The One Ring - Cubicle 7

[Wightbred]

In what way re: D&D? Do you mean the encounters are different?

I mean the whole rules system is fundamentally different. Here's a quick list of differences that I see, and like, because they help it match Middle Earth better:
- No levels. Instead you advance by improving skills and gaining virtues and rewards.
- There are classes, but they are much less important. Your Culture is much more important.
- Endurance (similar to Hit Points) are intimately linked to Fatigue (Encumbarance). Your carried Armour and Weapons set the base fatigue levels.
- Your Endurance (HP) almost never go up, even as you get better.
- Your Parry (AC) almost never goes up, even as you get better.
- No alignment, but you can turn to a unique "dark side" / Shadow like Dragon Sickness (greed).
- Apart from Weapons and Armour gear and treasure is really abstract. Even for Weapons there is no price list or even a separate line item for arrows or a place to keep track of them.
- You expect to do only a handful of adventures each year.
- There are no "powers" or "spell" lists (apart from the handful of Cultural virtues and rewards) but choosing Stance makes combat tactical, but in a very different way.
- There is no mechanism to determine how many monsters will be a "balanced" fight for the party. I particularly like this, although I can see how it could drive some GMs crazy.
- You have a Hope score, which works like Fate in other game, and is linked to your Shadow score which is a type of madness / sanity measure.

There are some similarities, like that if you rest after combat ypu get Endurance (HP) back, but these are more the exceptions that prove the rule.

I can tell you are super excited, which is awesome. But you may find it hard to engage others with rules suggestions until you can get a copy to read through.

 

[fireinthedust]

fair enough. Now the scrimping and saving begins!

 

[Matchstick]

I mean the whole rules system is fundamentally different. Here's a quick list of differences that I see, and like, because they help it match Middle Earth better:
- No levels. Instead you advance by improving skills and gaining virtues and rewards.
- There are classes, but they are much less important. Your Culture is much more important.
- Endurance (similar to Hit Points) are intimately linked to Fatigue (Encumbarance). Your carried Armour and Weapons set the base fatigue levels.
- Your Endurance (HP) almost never go up, even as you get better.
- Your Parry (AC) almost never goes up, even as you get better.
- No alignment, but you can turn to a unique "dark side" / Shadow like Dragon Sickness (greed).
- Apart from Weapons and Armour gear and treasure is really abstract. Even for Weapons there is no price list or even a separate line item for arrows or a place to keep track of them.
- You expect to do only a handful of adventures each year.
- There are no "powers" or "spell" lists (apart from the handful of Cultural virtues and rewards) but choosing Stance makes combat tactical, but in a very different way.
- There is no mechanism to determine how many monsters will be a "balanced" fight for the party. I particularly like this, although I can see how it could drive some GMs crazy.
- You have a Hope score, which works like Fate in other game, and is linked to your Shadow score which is a type of madness / sanity measure.

There are some similarities, like that if you rest after combat ypu get Endurance (HP) back, but these are more the exceptions that prove the rule.

I can tell you are super excited, which is awesome. But you may find it hard to engage others with rules suggestions until you can get a copy to read through.

That list inspires me to play!

 

[Wightbred]

fair enough. Now the scrimping and saving begins!

Don't let me discourage you from posting, though. Just realise there are some very different rules in there.

That list inspires me to play!

Cool! Glad I could help.

 

[johnmarron]

I don't know if it will be of interest, but I just started a One Ring campaign last week, and posted an Actual Play thread about it on RPGNet here. Its light on mechanical discussion, but I'm happy to answer any questions. Second session (and first combat) is tonight.

 

[fireinthedust]

neat!

I'm in a pbp game now where the GM is helping us with rules. We're starting at Lake Town, it turns out, so it'll be interesting to see how the game progresses. Really gung-ho group, too, so I'm excited to join in.

I wonder if any game can avoid certain D&Disms, like hacking up monsters and taking their stuff as a matter of course. Not that this is a bad thing, or Un-Tolkien of a group, which it wouldn't be; note how they found Glamdrig or Orcrist! But finding people with question marks above their heads and collecting thirty rabbit uvulas before we can have a pair of Mighty-Flaming-burst underwear is something i'm sure I would fall back on as GM, in a pinch. Heh.

 

[IronWolf]

I posted some unboxing shots of The One Ring on my blog this morning. I will be writing up a full review after a little more time with the system.

The Iron Tavern -- The One Ring Unboxing

 

[Matchstick]

Johnmarron, that's a fantastic Actual Play. I really like how you add the rules comments in, it gives a great idea of how the whole package works together. Very cool!

IronWolf, those are great screens! I really like how they did the physical books, they're very well presented and the art is fantastic.

 

[IronWolf]

For those still curious about The One Ring, I have reviewed The One Ring: Adventures over the Edge of the Wild over at The Iron Tavern:

The Iron Tavern -- Review: The One Ring

 

[Jhaelen]

The Review's just in time Yesterday I was searching for this thread again since I noticed the game has just been translated into German: Der Eine Ring

 

[gweinel]

There is a time since the last post but i have a question.

How can compare it with Ice Crown's Merp. Seeing for for a 2nd time the Hobbit today sparked to me a wave of nostalgia of my first rpg which was MEPR. I was thinking to start a middle earth campaign and wondering which system to follow. Really it bugs me off the timeline since i wanted to start around the first milenia of third age...

 

[Jhaelen]

How can compare it with Ice Crown's Merp.

Well, since it's the RPG you started with, you probably have fonder memories about it than I do. Personally, I disliked MERP a lot because of its underlying system. The stunted version of Rolemaster that was used didn't work for me at all. I felt the rule-heavy system to be better suited for something like Warhammer 40k with its ridiculous critical hit charts.
The One Ring, however, is a system specifically tailored to tell the kind of stories we know from the novels. It's focused around character development and journeys (or quests). It's a rule-light system but combat is sufficiently dangerous that you'd prefer to avoid it if possible, particularly against nasty foes like trolls...

So, imho, it's not even a contest. The One Ring wins hands down.

 

[Bluenose]

To add to what [MENTION=46713]Jhaelen[/MENTION] says, The One Ring is written specifically for Middle Earth. Things that are significant in the sources include travel, meeting new people, and being/becoming part of a group. Accordingly, The One Ring devotes a lot of rules attention to those things. It's the most "Tolkein" game I've played.

 

[gweinel]

Thank you very much for your replies. Your answers are really helpful.
Is it easy to convert/make new npc/monsters with the rules of The One Ring? I would like to know i can take advantage the great detail and richness of information that the merp sourcebooks have.

 

[gweinel]

double post