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Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: Snark Knight on February 10, 2021, 06:03:27 AM

Title: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Snark Knight on February 10, 2021, 06:03:27 AM
At the risk of sounding like a shill for non-independent Kickstarters I'm interested in...

After Cubicle 7 lost the loicense, Free League picked it up instead and have a Kickstarter going up on the 11th for a second edition (https://frialigan.se/en/news/#/pressreleases/the-one-ring-rpg-coming-to-kickstarter-february-11-3067401). Considering how bad C7's second offering was looking visually and despite being a big fan of the first edition this already looks a lot more promising. The corebook's going to be focusing on Eriador with the starter set revolving around the Shire and FL have said the Moria book that was in development for 1e was savlaged as well.

Edit: Kickstarter link. (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1192053011/the-one-ring-roleplaying-game-second-edition)
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: BronzeDragon on February 10, 2021, 06:57:35 AM
I am very, very happy with TOR, and currently running a campaign with it.

Not sure what this second edition (which is technically a third edition, since the C7 one got a revision) could actually bring to the table to entice me to move over to it. The art in the books I have fits Middle-Earth perfectly, and yes the godawful cover for the C7 edition that got cancelled was a bad sign, but I don't know what kind of art is gonna be featured in the FL version, so I can't compare.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Wicked Woodpecker of West on February 10, 2021, 08:01:06 AM
It generally will be very compatible with edition 1 and revised.
It seems they will continue not reboot - various local region books. So it's possible one can skip core rulebook and just continue with expanding setting.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Brand55 on February 10, 2021, 11:12:53 AM
the Moria book that was in development for 1e was savlaged as well.
Not quite, AFAIK. There is definitely going to be a Moria book, but the last I'd heard is that they had to start over from scratch with it. I'm not sure if it's because that was their choice or if they didn't have the rights to that work.

As far as mechanics, we'll know a lot more when the Kickstarter launches. At first the editions were supposed to be very compatible; you could bring your 1e characters into a 2e game with "just a few tweaks." Now they've backed off on that and it sounds like the games will be similar but more substantially different. I do know they've changed how weapon skills work, the journey rules, and advanced races. I believe they've said only High Elves might remain as an advanced race in 2e.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Snark Knight on February 10, 2021, 11:29:06 AM
Weren't the only Advanced Cultures the Dunedain and Helves? Seems a bit odd to exclude the former in an Eriador book, unless they're just a 'base' Culture ALA Adventures in Middle-Earth.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Brand55 on February 10, 2021, 12:02:21 PM
Weren't the only Advanced Cultures the Dunedain and Helves? Seems a bit odd to exclude the former in an Eriador book, unless they're just a 'base' Culture ALA Adventures in Middle-Earth.
Yes. The Dunedain are being brought in line in with the other cultures (as in AIME). The High Elves are probably going to stay as some kind of exception but I don't think the developers had decided just what they were going to do yet. There was a strong urge to get rid of advanced cultures altogether, but clearly that won't fit unless players are limited to playing very young elves. Hopefully the Kickstarter answers that question.

As far as AIME, for those who don't know, there's going to be another D&D-version of LotR coming in the future at an unspecified date. It may or may not have the Adventures in Middle-earth name. That's about all that I've seen on it.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Thorn Drumheller on February 10, 2021, 06:25:51 PM
So question for the audience in general here. Is the LotR IP toxic? Meaning, it seems to me that no one can hold on to it for an extended stretch of time. Or is that just the nature of Tolkien IP? I've seen MERP (which I, unfortunately, never got into). I bought extensively into the Decipher offering. I bought the slipcase box set of the Cubicle 7 offering. I didn't get AiME because I didn't want 5e polluting ME. And now it's moved to Free League. Am I missing any, aside from the many fan made?
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Wicked Woodpecker of West on February 10, 2021, 07:00:55 PM
Quote
So question for the audience in general here. Is the LotR IP toxic? Meaning, it seems to me that no one can hold on to it for an extended stretch of time. Or is that just the nature of Tolkien IP? I've seen MERP (which I, unfortunately, never got into). I bought extensively into the Decipher offering. I bought the slipcase box set of the Cubicle 7 offering. I didn't get AiME because I didn't want 5e polluting ME. And now it's moved to Free League. Am I missing any, aside from the many fan made?

