LOTR campaign -- "Frodo Fails"?

[Elder-Basilisk]

If you do this, it's important to maintain the same cosmological assumptions as Tolkein did in order for your game to remain Middle Earth rather than Midnight or Athas or whatever else using the Middle Earth map. Middle Earth is defined as much by what kind of world it is as by its characters and geography. I think that one of those cosmological assumptions is that evil will not triumph completely. In the first age, the Valar came to earth and destroyed Morgroth. In the second age, Elendil and the faithful of Numenor were warned of the island's destruction by prophecy and were bourne to Middle Earth on the wings of the storm bearing the power to defeat Sauron. In the third age, the Istari were sent to Middle Earth to strengthen men to resist the Shadow and, eventually, someone caused Bilbo to find the Ring and to pass it to Frodo and Bilbo spared Gollum's life as did Frodo and that mercy enabled Gollum's treachery which made up for Frodo's failure to destroy the ring at the Cracks of Doom.

I think it's fair to say that Evil was not meant to triumph and that, had Frodo failed, help would have arisen for Middle Earth from another quarter.

So, let's examine the branching paths and see which ways they lead:

1. Sauron does not have the ring. Either Sam has it (Frodo was killed in the Tower of Cirith Ungol and his head sent to Sauron along with his mithral shirt or perhaps he really was killed by Shelob) or someone else does.

1.1 Sam has the ring. Now, Sam might go to the Cracks of Doom and destroy the ring himself. It's conceivable that he could succeed where Frodo failed. But it wouldn't make for a good campaign if he did. Its resolution would hang on the decisions of an NPC. So, if Sam has the ring, he has to be corrupted by it. Now, what if Sam is wrong about his own strength and he does have the strength to wield the ring for a little while. A great warrior (though short of stature) arises in the south wielding a flaming sword and commanding great loyalty from the men who follow him. Could this (Dark Sam) be the ally that Faramir and Imrahil need to preserve their people? Could they together resist Sauron or cast him down? And if they do, will Dark Sam's limited command of the ring's power mean that his grasp of it is weak enough that, unlike Sauron, he is able to be cast down after his triumph.

1.2. It has fallen into the hands of Gollum. Despite what others here have said, I don't think this is a promising possibility. Sauron mastered Gollum and Gollum would not go back to his cave under the mountains. Sauron would swiftly get the ring if Gollum had it.

1.3. One of Sauron's free-willed servants got the ring and claimed it for his own.

1.3.1. One of Sauron's great servants got it (The Mouth of Sauron, or someone like Saruman--Saruman himself can't get it because it's passed out of his power by the time Frodo reaches Mordor). In this case, I think it goes something like this. The expected hammer-blow never falls. Shortly after Sauron's victory at the Morannon, the Black Gate is sealed and his forces withdraw. Minas Tirith is waiting for an attack that doesn't materialize. Rumors grow of fighting in the East. Sauron's forces are fighting among themselves some say. Do the PCs, Eowyn, Faramir, and Imrahil seize the opportunity to attack? Do they wait for the rebel forces and Sauron to exhaust themselves in battle and then attack? If Sauron defeats the rebel, then all is lost. If the rebel defeats Sauron quickly, the situation doesn't look good either for the new Dark Lord will also be too strong. But if the rebel ascends to Sauron's throne in a pyrhic victory, they might assail him at that point and even the power of the ring might not avail him--especially if Gondor and Rohan had good allies.

1.3.2. One of Sauron's lieutenants got the ring but did not have the forces to immediately assail Sauron. Instead, he fled to the east and south to build up his army. This will play out more like the Dark Sam scenario (though perhaps more believably since it doesn't distort Sam's character).

2. Sauron acquired the ring. All hope appears lost. This isn't a very good ending for the tale and doesn't fit in Middle Earth. So:

2.1. Rumors of a Silmaril have surfaced. The Silmaril are not suited for war like the Ring but perhaps the power of the Ring is negated in it's presence. Or perhaps the Silmaril could be forged into a weapon of war. Or perhaps it's the passkey to entreat the Valar for help like was done in the first age.

2.2. The darkness grows until Eru does something about it. Perhaps the world is sundered once more. Perhaps the Valar invade Middle Earth. Perhaps the end of the world is at hand and the armies of Numenor that were entombed upon the shores of Valinor are released. The ships of Ar Phazon once more sail the seas and land upon the shores of Middle Earth to claim the Ring for their liege's war against the Valar. Will the PCs and the men of the West march under his banner? Will they resist? Will they hope desperately to sieze the ring from his forces at the moment of his victory over Sauron and cast it into the fires of Mount Doom?

In all of this, there's time for more rumors. They could add to any of the above scenarios:
Perhaps Gandalf has been given a new body and sent back to Middle Earth
Perhaps Eomer or Aragorn survived the Battle of Moranon and is hiding in Ithilien or even in Mordor making his way back to Gondor. If he does, is it really the king that they hoped for or an imposter claiming his title?
Perhaps one man escapes with Anduril. It's not enough but perhaps it will hold back the shadow for a little while.

 

[Krieg]

On second thought, although it would change his character a bit, it would be kind of cool to have Sam corrupted by the ring...The Dark Hobbit.

Now that is a very cool concept. Sam's is probably the only one strong enough of spirit to not fully succumb to the Ring. His internal struggle would certainly be interesting.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Sounds like a cool idea.

