Stats for Noldor NPCs

[Artaxastra]

Anybody have any thoughts on stats for Noldor NPCs? They're way too high level for player characters, but I'm considering what they'd look like in game terms. Maglor, for example? Galadriel?

[Stormcrow]

You rarely need stats for Loremaster characters who aren't fighting. At most you need an Attribute score and maybe a trait or two. Attributes range from 1 to 12, so just ask yourself how awesome the character is on a scale of 1 to 12.

[Artaxastra]

There may be fighting. For example, they've met the mysterious harper Durlinn who may be Maglor survived into the Third Age, and he's traveling with them to the Vales of Gundabad for his own reasons. If there's a fight (and it's a fair bet there will be) I'll need stats. I'm curious what people think about what that would look like for an elf that old.

[Otaku-sempai]

Anybody have any thoughts on stats for Noldor NPCs? They're way too high level for player characters, but I'm considering what they'd look like in game terms. Maglor, for example? Galadriel?

Actually, Noldor Player-heroes are already allowed as High Elves of Rivendell. Noldor NPCs could include Gildor Inglorion, Glorfindel (statted-out in Rivendell) or any of the surviving Eldar of Eregion such as Damron the Elven-smith. Stats are also provided in Rivendell for the Noldor High Elf Aiwiel. Erestor and Lindir are quite possibly Noldor.

This is a bit off-topic, but I could see another Advanced Culture of largely Sindar and other Telerin Elves: the High Elves of the Grey Havens. Here is my own take on Círdan the Shipwright:

Círdan, Lord of the Grey Havens
Círdan the Shipwright has been Lord of the Grey Havens since the founding of Mithlond at the beginning of the Second Age. Círdan is a good friend of the Rangers of the North and throughout the Third Age provided aid to the Dúnedain of the North-kingdom. He is also a member of the White Council.

Círdan is the oldest living Elf in Middle-earth. He is exceedingly tall, has a long beard and has an aged appearance. Círdan should be approached with courtesy and respect.

Attribute Level: 10
Specialities: Elven-lore, Sea-lore, Ship-craft
Distinctive Features: Lordly, Tall, Just
Relevant Skills: Craft ♦♦♦♦♦♦, Lore ♦♦♦♦♦♦, Insight ♦♦♦♦

I did not do a full work-up on Galdor, but here is what I do have:

Galdor, Messenger of Círdan
Galdor is the trusted messenger and envoy of Lord Círdan. A High Elf, he is often away from the Havens on his lord's business and is frequently seen at Rivendell. Galdor's manner can be a bit formal at times; however, he is very good at reading people and their moods and he can adjust his approach as needed.

Also:

Hadorion
The Elf-lord Hadorion commands the lighthouse-citadel of Barad Mithlond that guards the Gulf of Lune against attack from the sea. Born in the Second Age, he marched with Gil-galad and Círdan in the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. He is also a skilled mariner. Hadorion's demeanor is lordly and proud; he is hard to impress. His brother Thandorion is the harbormaster of Harlond in Harlindon.

And:

Thandorion
The Elf-lord Thandorion is the harbormaster of Harlond and commander of the fortress of Amon Harlond. He was born in Lindon in the days of Gil-galad and is one of Lord Círdan's most trusted captains. When Círdan went to war as part of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, it was Thandorion who was trusted with the stewardship of Harlindon and the Grey Havens until the Elf-lord's return. Thandorion is also an accomplished shipwright and engineer as well as brother to Hadorion, the commander of Barad Mithlond at the northern point of the Gulf of Lune. He is friendly towards the Dúnedain of the North but his attitude towards lesser Men is less favorable, as are his feelings towards Dwarves. Thandorion looks upon Hobbits with amused tolerance.

[Glorelendil]

There may be fighting. For example, they've met the mysterious harper Durlinn who may be Maglor survived into the Third Age, and he's traveling with them to the Vales of Gundabad for his own reasons. If there's a fight (and it's a fair bet there will be) I'll need stats. I'm curious what people think about what that would look like for an elf that old.

I still don't think you want to stat it up. Instead of having this LMC roll dice as if he/she were a player and steal the spotlight from the PCs, try one of the following:
1) Have the LMC mysteriously vanish just before the encounter occurs. If the heroes succeed on their own, so much the better, if the NPC has to rescue them from their foolishness ("Let dawn take you....!") that's a good outcome, too. (And it's an excuse to come up with a good explanation for their disappearance...it could lead to yet more adventures.)
2) Include a terrible adversary with some lesser ones, and have the LMC tell the players to "worry about the Goblins!" while he/she solos the big bad. Don't roll any dice; just give the players dramatic updates that rise and fall alongside their own successes.

You get the idea. There's a reason they are called "Loremaster Characters" and not "Non-player Characters". The difference runs deeper than simply not being controlled by a player.

[Rich H]

Don't roll any dice; just give the players dramatic updates that rise and fall alongside their own successes.

You get the idea. There's a reason they are called "Loremaster Characters" and not "Non-player Characters". The difference runs deeper than simply not being controlled by a player.

This is what I'd do as well, no need to have the headache of statting them out when as LM you pretty much know what you want them to do within such a battle.

[Glorelendil]

I'll add that LM actions that might be called "cheating" in D&D are called "storytelling" in TOR.

[Stormcrow]

This is what I'd do as well, no need to have the headache of statting them out when as LM you pretty much know what you want them to do within such a battle.

The process of following the combat sequence and rolling dice against weapon skills and so forth are there for the players' benefit. The Loremaster's job is to decide what happens, not to mechanically follow procedures. The One Ring is not a simulation. If the Loremaster wants to resolve whether one of his characters hits another in combat, he can use any process he wants to determine the outcome: fiat, roll a success on a single Success Die, roll against the character's weapon skill against an arbitrarily chosen difficulty, whatever. Even go through the full combat sequence if he really wants.

[Rich H]

This is what I'd do as well, no need to have the headache of statting them out when as LM you pretty much know what you want them to do within such a battle.

The process of following the combat sequence and rolling dice against weapon skills and so forth are there for the players' benefit. The Loremaster's job is to decide what happens, not to mechanically follow procedures. The One Ring is not a simulation. If the Loremaster wants to resolve whether one of his characters hits another in combat, he can use any process he wants to determine the outcome: fiat, roll a success on a single Success Die, roll against the character's weapon skill against an arbitrarily chosen difficulty, whatever. Even go through the full combat sequence if he really wants.

I quite agree!

[Ecorce]

Very very very interesting, preciousessssss.

According to me, the RAW don't explain clearly enough that TOR is different from many RPG that aim to simulate precisely. Though it IS written. It is more about having the keys to open every door, than locking them.

When you understand rules just give you some ways, and are not meant to describe everything you can do, you understand the heart of the game and can fully enjoy it (that's my belief).

About TOR, I like to compare it to some card games or board games, like Once Upon A Time (or Hobbit Tales!). Rules invite you to tell a good story on your own way, just respecting the universe.

Concerning giving stats to powerful NPC, I guess I'd think about some "narrative" spells or virtues. Maybe some group skills for the Encounters. But that's all.