But all publishers were betrayed as in dark corridors of Oxford, Dark Professor Ruel forged a lore than cannot be hold by anyone by him for prolonged stretch of time, and answers only to him.
AiME seems very very like TOR tbh, aside of 5e like model of mechanics - but they go for same lore, tone and game.

I've heard that they nailed travelling much better than TOR from few people, but never had occassion to check on my own skin.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Armchair Gamer on February 10, 2021, 07:56:57 PM
So question for the audience in general here. Is the LotR IP toxic? Meaning, it seems to me that no one can hold on to it for an extended stretch of time. Or is that just the nature of Tolkien IP? I've seen MERP (which I, unfortunately, never got into). I bought extensively into the Decipher offering. I bought the slipcase box set of the Cubicle 7 offering. I didn't get AiME because I didn't want 5e polluting ME. And now it's moved to Free League. Am I missing any, aside from the many fan made?

  MERP ran for about a decade and was undone by various factors; Decipher, as you probably know, by embezzlement. Cubicle 7 and Free League are only serving the production/distribution role, as I understand it, and Cubicle 7 lost it because of some sort of dispute with the designers.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Armchair Gamer on February 11, 2021, 09:16:27 AM
The Kickstarter went live about 15 minutes ago, was funded in 4 minutes, and was sitting at about 500,000 SEK (500% funded) when I kicked in my money. I've got the full 1E line in PDF from various Bundles of Holding and other specials, and have really liked what I've looked at, so I decided to take the plunge for physical--I've found PDFs are convenient, but hard for me to really absorb and reference well. Or maybe I'm just getting old. Still, what they're showing off looks gorgeous.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Aglondir on February 12, 2021, 03:41:59 AM
I was excited when I heard about the KS, but I hate to say this... I'm not really in love with what I see. 

The cover: What is the big red circle? Why is it the cover so dark? It looks like "Midnight" Middle Earth (if Sauron had won.) Granted the bar is high: the covers from the AIME books were great, and the covers from the TOR books were amazing. 

Interior layout: It looks a bit off. A lot of white space. Not fond of the red on sepia look.   

Full-color spreads: They sort of have a Symbaorum vibe. That game has some of the best art ever to appear in an RPG, but it's not really the style for Middle Earth game. Maybe it will work.

Limited edition cover: That is really boring.

Line art: Ok, but not great.

Setting: Love it. Starting in Bree is great. The ruined north is one of my favorite regions.

Stance cards: Again, too dark.

Dice: The previous dice looked better.

Other stuff: Looks like red on sepia is the look they are going for, which is too bad.


I'm on the fence with this. I've bought Middle Earth RPGs before just to collect, but not sure if I will back this.


EDIT: The covers to AIME weren't as good as I remembered. I like the AIME Mirkwood cover, but the rest are sort of bland.

Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Batjon on February 12, 2021, 05:37:14 PM
Quote
So question for the audience in general here. Is the LotR IP toxic? Meaning, it seems to me that no one can hold on to it for an extended stretch of time. Or is that just the nature of Tolkien IP? I've seen MERP (which I, unfortunately, never got into). I bought extensively into the Decipher offering. I bought the slipcase box set of the Cubicle 7 offering. I didn't get AiME because I didn't want 5e polluting ME. And now it's moved to Free League. Am I missing any, aside from the many fan made?

This is correct.  After loving TOR, I actually preferred the travel mechanics in AIME once I got it.

But all publishers were betrayed as in dark corridors of Oxford, Dark Professor Ruel forged a lore than cannot be hold by anyone by him for prolonged stretch of time, and answers only to him.
AiME seems very very like TOR tbh, aside of 5e like model of mechanics - but they go for same lore, tone and game.

I've heard that they nailed travelling much better than TOR from few people, but never had occassion to check on my own skin.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: danskmacabre on February 12, 2021, 09:42:54 PM
I don't like TOR itself. Love the setting.
I really enjoyed AiME. Is that going ot be re-released as well?
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: danskmacabre on February 12, 2021, 09:46:01 PM
Oh NM. the KS says as follows re 5e:


We know that many of you have been enjoying roleplaying in Middle-earth using the fifth edition ruleset in the Adventures in Middle-Earth. We are working on a new edition for the 5E rules as well – but it is not part of this Kickstarter. More information about this will follow in the months to come.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: rocksfalleverybodydies on February 13, 2021, 04:43:37 AM
I think the artwork they are showing looks great and far superior to what was being touted for Cubicle when they were going to do it.  I still think the original Cubicle TOR had some of the best artwork.  This looks equally good, just different style.

