D&D 5E Anyone ever try a lord of the rings esque campaign?

[TarionzCousin]

Han Solo-Sock
Luke Sockwalker
Chew-socka

It can't be worse than ewoks!

 

[Evenglare]

Half of you understand the point of this topic the other half want a thesis over the deep implications of the human psyche. I just wanted to throw the thought out there, and have fun with it. I appreciate those who played along with my little topic. Thanks.

 

[Hriston]

You could try giving the ring sentience. That way you could role-play it, using its powers in a targeted way to turn the PCs against each other, playing favorites, betraying them, etc.

 

[Riley37]

You could try giving the ring sentience. That way you could role-play it, using its powers in a targeted way to turn the PCs against each other, playing favorites, betraying them, etc.

Oooh. A sentient ring with Charm powers, usable by the wielder, and also by the ring itself. If the wearer crosses the path of someone who's an even better candidate to wear it, then the ring gives that person the Suggestion, "You want that ring. You'd do anything to get that ring."

One clue: the owner tries to use a power, and that ring's daily uses are all gone, because the ring itself has used them up, whoops.

Personality of the ring might be kinda like some of the nasty AI in Shadowrun, or in "Fire upon the Deep" by Vinge. The ring measures its success in terms of how many people are under the control (magical, military, political or economic) of the person wearing the ring.

Alternate version: an enchanter makes nine copies of such a ring. Each ring also makes its wearer vulnerable to being controlled by the enchanter. He figures, wait a few years, see how far they get taking things over, and THEN take direct control over whoever happens to be wearing the rings. However, one of the rings, having come into contact with many minds, develops self-aware autonomy, and does NOT want to be reunited with its creator.

 

[Umbran]

It can't be worse than ewoks!

That's "esocks".

And, now since Disney owns Star Wars and the Muppets, a sock-puppet themed crossover is entirely possible....

 

[TarionzCousin]

The Muppets had a Star Wars show, many years ago. It was a Pigs in Space episode with Luke, Chewbacca, and Darth Gonzo.

 

[Thunderfoot]

The fiction of H.P. Lovecraft may help you describe a PC slowly transforming from human to drow-guahin.

"The One Dark Sock of Cthulhu" ??? There is a disturbing crossover.

 

[Isifth]

Well your wishes are coming true, Cublicle 7 is making a D&D 5e LotRs Game.

www(dot)escapistmagazine(dot)com/news/view/166831-The-One-Rings-Cubicle-7-Entertainment-Is-Making-A-Lord-of-the-Rings-Dungons-and-Dragons-Compatible-RPG

 

[Sunseeker]

Getting back to Tolkien, I don't see any reason to have the ring boost stats. The One Ring doesn't seem to have that effect in the fiction. A simple ring of invisibility is already legendary-caliber in power.

Any legendary item that is made available at the start of the game is going to be supremely tempting to the players.

Specifically, it's the least-useful invisibility ever, because it makes you undetectable to everyone except it's creator and undead minions. Who of course, want to take it back and potentially kill you in the process.

Technically, the ring has some other effects:
Life extension, understanding of the Black Speech, and you're not actually invisible. You're sort of between this reality and in D&D terms, the ethereal plane. It doesn't really imbue the user with any sort of unnatural strength, but a sort of unnatural drive and determination. You don't really need to sleep and you can go without eating and you are typically faster and stronger, but more because of a single-minded focus, than evil empowerment.

The Ring is also quasi-sentient, having a piece of Sauron's power in it, which is what gives it its evil will which is exerts over the bearer and anyone nearby.

Also as Galadriel sort of indirectly states, the Ring has other great power, but requires a powerful entity to use it, which is why she and Gandalf both refuse to touch it or even go near it, because they could use all of it's terrible power. So it might be worth having some additional unlockable powers based on say, character level, and how long one has had to play with the ring.

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The biggest problem I see with The Ring and its associated mechanics is that even if you assign actual mechanical elements to it, you still need to get the players to properly role-play the mental side effects of being around it, using it, and how they use it. Because doing evil with the ring makes it easier for the Ring to corrupt you, while using the Ring for good makes it more difficult, but you get less power from the ring to do so, which is largely why all the Hobbits can do with it is turn invisible. Presumably really powerful and really evil folks could do more; and of course only the Lord of the Ring could use it to its full potential.

 

[BookBarbarian]

... understanding of the Black Speech...

All speech even. It's why Bilbo can understand the Spiders in Mirkwood. I agree that the ring has limited powers for anyone who is wearing it, and greater (and unknown) powers for more powerful wearers.

You could limit it when not attuned, but have more abilities that require attunement. Then add a level requirement for attuning the ring. If you wanted to go crazy you could have the ring's higher abilities vary by the class of the user. I.E. A barbarian with the ring would have different powers than a wizard etc.