LOTR from a gamer's perspective

[molonel]

We had an interesting conversation over the weekend about LOTR if you were running it as a RPG. This is not system-based, like talking about MERP or D&D or GURPS, but rather a discussion about how fiction works differently from a RPG.

The obvious solution was to fly the ring into Mordor on the backs of giant eagles. Quicker, faster, less dangerous.

What do you think?

 

[iwatt]

The answer is catapults.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

That's my cue to pimp DM of the Rings.


Teleport to the volcano. Done. Or more likely, given D&D players -- claim the ring, enter Mordor by the front door, cut a swath through armies of evil to challenge Sauron to single combat. Boo-yah!

 

[GwydapLlew]

The obvious solution was to fly the ring into Mordor on the backs of giant eagles. Quicker, faster, less dangerous.

What do you think?

I hear this solution so often, it makes me want to gag. Let's think about it for a second:

An entire quarter of FotR is about the Fellowship crossing the Misty Mountains, and the Eagles live on the other side of the Misty Mountains. Let's get past that by having Gwaihir go recruit more of his eagle brothers after helping Gandalf escape from Orthanc.

Next, let's assume that the Fellowship wanted to draw attention to where they were going. After all, if the crebain can track them across desolate wilderness, it would be that much more difficult to find nine giant eagles flying through the air, wouldn't it? Remember that part of their strategy is to not alert Mordor to their plans.

Finally, let's just ignore the fact that the Nazgul have the Fell Beasts, which resemble wyverns. Sure, most of the Fellowship had ranged attacks, but so did the Nazgul (one of whom was a legendary archer). The Nazgul had training to ride their mounts, while the Fellowship...hold on for dear life.

It may sound reasonable until you start actually taking a look at the details. Sure, the PCs can skip all the encounters except for the BBEG, but is it the DM's fault when they don't have the XP to take out the demigod?

 

[Crothian]

What gamer destroys loot? Claim the ring as your own!!

 

[GwydapLlew]

What gamer destroys loot? Claim the ring as your own!!

Yeah! I can't stand DMPCs (from his high-school campaign) who tell me I shouldn't use the reall y cool magic item just because I have to make a Will save every time I put it on!

 

[WayneLigon]

The obvious solution was to fly the ring into Mordor on the backs of giant eagles. Quicker, faster, less dangerous.

Ring enters Mordor. Big searchlight surrounds Frodo's eagle. Nazgul tear it apart and ferry the Ring to Sauron. The End.

..Teleport...

Sauron has thankfully read The Book of Eldritch Might. Teleport Redirect dumps them all into Sauron's throneroom where his Gaze paralyses them. Sauron takes Ring. The End.

 

[Someone]

An entire quarter of FotR is about the Fellowship crossing the Misty Mountains, and the Eagles live on the other side of the Misty Mountains. Let's get past that by having Gwaihir go recruit more of his eagle brothers after helping Gandalf escape from Orthanc.

I don't entirely get your point here. Even conceding that neither Gandalf or anyone else at Rivendel had any means of communication with the eagles except by physically climbing to their nests, they actually almost did it: the fellowship didn't leave Rivendel immediately after the council, but they delayed it until they sent scouts to the other side of the mountains and far south. Not to mention the time it took them to return with the information.

Next, let's assume that the Fellowship wanted to draw attention to where they were going. After all, if the crebain can track them across desolate wilderness, it would be that much more difficult to find nine giant eagles flying through the air, wouldn't it? Remember that part of their strategy is to not alert Mordor to their plans.

Who needs nine eagles? one carrying Frodo and Gandalf (just in case, with a loaded gun) would be enough. And if you spot one eagle you have spotted... an eagle. If they are flying high enough, you won't see the riders.

Finally, let's just ignore the fact that the Nazgul have the Fell Beasts, which resemble wyverns. Sure, most of the Fellowship had ranged attacks, but so did the Nazgul (one of whom was a legendary archer). The Nazgul had training to ride their mounts, while the Fellowship...hold on for dear life.

Nope, the nazgul were, IIRC, "formless and empty" after being swept by the river flood Elrond provoked and it wasn't until much later they returned to Mordor and got their cloaks back and new mounts. Meanwhile the Fellowship was dancing and frolicking in Lorien for more than a month, instead of flying to mordor . I mean, what self respecting adventuring party rests for a whole month? They could have gained like 8 levels in that time.

 

[molonel]

Ring enters Mordor. Big searchlight surrounds Frodo's eagle. Nazgul tear it apart and ferry the Ring to Sauron. The End.

The searchlight was Peter Jackson's detail.

Try reading the books. They're pretty good.

I hear this solution so often, it makes me want to gag. Let's think about it for a second: An entire quarter of FotR is about the Fellowship crossing the Misty Mountains, and the Eagles live on the other side of the Misty Mountains. Let's get past that by having Gwaihir go recruit more of his eagle brothers after helping Gandalf escape from Orthanc. Next, let's assume that the Fellowship wanted to draw attention to where they were going. After all, if the crebain can track them across desolate wilderness, it would be that much more difficult to find nine giant eagles flying through the air, wouldn't it? Remember that part of their strategy is to not alert Mordor to their plans. Finally, let's just ignore the fact that the Nazgul have the Fell Beasts, which resemble wyverns. Sure, most of the Fellowship had ranged attacks, but so did the Nazgul (one of whom was a legendary archer). The Nazgul had training to ride their mounts, while the Fellowship...hold on for dear life. It may sound reasonable until you start actually taking a look at the details. Sure, the PCs can skip all the encounters except for the BBEG, but is it the DM's fault when they don't have the XP to take out the demigod?

Pfft.

Are you sure you're a gamer?

You get a fleet of eagles who will approach from a different direction while an army marches on the Gates of Mordor. We know the ring can dominate someone, and we know hobbits are more resistant to magic, so we have multiple hobbits trained in secret watching the ring bearer in case he flips out and decides to go the dark side. They all have blindfighting, or blindsense or blindsight and maxed-out grappling. Screw this sneaking around crap. Gandalf gets his own white eagle, and so does Galadriel and Elrond. They deep-six the Nazgul - I mean, c'mon, these guys got chased off by a ranger with a sword and a torch - and hold off Sauron - who never actually leaves his tower, anyway - and Frodo either throws the ring in, or gets pitched bodily by his squad of Ring Destroyers bodily into the lava.

Problem solved.

 

[Slife]

Who needs nine eagles? one carrying Frodo and Gandalf (just in case, with a loaded gun) would be enough. And if you spot one eagle you have spotted... an eagle. If they are flying high enough, you won't see the riders.

Yep. Only a giant eagle big enough to carry a full-grown man and two hobbits. One of a kind known to attack orcs on sight. Flying in Restricted Mordor Airspace. And the ring would certainly show up brighter (darker?) to Sauron's senses than a mere Eagle. Observe how little time it takes for Sauron to find Frodo at the end of The Fellowship of The Ring.

Nope, the nazgul were, IIRC, "formless and empty" after being swept by the river flood Elrond provoked and it wasn't until much later they returned to Mordor and got their cloaks back and new mounts. Meanwhile the Fellowship was dancing and frolicking in Lorien for more than a month, instead of flying to mordor . I mean, what self respecting adventuring party rests for a whole month? They could have gained like 8 levels in that time.

The DM was using 1e, and diseases were a @#$%#@$% to heal in that version. You don't want to have a ringbearer who can't make his saves.