I like Collector's editions simple in style and look so this checks my boxes.

I think the TOR rules were a nice fit for the theme and enjoyed the stance rules, etc.
Guess I'll watch the Twitch stream to hear about what they did with the rules but this is looking pretty good so far.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: BronzeDragon on February 13, 2021, 11:35:22 AM
I think the artwork they are showing looks great and far superior to what was being touted for Cubicle when they were going to do it.  I still think the original Cubicle TOR had some of the best artwork.  This looks equally good, just different style.

I like Collector's editions simple in style and look so this checks my boxes.

I think the TOR rules were a nice fit for the theme and enjoyed the stance rules, etc.
Guess I'll watch the Twitch stream to hear about what they did with the rules but this is looking pretty good so far.

Definitely agree this new art looks better than what little we saw was going on for C7's second edition.

But I much prefer the art in C7's first offering than this new batch. This looks a bit more like the movie version of LotR and less like Alan Lee and the Hildebrandts.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: soundchaser on February 13, 2021, 10:29:29 PM
For us, the recently shipped Against the Dark Master (a MERP clone) will serve our TOR purposes for the rest of our days, if a dragon does not end our joy too soon.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Batjon on February 13, 2021, 10:47:21 PM
I played some actual MERP in recent years.  It was interesting but not exactly what I'm looking for these days.  It is good to see it is still beloved.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Brad on February 14, 2021, 10:51:52 PM
Why the hell would anything licensing a Tolkien property need Kickstarter?
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: BronzeDragon on February 14, 2021, 11:10:10 PM
Why the hell would anything licensing a Tolkien property need Kickstarter?

I honestly think they did it to generate hype.

It's doing great numbers, and the success at the KS sorta bumps the project up in the minds of potential customers.

I'm fairly sure Free League could've financed this easily by themselves.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: RandyB on February 14, 2021, 11:22:53 PM
Why the hell would anything licensing a Tolkien property need Kickstarter?

To get money for product before producing said product, and put the bulk of the risk on the customer.

It's The Kickstarter Way!
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: rocksfalleverybodydies on February 15, 2021, 02:07:44 AM
I just hope it isn't another one of those moments where everyone gushes on about it for a month like the messiah of RPG's and then moves on to the next big thing.  With the Amazon LOTR hitting around the same time, TOR may make some decent waves in the 5e ocean.

I wish they released a rough quick start rules draft or something so I see what they've done with the rule system without laboring through videos and KS updates for clues.  Not including the referee screen in the rewards is a bit of a kick in the balls.  As they've exhausted all their stretch goals and there is still 17 days left, I hope that makes it into the bundle.

One plus with LOTR is I have a fixed pre-set of races that make sense in the setting and don't have to get into arguments about why someone's Tiefling or other goofy types aren't allowed at the table.  Sympathetic, misunderstood orcs?  Not in Tolkien's world.  Bliss!
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Trinculoisdead on February 15, 2021, 03:09:01 AM
Let's not kid ourselves. The 5e version Adventures in Middle-earth or whatever it's called, will be the game of choice for the Tolkien-lovers in the 5e crowd once Free League put it out.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Wicked Woodpecker of West on February 15, 2021, 06:03:34 AM
Aren't Adventures already suited for 5e? I've read a bit of it from C7 edition - classess looks very 5e-ish.
So as both C7 and FL were publishing both TOR and AiME - it could be tested which one was game of choice.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Snark Knight on February 15, 2021, 07:20:44 AM
Why the hell would anything licensing a Tolkien property need Kickstarter?

They didn't. That's why the stretch goals are so mediocre and the bonuses for backing it are basically zero unless you wanted the collector's edition. It's honestly pretty laughable watching them pretend they're so totally shocked and scrambling to come up with stretch goals for a Lord of the Rings RPG (on it's second edition when the first one is well known) did better than Twilight 2000.

A lot of 'projects' on Kickstarter these days are just jumped up pre-orders.

Let's not kid ourselves. The 5e version Adventures in Middle-earth or whatever it's called, will be the game of choice for the Tolkien-lovers in the 5e crowd once Free League put it out.

I'd say about half the comments I've seen on it elsewhere are some variation on "What about AiME?" and "I'm waiting for AiME!"

