For discussing individual PC creation and the Fellowship.

Hello, and welcome!

I am quite familiar with the 1st Cubicle 7 edition, but only just got the Free League one, so will be learning the new ruleset as we go (I have already read through the book, and I believe it shall work - especially in PbP).

In GENERAL: I plan to start with the general setting of the Second Edition--
• a game set in Eriador
• starting in the year 2965
--but am open to move things around, or away from that depending on you players.
I wish to depart from the rules that "assume that the Company has been together for some time already when the game begins" and the characters meet in game, get drawn together in an adventure, and (hopefully!) bond and create a Company.
(no probem at all, of course, if people wish to create PCs that are already linked - friends, family...).

My goal is to run a campaign.
To deal with PbP issues & attrition I aim to try and manage this like an episodic series (closed standalone adventures, with their own beginning to end, that should last several weeks) with an overarching plot (thus, playing several or all the adventures also builds the campaign aspect).

So, let us start and see who wishes to play what (does everyone have the 2nd Ed' book, or do some need information on possible characters?).
And please share what expectations and goals you have.

Important note: I post 1/day and really like that daily posting rate (or at least the weekly posting but maybe slower on week-ends) and keeping the game moving forward.
Tell me what your posting rate is, and if it does not work with that 1/day.
We could then maybe start two adventures in parallel, for both posting rates?

The Heroic Cultures (PC races) in 2E are:
• Bardings (Northwomen and men from Dale)
• Dwarves of Durin's Folk (from the Lonely Mountain or elsewhere)
• Elves of Lindon (the Elves of the Westlands, by the sea)
• Hobbits of the Shire - and one can play their cousins from Bree, slightly different
• Men of Bree
• Rangers of the North

The Callings (PC classes) being:
• Captain (leader)
• Champion (fighter)
• Messenger (wanderer, explorer)
• Scholar (learned one)
• Treasure Hunter (burglar, explorer)
• Warden (protector, enemy of the shadow)

Roster:
3 slots reserved for (from the Interest Check):
• thattripletguy
• DBCowboy
• Alyse
3 slots reserved for (from 1st submissions):
• Red Shadow Claws
• Isenax
• "Galar"

Characters:
So far, we might have:
Dwarf Champion - Isenax

Characters:
So far, we might have:
Dwarf Champion - Isenax
Dwarf Leader - Homnir (ex-Red Shadow Claws)

Roster:
- 3 slots reserved for (from the Interest Check):
• thattripletguy
• DBCowboy
• Alyse
- 4 slots reserved for (from 1st submissions):
• Homnir (ex-Red Shadow Claws)
• Isenax
• "Galar"
• Vaegwrym
- So, that makes 7 so far.
For others who might arrive, I will see how we proceed.
My two thoughts are:
* if we have a lot, I can start all together at the Festival and see which PCs fit best with other PCs etc., and then move on with two different adventures from there (1 group going one way, the other the other way)-- and then see at the end of that if some/many people dropped out (since that does happen regularly in PbP) and maybe then bring the people left together?
* see who will be 1/day-ish posters and keep in the main group, and do a parallel group with others?

Characters:
So far, we might have:
• Dwarf - Alyse
• Dwarf Champion - Isenax
• Dwarf Leader - Homnir (ex-Red Shadow Claws)
• Ranger of the North, maybe champion, or treasure hunter, or even messenger - Theorondil (ex-Vaegwrym)
• Elf Warden or a Dale (lakeman) captain - thattripletguy
• Man of Bree Scholar - Galar
• - DBCowboy
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:35, Fri 03 Dec 2021.

• Dwarf Messenger - Áski Adisson (ex-Alyse)
• Dwarf Champion - Vidar son of Flar (Isenax)
• Dwarf Leader - Homnir (ex-Red Shadow Claws)
• Ranger of the North (champion, treasure hunter, messenger) - Theorondil (ex-Vaegwrym)
• Man of Bree Scholar - Galar
• Hobbit Treasure Hunter - Mip Tanglefoot (ex-Boldran)
• Elf Warden or Barding (Lakeman) Captain - thattripletguy
• - DBCowboy

We have so far:
• 3 Dwarves, a Ranger, a Man of Bree, a Hobbit
+ Elf or Barding
+ ?

• Messenger ; Champion ; Leader ; Scholar ; Treasure Hunter
+ champion, treasure hunter, or messenger
+ warden, or captain
+ ?
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:59, Fri 03 Dec 2021.

Dwarf Messenger - Áski Adisson
Dwarf Champion - Vidar son of Flar
Dwarf Leader - Homnir
Do the three Dwarves wish to have arrived together, with a merchant-caravan from Erebor/Dale?
Do all or some of the three Dwarves have some background links?

