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09:56, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Interest Check: Freeform LOTR game.

Posted by Savitariuss
Savitariuss
member, 72 posts
Wed 13 Mar 2019
at 19:00
  • msg #1

Interest Check: Freeform LOTR game

I'm in the process of building a LOTR freeform. While it is still a work in progress, I would love some feedback from the community- anyone who would be interested in such a game. If you like the concept, hate it, or have some advice or constructive criticism to offer, I'm all ears eyes!

GAME CONCEPT:



The game will be a freeform fantasy game based in the LOTR (Lord of the Rings) Universe/Tolkienverse. It will focus on various characters living in Gondor, or possibly the other major kingdoms, dealing with current, major events and their day to day lives.

TL;DR? Skip to the bottom and read the summary.
Galadriel:
(I amar prestar aen.)
The world is changed.
(Han matho ne nen.)
I feel it in the water.
(Han mathon ned cae.)
I feel it in the earth.
(A han noston ned gwilith.)
I smell it in the air.

Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it.

It began with the forging of the Great Rings. Three were given to the Elves, immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings. Seven to the Dwarf-Lords, great miners and craftsmen of the mountain halls. And nine, nine rings were gifted to the race of Men, who above all else desire power. For within these rings was bound the strength and the will to govern each race. But they were all of them deceived, for another ring was made. Deep in the land of Mordor, in the Fires of Mount Doom, the Dark Lord Sauron forged a master ring, and into this ring he poured his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life.

One ring to rule them all.

One by one, the free lands of Middle-Earth fell to the power of the Ring, but there were some who resisted. A last alliance of men and elves marched against the armies of Mordor, and on the very slopes of Mount Doom, they fought for the freedom of Middle-Earth. Victory was near, but the power of the ring could not be undone. It was in this moment, when all hope had faded, that Isildur, son of the king, took up his father’s sword.

Sauron, enemy of the free peoples of Middle-Earth, was defeated. The Ring passed to Isildur, who had this one chance to destroy evil forever, but the hearts of men are easily corrupted. And the ring of power has a will of its own. It betrayed Isildur, to his death.

And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years, the ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, it ensnared another bearer.

It came to the creature Gollum, who took it deep into the tunnels of the Misty Mountains. And there it consumed him. The ring gave to Gollum unnatural long life. For five hundred years it poisoned his mind, and in the gloom of Gollum’s cave, it waited. Darkness crept back into the forests of the world. Rumor grew of a shadow in the East, whispers of a nameless fear, and the Ring of Power perceived its time had come. It abandoned Gollum, but then something happened that the Ring did not intend. It was picked up by the most unlikely creature imaginable: a hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, of the Shire.

For the time will soon come when hobbits will shape the fortunes of all.


SUMMARY

As I previously mentioned, the game will be a freeform game, largely based around characters living their lives in the midst of a war with Sauron and his orcish forces. This game will be a freeform, and will revolve around the players and their decisions. While there will be a little GM intervention here and there to push the plot forward, when need be, players will need to be able to write on their own and interact with the others for the most part.

As I do with all of my games based in a pre-mde world, I'm going to be rewinding time to the beginning and derail from the already established plot. Not derailing entirely, and not the very beginning. The Fellowship will still be doing their thing in the background, but their trip to Mordor and back took roughly 18-20 years or so, so that... well, that timeline just isn't feasible. So, I'm going to have to make some changes to speed things along a bit- be prepared for some differences.

We won't be rewinding to the very beginning, but to when the Fellowship formed, so the major kingdoms are somewhat aware of what is going on. There is rumored talk of a temporary alliance between the elves, dwarves and humans, but, if the rumors are true, it's not quite set in motion yet. But, the borders between the kingdoms will be a little more lax, and people can play various races, rather than just humans, having received a call for aid from the Gondorians.

Players will be able to travel to the other nations, if they wish, but the game will largely take place in Gondor.

Are you a Gondorian soldier, defending Osgiliath from Sauron's assaults?
Are you one of the Galadrim, sent to aid in the war effort?
Are you a scout trying to sneak into Mordor, to study the enemy?
Are you a ranger traveling the land in search of adventure?
Are you the owner of the tavern in Minas Tirith?
Are you a medic, running a hospital in the city or a tent in the war camp?
Are you a Hobbit trying to live a simple life, or maybe join the army?
Are you an elf living in Rivendell or Lothlorien, avoiding the war?
Are you one of the Beornings, a shape changer, joining the fight?
Are you a Gondorian civilian, simply trying to get by as the war wages?
Or maybe, you're one of Sauron's spies or assassins, awaiting the right time to strike...

