Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lanefan" data-source="post: 7388621" data-attributes="member: 29398">I agree with the second line but disagree with the first.  There doesn't have to be any railroading, there merely need to be challenges put in place that the PCs are more or less likely to run across, depending where they go.Were I a DM setting up LotR as an RPG, once the discussion of what route to take came up I'd put the known hazard Saruman and his patrols on the player's map, make sure Gandalf's player knew about the pass, make sure Gimli's player (and Gandalf's) knew about Moria in different ways, put the map on the table and ask where they're going.I'd already know the possible things they might face if they choose to try and go by Isengard; if they choose the mountain pass; or if they choose Moria.*  I already have the watcher at the gate statted out, I already know the odds for Saruman's crows spotting the party if they're caught in the open (and for Gandalf noticing them in turn), I know the chances for Saruman catching on to their attempt to cross the pass and messing it up, I've got the Balrog statted out, I've got the mines partly hard-mapped and partly randomized, I've got the orcs statted out at least by numbers and types (I'll worry about individuals if and when combat with them come sup), etc. etc.* - and if they choose a plan D I haven't seen coming e.g. try going through Mirkwood (good luck!) and coming in from the north I've at least got enough knowledge of the game world to make up challenges on the fly for that session, then during the week I can tighten it up.And yes I know some of what I've pre-done is going to go by the boards because their path won't take them there.  Doesn't bother me.The system does seem to depend on this, yes.Er...exciting things did happen in Rohan and very likely would have even if the PCs had skipped the mountains/Lothlorien etc. entirely. But the game/book would be the poorer for having skipped all that, and nowhere near as exciting or interesting. (never mind the party would still have been nine, unless Boromir chose a different time and place to go PvP on them)Gandalf also succeeds on his resurrection roll... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />All that success, however, is built upon a string of failures: everybody fails to notice Boromir (or fails to act on what they do notice), Boromir ultimately fails at everything and dies for his trouble, everyone except Sam manages to lose track of Frodo and thus the ring (in other words, blown goals for all except Frodo and Sam), Merry and Pippin fail to hide and instead get themselves captured, etc.re the giants example:It's the 'alternate' version I've been looking at, the one where the fire giants notice the party as soon as they arrive.  The version where the DM describes them arriving at the cavern entrance before any giants have been sighted is just fine in and of itself, though there's no mention of any narration of what was passed through in order to get there (see Moria exampels above).From the way you put it I read it as spending x.p. to acquire plot points which in turn could then be used to acquire needed gear, which boils down to buying gear with x.p. rather than g.p.What player is ever going to narrate their PC as running out of ammunition when she doesn't have to? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Lanefan</blockquote>

Verification