Man of Bree Scholar - Galar
Hobbit Treasure Hunter - Mip Tanglefoot
Local people, or close (Shire?), so easy to be in Bree.
Say if you wish to have some pre-game links.

Ranger of the North - Theorondil
still to choose: champion, treasure hunter, messenger
Also kind of a local person for Bree, or in the area?
Say if you see anyone you wish to have links to.

• Elf Warden
or
• Barding Captain
(thattripletguy)
If Barding, then can have come to Bree w. the caravan from Dale/Erebor.
Maybe knows some/all of the Dwarves? (or at least traveled w. them)
If Elf, then maybe a link to Theorondil? Came to the Fair for a reason (or just in Bree for other reasons?)

• (DBCowboy)

In reply to The Loremaster (msg # 8):

Homnir would love to know one or both of the dwarves', and is likely to know the ranger of the north, since his interests lie in the Grey Mountains.

To see about some common background for our Dwarves-- and others?

Vidar
From the Iron Hills, or the Blue Mountains.

Homnir
From the Grey Mountains (gathering people/Dwarves to take back there).
Maybe knows Theorondil too?

Áski

The caravan came from Erebor and Dale (a kind of joint venture for the safety of the trip).
So, if thattripletguy goes with a Barding, he too could be part of the journey.

One of the important things transported by the caravan, is a fair amount of forge items.

I'm open to background links with anyone, the other Dwarves make a great deal of sense.  Depending upon how character creation works, Vidar may have been at the Battle of Five Armies.

The Battle of the 5 Armies was in 2941 (25 years ago) so that works fine for you being part of it as a younger Dwarf.

I'm making a Ranger of the North, moving around the lone-lands I suppose. I understand Theorondil is also a ranger, did you decide upon a calling? I'm open to linking backgrounds if you want. I'm deciding between Treasure Hunter and Warden. If you're doing a Treasure Hunter I'll do the Warden.

Unless the group need some other skill set?

Theorondil and Orodil can have a common background, be traveling together, yes.

re. skill-sets, I think all the Callings will be covered.

Áski is also on the younger side, and came of age in Thorin's Halls. He had just completed his first long walk (Blue Mountains to Iron Hills) as the Quest For Erebor reached its climax, and likely carried messages for Dáin Ironfoot during the Battle Of Five Armies. Áski would afterward relocate to Erebor but spend the vast majority of the next twenty-five years away from the Lonely Mountain, traveling in service to the King Under The Mountain.

In reply to Aski Adisson (msg # 15):

Excellent.  Definitely sounds like they'd have a good chance of having met, since Vidar is a warrior (Champion), and took part in the heavy fighting.

The Battle of the Five Armies is what drove Homnir to try and reclaim the Grey Mountains, and he is a Captain (Leader), so and Vidar could have known each other there.

Dwarf Messenger - Áski Adisson
Dwarf Champion - Vidar son of Flar
Dwarf Leader - Homnir
Barding Messenger - Kelda, daughter of Kolbeinn
• all four will have traveled together to Bree
• can have some common background among the Dwarves

Man of Bree Scholar - Galar
• from Bree

Hobbit Treasure Hunter - Mip Tanglefoot
• first time out of the Shire (coming to Bree)

Ranger of the North - Theorondil
still to choose: champion, treasure hunter, messenger
Ranger of the North - Orodil
still to choose: treasure hunter, warden
• I imagine a shared background
• I imagine you are used to the area around Bree, and have come from not too far

• Elf Warden (thattripletguy)

For creating characters when you do not have the book
Here is a link, found among ancient scrolls by Orodil (thank you!):
fillable Google Docs - make a copy and try your hand with your character.

You can start with that (I will try to test it tomorrow, but I imagine it works fine) and then ask questions-- we will see if it works like that.

Several Questions:

1. How do I determine my character's Strength, Heart, and Wits?

2. How do I increase Skills?

3. How do I determine Valor and Wisdom?

4. How do I choose Virtues?

5. How do I know what equipment I can have?

In reply to The Loremaster (msg # 19):

The above Google Doc does not provide for Previous Experience, but handles much of the simple calculations for you.

In reply to Homnir (msg # 20):

1. You choose or roll on your Heroic Culture's Attributes table. Options for Dwarves are: 1) 7/2/5, 2) 7/3/4. 3) 6/3/5, 4) 6/4/4, 5) 5/4/5, and 6) 6/2/6.

2. You have ten (10) points of Previous Experience. To increase a skill value of 0 to 1 costs one point; to increase a skill value of 1 to 2 costs two points; to increase a skill value of 2 to 3 costs three points; to increase a skill value of 3 to 4 costs five points. Increasing a combat proficiency value costs twice as much.

