Campaign Setting Discussion: LOTR/Middle Earth [Archive] - Wizards Community

Campaign Setting Discussion: LOTR/Middle Earth [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
robtheman74
01-11-08, 08:20 PM Hey all,

I've given a little thought to running a campaign set in the world of Middle Earth, using D20 rules. I have a fair grasp of the world itself, and would plan to have the character group become involved in the events of the 3rd age, the War of the Ring, you know, the stuff depicted in the movies.

What I would like to open discussion about are the differences/changes to races/classes/magic that would be required to give the setting the proper feel.

I would like suggestions on how things like the sub-species of elves differ, and what role the wizard's staff plays into his power.
deanruel
01-12-08, 01:46 AM Not that I would be displeased to discuss the subject here but I think you would get a great deal more information from looking under the Redgars Repository article about the same thing. It may be a page back or two (at most) but it's quite lengthy and there was a lot of conversation on the matter.
taradusis
01-12-08, 09:30 AM www.rpgnow.com still sells MERP(middle earth role playing). Why not pick up that game system,it has maps,gazetters and is approved by the Tolkien estate. They also sell mini's for it (made by Citadel Miniatures). Just a thought,it would save you a lot of design time.
Candide
01-12-08, 12:58 PM The problem with a LotR game is that, well, you can watch the movies. Every once in awhile someone brings up the idea of doing a D&D campaign set in the classic books. You know what the outcome will be, and who the major players are. I don't think its possible for a gaming group to capture the feel that the books have.

With all that said, there is a d6 roleplaying Middle-Earth game. It came out when the movies did. Though its not d20 its still a jumping off point.
robtheman74
01-13-08, 12:43 PM The problem with a LotR game is that, well, you can watch the movies. Every once in awhile someone brings up the idea of doing a D&D campaign set in the classic books. You know what the outcome will be, and who the major players are. I don't think its possible for a gaming group to capture the feel that the books have.

Folks seem to play star wars just fine. Major players, outcome known, same thing.

It would just be another D&D setting, with like, four different ages to choose from. Once could include the players in the events of the movies, behind the scenes, or create another scenario, either before or after the events depicted in the books/films.
Candide
01-14-08, 12:52 AM Star Wars is all well and good, but if you play it, do you ever want to be Luke or Han? I don't. I want to have my own different story perhaps with the other movie stuff set in the background.

What I meant with my previous comment is that it sounds like you wanted the players to be the fellowship. I know some people may like that, but it just feels boring most of the time.

There are conversion sites out there. www.enworld.org used to have a link to such a site. Perhaps they still do.
Forger_of_Fate
01-15-08, 10:19 PM I would love to help you set up a campaign based on LOTR, just PM me for anything on Middle Earth, since im a big fan. I would also like to ask if you want to just do a third age, war of the ring campaign or, do some first age and second age as well. As i said, i would love to help.
Forger_of_Fate
01-15-08, 10:27 PM The problem with a LotR game is that, well, you can watch the movies. Every once in awhile someone brings up the idea of doing a D&D campaign set in the classic books. You know what the outcome will be, and who the major players are. I don't think its possible for a gaming group to capture the feel that the books have.

That is correct for a third age setting, but for a first or second age setting, you would have to do a fair amount of fairly complex reading, as well as spend quite a bit of money and time searching and buying the books, if you havent already. And personaly, i would prefer a pre third age, campaign :P
Kelmourne
01-20-08, 02:56 PM What era of middle-earth are you talking about? Because if you are playing during the war of the ring, the only significant people in that era are already characters from the books and movies. I would suggest something like the War of the Jewels, set it in Beleriand.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
robtheman74 01-11-08, 08:20 PM	Hey all, I've given a little thought to running a campaign set in the world of Middle Earth, using D20 rules. I have a fair grasp of the world itself, and would plan to have the character group become involved in the events of the 3rd age, the War of the Ring, you know, the stuff depicted in the movies. What I would like to open discussion about are the differences/changes to races/classes/magic that would be required to give the setting the proper feel. I would like suggestions on how things like the sub-species of elves differ, and what role the wizard's staff plays into his power.
deanruel 01-12-08, 01:46 AM	Not that I would be displeased to discuss the subject here but I think you would get a great deal more information from looking under the Redgars Repository article about the same thing. It may be a page back or two (at most) but it's quite lengthy and there was a lot of conversation on the matter.
taradusis 01-12-08, 09:30 AM	www.rpgnow.com still sells MERP(middle earth role playing). Why not pick up that game system,it has maps,gazetters and is approved by the Tolkien estate. They also sell mini's for it (made by Citadel Miniatures). Just a thought,it would save you a lot of design time.
Candide 01-12-08, 12:58 PM	The problem with a LotR game is that, well, you can watch the movies. Every once in awhile someone brings up the idea of doing a D&D campaign set in the classic books. You know what the outcome will be, and who the major players are. I don't think its possible for a gaming group to capture the feel that the books have. With all that said, there is a d6 roleplaying Middle-Earth game. It came out when the movies did. Though its not d20 its still a jumping off point.
robtheman74 01-13-08, 12:43 PM	The problem with a LotR game is that, well, you can watch the movies. Every once in awhile someone brings up the idea of doing a D&D campaign set in the classic books. You know what the outcome will be, and who the major players are. I don't think its possible for a gaming group to capture the feel that the books have. Folks seem to play star wars just fine. Major players, outcome known, same thing. It would just be another D&D setting, with like, four different ages to choose from. Once could include the players in the events of the movies, behind the scenes, or create another scenario, either before or after the events depicted in the books/films.
Candide 01-14-08, 12:52 AM	Star Wars is all well and good, but if you play it, do you ever want to be Luke or Han? I don't. I want to have my own different story perhaps with the other movie stuff set in the background. What I meant with my previous comment is that it sounds like you wanted the players to be the fellowship. I know some people may like that, but it just feels boring most of the time. There are conversion sites out there. www.enworld.org used to have a link to such a site. Perhaps they still do.
Forger_of_Fate 01-15-08, 10:19 PM	I would love to help you set up a campaign based on LOTR, just PM me for anything on Middle Earth, since im a big fan. I would also like to ask if you want to just do a third age, war of the ring campaign or, do some first age and second age as well. As i said, i would love to help.
Forger_of_Fate 01-15-08, 10:27 PM	The problem with a LotR game is that, well, you can watch the movies. Every once in awhile someone brings up the idea of doing a D&D campaign set in the classic books. You know what the outcome will be, and who the major players are. I don't think its possible for a gaming group to capture the feel that the books have. That is correct for a third age setting, but for a first or second age setting, you would have to do a fair amount of fairly complex reading, as well as spend quite a bit of money and time searching and buying the books, if you havent already. And personaly, i would prefer a pre third age, campaign :P
Kelmourne 01-20-08, 02:56 PM	What era of middle-earth are you talking about? Because if you are playing during the war of the ring, the only significant people in that era are already characters from the books and movies. I would suggest something like the War of the Jewels, set it in Beleriand.