4E a good system base for a Tolkein RPG?

[mmadsen]

4e's elves and eladrin model Tolkien's elves really well, much more than they did in previous editions.

I missed the part where Tolkien's high elves teleported.

 

[pawsplay]

I agree with this, and 4e has no straightforward way to handle it. Certain Leader powers could be read in this sort of fashion, but it would be "loyalty to the party", not "loyalty to particular individual".

Maybe Sam is actually one of Frodo's powers.

 

[vagabundo]

I missed the part where Tolkien's high elves teleported.

I'd replace it with the ability to glow...

 

[apoptosis]

There are possibly 2 questions that are being asked and the answer depends on which questions...

Question 1. "I really like 4E and I like LoTR. Can I do a LoTR campaign with 4E?"

IMO the answer to this is YES (of course many FPRGs can do this, though some would really have some issues with it). You might have to monkey with some rules to make it more suitable but you can definitely play an LoTR campaign with 4E

Question 2. "I want to do a LoTR campaign, is 4E a good system to do LoTR?"

This question is more of a question of relative to other systems that exist is 4E a good system to run LoTR. I would answer this question with a definite NO. It is really not designed to emulate LoTR in theme, mood, mechanics etc. Now most FRPGs are not well suited for an LoTR-themed game, so games that is I would consider good for LoTR would be a small list.

Most games would probably require some additional mods to the rules.

I think BW is probably the best game to do an LOTR type of campaign, though you would remove the standard sorcery and maybe just use the Spirit Binding abilities (much more subtle powers).

The base TSOY rules could adapt to LoTR pretty well but that is mostly due to it being pretty rules-lite and very easy to add LoTR specific abilities to.

MERP has the setting down well but the mechanics dont really drive the themes of LoTR.

There are probably more but I am at work and dont have time to ponder more of them.

 

[pemerton]

Maybe Sam is actually one of Frodo's powers.

Good idea.