I'm always sort of torn on AiME, because if I'm on a Tolkien binge it makes it a lot easier to cobble together players and it's absolutely my preferred way to run 5e (the strictly defined Cultures, magic as an exceptionally rare thing the PCs almost never have, Journey rules) but on the other hand, it also gives a lot of Tolkienistas an excuse to keep injecting the 5e drug into their veins rather than looking at TOR.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Wicked Woodpecker of West on February 15, 2021, 07:53:29 AM
As someone knowing both AiME and TOR - if journey rules in AiMe is this one better element according to most - would it be possible to mix those two
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Slambo on February 15, 2021, 01:03:36 PM
Wait...if its the one right how's therr a 2nd one? (I couldnt resist the stupid joke)
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: danskmacabre on February 16, 2021, 02:14:14 AM
For us, the recently shipped Against the Dark Master (a MERP clone) will serve our TOR purposes for the rest of our days, if a dragon does not end our joy too soon.


Very tempted by this game.
It sounded really interesting when it was a Kickstarter.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: danskmacabre on February 16, 2021, 02:18:23 AM
Let's not kid ourselves. The 5e version Adventures in Middle-earth or whatever it's called, will be the game of choice for the Tolkien-lovers in the 5e crowd once Free League put it out.


I've played both ToR and AiME and I by far prefer AiME.
I'm not really a 5e fan TBH, but I got ToR wayback in 1st edition when it was very first released in a boxed set and the rules were a nightmare. All over the place and it was a nightmare to run, generate characters etc..  Flipping all over multiple books.

AiME just worked and worked well. Loved the background books too.

Still, the art in both ToR and AiME were very nice. But that doesn't help if the system sucks.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Wicked Woodpecker of West on February 16, 2021, 05:06:37 AM
I must say I've never tested them, as additional duties make our GM to abolish idea, but it took me like 10 minutes to make character for The One Ring - now of course using revised 1e book, so maybe it was better arranged, and then I just randomly roll for each aspect of character from race, profession, free skill points, so definitely I spend less time reading thanks to that.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: soundchaser on February 16, 2021, 07:22:34 AM
We did not like the subsystems in TOR 1e. Things cleaned a bit in 2e. Some of what Free League is saying sounds good, such as the mention of rebuilt subsystems. So zi am hopeful.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: estar on February 17, 2021, 10:08:47 AM
Aren't Adventures already suited for 5e? I've read a bit of it from C7 edition - classess looks very 5e-ish.
So as both C7 and FL were publishing both TOR and AiME - it could be tested which one was game of choice.
As it turned out, AiME creatures are generally way way tougher on multiple levels than their 5e equivalents. For example even the plain wolf is something to be terrified of. But that wasn't apparent when AiME first came out. Plus the AiME 5e classes are less combat driven and have a lot of roleplaying bits while still using 5e mechanics.

Now with all the C7 AiME stuff out as examples it possible to make a usable conversion until Free League gets out their version of AiME. But somebody new and just knows regular 5e, some nuances will be missed. Which you can see in some of the fan stuff put out after AiME was released and before the Loremaster's Guide.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: Jaeger on February 22, 2021, 08:38:58 PM
As it turned out, AiME creatures are generally way way tougher on multiple levels than their 5e equivalents. For example even the plain wolf is something to be terrified of. But that wasn't apparent when AiME first came out…

That was something that threw me the more I dug into Aime. Orcs are seriously tough.

Even in the books they would get one shotted. But 1st level characters would have a very hard time of it in anything resembling an even fight.

For me AiME adapted a lot of the right ideas. (How the world was represented in the PC cultures was on point.)  But was a bit too wedded to the 5e zero to hero paradigm.

You can tune d20 for a shallower power curve to have competent characters at first level, and go to level 20 without becoming superhero’s. They went a bit too copy and paste from 5e for may taste.

I chalk it up to differing expectations as my preferences are not the same as the normal 5e D&D audience.
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: horsesoldier on February 24, 2021, 02:02:51 PM
Does anyone know what went down between Cubicle 7 and the designers? Was C7 pushing wokeness?
Title: Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
Post by: BronzeDragon on February 24, 2021, 03:08:02 PM
Does anyone know what went down between Cubicle 7 and the designers? Was C7 pushing wokeness?

As far as I know it wasn't an issue between Nepitello and C7.

Licensing contract renewal was coming up and the success of TOR/AiME encouraged a stupendous hike in the licensing fee request.

C7 then tried negotiating, failed, and quit.

Someone better informed could fill in the gaps or correct me.