As for the ring, I'd lean towards having Gollum take it. That way it's out of the hands of the good guys but not necessarily in the hands of Sauron's forces. Gollum's the most likely to take off with it, and that opens up the possiblities for your campaign.

In the book, Frodo tells Gollum that, if Gollum should try to harm Frodo again, he would have the Ring make Gollum throw himself into the Fire. And that is exactly what happens. So, it seems unlikely to me that Gollum gets the Ring on Mount Doom.

If Frodo is beheaded, and Sauron doesn't have the Ring, then Sam must have failed in rescuing Frodo from the orcs after Shelob's attack in Cirith Ungol. So, Sam has the Ring and is wandering, bleak and alone, either in Ithilien or Mordor. Or, passing back through Cirith Ungol, Sam is attacked by one of Shelob's offspring (assuming that the Spiders of Mirkwood are related, this isn't impossible...) and is killed. Gollum then gets the Ring from Sam's bones.

Raven Crowking

 

[Raven Crowking]

For characters; you still have Faramir, Eowyn, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Radergast, Elrond, Gladriel, Arwyn, and Treebeard as potential allies. Saroman, Wormtongue, Gollum, and the eight other Wraiths as minor villains. Not to mention, you have the Ents, the few elves left, the dwarves, the rangers of the north, Gondor, and Rohan to oppose Sauron still. Babadil and the Blue Wizards are wild-cards.

What if, in the end, Saruman is redeemed? When Gandalf is restored to life, he claims that he is, in a way, Saruman as Saruman was meant to be. It seems that Gandalf hoped for Saruman's eventual redemption....When all else fails, it could be Saruman who comes forth with help, evil perhaps, but also trying to save his own bacon. Would anyone trust him?

On the same note, Gandalf's body might die before the Black Gate, but that doesn't mean that he wouldn't be sent back, yet again, until his task was complete.

 

[Raven Crowking]

2) Are They Dead, Yet? - How sure are those eagles, anyway? EXACTLY what did they see? Is the Fellowship really dead? If so, then where's the evidence? Confirmation must be obtained! Perhaps the reports of their death have been greatly exaggerated!

This was actually a major theme of Tolkein's -- the character who is surely dead, yet escapes death to recover unharmed/little harmed. It happens again and again in LOTR. It would be very cool to discover that Aragorn did survive...even if in the dungeons of Barad Dur!

A major campaign plot point could be based on getting him out!

Raven

 

[Xath]

Correct me if I remember incorrectly, but in the Silmarillion, didn't the Valar remake Middle-Earth 3 times before getting it right? If so, then the campaign could take place on one of the Alternate Middle-Earths. (assuming that they run mostly parallel to the final)

 

[Darkesyde]

i think that the Ring will have to much sway over Samwise and Gollum, plus it has a mind of its own that is always trying to get back to Sauron. First off, Frodo has to die, if only to give despair to the good guys, but i believe that the ring has to slip off of either Sam or Gollum. Gollum being the better candidate since he would put the ring back on the road, whereas Sam would linger on Sauron's porch. Then you need to put the ring under the control of someone who can exert some control over it that is close by. Maybe Gil-galad or some other hero in the Dead Marshes. Then you can have the low-level party be a part of the search for the ring(get some levels). Deal with a schism between the forces of good and control of the ring(get some more levels). Fighting the big fight with the 'real' big baddie and resolving the whole conflict(getting a lot of levels).

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I'm not certain that this would really work for Middle Earth. It seems like a much more Buffy the Vampire Slayer ending where the good guys win because they're bad-ass.

In Middle Earth, it usually didn't work that way (unless you count the Valar and you shouldn't count them). Feanor was the strongest of the Noldor yet he was slain by Balrogs. Fingolfin was so fearsome that all the hosts of Angband fled before him and he fought with Morgroth and wounded him severely but was defeated. Hurin Thalion slew 80 orcs and trolls and wounded many more in his final battle but he was captured and brought before Morgroth in chains. Turin Turambar slew Glaurung by his valor and cunning but was ensorcerelled and took his own life in despair and regret thereafters. Gil Galad, Elendil, Isiludur, and Elrond fought with Sauron and won but two fell in so doing and Isildur took the ring so final victory was not won. The elves, dwarves, and men of Dale fought valiantly in the battle of the Five Armies but Beorn and the eagles were what turned the tide. (And even so, the orcs were defeated and not destroyed). The battle of the Pellenor Fields was won when reinforcements enabled by the dead arrived on the field. The battle of the Moranon was won when the ring was destroyed and the enemies of the west fled.

All told, uncomplicated final victories over evil are not won by strength of arms in Middle Earth and ending the story of the Third Age that way would diminish the Middle Earth flavor that is the point of adventuring in Middle Earth.

i think that the Ring will have to much sway over Samwise and Gollum, plus it has a mind of its own that is always trying to get back to Sauron. First off, Frodo has to die, if only to give despair to the good guys, but i believe that the ring has to slip off of either Sam or Gollum. Gollum being the better candidate since he would put the ring back on the road, whereas Sam would linger on Sauron's porch. Then you need to put the ring under the control of someone who can exert some control over it that is close by. Maybe Gil-galad or some other hero in the Dead Marshes. Then you can have the low-level party be a part of the search for the ring(get some levels). Deal with a schism between the forces of good and control of the ring(get some more levels). Fighting the big fight with the 'real' big baddie and resolving the whole conflict(getting a lot of levels).