Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
Do either of you really think you are going to get the other person to change their opinions about the different editions of the game?
Which Middle Earth RPG?
Bill Zebub
“It’s probably Matt Mercer’s fault.”
SOMEBODY ON THE INTERNET IS WRONG!
Aldarc
Legend
There is little point in you arguing with someone to prove that it's you.
John R Davis
Hero
I have played a lot of all the ME games.
The 2nd TOR books are very beautiful and very easy to understand and use, but having played two campaigns it's missing something. PCs sit somewhere between the novels and the films.
The 1st TOR books are ugly to read and i disliked the artwork. The game felt more like the novels and slightly more risk to the PCs.
1st AIME we really did not get on with. I'm not sure why
Decipher LOTR RPG is also messy to understand, some rules are very odd but once you get into the swing it is very like the films ( the PCs are mighty).
MERP as a system is very good but doesn't really fit middle earth, too much PC magic. Some of the maps are great and the modules full of info and ideas.
That probably does not help!
The 2nd TOR books are very beautiful and very easy to understand and use, but having played two campaigns it's missing something. PCs sit somewhere between the novels and the films.
The 1st TOR books are ugly to read and i disliked the artwork. The game felt more like the novels and slightly more risk to the PCs.
1st AIME we really did not get on with. I'm not sure why
Decipher LOTR RPG is also messy to understand, some rules are very odd but once you get into the swing it is very like the films ( the PCs are mighty).
MERP as a system is very good but doesn't really fit middle earth, too much PC magic. Some of the maps are great and the modules full of info and ideas.
That probably does not help!
damiller
Adventurer
I doing what doesn't usually happen on threads like these:
Being interested in what another person thinks.
jdrakeh
Front Range Warlock
All opinions are welcome! I own a LOT of the old MERP setting modules and they're absolutely top notch. Good for use with any Middle Earth game, really.
In that case, I'll link to my thread about set-up and actual play of LotR/MERP-ish using Cortex+ Heroic Fantasy (adapted from MHRP): https://www.enworld.org/threads/middle-earth-lotr-rpging-using-cortex-heroic.670013/
aramis erak
Legend
You're missing several Middle Earth games.
MEAG being the most obvious, a fan retro of ICE's Lord of the Rings Adventure Game, which also isn't in your list.
Midnight
Against The Dark Lord (a pseudoclone of MERP.)
the current C7 Lord of the Rings RPG.
Decipher LotR is easier to grok by learning Decipher's Trek first....same system, slightly better presentation.
I'll note also: MERP is an excellent game - Rolemaster Lite - and very fun... but I agree it's very wrong for Middle Earth.
teitan
Legend
MERP is great! Angus McBride covers, the sourcebooks were great. It was a playable, if very D&D-esque, Middle Earth game. Just not Tolkien's flavor of Middle Earth. Very gameable.
teitan
Legend
That was Adventures in Middle Earth and it is no longer in print. It has been replaced with Free League's Lord of the Rings Roleplaying. C7 no longer has a LOTR/ME license. Same development team though.
