LOTR RPG is EVIL!!!

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I don't really know if this is the right thread, but...

I have recently learned that Decipher's Lord of the Rings: Roleplaying Game is EVIL. It seems harmless, fun, interesting, and relatively true to Tolkien's vision at first. However, when you start creating character's with you players...You learn the True Nature of this game. Everyone is a CLONE of a character from the movies! It is so terrible, it's sad. And one of them has even read and liked Tolkien's books; but he's still a clone of PJ's Legolas. If it weren't for my dearly beloved brother, I wouldn't have anyone but a clone so far. One of them had an enormous amount of difficulty coming up with a background that wasn't solely about WAR.

It seems that the thouht of setting up a LotR RPG game was a mistake, especially so soon after the movies. Everyone's so caught up in the movies, they have little creativity left.

I'm gonna go cry now.

*sobs in a corner*

[Elvellon]

If I got it right you are the Narrator.

Have you considered making a campaign in a different timeline?

That was what the folks of the old game, MERP did.

PS. I believe the right forum for this thread is the RPG forum.

[WallRocker]

It is sad that the game is based on the movie simoly for the fact that it would be cooler if it were based on the books. However, if they meant to base it on the movie, then I would say it's not quite so bad

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I doubt setting it in a different timeline would help. They would still make their characters clones of the other characters, wouldn't they? The timeline isn't the issue: the players are.

The game doesn't seem to be based on the movies; in fact, though they use pictures from the movie, they don't mention the movies much, and usually in the context of "the recently released films have increased interest in Middle-Earth", etc. The system actually seems pretty true to Middle-Earth; it's the players. *sigh*

[Wayfarer]

Have you tried MU*ing? I admin at Beleriand MUSH, and we do a pretty good job of making sure characters aren't just clones In Angband, anyway. The idiots get weeded out pretty quick.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Wayfarer
Have you tried MU*ing? I admin at Beleriand MUSH, and we do a pretty good job of making sure characters aren't just clones In Angband, anyway. The idiots get weeded out pretty quick.

Wayfarer, that is so cool. I go there all the time and read the logs. I have spoke to Faxie several times. Of course my favorite realm is Nargothrond so I end up on Elsa's site "Nargothrond- The land of shiney objects" reading the logs. They haven't posted any new logs for a long time at either site. I have been going to Beleriand for a couple of years or so. Never had an interest in mushing though. Love them logs.

Btw folks, moving to the RPG forum.

[Elvellon]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
I doubt setting it in a different timeline would help. They would still make their characters clones of the other characters, wouldn't they? The timeline isn't the issue: the players are.

The game doesn't seem to be based on the movies; in fact, though they use pictures from the movie, they don't mention the movies much, and usually in the context of "the recently released films have increased interest in Middle-Earth", etc. The system actually seems pretty true to Middle-Earth; it's the players. *sigh*

Actually it can change a lot.

For instance, if you want to create a game strong on intrigue and with little focus on combat why not try the later days of Numenor?
Imagine portraying Faithful numenorians, living in Numenor during the kingship of Ar-Pharazon. Trying to hide what they are from the Men of the King and the Cult of Morgoth, and thwarting it whenever they can. You can’t have your stereotype character can you? Rangers are of no use, and dwarves, hobbits and legolas wanabe are impossible on that setting.

If you want to focus on war, but with a decisively different approach that the one of the War of the Ring, why not the Kin Strife? A civil war among men, again with no place for hobbits, dwarves or elves in it. However, this time you have an excuse to allow characters of those races, providing they have a very, very good explanation for being there, and being accepted by the warring factions.
You have the possibly of restricting the number of non human characters and making clear that only one or two, the ones with the most original background, will be allowed (you may even want to make them vote the best background).

If you want a non-human campaign, why not early Beleriand? They can have the high Noldor (that are definitely not legolas look-alike elves, or dwarves, but no humans,(yet), or hobbits.

It all depends of what you want, but there are many ways to use timeline, location and chronicle mood to force them to rethink their characters

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Yes, Wayfarer, I've played a ton of MUDs. They are quite fun indeed. But I'm interested in the feel of pen and paper RPG, atm.

Elvellon: One of the players doesn't even know the Numenoreans or Dunedain are (Numorian or durians as he sometimes calls them). He hasn't read but a small part of LotR. The other player, I think would still make a basically Legolas copy, regardless. I would be a rather tyrannical Narrator if I were to limit their races to 1 or 2!

[Earniel]

Sheesh! Don't scare me like that! I saw the title and feared I would be put without a job!

[Wayfarer]

SGH-you should really come and play sometime. It's great fun.

Gwaimir- I suggest that you try some MUSH'es rather than MUDS. A MUSH is MUCH closer to A PNP RP, IMHO.

Eärniel-As nice a moderator as you are, it is my observation that most of what is posted in your forum is garbage. No offense intended, but some of it is just bizarre.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Wayfarer, are you a culture warden there?

[zavron]

That's a Cool site! I love tolkien Artwork! Especially things like that.

Can I make a guess of the picture?

King Fingolfin and Morgoth at Angband? It looks like the exact part where Fingolfins about to put his sword through his foot.

[Wayfarer]

SGH-I'm a CA and a -Trainer. My trainer character could probobly get the CW spot if it opened again, being the most active character in that culture. You can find me as Edrandir and Burghash.