Decipher's LotR RPG Supported Again!!

[ColonelHardisson]

I like how they cite their wining of the Origins award for best new RPG as anything other than glaring evidence of the complete corruption of the Origins award system.

If there was ever an RPG that did NOT in any way shape or form deserve that reward, it was that game.. a crippled setting,

I'm not sure what you mean by "a crippled setting," unless you're referring to how Decipher couldn't use the Silmarillion as a source. What Tolkien wrote in the LotR trilogy itself presented more info on the setting than most RPG worlds ever get. The designers made the most of the info in the book, as well as the appendices, which are nothing to sneeze at.

a complete hack-job of editing that requires erratta a mile long,

That's an exaggeration. I read and GMed the game, and gave the rules a workout. Yeah, there were some errata issues, but I've seen and played plenty of games with even worse problems. The errata presented online helped alleviate most of the problems.

and an unimaginative system.

It didn't seem any more unimaginative than any number of games already out there. Still, I do agree with you to an extent on this. The game really does play, as I said above, like "d20 Lite," which isnt necessarily bad, but does make me wonder why they didn't just go the d20 or OGL route and tap into that large pool of potential customers. I don't think every game should be d20/OGL, but this one is so similar to d20, I can't help but wonder.

Not to mention quite possibly the most ignorant marketing strategy since the White Star Ocean Liner company decided to "just say no" to iceberg-proof hulls.

Nisarg

The fact they dithered over continuing support until long after the movies had left theaters, and the hype over them going to DVD had started to fade, seems puzzling, to put it mildly. With as long as MERP existed, and the number of supplements released for it, I wonder how successful Decipher's game could have been had it been supported just as vigorously.

 

[VorpalBunny]

I'm not sure what you mean by "a crippled setting," unless you're referring to how Decipher couldn't use the Silmarillion as a source. What Tolkien wrote in the LotR trilogy itself presented more info on the setting than most RPG worlds ever get. The designers made the most of the info in the book, as well as the appendices, which are nothing to sneeze at.

Agreed. There's enough material in the LotR trilogy and its appendices to run a very looong campaign. It should be noted that the license Decipher was offered only covered the Trilogy and its appendices - which was the same license offered to ICE. Decipher just isn't taking as many liberties with it apparently.

The game really does play, as I said above, like "d20 Lite," which isnt necessarily bad, but does make me wonder why they didn't just go the d20 or OGL route and tap into that large pool of potential customers. I don't think every game should be d20/OGL, but this one is so similar to d20, I can't help but wonder.

I disagree. CODA may seem like "d20-lite" on the surface, but it really isn't. The systems share a common resolution mechanic and the idea of character classes. That's about it. As you know, CODA is a 2d6 skill-based, level-less (advancements are NOT levels), hit point-less system. VERY different from d20. I don't think a d20 version of Middle-Earth could capture the feeling of the setting as well as CODA. An OGL version might, but it would have to be a totally re-tooled system, similiar to what Mongoose did with the CONAN RPG.

 

[Pramas]

I like how they cite their wining of the Origins award for best new RPG as anything other than glaring evidence of the complete corruption of the Origins award system.

If there was ever an RPG that did NOT in any way shape or form deserve that reward, it was that game.. a crippled setting, a complete hack-job of editing that requires erratta a mile long, and an unimaginative system. Not to mention quite possibly the most ignorant marketing strategy since the White Star Ocean Liner company decided to "just say no" to iceberg-proof hulls.

You might have liked the winner more if the awards had actually been corrupt. Green Ronin's general manager was on the GAMA Board of Directors at the time. Nonetheless, Mutants & Masterminds still lost to the Lord of the Rings RPG. Or, as I prefer to think of it, lost to JRR Tolkien.

 

[Ranger REG]

I disagree. CODA may seem like "d20-lite" on the surface, but it really isn't. The systems share a common resolution mechanic and the idea of character classes. That's about it. As you know, CODA is a 2d6 skill-based, level-less (advancements are NOT levels), hit point-less system. VERY different from d20. I don't think a d20 version of Middle-Earth could capture the feeling of the setting as well as CODA. An OGL version might, but it would have to be a totally re-tooled system, similiar to what Mongoose did with the CONAN RPG.

That depends. What mechanics in d20 would be detrimental for a Middle-Earth type game?

 

[Starman]

You might have liked the winner more if the awards had actually been corrupt. Green Ronin's general manager was on the GAMA Board of Directors at the time. Nonetheless, Mutants & Masterminds still lost to the Lord of the Rings RPG. Or, as I prefer to think of it, lost to JRR Tolkien.

Which is a shame. As much as I like CODA LotR, I think M&M is brilliant. It has excellent mechanics, flavor, and production. It deserved the award.

Starman

 

[VorpalBunny]

That depends. What mechanics in d20 would be detrimental for a Middle-Earth type game?

I don't think that d20 system mechanics would be "detrimental" to a Middle-Earth game (and I never said they would be), but "D&D" ported over to Tolkien's world woudn't capture the setting as well as a system designed or re-tooled to that world.

For example, in Middle-Earth magic is subtle. There aren't Wizards and Wizard-wanna-be's slinging spells at each other on evey street corner, hell according to the books there are only 5 Wizards in ME, a BIG change from D&D. Likewise magical healing - which is something that should be incredibly rare, and probably only done by elves (most likely the Noldor) again a big change from D&D.

Edit: Hey! My thousandth post! GO me!

 

[Ranger REG]

I don't think that d20 system mechanics would be "detrimental" to a Middle-Earth game (and I never said they would be), but "D&D" ported over to Tolkien's world woudn't capture the setting as well as a system designed or re-tooled to that world.

For example, in Middle-Earth magic is subtle. There aren't Wizards and Wizard-wanna-be's slinging spells at each other on evey street corner, hell according to the books there are only 5 Wizards in ME, a BIG change from D&D. Likewise magical healing - which is something that should be incredibly rare, and probably only done by elves (most likely the Noldor) again a big change from D&D.

Edit: Hey! My thousandth post! GO me!

That's it? I mean, I agree with you on the D&D magic system, but is that it?

I was expecting a whole list of problems.

 

[qstor]

This is good news!! yeah

Mike

 

[ecliptic]

That's it? I mean, I agree with you on the D&D magic system, but is that it?

I was expecting a whole list of problems.

Oh theres all kinds like him over in Decipher's forums. Anytime you talk about D20, they always bring up D&D.

Anyway, I won't be picking it up. No OGL or D20? No thanks.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

Personally the only LOTR game that really felt like LOTR to me was MERP by Iron Crown Enterprises. It used a lite version of Rolemaster and had a good gritty feel due to the nasty crit charts. I still have a copy and am kicking around the idea of using the system for a Midnight campaign.