Where is TOR going?

[Glorelendil]

Sorry if this has been re-hashed a bunch of times by veterans; I just got the game a couple days ago and have only gone so far through the forum archives.

So...what's the plan for this game? I'm really excited about it; I love the mechanics, love the setting, am impressed with the writing.

- More official new cultures? E.g. the fan version of "Ranger of the North" is awesome. Lorien/Rivendell elves? Breelander? Rohirrim? Druedain? Southron? Corsair?
- Official expansion of weapon list? The unofficial list I've seen has some great options. Would love to see slings.
- Expansion into more regions? I think focusing on the Mirkwood area makes sense for the initial release, but would be fun to explore more of ME. Eventually even the south and the east?
- High level content like Dol Guldur and Moria? I can think of several ways adventures in those dangerous places could work without it being suicide and without breaking lore. An old fashioned "dungeon crawl" in Moria could be a blast.
- Additional rules, such as two-weapon fighting (as I mentioned in another thread, I could see this working if it had stiff prerequisites and wasn't OP.)
- Looking forward to seeing the Rivendell packet; I hope it provides a framework for artifacts such as Orcrist, mithril mail, etc.

I'm also rusty on my JRRT trivia: is Smaug the last dragon or are there still dragons lurking?

[daddystabz]

My wish is for ALL of what you asked for. I am kind of frustrated at the glacial pace of releases for this great game. I think it is a real problem in making the game more popular overall. I understand though about the difficulties of the license and what it entails and know it is not all C7's fault.

I especially want more cultures (Dunedain anyone?), more regions of ME to explore, more adventures, more beasts/NPCs and writeups of characteters/NPCs from the books.

I would LOVE the option in the future if it could ever happen (not likely) to have source books that expand the game into other ages of ME like the 1st. and 2nd. ages. Can you imagine a Numenor sourcebook? A Valar/Maiar guide would be amazing.

P.S. There are still fire drakes and things of that nature after the events of The Hobbit. Smaug was the last of the great dragons though.

[Rich H]

Sorry if this has been re-hashed a bunch of times by veterans; I just got the game a couple days ago and have only gone so far through the forum archives.

So...what's the plan for this game? I'm really excited about it; I love the mechanics, love the setting, am impressed with the writing.

I won't comment on where the game is heading because that has been discussed numerous times, and recently, but great to see people still picking up this game so long after its first release. Welcome! ... Can I ask why you've only just purchased it? Why now and not when it was initially released? ... I'm curious. Thanks!

[Glorelendil]

Sorry if this has been re-hashed a bunch of times by veterans; I just got the game a couple days ago and have only gone so far through the forum archives.

So...what's the plan for this game? I'm really excited about it; I love the mechanics, love the setting, am impressed with the writing.

I won't comment on where the game is heading because that has been discussed numerous times, and recently, but great to see people still picking up this game so long after its first release. Welcome! ... Can I ask why you've only just purchased it? Why now and not when it was initially released? ... I'm curious. Thanks!

Didn't know about it until I saw a copy at the bookstore a few days ago. Just in the last few months have been playing the D&D Next playtest packet with one of the guys I played D&D with back in the early 80's. (We're playing virtually, using Google hangouts and roll20.net). So there I was, looking at the "Roleplaying" shelf at Barnes and Noble, and thought, "Hmmm...what's this?"

Told my Warcraft guild master about it; he's now interested. And was just posting about TOR on the D&D Next forums and got some folks there curious, too.

[jamesrbrown]

So there I was, looking at the "Roleplaying" shelf at Barnes and Noble, and thought, "Hmmm...what's this?"

Told my Warcraft guild master about it; he's now interested. And was just posting about TOR on the D&D Next forums and got some folks there curious, too.

This is an exciting point! I have been playing the game since the beginning because back then I heard from a friend on facebook that the game was going to be released. Otherwise, I would not have known about it. TOR came out in August 2011, but until a week ago, I have never seen it for sale anywhere other than online. Where did I see it? Barnes and Noble in Gilbert, Arizona! I was thrilled to see it on the shelf. There was only one copy, but to me it meant the game had finally reached a wider audience other than the base of roleplayers in the know. I meant to post about this a week ago when I saw it there.

How did the game get to Barnes and Noble? Who's decision was that? I am not keen on how games are distributed and sold, but I am very curious. Did Barnes and Noble decide to finally sell it in stores based on its internet sales numbers? Does the fact that Barnes and Noble is now selling it in stores mean that the game has reached a certain level of popularity? Pardon my ignorance, please.

[Beran]

It was quite popular in Games stores around where I live when it came out, but since it has been really hard to find an in stock copy.

Glad to see it is still out there on store shelves some where and that new people are getting interested in it.

I would also like to see supplements for all the info above, but unfortunately I don't think the license allows for all of them. I think only what was covered in the Hobbit and LotRs directly are fair game, but stuff like 1st and 2nd age material isn't in the cards.

[Jon Hodgson]

Re: TOR in Barnes and Noble - great isn't it? That's the result of a lot of hard work. I'm not sure if I'm liberty to give thanks to the appropriate parties so I'll remain tight lipped, lest I say something I'm not supposed to. But it's very good news for TOR. Doctor Who Adventures in Time and Space is also being stocked by Barnes and Noble.

TOR has always been in hobby distribution. Naturally it's up to individual stores to decide whether to stock it or not, but the vast majority of sales of TOR (and other purely c7 titles) come from brick and mortar stores. Which is also good news.


More importantly: We'll have an update for 2014 releases this month. A few more bridges to cross before we can say any more.

[jamesrbrown]

Jon, that IS fantastic about TOR being on shelves in Barnes and Noble, as well as Dr WHO (I'll be on the look out for it in the roleplaying section). I think it gives the games a much wider exposure. So, congratulations to C7 on all the hard work and effort. Good news indeed. I'm looking forward to the update for 2014 releases.

That's interesting that the vast majority of sales still come from brick and mortar stores. It proves that most role-players like to go to the store and get their books rather than buy them on the internet and wait for them to be shipped. Myself, I find that I save a few bucks by purchasing online and waiting a few days. Plus, you guys at C7 give a free PDF copy too.

[beckett]

I saw this as well at my local Barnes & Noble around Christmas. I wandered in for some last minute shopping and saw two core sets for The One Ring! I was very happy to see the game on the shelf. They were side by side with their spines showing... In a display of love, I rearranged the shelf so the two sets could sit with their beautiful cover art visible.

Like James R Brown, I bought the game online from the C7 store when it was first released. I had read an article about it somewhere online so that's how I knew about the game. And until this Christmas I had never seen the game in my local stores. Congratulations on the hard work it took for this to happen. This game should be outselling D&D in my opinion.

[Mim]

It's fantastic that it's in Barnes & Noble (my fav book store), & I hope it continues. This B&M phenom should help spread the news about the game & support book/game stores.

For myself, however, I want to support the stores but normally purchase ToR directly from C7 for two reasons - to directly support the company & for the pdfs