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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Belegbeth" data-source="post: 1412400" data-attributes="member: 17228">Tolkien misc.A very interesting and cool thread!   <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f60e.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":cool:" title="Cool    :cool:"  data-smilie="6"data-shortname=":cool:" /> However, some of the things you stated in your campaign posts surprised me, Errant.  In particular:a. "Once [magic was] a gift only seen among the immortal Valar."This does is not correct.  The Elves obviously had magical abilities, though they did not see them as such (Elrond, Luthien, Galadriel, etc.).  Many of the Dunedain also appear to have had 'magical' abilities.  In particular, some Dunedain had gifts of foresight and healing.  One of the Northern Dunedain, Malbeth the Seer, foretold that Arvedui would be the last king of Arthedain; he also foresaw the events concerning the heir of Elendil and the Paths of the Dead.  In the Second Age, some Numenoreans could call their steeds by thought alone.  Elves, Dunedain, and Dwarves could all craft magic items -- the blade that slew the Witch King was crafted by the Dunedain of Arthedain.  The Dwarves also had special abilities with respect to runes, and *The Hobbit* mentions magic toys (!) of Dwarvish creation.  I am sure that there are other examples of non-Valar magical abilities (like Beorn's abilities).And there is, of course, this famous quote:"I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves or Men or Orcs, that was ever created for such a purpose.  I can still remember ten score of them ..." (Gandalf, TFotR, outside Moria)  Hmmm ... 200 knock spells?   <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> b.  You claim that the Witch King vanished for 200 years after his defeat in T.A. 1975.  I am afraid that this is also not correct -- he reappeared only 25 years later, capturing Minas Ithil (which subsequenty became known as Minas Morgul).  And he slew the last king of Gondor 50 years later.With respect to some of the other things mentioned in this thread:1.  The Mouth of Sauron would very likely still be alive in F.A. 100, if he survived the War of the Ring.  According to Robert Foster's *Guide to Middle-Earth*, the Mouth of Sauron was a Black Numenorean who "became a great sorcerer, which is how he preserved his life for thousands of years."  Thousands!  Unlike the Nazgul, the Mouth of Sauron had no ring of power.  So unless his sorcerous powers were somehow tied to Sauron in some other way, there is not reason to think that he would have "croaked" from old age by 100 F.A.2.  Shelob was wounded by Samwise -- there is no reason to think that she necessarily died.  So she might still be haunting Cirith Ungol!  A nice Middle-earth dungeon crawl: cleanse Cirith Ungol!3.  I think Steveroo mentioned that Cirdan left the Grey Havens at some point prior to 100 F.A.   This is not correct.  Cirdan remained in Middle-earth, serving with his wisdom and his ships, until the sailing of the last white ship sometime well into the Fourth Age.  He would probably be the most powerful Eldar lord in Middle-earth in 100 F.A.4.  I think Steveroo also mentioned that Legolas went to Aglarond with Gimli's people.  I am afraid that this too is not correct: Legolas settled in Ithilien with some of his folk from Greenwood in order to assist in the healing of that land.  So there would be an Elven colony in Ithilien -- very close to Minas Tirith -- in 100 F.A.5.   The breed of trolls known as the "Olog-Hai" (Black Trolls) did not turn into stone in the sunlight.  They were also very cunning.  Hence they would make formidable foes in a 100 F.A. campaign.6.  The orcs might be down, but they are definitely not out.  They breed like vermin.  Though the passes of the Misty Mountains might be safe in the early Fourth Age, I would expect the orcish tribes to be regrouping in Mount Gundabad and/or the Grey Mountains.Some other campaign possibilities to think about:I.  The last son of Feanor, Maglor, may still be alive.  There is not tale of his passing.  It is simply said that, after throwing the last Silmaril into the sea when it burned his hand, he wandered the lands of Middle-earth singing in pain and regret.  His return would make for a *very* interesting campaign possibility.   <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> II. Tolkien's unfinished story entitled "The New Shadow" can be found in *The Peoples of Middle-Earth* (Vol. 12 of the History of Middle-earth).  Though it is only about 13 pages long, it is very very cool!   <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f60e.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":cool:" title="Cool    :cool:"  data-smilie="6"data-shortname=":cool:" />   It is set a little later than your campaign, Errant, shortly after the death of King Elessar.  But it captures the mood of a new sinister force within the Reunited Kingdom.  Worth the price of the book alone, I think.As for RULES...I agree with Afgncap and Remathilis that the Generic Classes from AU are probably appropriate for a Middle-Earth campaign (though I would at least improve the Expert -- e.g. give him a d8 HD and 8 skill points).  I also think that Defense Bonuses might be appropriate, given that Middle-earth is a 'rare armour' world (no plate mail, etc.).Even if you use the Generic Classes, though, I would keep a FEW standard classes as well, but restrict them to certain kinds of characters.  Or perhaps treat them as restricted prestige classes.  For example, I would limit Rangers to Dunedain and Elves, and Bards to Elves.  (For a very nice variant on the Bard class, check out Monte Cook's *Complete Book of Eldritch Might*.  Such a Bard would be great for Tolkien Elves.)You should definitely throw out at least a third of the spells in the PH for a Middle-earth campaign as well.  Check out the ENWorld ME site for some suggestions on this.I would treat pure Dunedain as half-elves, but replace the "low light vision" ability with the extra skill points that humans get.  Dwarves and Hobbits can (more or less) remain unchained.  Well, this thread has really got me thinking about good old Middle-Earth again ...  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /></blockquote>

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