LotR RPG vs. 3e
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jgbrowning
Hero
hrm
I'm probably the only one here but i picked up the book and put it right back down after a minute.
why?
well, it looked like an advertisement for the movie. turned me off. I mean, i liked the movie it was good, but there is more to tolkien and the LotR than a single movie. ah well. back to MERP.
joe b.
ps. this is NOT an informed decision! i didnt even look at the rules... yah i know.. lame
I'm probably the only one here but i picked up the book and put it right back down after a minute.
why?
well, it looked like an advertisement for the movie. turned me off. I mean, i liked the movie it was good, but there is more to tolkien and the LotR than a single movie. ah well. back to MERP.
joe b.
ps. this is NOT an informed decision! i didnt even look at the rules... yah i know.. lame
JacktheRabbit
Explorer
You missed a good book. Sure there are lots of shots from the movies.
You know what there are even more of?
Quotes from the trilogy. I would guess there is 2 or 3 appropriate quotes for every movie picture in the book. They ae everywhere, in character description, skill description, and many other places.
So while there are lots of pictures they do not dominate the book. They just happen to really be the only good visual items available.
You know what there are even more of?
Quotes from the trilogy. I would guess there is 2 or 3 appropriate quotes for every movie picture in the book. They ae everywhere, in character description, skill description, and many other places.
So while there are lots of pictures they do not dominate the book. They just happen to really be the only good visual items available.
jgbrowning
Hero
i would have much prefered art. I dont think the movie pictures are the only good source of visuals for perhaps the most art influencial fantasy book in the world.
i think they did it TO advertise that the movie has something to do with the book. tag along with the movies sales and try to sell more books due the power of the movie.
i have nothing against selling books and nothing against whatever tactic a publisher chooses to use to do so. i do however not have to buy it..
same reason why i never pick up an avalance press book. i've heard they have some good products, but i'll never buy one. course, i've never bought a harn book either.... wish they would get rid of the ***** shrinkwrap..
joe b.
i think they did it TO advertise that the movie has something to do with the book. tag along with the movies sales and try to sell more books due the power of the movie.
i have nothing against selling books and nothing against whatever tactic a publisher chooses to use to do so. i do however not have to buy it..
same reason why i never pick up an avalance press book. i've heard they have some good products, but i'll never buy one. course, i've never bought a harn book either.... wish they would get rid of the ***** shrinkwrap..
joe b.
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Apok
First Post
Speaking as one who owns the book, I must say I am tremendously satisfied. True, more original artwork would have been nice, but I love the way they integrated the text and the movie stills. Although I do have some minor issues with it, I feel that the coda system is perfect for doing a low-magic fantasy campaign. I am still in the process of working out my homebrew world with which to play in and I have decided to use the LotR ruleset as the basis for it. The game is less mechanically focused than D&D and brings back a sense of mystery and awe, especially for magic. I like the fact that skills and social values are emphasized and given tangible in-game effects when used properly. The combat portion of the game is less tactical than 3e for certain but fighter-types still have plenty of options open to them. The presence of "mook" rules, sadly absent from 3e, allow the players to face "overwhelming odds" and come out virtually unscathed and victorious, the stuff of legends.
This is a wonderful, wonderful book and I urge anyone, not just fans of the series though they will probably enjoy it the most, to pick it up. If nothing else, steal some ideas to use in your existing 3e game. This is especially true of Courage, Corruption and Contests of Will.
This is a wonderful, wonderful book and I urge anyone, not just fans of the series though they will probably enjoy it the most, to pick it up. If nothing else, steal some ideas to use in your existing 3e game. This is especially true of Courage, Corruption and Contests of Will.
Xeriar
First Post
The system itself is pretty solid, though there is some errata already.
My beef with the book is that the organization is terrible. Someone who skims the book will miss a great number of rules and minor points, such as cannon fodder minions and your starting skills (no one area of the book tells you how all of your starting skills are picked, as in:
6 racial picks (skills or edges, a flaw can buy another)
15 from your class package
Wits x 3 for native languages and lore skills
5 picks for anything you want (skills or no)
---
The thing I really like about d6/d10 type systems is not so much the bell curve as you actually start with a much more well-rounded, believable character, and end up that way too.
My beef with the book is that the organization is terrible. Someone who skims the book will miss a great number of rules and minor points, such as cannon fodder minions and your starting skills (no one area of the book tells you how all of your starting skills are picked, as in:
6 racial picks (skills or edges, a flaw can buy another)
15 from your class package
Wits x 3 for native languages and lore skills
5 picks for anything you want (skills or no)
---
The thing I really like about d6/d10 type systems is not so much the bell curve as you actually start with a much more well-rounded, believable character, and end up that way too.
garyh
First Post
DocMoriartty said:
Heh. I have some of ICE's old MERP material. In thier Mirkwood supplement, they stat him out from his days as the Necromancer of Dol Gulder, and he's 240th level. I would even want to guess how that translates into 3E's levels, epic levels, and divine ranks.
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JeffB
Legend
mooby said:
I'm only a hop skip and a jump from ya...now if I could only find the TIME I'd be more than willing to play some MERP. My group dispersed due to RL (we are all older, have families, etc), and the local gamestore wants me in their Hackmaster game, but right now I can't seem to find the time to even do that!
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