3. Valor and Wisdom both start at one (1).

4. You gain a single Reward and a single Virtue at chargen. Bit of a list, so I won't summarize here.

5. Equipment is usually based on your Standard Of Living. Dwarves being Prosperous have very few limitations.

Áski could easily know Homnir and Vidar, given their shared Culture. Likewise with Kelda, given their shared Calling and the close ties between Dale and the Kingdom Under The Mountain.

I'm using my phone, and can't seem to copy the sheet.

What is the benefit of Favored Skills?

When you test a favored skill you roll two feat dice (the d12) instead of one and keep the best result.

1. How do I determine my character's Strength, Heart, and Wits?
As Áski said--
--does anyone need the list for another Cultures than Dwarves?

4. Rewards & Virtues
The list Áski gave works for all Cultures.
In 2E you get specific Cultural boons when you reach 2 in Wisdom etc.

5. Equipment
• Each Culture gets a choice between two weapons to have at a proficiency of 2, and then chooses another weapon group to have at 1.
i.e for Dwarves:
Axes OR Swords @2 ; your choice of one @1
• Then you can choose weapons that you want for which you have proficiency (one per weapon group w. points in ; you can thus raise a weapon proficiency with your starting XP and get a weapon there) ; and you can take the armor you want (armor, helm, shield...)
• Finally, you can choose some useful items (little things you invent, that give you an advantage [+1d] in a Skill of your choosing.
Make these RP: a Hobbit's great-uncle's monocle to help with Scan or whatever...
You get an amount re. your Standard of Living:
1 for Frugal (Elves/Rangers) ; 2 for Common (Hobbits, Men of Bree) ; 3 for Prosperous (Dwarves, Bardings)

(ILL-)FAVOURED ROLLS
As Galar said re. Favoured rolls.
Ill-favoured rolls see you rolling 2 Feat Dice (d12s) but keeping the worst result.
If you a roll is both Favoured and Ill-Favoured, they cancel one another out (just roll 1d12).

Thanks a lot, Áski, for posting the help and the tables.
Thanks, Galar-- who also added 'Fellowship Focus' to the blank character template.

Can anyone give a short blurb about each skill?

And what are the Favored Skills for each Calling?
This message was last edited by the player at 09:18, Sun 05 Dec 2021.

To answer some questions (Vidar, Thattripletguy...)

1. Choose your Heroic Culture (Barding, Dwarf...)
you will have certain things from that:
• Cultural Blessing (some Boon specific to your 'race', we can give those out as we go)
• determine your Attributes (either by rolling a d6, or choosing) you have the list for Dwarves, and I will see who needs which one for their 'race'
• once you have your Strength, Heart, Wits values, you do [20-VALUE] for each Attribute, and that gives you the TN (Target Number) for each of your three attributes (that can be changed a bit by boons etc.)
This means that w. TN13 in Stength, you need to reach the Target Number of 13 to succeed when rolling for Skills under Strength (the TN cam be modified a bit re. circumstances)
• determine Endurance, Hope, and Parry (Strength value to Endurance, Hope from Heart, Parry from Wits-- but you add specific values for each Culture, we'll see about those too - sorry, just a lot of info' to put up, but we'll get there!)
• check your base Skill ratings (each Culture has different ones ; I'll look into giving those out as we go - if Áski has time to do so for Dwarves?)
• choose your Distinctive Features (each Culture has a few to choose from - Happy, Dour, Tall, Strong, Elusive etc.), mechanically these allow you to be Inspired on a roll. Meaning that if you spend Hope you add 2d instead of 1d.
ie. a Small character trying to Stealth can use Small and thus be Inspired, so when spending Hope for the roll, adds 2d instead of 1.

2. then you choose your Calling (Captain etc.) which gives you some things (a couple favored skills, a specific Distinctive Feature...).

3. then you spend the ten (10) points of Previous Experience.
This is to raise the value of your Skills and/or Combat Proficiency.
To increase a skill value of 0 to 1 costs one point; to increase a skill value of 1 to 2 costs two points; to increase a skill value of 2 to 3 costs three points; to increase a skill value of 3 to 4 costs five points.
Increasing a combat proficiency value costs twice as much (ie. 0 to 1 is 2 points etc.)

4. Valor and Wisdom both start at one (1) and you gain a single Reward and a single Virtue at chargen from the list that was shown.

5. Equipment: as stated above-- you choose some armor, one weapon per proficiency you have, and some useful items of your choice based on your Standard Of Living. For all the rest (clothes, some books/pots etc. that are "useful items" mechanically, you can RP as you wish).