The possibilities are endless, and the kingdoms diverse. Will you join the fight or avoid it? Side with the kingdoms of Middle Earth, or the Orcs trying to destroy them? Men, elves and dwarves or Sauron and his hordes? Only you can choose.

This message was lightly edited by a moderator at 20:20, Wed 13 Mar 2019.
helvorn
member, 85 posts
Thu 14 Mar 2019
at 04:48
  • msg #2

Interest Check: Freeform LOTR game

I think you want to keep the game fairly geographically focused around Minas Tirith and Gondor rather than across the northwest.
Savitariuss
member, 73 posts
Thu 14 Mar 2019
at 04:52
  • msg #3

Interest Check: Freeform LOTR game

I was thinking the same thing, when I first started working on the concept. I would prefer to keep it mostly in Gondor, but if players would rather be able to travel, I was planning on being open to opening up more cities. *shrugs* It all depends on what the players want, honestly. I'm happy to go either way.
This message was last edited by the user at 04:55, Thu 14 Mar 2019.
UnseelieLord
member, 74 posts
Survival of the fittest.
We're all gonna die.
Thu 14 Mar 2019
at 19:25
  • msg #4

Interest Check: Freeform LOTR game

As long as it's freeform I am definitely interested.
darknash
member, 145 posts
Thu 14 Mar 2019
at 22:49
  • msg #5

Interest Check: Freeform LOTR game

Two thoughts.

(And it looks like your doing what I'm about to suggest) Don't do a circle jerk where people are playing the major figures from the established story. Let them find their own path's to deal with whats happening in the world at large. I'm not sure being in the thick of things in Gondor is the best choice.

(If I'm reading you right) What makes you think the journey of the Fellowship of the Ring to Mordor and back took 18-20 years?

Good luck overall, not a setting I want to freeform. (When there is a game system available I like I prefer to use that.)
Savitariuss
member, 74 posts
Thu 14 Mar 2019
at 23:23
  • msg #6

Interest Check: Freeform LOTR game

darknash:
Don't do a circle jerk where people are playing the major figures from the established story. Let them find their own path's to deal with whats happening in the world at large. I'm not sure being in the thick of things in Gondor is the best choice.

When I create games in pre-made worlds, I never let the players play as characters from the actual lore of that world. Way too may opportunities for continuity errors.

Hmm... do you have a better suggestion for the main or starting city?

darknash:
If I'm reading you right) What makes you think the journey of the Fellowship of the Ring to Mordor and back took 18-20 years?

That was a mistake on my part, one I meant to correct before posting this thread. Just a large misunderstanding on my part and a Google search gone wrong. *facepalm* Thanks for pointing it out! Can't edit the post, but after looking into everything a few more times, I'm well aware of mistakes on my end. Apologies for any confusion I may have caused.

Need to do quite a bit of digging into the lore and whatnot before the game will be ready.

And thanks! Hopefully, once it's finished and fleshed out, everything will go well.

EDIT: Think it might be best to keep this idea on the back burner for now, and read through the books as soon as I have the time. Hopefully I will be able to get the game off the ground at some point, but I'm going to take some time to delve into the lore before I commit.
This message was last edited by the user at 23:39, Thu 14 Mar 2019.
darknash
member, 146 posts
Fri 15 Mar 2019
at 01:03
  • msg #7

Re: Interest Check: Freeform LOTR game


When I create games in pre-made worlds, I never let the players play as characters from the actual lore of that world. Way too may opportunities for continuity errors.

Hmm... do you have a better suggestion for the main or starting city?

A couple thoughts since you were giving the players the option of being "Good Guys" or "Bad Guys" Dol Amroth or Umbar are both in the "Theater" of the War without being a direct battleground. And the players could easily be swept up by the war and find themselves on the Pleanor, in Minas Tirith or before the Black Gates.


That was a mistake on my part, one I meant to correct before posting this thread. Just a large misunderstanding on my part and a Google search gone wrong. *facepalm* Thanks for pointing it out!

Trust me, I get it.
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