I'm new to the Savage Worlds game system, but it looks very versatile without a lot of nit-picky details to get bogged down in. I'm hoping to work through character creation in front of everybody because we are all grown-ups and can see one another's stats without cheating and because I am soliciting input from the players to make the game better.

I'm thinking that the PC's will be:

• Humans
• Hobbits
• Elves
• Dwarves

I'd really need a good reason to go outside this set, so please don't suggest you play an Ent or a Warg. No half-elves or half-orcs either. Elrond was half-elven in the books and he lived for thousands of years. So he's an elf.

I'm thinking that the characters in Aragon's council chamber will likely be at least Seasoned (3 + 1d4 Advances). The 1d4 roll can Ace, so you may end up being quite advanced if you're lucky.

No PC's have any magic abilities. (One of the things that I like about Savage Worlds -- the ability to extract out magic from the rules and character types.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:03, Wed 09 Mar 2022.

============================= HALLS OF STONE ===================================
Character Name:                     Character Rank    :
Character Race:                     Total Advances    :
Concept       :                     Unspent Advances  :
Player Name   :
==================================ATTRIBUTES==================================
Pace (---/---)   | Parry (---/---)     | Toughness (---/---)

Agility     Dx | Smarts         Dx | Strength Dx | Spirit       Dx | Vigor Dx

====================================SKILLS====================================
Athletics   Dx | Academics      Dx |             | Intimidation Dx |
Boating     Dx | Battle         Dx |             | Performance  Dx |
Fighting    Dx | Common Know    Dx |             | Persuasion   Dx|
Riding      Dx | Gambling       Dx |             |                 |
Shooting    Dx | Healing        Dx |             |                 |
Stealth     Dx | Language       Dx |             |                 |
Thievery    Dx | Notice         Dx |             |                 |
               | Occult         Dx |             |                 |
               | Repair         Dx |             |                 |
               | Research       Dx |             |                 |
               | Science        Dx |             |                 |
               | Spellcasting   Dx |             |                 |
               | Survival       Dx |             |                 |
               | Taunt          Dx |             |                 |

====================================EDGES====================================


=================================HINDRANCES==================================


====================================ARMOR====================================
Name           Locations Covered   Protection   Notes

===================================WEAPONS===================================
Name                 Range     Dam RoF   Ammo  Weight Shots Notes

==================================EQUIPMENT==================================


=================================DESCRIPTION=================================


==================================BACKGROUND=================================


================================ADVANCEMENTS==================================


This message was last edited by the GM at 17:32, Thu 10 Mar 2022.

NOTE: These are pulled directly from the core rule book, but I will listen to options you may request

DWARVES

Dwarves are short but stout, hardy people who come from massive caverns or high mountains. They are a proud, warlike race, usually made so by frequent contact with hostile races such as orcs and goblins. Dwarves usually live upwards of 200 years.

LOW LIGHT VISION: Dwarven eyes are accustomed to the dark of the their underground dwellings. They ignore penalties for Dim and Dark Illumination.

REDUCED PACE: Dwarves have short legs compared to most races. Decrease their Pace by 1 and their running die one die type.

TOUGH: Dwarves are stout and tough. They start with a d6 Vigor instead of a d4. This increases maximum Vigor to d12 + 1.

ELVES

Elves are tall, thin souls with pointed ears and deep-set eyes of various colors. Whether they hail from the deep forests or hidden valleys, they are all born more graceful than humans, though somewhat slighter. Elves may live many hundreds of years.

AGILE: Elves are graceful and agile. They start with a d6 in Agility instead of a d4. This increases maximum Agility to d12 + 1.

ALL THUMBS: Elves have an inherent dislike of mechanical objects, and thus have the All Thumbs Hindrance. They shun most mechanical items and designs.

LOW LIGHT VISION: Elven eyes amplify light. Other races often claim they can see stars in the elves’ eyes. They ignore penalties for Dim and Dark Illumination.

HOBBITS

Hobbits are small, nimble people with fuzzy brown or black hair. Though they are frail compared to most other races, their cheerful optimism (or wily cunning) gives them a “never say die” attitude that makes them more than a match for creatures twice their size. Hobbits see no reason
to invite trouble and tend to live in their own close-knit communities far off the beaten path.

LUCK: Hobbits draw one additional Benny per game session.

REDUCED PACE: Decrease the character’s Pace by 1 and their running die one die type.

SIZE −1: Hobbits average only about four feet tall, reducing their Size (and therefore Toughness) by 1.

SPIRITED: Hobbits are generally optimistic beings. They start with a d6 Spirit instead of a d4. This increases their maximum Spirit to d12 + 1.

HUMANS

ADAPTABLE: Humans begin play with any Novice Edge of their choosing. They must meet its Requirements as usual.

Are creation rules unmodified?

I mostly mean for equipment, as the initial %500 don't allow for much, and to be a Rohirrim (and having a horse) it seems you must take a hindrance for money or be nearly naked...

In reply to Berthold (msg # 4):

Or take the Rich edge.  Which, if you're a mounted, armoured warrior in Middle Earth, you'd be anyways, I figure?  I mean, you're not playing the mook with the hayrake, you're playing a Rider, I think?