That is the list of Skills.
You have the Columns (Strength, Heart, Wits) which are the Attributes running those Skills (giving them the TN).
Thus Hunting is under Strength (pull that bow, push aside the branches quietly etc.).
And you have the Rows, giving what kind of Skill it is.
ie. for Movement you have Athletics (move with your Strength: climb, jump, run) ; Travel (Heart: meaning sticking to it, going on day after day...) ; Stealth (Wits: figuring out where to put that foot, how to avoid the light...).

Note: re. choosing starting armor, the book says "favoured selection of armour, helms, or shields"-- which Free League has said is a mistake.
You just choose what you want-- but some pieces need you to have a Standard of Living:
Mail-shirt & Shield need Common or higher
Coat of mail & Great-shield require Prosperous

What are the Dwarf distinctive features?

In reply to Vidar son of Flar (msg # 34):

You know-- short, big nose, drunk, Scottish accent, beard...

DWARVES OF DURIN'S FOLK

CULTURAL BLESSING — REDOUBTABLE
Dwarves make light of burdens, especially when it comes to wearing armour.
You halve the Load rating of any armour you’re wear­ ing (rounding fractions up), including helms (but not shields).
Gimli the dwarf alone wore openly a short shirt of steel-rings, for dwarves make light of burdens...

NAUGRIM
Dwarves are shorter than Men, but their work as miners and smiths endows them with powerful arms and shoulders. Yet, they still favour shorter weapons over longer ones.
Dwarven adventurers cannot use the following pieces of war gear: great bow, great spear, and great shield.

DERIVED STATS:
Endurance-- STRENGTH + 22
Hope-- PHEART + 8
Parry-- WITS + 10

COMBAT PROFICIENCIES
Axe OR Swords @ 2
Choose one @ 1

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Choose two Distinctive Features among those listed:
Cunning, Fierce, Lordly, Proud, Secretive, Stern, Wary, Wilful.


This message was last edited by the GM at 14:35, Sun 05 Dec 2021.

In reply to The Loremaster (msg # 36):

Thank you.

What are the specifics for Champion?
This message was last edited by the player at 14:41, Sun 05 Dec 2021.

To the tune of Queen's "We are the...":

Champion
“War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all...”
You deem that there is but one way to oppose the return of the Shadow, and that it is to conquer it by strength of arms. You are recognised as a warrior among your folk, a valiant fighter, onward into battle. For you, the road to adventure leads straight to wherever your foes prowl or hide.
FAVOURED SKILLS
Choose two Skills among ATHLETICS, AWE, and HUNTING and mark them as Favoured.
ADDITIONAL DISTINCTIVE FEATURE: ENEMY-LORE
Enemy-lore is not a single Distinctive Feature; you must select the type of enemies it applies to, choosing from Evil Men, Orcs, Spiders, Trolls, Wargs, and Undead. This Distinctive Feature gives you knowledge of the charac- teristics, habits, strengths, and weaknesses of your cho- sen enemy.
SHADOW PATH: CURSE OF VENGEANCE
Individuals who live by the sword are ever tempted to draw it, either literally or figuratively, when their will is thwarted or when they deem their honour to have been impugned by an insult. As corruption spreads in their spirit, their behaviour worsens, leading to more extreme violent reactions.

Thank you.
Do you get a default rank in the skills you get as Favored?

What are the Captain's specifics?

I will check but I am quite sure you do not get free/extra dots in Favored skills
You can raise them with starting XP or in game if you have 0 in them at the start

I will post Captain stuff asap/later

In reply to Homnir (msg # 40):

Captain
He stood up, and seemed suddenly to grow taller. In his eyes gleamed a light, keen and commanding.
When the world is on the brink of ruin, it is the duty of all individuals of worth to rise and take the lead, whatever the risk. You have chosen to put your judgement to the service of others, to guide them in this dark hour. But you don’t want others to heed your commands out of fear or obedience — you want them to follow you because they trust you.

FAVOURED SKILLS
Choose two Skills among BATTLE, ENHEARTEN, and PERSUADE and mark them as Favoured.

ADDITIONAL DISTINCTIVE
FEATURE: LEADERSHIP
You possess the ability to direct others to action. When under pressure, other people naturally turn to you for guidance.

SHADOW PATH: LURE OF POWER
When individuals are given a position of authority, either by rank, lineage, or stature, they may end up mistaking their own aggrandisement for the greater good of the people they should be guiding or keeping safe. Power is the quintessential temptation, and provides the Shadow with an easy way to win the hearts of those who desire it.

How do we determine starting funds, for equipment, weapons, and armor?

