Morgul-knife question

[AllenOwen]

In Rivendell, on page 84, it describes how the wound from a Morgul-knife needs a healer like Elrond;what would be a good TN for a Healing roll?

[Rich H]

[See my later post; redacted this as reference to Rivendell book makes it pointless]

[Blubbo Baggins]

Here's the RAW from Rivendell on Black Breath / Black Shadow:

Black Breath
Anyone who approaches a Nazgûl must immediately make a Corruption test with TN 10 plus the highest Attribute level among the Nazgûl, plus 1 for every Ringwraith present. A companion who fails the roll gains 1 Shadow point and falls unconscious. A successful Healing roll revives the character. Upon awakening, the character is confused and is temporarily Miserable until able to rest for a prolonged time in a safe place. If the Corruption test fails with an Eye then the companion has been stricken by the Black Shadow (see text).
Additionally, once per turn a Nazgûl can force a companion to make a new Corruption test for the Black Breath by reducing its Hate score by 1 point.

Black Shadow
A victim of the Black Shadow remains unconscious for a number of days equal to the Attribute level of
the highest-rated Ringwraith the character faced when he was exposed to the Black Breath. For each of
these days, the sick character must pass a Corruption test (TN 16) or gain 1 point of Shadow; reduce the
TN to 14 if the hero is assisted with a successful Healing roll. Should a stricken hero’s Shadow rating
overcome his Hope score during the malady, then the character slips into ever deeper dreams and then
dies. If the hero resists for the length of the malady, he finally overcomes his sickness and wakes up (but
maintains the new Shadow score).


This should give some good inspiration for how to handle the Morgul Blade, which should probably be basically like Black Shadow, but perhaps without being unconscious.

I don't think the Morgul Blade should inflict additional Endurance damage... or even any Endurance damage. It should all be about gaining Shadow.

[Rich H]

Back home now so can see that there is some information in the Rivendell supplement as to how it affects the victim.

Would therefore simply go with a high TN (18 or 20) and needing to accrue 3 to 5 successes. One attempt/test can be made per day.

The rest is basically covered in the Rivendell book as that deals with the victim's resistance to the attack.

[Stormcrow]

If a player is rolling, you might consider this an Epic feat, requiring a Gandalf-rune and at least one Tengwar-rune. If a Loremaster character is doing the healing, just decide whether the healer succeeds; don't bother rolling. If you absolutely must have the Loremaster character make a roll, use the same Epic feat as for player heroes.

[Rich H]

If a player is rolling, you might consider this an Epic feat, requiring a Gandalf-rune and at least one Tengwar-rune. If a Loremaster character is doing the healing, just decide whether the healer succeeds; don't bother rolling. If you absolutely must have the Loremaster character make a roll, use the same Epic feat as for player heroes.

Another good option.

You could also stipulate a minimum Healing skill to attempt my option (of say 5 or 6*); that way it explains why Strider knew he needed to get Frodo to Rivendell rather than risk having to get a G-rune result.

This would allow for Stormcrow's suggestion to be combined with mine should you want to give options within your campaign.

* Personally, I don't have a problem with applying minimum skill ratings to certain tasks in order to require a specific/minimum level of competency. I can see how other LMs wouldn't go for this though.

[AllenOwen]

Thanks for the great responses. I got this game and some of the supplements a while ago and just now got into them. I'm very impressed! You can tell the game line is being produced by serious fans of the books.

[Indur Dawndeath]

According to RAW, having a Trait unlocks attempts to do otherwise impossible tasks. So I'd let a player with Leechcraft trait attempt a Heal test to cure the wound at a high TN.

Cheers

[Glorelendil]

If a player is rolling, you might consider this an Epic feat, requiring a Gandalf-rune and at least one Tengwar-rune. If a Loremaster character is doing the healing, just decide whether the healer succeeds; don't bother rolling. If you absolutely must have the Loremaster character make a roll, use the same Epic feat as for player heroes.

If a player-hero gets wounded by a Morgul knife, simply getting that person to somebody like Elrond should be an adventure in itself. If they succeed, I (personally) wouldn't have the outcome of the entire endeavor then hinge on one roll.

So, yeah, LM simply makes the call.

[Rich H]

I thought we were mostly talking about PC solutions/tests though, weren't we?