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Author Topic: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)  (Read 4117 times)

Snark Knight

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The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« 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. 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.
« Last Edit: February 12, 2021, 09:10:12 AM by Snark Knight »

BronzeDragon

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Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« Reply #1 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.
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Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« Reply #2 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.

Brand55

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Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« Reply #3 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.

Snark Knight

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Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« Reply #4 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.

Brand55

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Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« Reply #5 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.

Thorn Drumheller

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Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« Reply #6 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?
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Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« Reply #7 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.

Armchair Gamer

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Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« Reply #8 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.

Armchair Gamer

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Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« Reply #9 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.

Aglondir

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Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« Reply #10 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.

« Last Edit: February 13, 2021, 03:16:42 AM by Aglondir »

Batjon

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Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« Reply #11 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.

danskmacabre

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Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« Reply #12 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?

danskmacabre

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Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« Reply #13 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.

rocksfalleverybodydies

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Re: The One Ring, Second Edition (Kickstarter)
« Reply #14 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.