How do we determine starting funds, for equipment, weapons, and armor?
I posted information re. that above.
You get a weapon for each proficiency you have.
Then take whatever armor you want (with some only available to certain Standards of Living).
Then you invent a couple items (how many depending on your Standard of Living).
(see above, re. gear, posts 31 & 33...).

I started working on the sheet and yes, I have lots of troubles, don't get the rules.

Another thing: where is that calculation doc? Did u erase it?

Well, there is at least a first draft.

So, for abilities like strength I roll a 1d6 ?? !!

Sorry, I need help ....

What standard of living do Dwarves get?

In reply to Vidar son of Flar (msg # 46):

Prosperous.

In reply to Mip Tanglefoot (msg # 45):

The doc is still at the same link:
https://docs.google.com/spread...uNM/template/preview

For your Str/Heart/Wits you have 6 different spreads (I think it is 14 points total, with a max' of 7 and min' of 2) and either you choose one, or you roll a d6 if you want fate.
I will see about giving you the Hobbit info'.

In reply to The Loremaster (msg # 48):

And a third breakfast to eat while he reads through it...

In reply to Mip Tanglefoot (msg # 45):

How does Endurance work with Bulk?

In reply to Vidar son of Flar (msg # 51):

When your Endurance drops to your Load or below, you become Weary.

Thanks again, Áski for posting that!

So, here comes a nice breakfast delivery (xD Homnir!):

CULTURAL BLESSING — HOBBIT-SENSE
Hobbits have learned their place in the world a long time ago, and they display a robust capacity for insight that many folks mistake for lack of courage. No visions or wild fantasies can tempt them, as they do not seek power or control over others.
Your WISDOM rolls are Favoured, and you gain (1d) on all Shadow Tests made to resist the effects of Greed.
... they have a fund of wisdom and wise sayings that men have mostly never heard or have forgotten long ago.

HALFLINGS
Due to their reduced size, Hobbits cannot use larger weapons effectively. The weapons available to Hobbits are:
Axe, bow, club, cudgel, dagger, short sword, short spear, spear. Additionally, Hobbits cannot use a great shield.
STANDARD OF LIVING — COMMON
Hobbits live in peace, their land is well-tilled and their borders protected, but theirs is an isolated island in the middle of a desolate region, and trading is an uncommon occurrence.

SKILLS
Copy the listed Skill ranks onto the character sheet; then, choose one Skill among the two underlined and mark it as Favoured.


COMBAT PROF'
Bows OR Swords @2 (and another you choose @1)

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Choose two Distinctive Features among those listed: Eager, Fair-spoken, Faithful, Honourable, Inquisitive, Keen-eyed, Merry, Rustic.

LANGUAGES AND TYPICAL NAMES
Hobbits speak only the Common Speech, preserving the use of a few words and names of their own forgotten tongue.

That helped a lot, thank you all.

Please take a first look on my sheet, thx.


WAIT: now I can spend 10 points on my skills ....??
This message was last edited by the player at 21:29, Mon 06 Dec 2021.

Yep! To increase a skill value of 0 to 1 costs one point; to increase a skill value of 1 to 2 costs two points; to increase a skill value of 2 to 3 costs three points; to increase a skill value of 3 to 4 costs five points. Increasing a combat proficiency value costs twice as much.

In reply to Mip Tanglefoot (msg # 54):

Cutlet Eating is free!

Is everyone okay re. the info' you need for character creation?

I will start reviewing the character sheets, that seem nearly all done.
To start the game going soon (say Saturday).

Normally, by the new 2E book, the players start in an already formed Company (adding details about how their newly-created adventurers met each other), and choose a Safe Haven, Patron etc..

We will be starting with you all meeting at the Fair, doing that IC, and then move on to a first Adventure-- my goal is to have you thus interact in game, get a better sense of what all want, and have the Company be created that way (being brought together by adventure & fate).
And have you then choose your Patron & where you wish your Safe Haven to be.

How does Favored Skill work?

Favoured means you roll two Feat Dice and choose the best
(very powerful, because you move the 11, the Eye of Sauron, away from 1 out of 12 to 1 out 144? I suck at math' and statistics... ; and double your odds of getting a Gandalf).

Ill-favoured is the opposite (2 Feat dice, take the worst).

Excellent.  Thank you.

In reply to The Loremaster (msg # 59):

Just a note: the system/special dice option for TOR uses the default Feat die plus Success dice, which is the same for both editions. I will send an rMail to jase and ask if Favoured and Ill-favoured options can be hard-coded sans too much trouble. (He did the original coding in something like half an hour of my request and explanation.)

I will send an rMail to jase
For the RPOL dice roller? Wow, thanks a lot for that! Great idea.

