I used to play the LOTR Roleplaying Game before TOR came along in 2011. Now I play TOR exclusively. I am always the Loremaster and have played with several different groups quite a bit over the last 3 years. Let me say, the two systems don't even compare. The LOTR RPG uses the CODA system, which is based on rolls of 2D6 + Attribute bonus + Skill rank vs a Target Number. That sounds simple enough, but the bonuses and skill ranks can be way too high, making combat feel broken because it becomes near impossible to miss any target that doesn't try to Dodge, Parry, or Block. Hobbits can easily take down trolls due to size difference bonuses and Defense ratings that just aren't high enough. For example, Defense is always 10 + Nimbleness modifier, which is anywhere from 0 to +4. That means Defense scores are almost always in a range between 10-14. However, Armed Combat skills are often higher than 6. That means you'll most likely be adding between 6-12 to every roll of 2d6. An average roll is 7, which makes the average result between 13-19.
Tarthalion, a Man of Gondor, has a Nimbleness modifier of +2 and an Armed Combat: Blades (Longsword) +6. Because he specializes in Longswords, he gets an additional +2 bonus when he uses one. That means when he makes an Armed Combat test, he will roll 2d6 + 10. If he tries to hit an Uruk with a Defense of 11, there is no way for him to miss. Sure, the Uruk could declare a Parry and make his own Attack test to negate a successful hit using the Gondorian's Attack test result as the TN. He would roll 2d6 + 8. On average, this will result in a 15. However, that would use up one of his 2 Action allowances so that on his turn, he can do less.
Anyhow, it's a little wonky. TOR on the other hand has a solid custom dice system that is fun to use and incorporates Tolkien themes. The 12-sided Feat die includes a Gandalf rune instead of the 12 and an Eye of Sauron instead of the 11, and numbers 1-10. This die gets rolled every test along with a number of 6-sided Success dice equal to the level of ranks in the skill being used. So, if the hero was using Riddle and had 2 ranks in it, he would roll two Success dice and the Feat die and try to match or beat a Target Number. The game uses a default TN 14 for most actions. Very simple.
