So! What's going on with TOR?

[Terisonen]

Dear Jon,

given the high quality of what have been made by Cubicle7, I'm afraid I have to tell you that messing up a single release for TOR is not an option.

So, take all the time necessary.

[Indur Dawndeath]

Keep up the great work. We will wait, and we will be impatient and we will be happy when a new product is ready to be released!!

[Majestic]

Thanks for the update, Jon. I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to communicate this!

I for one have enough TOR products to keep me happy and regularly playing for probably another decade. So I don't actually need anything else, though I still eagerly get everything you put out. I love the amazing quality that goes into all of your work, and far prefer the quality over quantity. Don't rush things, as finely crafter artisan-quality workmanship takes time!

[Mim]

I don't think anyone can have missed that TOR takes a long time to make. Getting the tone and feel right, and the writing and art up to par, isn't easy or fast work.

And we do understand why you care about it so much. So do we.

Those of us who may be writers/editors (I've seen a few fans on here refer to the field ) understand completely. I for one am thrilled that you pour yourselves into this beautiful game, and your comment about caring says it all.

So yes, you'll be taking my money as long as you produce TOR.

[Dunheved]

To Jon (and all else involved):

First and most importantly: Thank you for this message, it does help.
You clearly understand the enthusiasm of the members who add to this very best of forums. You must have an enormous level of tolerance when the eagerness for the next TOR masterpiece becomes impatience and even rudeness: certainly the tone of your comments is considered, polite and thoughtful.

So many of the contributors have already said things in this thread that I can applaud & endorse. I have to agree that the waiting has always been worthwhile - and it reminds me that patience is a virtue* even though it can be a struggle. I really like what both Terisonen and Majestic have put into words.



*"Virtue is learnt at Mother's knee: Vice at other joints"

[Vuriche]

I just want to join in on the overall accolades for the products you produce for us. They are worth so much more than the monetary value you charge for them. We will chomp at the bit, we will have opinions, sometimes even critical ones, but never lose sight of the greatness of the products you produce, they are truly the finest I have ever seen in my three decades of perusing the products of this hobby thus far and such a worthy contribution to the lore of Tolkien.

From my own point of view, it seems to me that TOR enjoys an ever-increasing level of support from Cubicle 7, which certainly does not appear to be threatened by that other line of products, of which I have little knowledge.

[jamesrbrown]

Your update and assurances have just caused great excitement! It's always nice to know that new things are on the way, even if they take awhile. We are what, nearly 6 years in? The One Ring is very strong and much loved. The bar has been set extremely high for any future roleplaying game set in Middle-earth. I cannot imagine that the respect for Tolkien, the demand for quality, or the knowledge of his works could get any greater. What we have is great game design that players can enjoy while maintaining the spirit and depth of the Professor's works. It's a game born out of the material, which is why mechanics such as Hope and Shadow, Endurance and Fatigue, and Fellowship focus feel so right. And new additions, such as Courage are meaningful, and not just add-ons for the sake of complexity, or out of boredom. Let's keep this going! We are so lucky and blessed to have this game and to enjoy it with other Tolkien fans. Thank you so much to Cubicle7 and Sophisticated Games!

[zedturtle]

Agreed. Y'all have a lot of love for the material and it shines forth. I'm very excited to see what the next year(s) will bring forth for Middle-earth. The One Ring and That Other Game ( ) as well.

[Rich H]

I can't think of any artist who has ever depicted the Balrog of Moria the way Tolkien describes: as a huge, vaguely man-shaped shadow wreathed in flames. The Balrog of Moria was also silent, not roaring like a Jurassic Park tyrannosaur.

I still haven't finished painting it (just base coated) but this is the figure I have for the Balrog, alongside another for scale:



I always felt Tolkien's description of a silent figure wreathed in flames was pretty terrifying; far more so than the D&D version of a winged demon.

[Rich H]

... and That Other Game ( ) as well.

Do not speak of such things!