That probably applies to all of us then, so does that even make it an edge worth taking?

In terms of Rohan and possibly Gondor, most weapons, armour and horses are probably the property of a lord. In the book it talks of a "weapon take" at Edoras, implying that swords an armour are, in general, stored until needed.

In reply to Wort Halffield (msg # 6):

I've generally intepreted the Rich edge as implying access to a particular level of resources.  It boosts starting wealth (you have better stuff), and provides income through the game (you can afford stuff), but doesn't involve, for example, property.

So, taking the Rich edge means you can start with a horse and armor, and have the means to support them (can provide fodder, stabling, etc.), without having to devote in-game time to acquiring those resources.  Whether that means you're independently wealthy, or a household warrior employed by a lord, the effect is the same.  If you're the latter, you might want to consider the "Vow" flaw for flavour reasons.

In fact, if you want a "knight" package, Aristocratic, Rich, and Vow are a pretty good basis.  You've got status, a general education, resources, and social obligations.  Fits pretty well.

In reply to Falin (msg # 5):

So, you  think any Rohirrim cavalry warrior has an income equivalent to $150000 per annum?

Not the way they are depicted in Lord of the Rings, IMHO...

And even then, starting with $1500 (triple the usual), would not allow to buy a warhorse (750), saddle (10) chainmail, (300 if only shirt), Medium shield (100), Longsword (300), Bow (250 `quilver and arrows) or lance (300), that already sum more tan this inital money for a rich character.

You can, being rich, if you have a non combat horse (though  Iguess most Rohirrim warriors have warhorses, or at least trained for combat, as they are depicted) and only leather armor...

But even if on foot, anyone having a sword and a boe already has spent more tan the $500...

In fact, the $500 given as standard in SWADE is, IMHO, far too low. In current times, see that a digital chamera costs $300 (so 60% of non-rich Budget), and anyone having a desktop computer has already more tan the given money, and a laptop more tan touble of it. As  Iguess all of us are loging in from one, are we all rich?
This message was last edited by the player at 12:13, Thu 10 Mar 2022.

In reply to Berthold (msg # 8):

I mean, it's up to the GM, obviously, but personally I don't see an issue with the starting resources.  My point was to bring to your attention that there are Edges you can take to compensate (I mean, if you want REALLY nice gear, take Rich and Filthy Rich).  My understanding is we've got players here with little experience of SWADE, it wasn't clear if you were one of them, and since we're all getting to know each other, I wanted to make sure you were aware that options to boost starting wealth exist.  Another option for a Rider would be to look at some of the "beast" edges, that give you an animal companion, and let you assist them.

In terms of "do I think Riders are Rich", absolutely; the average "Rider", certainly one serving in household troops like an Eored, has that kind of income, or the in-kind equivalent.   If they have a horse, armour, and the means to support both, they're rich in property (because, as you point out, these things are EXPENSIVE).  If they have time to train at arms (rather than farm), they're rich in income; the reason "fighters" and "rich people" were the same thing for most of history is that people who could derive income from sources other than farming or herding had time to train; everyone else was too busy digging in the dirt. It's a fantasy world, obviously, but one written by someone with an intimate knowledge of pre-modern societies.  Anyone who fights for a living is rich, almost by definition, and has sufficient income to support both the means and training of fighting.

The mass levy (most of the fighters at Helm's Deep, and the ones left behind in the ride to Gondor) are foot troops - rando peasant farmers given a dented cap and a spear, i.e., the not-Rich.  Even the bulk of the cavalry that follow the household troops (the latter being the various Eoreds) would NOT be as well equipped.  Maybe a warhorse, because Rohan, but probably not wearing full mail, and with cheaper weapons - axes most likely.

Falin has a bow, hand axe, dagger, arrow, leather jacket and cap.  And comes in just under the $500, with some money for snacks.  But he's NOT Rich.  He's just a guy who spends his time running back and forth between the Lonely Mountain and Minas Tirith.

In reply to Falin (msg # 9):

I have little experience with SWADE, that's true, and the Little I have is on a campaign whre equipment and money is not an issue (characters are under employment of somone who cares about those details), and that's why I was so surprised about it.

About the edges, see that taking more tan one means taking several hindrances, as you need 2 hindrance points to have one. And the Beast Master one, that you suggest (or so I understand), aside from needing Spirit 8, only allows you to have a small pet, not a horse.

About the Rich edge, I find absurd that gives you so high yearly income, you only have 1% of your yearly income to spend as equipment...

To fight from horse, you need at least a longsword, as shortsword is for infantry. You cannot reach infantry well with a shortsword. And a longsword costs as much as a horse, and 60% of your intial Budget.

Rohirrim are descended of horse nomads, so having (at least) a horse does not mean you're rich, and being also a warrior culture, I guess a sowrd or a bow are also usual belongings (I agree armor may be less common).

And, don't forget our characters are seasoned at least, so it's assumed they already have had some adventuring and probably would have obtained some equipment...

Dinally, as ) already said, if you look at contemporany costs, anyone having a computer (so I guess all of us) has either spent at least one hindrance point on money or has the rich edge, so earns about $150000 per year. I may swear you I'm not any close to those earnings, and yet I have the computer, and some more things that would be fully unavailable with SWADE intial founds...