How to describe Strider's combat on Weathertop

[ColonelHardisson]

The thing is, though, that Aragorn is the absolute best at what he does, according to Tolkien. Well, the best Man, at least. If you made it an ability, you'd have to take that into account. It wouldn't be an ability that was available to every Ranger - this is why I cited the Epic Level book.

I'm a big proponent of interpreting things in Lord of the Rings as indicating a fairly high amount of magic. It just seemed in this case that what Aragorn was doing was more like an epic use of the Wilderness Lore/Listen skills as applied tom the Track feat. Epic level skill bonuses can seem magical, and, in a sense, I guess they'd have to be. Take the character with high enough bonuses to his Balance score that could balance on a cloud - seems magical, sure; perhaps when someone gets that good at something, he's basically supernaturally good at it. I'd say look at the skill, look at the passage quoted, and see if it simply is a use of that skill with a very high - perhaps epic level - DC set to it. It would help negate the addition of another ability that could well be simulated using an already existing game mechanic.

 

[ReignofGeekaos]

Ahhhh cay see I was thinking that some of the Ranger Stuff he does throughout the books, would make interesting Class Abilities for The 3E RANGER, who honestly needs a few cool tricks to beef him up. Was why I was hoping it could be translated, I understand your point, and believe me I get it.

I'm just saying that the Ranger as it is needs a few more toys.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I guess my point is that since he really doesn't do anything that can't be accounted for by way of looking at actual, existing game mechanics, the D&D ranger simulates the LotR ranger rather well. The only things he does that aren't 3e ranger-like is his healing abilities, which is more a result of his heritage, and can be simulated by multiclassing as a paladin.

Maybe you could provide some more examples of things he does that aren't covered by the ranger class?

 

[Sulimo]

I guess my point is that since he really doesn't do anything that can't be accounted for by way of looking at actual, existing game mechanics, the D&D ranger simulates the LotR ranger rather well. The only things he does that aren't 3e ranger-like is his healing abilities, which is more a result of his heritage, and can be simulated by multiclassing as a paladin.

Maybe you could provide some more examples of things he does that aren't covered by the ranger class?

With the 3e ranger, the class continues to step away from the shadow of Aragorn. You should have a look at the 1e Ranger, which had things like the ability to use scrying devices (Palantir) as well as healing spells. Off course I have no odea where the bonuses vs giants was inspired from.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I'm very familiar with the 1e ranger; I played one several times back in the day. However, Aragorn's use of the palantir was more about his heritage as heir to the Dunadan kings, not his profession. And, as it says in the books, "the hands of the king are the hands of a healer." Not "the hands of a Ranger." Aragorn was much more than the typical Ranger, even in Tolkien's view.

 

[myrdden]

..., as it says in the books, "the hands of the king are the hands of a healer." Not "the hands of a Ranger." Aragorn was much more than the typical Ranger, even in Tolkien's view.

Wasn't his healing power from the Elfstone though? I had always thought his returning with that green gem was one of the symbols of the return of the king of Gondor.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Myrdden

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I've never seen any reference to the Elfstone providing him powers like that. It may have been magical, but Tolkien almost certainly didn't mean to connect it with any powers Aragorn had. It was a gift to him from Arwen, a symbol of his destiny. He had the power of healing due to his heritage - he was the king, and the hands of the king are the hands of a healer.

 

[Sulimo]

I'm very familiar with the 1e ranger; I played one several times back in the day. However, Aragorn's use of the palantir was more about his heritage as heir to the Dunadan kings, not his profession. And, as it says in the books, "the hands of the king are the hands of a healer." Not "the hands of a Ranger." Aragorn was much more than the typical Ranger, even in Tolkien's view.

Thats true, although I was only commenting on what appeared to me to be influence of Aragorn on the 1e Ranger. Not that I felt all Tolkien Rangers had similar abilities. The healing and palantir use was definitely something specific to Aragorn. Although other rangers would have skills with herbs (they just wouldnt be able to use Athelas to its full effect as Aragorn could).

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Thats true, although I was only commenting on what appeared to me to be influence of Aragorn on the 1e Ranger. Not that I felt all Tolkien Rangers had similar abilities. The healing and palantir use was definitely something specific to Aragorn. Although other rangers would have skills with herbs (they just wouldnt be able to use Athelas to its full effect as Aragorn could).

I see what you mean. That's a good point.

 

[Atticus_of_Amber]

Lineage of Anduril (aka Narsil)

Anduril was forged by Telchrist(IIRC a tre Noldor of old), the same who forged the knife with which Beren cut a Silmaril from Melkors Crown.

Narsil ("Sun-Moon") was forged by Telchar of Nogrod, a dwarf, in the First Age. Telchar also forged Angrist ("Iron-Cleaver"), which Beren took from one of Feanor's sons (can't remember the name, one of the really nasty ones) and used to cut the Silmaril from Morgoth's Iron Crown. Angrist broke when Beren tried to remove a second Silmaril.

Narsil somehow became an heirloom of Numenor and was given to the Lords of Anduea (sp?) (an offshoot of the Numenorean Royal Family and the ancestors of the Kings of Arnor and Gondor) early in the Second Age. Incidentally, it was not the most famous blade in Numeneor. That was the King's sword, Arunruth ("King's Ire") which had been the blade of the elven King Thingol Greycloak of Doriath in the First Age.

Narsil broke when Elendil (Last of the Lords of Anduea and fist King of Arnor and Gondor) fell in battle with Sauron at the end of the Second Age. It was reforged as Anduril ("Flame of the West") late in the Third Age by the Elven Smiths of Imaldiris ("Rivindell") - i.e. by the remnants of the Noldor people of Holin, who in the Second Age (under the leadership of Celembrimbor, grandson of Feanor) forged all the Rings of Power other than the One.

Forged by a dwarf, owned and wielded (probably) by elves, owned and wielded by Numenorean men, reforged by elves. Narsil/Anduril was, by the time of LotR, almsot six thousand years old. If I was Aragorn, it would give me the creeps just looking at the thing...