To go off topic a bit: I use Roll20 for VTT games, and the TOR 2E sheet does not work for dice rolling.
So I found Narvi, a bot for Discord, which works super well for dice rolling (you can roll Favoured, Ill-Favoured, Weary, Enemy rolls where the 11 is 'good' etc.)--
--and it can be linked to Google Doc character sheets and make complex rolls (you just say to attack with your magical axe and it rolls for you). I will look into that later, but it is said to be very good.

Just saying this in case anyone wants to play via VTT with a system w/o a rollable sheet.

(He did the original coding in something like half an hour of my request and explanation.)
Aye, I believe that, Áski's player has high Craft AND high Courtesy!

I started checking character sheets, and will probably do the other half tomorrow, Friday.

One thing: there is NO RUSH for this, at all, since you will all be in Bree for a little bit. But, among your starting gear (p.50) you get to have a pony or a horse.
These you choose according to your Standard of Living, but they then are also pooled as a Company asset (mainly to help carry your belongings. tents, food...).
Mechanically you reduce Travel Fatigue by your beast's vigor, and then the Company can carry Treasure on the animals.

Poor & Frugal get none (ergo being named Strider and not Rider)
Common gets an old horse, or half-starved pony (Vigour 1)
Prosperous gets a decent beast (Vigour 2).
Gotta strike gold and become rich to have a fine beast (or wed a person from Rohan?).

So, for those who did not do so, you can think of what you want and add it (a little pony to carry a pile of sacks, an old horse to carry you...).
Or just wait until you form the Company and move out.

And a little note on buying things etc..
TOR works w. a global idea.
You do not track coins etc..
Instead, your Standard of Living tells what daily/living things you can purchase.

For example: FRUGAL
Frugal folk usually live off the produce of their own lands and pastures. They wear simple clothes at most times, although they may possess finer garments for special gatherings like seasonal festivals, marriages, or funerals. Any jewels and other superior ornaments are treasured as possessions belonging to the community, and are passed down through generations of appointed keepers.
Adventurers coming from a Frugal folk do not usually carry anything of unusual worth (unless as part of their war gear), with the possible exception of one or two pieces of expensive clothing or common jewellery, like a rich mantle or a golden necklace or bracelet; (probably a token of their status among their peers). Consequently, Frugal Player-heroes can rarely afford to pay for anything, and prefer to find or make what they need instead.

So, for a Frugal person, no nights at the Inn under down covers etc..

Common is:
Player-heroes enjoying a Common Standard of Living have enough resources to look after themselves, and to pay for such things as simple accommodation and meals. Ever mindful of the cost of any luxury, they often lead an austere life, or resort to haggling to lower the price of whatever they are trying to get hold of.

Prosperous:
Player-heroes coming from a Prosperous Culture can usually pay for their share of any out-of-pocket expenses encountered along their journey, and might even pay for another member of the Company, if need be. This includes, for example, paying for comfortable accommodation, spend- ing some time drinking in Company at an inn, and hiring beasts of burden.

Three Dwarves and a Barding, with travelling money-- guess who is going to foot the bill?!

Each Standard of Living has a Treasure Rating. If you get enough loot Treasure you can raise your status (60 Treasure to go from Common to Prosperous etc.).

In reply to The Loremaster (msg # 62):

Yeah, jase rocks. And he loves weird little coding challenges (not that this is one of those, but the original required some ingenuity on his part).

And he loves weird little coding challenges
Craft and Riddle rolls!

re. the biography lines (the 2 short lines beside your avatar).
I like what Kelda did:
DF: Fair & Willful
Hope:14, End:25, Load:16
And I might ask you all to use a specific format at one point. Once we've played a bit and see how it best & easiest to track Hope etc. (and what is 'needed' to be tracked - Shadow? etc.).

Okay, have gone over the character sheets and all should be fine (just a dew minor things to tweak) quite soon.
Theorondil will be making his character in a bit as stated.

I aim to start this coming Monday, December 13.
Will keep the opening RP threads, and the Pony up this week-end as the last things are prepped and then move, on Monday, to the next day and the Spring Solstice, with the opening of the Fair and the Nazgul invasion.

LOL, this should be interesting!

de-clawed Nazgul, just for show!

Leave the poor Nazgûl their little claws, I'd rather they were spayed and neutered.

Just FYI, we have:
3 x Dwarves
1 x Barding
1 x Man of Bree
1 x Hobbit of the Shire
2 x Rangers
1 x Elf of Lindon

2 x Messengers
1 x Leader
1 x Champion
1 x Scholar
1 x Treasure Hunter
2 x Wardens
(1 x undecided: champion, treasure hunter, messenger)

IN WAITING:
1 x Man of Bree
1 x Dwarf

(both x undecided)

What are Useful Items?

