Thunderfoot
Hero
5 out of 5 rating for The One Ring Roleplaying Game
UPDATE: I have since noticed that this review is for the Hardcover book - no matter, I have that too. So with the exception that it's one book instead of two and doesn't come with the dice there are no real changes to be made in my commentary except Hardcover - yay!!!! There have been some small updates and additional content added but it is either minuscule in scope (changes) or a value addition (additional content) That it offsets the dice minus, of course the approx $20 drop in price is reflected as well.
So, the first time I cracked open my copy of TOR:RPG I was struck by several things, one - the artwork was phenomenal, two - the feel of the sourcebook was similar to Tolkien's actual works (though a little better laid out), three - this was not like anything I had ever seen before. So with that in mind I'll give this the ole' once over and see if it piques your interest. Layout and Construction: So, the lay out of the books is extremely well handled from the obligatory "This is what an RPG is" to the Appendix I did not feel that anything was out of place. That alone is so radically different from what I'm used to in a manual that it could garner 4 out of 5 stars on its own. The artwork, as stated above, was stunningly simple yet elegantly breathtaking, some of the monsters are far from what I would have imagined, but on reflection were perfect for what Tolkien had described in his texts. The softcover manuals are worrisome to me, because if history serves, these books are in for a short lifespan, however they have released a comprehensive Hardcover, so I won't dock anything from this review, just be forewarned. The nicest touch in the included dice (6d6 and 1d12), which are system specific, which is a nice feature all on its own. Instead of 1 or 6 you have the "Eye of Sauron" and the "Rune of Gandalf" and depending on who is rolling (good or evil) depends on whether each is a 1 or 6 - one die two results, brilliant. The d12 is likewise marked. Content: If J.R.R. Tolkien had been a role-player, I think he would have played this game. The emphasis on storytelling versus mechanics is evident but the mechanics that are required don't interfere with the storytelling and that's a bonus. Either quotes or para-phrased passages from the books pepper the pages and it really goes to tie the system and the game to the stories. Speaking of which, the storyline for the game is set between the "The Hobbit" and the "The Lord of the Rings", but there is some guidance which could allow you to set it far earlier than that. Value: This boxed set comes with a Adventurer's guide, a Loremaster's guide, a set of dice and a full color fold out map of Middle-Earth. It retails for $59.99 (U.S.) and that seems just about perfect. If you are looking to play a game set in the Middle-Earth, this is worth your time and effort to obtain and learn. If you're trying to get the true feel of Tolkien's world, you'll get far more satisfaction from this set than trying to play using another system.
UPDATE: I have since noticed that this review is for the Hardcover book - no matter, I have that too. So with the exception that it's one book instead of two and doesn't come with the dice there are no real changes to be made in my commentary except Hardcover - yay!!!! There have been some small updates and additional content added but it is either minuscule in scope (changes) or a value addition (additional content) That it offsets the dice minus, of course the approx $20 drop in price is reflected as well.
So, the first time I cracked open my copy of TOR:RPG I was struck by several things, one - the artwork was phenomenal, two - the feel of the sourcebook was similar to Tolkien's actual works (though a little better laid out), three - this was not like anything I had ever seen before. So with that in mind I'll give this the ole' once over and see if it piques your interest. Layout and Construction: So, the lay out of the books is extremely well handled from the obligatory "This is what an RPG is" to the Appendix I did not feel that anything was out of place. That alone is so radically different from what I'm used to in a manual that it could garner 4 out of 5 stars on its own. The artwork, as stated above, was stunningly simple yet elegantly breathtaking, some of the monsters are far from what I would have imagined, but on reflection were perfect for what Tolkien had described in his texts. The softcover manuals are worrisome to me, because if history serves, these books are in for a short lifespan, however they have released a comprehensive Hardcover, so I won't dock anything from this review, just be forewarned. The nicest touch in the included dice (6d6 and 1d12), which are system specific, which is a nice feature all on its own. Instead of 1 or 6 you have the "Eye of Sauron" and the "Rune of Gandalf" and depending on who is rolling (good or evil) depends on whether each is a 1 or 6 - one die two results, brilliant. The d12 is likewise marked. Content: If J.R.R. Tolkien had been a role-player, I think he would have played this game. The emphasis on storytelling versus mechanics is evident but the mechanics that are required don't interfere with the storytelling and that's a bonus. Either quotes or para-phrased passages from the books pepper the pages and it really goes to tie the system and the game to the stories. Speaking of which, the storyline for the game is set between the "The Hobbit" and the "The Lord of the Rings", but there is some guidance which could allow you to set it far earlier than that. Value: This boxed set comes with a Adventurer's guide, a Loremaster's guide, a set of dice and a full color fold out map of Middle-Earth. It retails for $59.99 (U.S.) and that seems just about perfect. If you are looking to play a game set in the Middle-Earth, this is worth your time and effort to obtain and learn. If you're trying to get the true feel of Tolkien's world, you'll get far more satisfaction from this set than trying to play using another system.
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