The One Ring/Adventures in Middle-earth License Goes to Free League

Swedish company Free League has announced that it has taken over the license for Tolkien-based RPGs The One Ring and Adventures in Middle Earth!

Up until recently, Cubicle 7 was the publisher of Adventures in Middle Earth and The One Ring. AiME is the D&D-5E based version, while The One Ring is its own system. The press release says they will be doing both.

Free League (Fria Ligan) are ENnie Award winners and the publisher of popular d6 games like Tales from the Loop and Alien. Here's the press release:

Free League Signs Deal to Publish RPGs in Tolkien's Middle-Earth

Free League Publishing today announced a partnership with Sophisticated Games to publish tabletop roleplaying games set in Middle-earth and based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien. Francesco Nepitello, author of the game series alongside Marco Maggi, will continue as its lead designer.

"We are thrilled to be working with Sophisticated Games and Francesco Nepitello to bring to life a new edition of The One Ring and its 5E iteration. We grew up with J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic works and we're huge fans of the original version of the game. We have a very similar approach to game design as Francesco and we're convinced that we can create something truly special together," Free League’s CEO Tomas Härenstam says.

“Free League shares all our values. Values which are vital in interpreting the most extraordinary fantasy world ever created, one that is of enduring interest throughout the world in every language. Working with Free League’s highly talented team we look forward to continuing the work we began a decade ago, with publication of The One Ring," says Sophisticated Games’s MD Robert Hyde.

The agreement will go into effect from June 1, 2020. Products and release dates will be announced at a later time.

Fria Ligan | News

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[aramis erak]

Believe you me, everybody is more powerful than a level 1 AD&D Wizard

A first level AD&D wizard can kill 2-3 normal people a day with one spell, or subdue 4-20... we don't see anything in Hobbit or LOTR of similar potency from most in those novels. Having found the Silmarillion unreadably dull, and by comparison to Unfinished Tales, I can only judge by what I've read... and note that D&D/AD&D wizards are able to kill directly with magic (magic missile doing 1d4+1 or 1d6+1 per missile, and joe normal being either 1d4 or a fixed HPT under 4...)... something we do not see in LOTR nor the Hobbit. We do see Saruman trap Gandalf... but we don't see Gandalf kill with a word and gesture.

The AD&D wizard at level 1 is a common man hit-wise, but can kill any one 0-level human with a single spell... or probably kill 3 common men.

 

[Fenris-77]

Believe you me, everybody is more powerful than a level 1 AD&D Wizard

A 1st level AD&D Wizard would get capped by a couple of toddlers who wanted their blocks back. It's a sad state of affairs.

 

[aramis erak]

A 1st level AD&D Wizard would get capped by a couple of toddlers who wanted their blocks back. It's a sad state of affairs.

Given that level 0 non-warriors tend to have the same 1-4 range of hitpoints, no, they're not that weak. It's just that AD&D is a game of medievalish Super Heroes.

 

[Ampolitor]

so I just hope they continue with what has already been put out and not another new rules system, that would suck, I just want the Moria boxed set already!

 

[CapnZapp]

so I just hope they continue with what has already been put out and not another new rules system, that would suck, I just want the Moria boxed set already!

It will be a second edition of The One Ring.

 

[aramis erak]

It will be a second edition of The One Ring.

If they keep the changes already announced, it's going to have a few fundamental changes in the task mechanics.
Amongst the changes announced:

• 1E – TN 14 or, optionally, by difficulty of action
  2E – TN18-Att (TN 18-Favored Att for Favored skills)
• 1E: Spending hope adds attribute to roll (Favored Att if Favored Skill)
  2E: spending hope adds "hope bonus" to roll; derivation not specified but wording implies not attribute derived, and it's one score regardless of attribute.
• 1E – Hope and Endurance varies by Culture
  2E – Hope and Endurance figured by uniform process from attributes.
• Shadow - 2E adds a weakness, which adds an extra point if it's the reason for shadow gain.
• Fatigue on journeys
  1E: from failed travel rolls
  2E: from distance and terrains travelled.
• Tolerance
  1E: not really clearly laid out for scope - Per bargaining session? Per Town? (I've used it both ways in the same town! It's a great GM tool for "Stick to what you need" for town.)
  2: Only for "Councils"

So, compatible? Not really. Easily converted on the fly? Yes. The relative value of attributes is strongly altered, and the expectations of Hope and Endurance are quite different. The "always exhausted Dwarf" in plate with a greataxe, armored like a tank, possibly with 6d armor from Armor Mastery, and Axe 3 at start who wades into close and becomes an out-door abattoir...

I think it good that C7 was planning the name change to LOTR... as the tone is significantly different. But we shall have to see if FL and FN decide to keep all those. I know I'll be using the new TN's next time I run TOR. And it will make CharGen choices matter more.

 

[CapnZapp]

If they keep the changes already announced, it's going to have a few fundamental changes in the task mechanics.

Since it is a new edition and not a reprint, "a few fundamental changes" is not only unwelcome, but entirely expected.

My point, I guess, is that me saying "It will be a new edition" already answers Ampolitor's hope "they continue with what has already been put out and not another new rules system".

Since it's a new edition (and not a new game) it will be much but not all of what he hopes. For one thing, a new edition means a "reset" on published materials (beginning anew with a rulebook and so on), meaning a particular product (such as Moria) is likely more distant in time than if the current edition had just... proceeded.

But there is no reason to expect a new edition to be entirely incompatible with existing materials. (It happens but we have no indication of any plans in this direction here)

 

[BookBarbarian]

Late to the party again but to say that Gandalf is a 5th level magic user because he only displays spells that a 5th level magic user is a terrible leap in logic. 5th level magic user don't solo Balors.

But Gandalf clearly wasn't built using PC rules. In 5e he'd be CR 16 Planetar or at least a CR 10 Deva with innate spellcasting and an appropriate spell list, a legendary magic ring, and one of the sweetest longswords ever forged. The text also seem to indicate his staff held some power too (at least he took great care to take possession of Saruman's staff after breaking it with a verbal command)

 

[Stefano Rinaldelli]

The text also seem to indicate his staff held some power too (at least he took great care to take possession of Saruman's staff after breaking it with a verbal command)

We will discover that Gandalf is a Lich with perpetual illusion around him and the staff is his philactery!

 

[the_malbeth]

Since Nepitello created The One Ring rules from the ground up & preferred it and he is going to Free League and Sophisticated Games are in agreement with Free League; is it possible Cubicle 7 wanted to prioritize the 5E based Adventures in Middle Earth instead but that Sophisticated Games did not? Will Free League be producing the 5E version as well?