You create/invent some item you have, that can help you with one specifif skill.

A Hobbit can choose a pair of nice red suspenders to help with Awe.
A Dwarf a pair of fur lined well-made boots to help with Travel.

Cool.  Thank you.  It says that different resource levels get different number of Useful Items.  Is that correct, or are we limiting it to 1?

It varies by Standard of Living.  As you are a Dwarf your Standard of Living is Prosperous, earning you 3 Useful Items.

See mgs 1 Step 4 in this thread: link to a message in this game
This message was last edited by the player at 22:42, Sun 12 Dec 2021.

That's what I saw.  I was just double checking.  Thank you.

Would a small barrel of "Old Toby" be considered a Useful Item?  Perhaps boosting Courtesy of Insight?

In reply to Vidar son of Flar (msg # 77):

Áski carries a pouch of Old Toby as an aid to Insight. Share a pipe with someone, get to know them better.

Yep, makes sense to me

The other two of Áski's three Useful Items: a detailed set of maps (Explore) and Old Mág, a raven companion (Awareness).

In reply to Aski Adisson (msg # 80):

I know old Mag, Vidar feeds her sweetmeats, sometimes on the sly.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:35, Mon 13 Dec 2021.

What do you use Adventure Points for?
Are Skill Points earned spent the same as at character creation?

What do you use Adventure Points for?
Growth - raising your Weapon skills, your Valour & Wisdom.

Are Skill Points earned spent the same as at character creation?
No. I put the chart up in the rules.

XP spending is done in the Fellowship Phase (during the next one, at the end of the first Adventuring Phase).
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:31, Mon 13 Dec 2021.

Thank you.

Are there additional Virtues and Rewards beyond the initial ones? The 1ed, and Adventures in Middle Earth seemed to have culture-specific Virtues and Rewards, and wondering it there's something like that here.

Cultural Virtues become available when a character's Wisdom increases to 2. Cultural Rewards were replaced by the Magical Treasure rules which originally appeared in the first-edition Rivendell supplement.

In reply to Aski Adisson (msg # 86):

Thanks!

I'm taking Well made Gloves as Vidars' third Useful item, to add a bonus to Athletics.  They protect his hands, and aid in gripping.

Good gloves! (and they can help you have better balance when running-- so you do not restrict yourself to one specific part of Athletics).

I moved the posts from Rules here, to not clutter that up.
I left if open to posting for tables and such (like Áski did elsewhere before).
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:47, Mon 13 Dec 2021.

What is the benefit to raising Valour and Wisdom?

In reply to Homnir (msg # 11):

Raising Valour gives you access to more Rewards, and raising Wisdom gives you access to more Virtues. Valour and Wisdom also have other uses in game, such as resisting fear and the influence of the Shadow.

What is the benefit to raising Valour and Wisdom?
As Áski said-- (gets Virtues & Rewards ; helps you better fight the taint of Shadow) and also: they influence social interactions (a high Valor person will impress certain people, a Wise one others).

I used 3 skill points, raised enhearten and scan.

Don't kno what to do with the adventure points, I can't make sense out of the given summary below.

I won't spend adventure points in combat proficiencies but valour & widom.

So ...??

Thx !!

Three Skill Points will not raise any of your Skills. The chart below shows the costs for everything.



Just increasing a Skill from 0 to 1 costs 4 SP. Previous Experience from chargen uses other values.

Can we get a list of Rewards and Virtues that are only available after game start?

• as Áski pointed out (thanks!) you did not use the correct table.. The one for XP spending in game was posted in Rules
• and I posted that XP spending is done in the Fellowship Phase (so, cannot be done during the Adventuring Phase, like you are in now). And that the XP spending will be done during the next one, at the end of the first Adventuring Phase.
So, after the Fair, basically.


Then do that.
Just spend them on Valour & Wisdom. That is what Adventure Points are for.

Yes, we can get something out for people w/o the books.
But I myself will look into other things first-- you will not be spending the XP on Valour/Wisdom until the end of the Fair, so some weeks to get this.

Am well aware it will take time to spend them, but I like to weigh my options beforehand.

I will get around to posting something in a bit, but not want to do some others things first (sorry).

In reply to The Loremaster (msg # 100):

Don't be sorry. I can totally understand if it's not your top priority.

Thanks.
And it is a lot text, so have to whittle it down etc. (I think).

How do I use Distinctive Features?

Distinctive Features
When, before you roll, you decide to use Hope to get a bonus die.
You can call upon your Distinctive Feature to get 2d instead if it fits and makes sense.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:51, Mon 13 Dec 2021.

