parry: 6
Armour: 2d

REWARDS:
- None

VIRTUES:
- Wood-elf Magic (Stinging Arrow)

GEAR:
- Weapons: Bow, Sword, Dagger (enc 3)
- Armour: Leather corslet (enc 8)

Endurance:
- Starting Score: 24
- Fatigue: 11

Hope:
- Starting Score: 10

BACKGROUND: Envoy of the King. Your parents were killed by Orcs when you were still small. You were raised in the Halls of the Elvenking and (despite being female) rose to the position of Captain of the Royal Guard. As such, you have learned much about the nearby communities of Men and Dwarves. Sadly, you have also discovered how the Shadow is creeping upon the outside world gaining in strength with each passing year. You find it more and more difficult to agree with King Thranduil's isolationist policies. Are you not a part of this world?

NOTE: Tauriel is 600 years old.

[Beran]

I probably will like the character of Tauriel in the movie, but I have to say that the character represents something I really dislike when a book is made into a movie. When, in this case, Hollywood creates a composite character out of whole cloth just because there wasn't "a strong female role" in the original story.

That said I really like what has been presented above. Tauriel doesn't really fit in to the movie but I could see her as a strong addition to The One Ring background.

[Elmoth]

That last Tauriel looks fine. However, she looks to be slightly above a starting character, since she invested the 10 free XP she has raising Sword to 3, so Battle should be 2 and healing 1

Apart form that, she sounds right as a starting character with a good motivation I would have given the character Woodie magic instead of deadly shot as her advantage, but hey.