And at most only 1 Distinctice Feature can apply to any roll, correct?  If I have 2 that seem releated I need to pick one?

In reply to Kelda (msg # 105):

Correct.

Hello all, Merry Holidays to you, as we approach the Winter Solstice IRL, vs. our IG Spring Equinox!

I imagine I will soon move the story on, in a few days probably, having your characters leave Bree & the Fair and start on a more 'adventury' Adventure Phase.

To do so, my idea is to split the PCs into two different Companies.
In order to have smaller more manageable groups (of 4 or 5 PCs, vs. one big group of 9).
If any feel this is not the best idea and would prefer all to remain together, please say so, to see about what to do.

I felt the simplest re. current RP would be to have:
• one Company formed by those who traveled from Erebor and Dale (Áski, Homnir, Vidar, and Kelda - a "Wilderland Company")
• the other Company made up of those from "around" Bree (Aredhel, Galar, Mip, Orodil, Theorondil - an "Eriador Company")
If this composition does not work for someone, again, please speak up.

My goal being to then have each Company set off on their own distinct adventure.
Running two different adventures in parallel (but leaving the posting open for all to read and follow, since information from both will be part of building the greater story).

Then, further down the line, make a common Fellowship Phase, once both Adventures are completed, so the two Companies can meet, and exchange (and even merge, or switch some characters etc. according to where we will be at that stage... hopefully still playing!).

If any have any ideas/thoughts/issues etc. with any of this, I am open to trying to amend things.
My main goal with this being a totally OOC one: having smaller groups (but maybe you prefer not to go thay way).

I like it, a reasonable solution for a large group.

I am good with everything, as long as there is food ....

I'm okay with it!

Whatever is good for you;-).

HOPE
Since this is a Fellowship Phase (even if a brief one, where no XP can be spent) you all recover Hope.
You get back as many Hope points as your Heart score.

If I am correct, most all spent 1 or 2 (Mip spent none, only eating pies! xD) so are at full, and Vidar spent 4 Hope I believe.

So, normally, Vidar would only get 3 Hope back, and thus start the next Adventure with 1 Hope less than his maximum.
Normally the Company also has Fellowship Points that you can use to replenish Hope.

Thus, Vidar (elated at having won the Torch Race!) is also at full Hope.
But it is important to remember these rules to see how about much Hope you can spend vs. what you get back etc..

So, all are at full Endurance, Hope, no Wounds, and some XP waiting for when you get back-- if you get back!

Thanks for playing, all, and please tell me if there are things you do not understand, or dislike... and, Happy Holidays all-- with, a hopefully fun Adventure starting in full after the New Year!

I prefer things to be aboveboard and at facevalue, so, just FYI:
• I imagine Áski's player got upset re. my saying her raven could not speak/understand Common and go spy on people and bring news back etc. (she regretted that 2E did not let you start with the "Raven of the Mountain" Virtue like 1E did, and wanted that ; but though I'm fine w. RP-ing a useful item as a bird, it is still "just" a useful item giving +1 to one Skill). I wrote her a message in her thread about that-- but she never answered and just deleted her character sheet etc., and never answered any of my PMs etc. for a week (but would log into the game 5 to 15 minutes after I sent them) so I figured she was not interested - if she ever contacts me I'll see what to do
• Theorondil said he had to work till the 17th, and needed some time after that, and would be here on the 20th. I imagine that went over by some days. But with him not having been here from the beginning at all, running over his end of work-issue by a week, and my imagining that if he works again he will be off again (and no answers to my PMs) I gave up on him - if he contacts me I'll see what to do
• Pan Ogrin wanted to join, but never made his character, nor did he really follow what was going on (as I asked him to, so as not to have to re-explain all) and didn't answer my PMs for some days so I just passed on him (I'd said I'd try to add him) - also, if he contacts me I'll see what to do

Appreciate your candor. Player attrition is always a factor in pbp games, sadly.

i dont know if you all are on the discord, but if you are friends with either ThatGuy#2029 or WaitingCynicism#2429 that you should block those accounts if so. Those are my accounts, and i fell for for malware so they are compromised. I am in contact with discord trying to regain access to them.

I will keep on moving things along, to prepare for starting in full next week, when all should be back.

There will be two Companies (but I urge people to try to read the adventures of the other Company than their's, at least briefly, to know what is going on for when the two Companies meet again - after their first Adventure - and most probably join?).

Each Company will have a Patron (who brings certain benefits), a Safe Haven (a home base where you, for example, have stored the Treasure you do not need to lug around), a Fellowship Rating (the points you can use to replenish your Hope pool).
And you can have Fellowship Focuses (people you are close to-- for mechanical benefits & certain IG impact).