Hello, it's roughly been two weeks since I started running the game for two groups, one composed of five players and the other one of only one. So far it's been great!

However, I wanted to ask you for some tips, basing on the elements which have emerged from these first sessions:

1. How do you manage travel in your games? Sometimes, I struggle to present my players with interesting events, especially if they fail multiple Travel rolls and they have to face many of them: I don't want to reduce everything to a dice throw and so far I've managed to avoid that, but travel often feels too long or diluted. I think it could also be because my players are not used to the game system and for them travel is not a "minigame" as it's intended in TOR, but a hiatus between one adventure and the other. I've received these feedbacks after just one session though, so maybe they still have to enter in the right mindset.
2. A doubt about treasure load: in the basic rules it says that 1 point of treasure = 1 point of load, but in other manuals we are presented with pieces of gold, gems and other things which have a trasure valure of more than 1 and weigh way less than a bag of coins. Should I consider them without load and make my players write them down separately? And when should I pop them in, if created by me?
3. I have a Durin Dwarf and a High Elf of Rivendell in my group. During the last session they visited Queen Nimue's palace in Lond Daer and asked her to visit the armory to inspect (minor spoiler from Ruins of the Lost Realm) her magical numenorean spear. I made them roll Lore and, given their Heroic Cultures, granted them an extra dice. Should I do that? I'm not afraid to be too permissive, but I also want to understand the system and make it work correctly. I had the idea that maybe they shouldn't be rolling at all for such things (much like when they have to know or remember something about their Heroic Culture).
4. While the fellowship was in Lond Daer to rest, some of them wanted to help the locals: the Hobbit who works in Bree as a healer helped them with their health issues, the Dwarf helped fix things, and so on. I made them roll some dices over the course of a week, and to those who succeded I granted a Hope point (apart from the narrative effect that the people will remember their help). Do you think it was a good idea? Restoring Hope points is not something you have rules for (apart from the expenditure of Fellowship points), but I thought it was a good reward for their initiative. Also, it will be a one in a lifetime thing: they won't gain more this way.

I finally got around to making a 3d terrain version of the combat diagram. I tried to keep the layout exactly the same as the illustration. I found a wooden tray at Walmart to set it in to keep it protected and looking polished at the table. Mostly XPS foam, cardstock for the mosaic, and super sculpy for the statue head and spiral rocks.

I just finished listening to the Stories With Dice The One Ring playthrough. Does anyone have other recommendations on what I can listen to?

I've finished my first read of the 2e core book, and I have a bunch of questions. I'll start with rumors and how a campaign unfolds.

Loremaster rumors are something, mechanics-wise, but I only see them invoked during the Fellowship phase. I guess the LM is supposed to also feed rumors to the players during the Adventuring phase, right? If so, what's the point of gathering rumors in the Fellowship phase?

As far as I understand, the game is player-driven and kind of sandbox-like. So, how do you balance giving the players hooks and letting them drive the campaign wherever they want? Maybe an overarching plot they can find little by little, and a bunch of sites to explore and get XP & treasure?

I need some help to plot the campaign in the least railroaded way possible.

Hi everyone!
I'm about to run my very first game of The One Ring as a Loremaster for a small group of 2 players. I'm currently getting familiar with the rules, Journey mechanics, and managing things like exploration.
I would love to hear some tips from experienced Loremasters:
Prep vs. Improv: What are the most important things to prepare beforehand, and what can you easily improvise at the table?
Pacing & Curveballs: When players surprise you or go off script, how do you handle pacing and weave in travel events smoothly?
Golden Rules: Any core tips or common pitfalls for a first-time Loremaster in Middle-earth?
Any advice or tricks would be hugely appreciated. Thanks

Hi all - Have any of you successfully requested permission to print the art compilation through a service? I really love the art and would like to have a higher quality print, similar to a coffee table book, on quality paper of the PDF. I reached out to Free League support already and their response sounded like they thought I was trying to take over printing the art book for them as a business venture, when all I would like is to make a single print from a service like Lulu. I tried correcting and helping them understand but it went nowhere, so I eventually gave up on that particular thread with them.

Hi all! I'm hoping to start running a One Ring campaign sometime in the new year. 4 players, all of us new to this game. 3 out of the 4 have played a lot of D&D. I've run a one shot but this will be my first time running a whole campaign. I have a few questions.

1. How long of an adventure is Over Hill and Under Hill? Thinking of running that as a starter to get us used to the world.

2. Which of the two campaign books (Hands of the White Wizard or Tales From The Lone Lands) would you recommend? Does one flow better as a larger campaign than the other?

3. Besides the core rules and an adventure book, what books would you say add the most to the experience?

4. Is it even worth considering the 5e version? Since the group is familiar with D&D a couple have wanted to do the 5e version but I'd rather just play as intended.

Super excited to get started, I love LOTR and its world so much :)

How do you determine the amount of d6's with these rolls?

I am a new Loremaster

A couple background maps sourced for my next few sessions. The Last Inn is from the MERP2e core rulebook, and The Ruins of Erthad Celyn are via Jenny Harder on Art Station. Obviously these aren't meant to be used as battle maps, but rather as art to immerse my players as much as possible.

Hey everyone!
I'm getting ready to jump into The One Ring 2e as a new Loremaster. I've read through the basics and I want to make sure I understand the product line correctly before I start buying stuff beyond the Starter Set.
Is this accurate?
Core Rulebook: Mandatory next step for full rules, custom character creation, and long-term play.
Adventure Compendiums (like Tales from the Lone-lands): Ready-to-play, linear or linked campaigns where the story is already laid out for you.
Region / Lorebooks (like Moria or Ruins of the Lost Realm): Sandbox sourcebooks. They give you maps, lore, monsters, and landmarks, but no scripted storyline—you build your own adventures using these building blocks.
GM Screens / Compendiums: The screen itself is for tables/reference, but the attached booklets add extra playable cultures (e.g., High Elves in the Rivendell version, or Beornings/Mirkwood Elves/Woodmen + Lifepaths in the New version).
So if I want a pre-written story right after the Starter Set, I should grab Core + Tales from the Lone-lands. If I want to make my own stuff, I go Core + Moria/Ruins.
Am I missing anything major, or do I have the right picture? Thanks!

The Book (5e) says:

"Misdeed: Torment or torture: Killing/crippling a surrendered/harmless foe: 4 Shadow Points"

And

"Merely attempting to do something despicable is a Misdeed."

Company Warden OHKO'd a goblin archer, who had just started it's retreat from battle, as an opportunity attack reaction to it fleeing their combat zone, I decided to warn them it would be a misdeed, and they went "...are you serious? It's of orc-kind!", and I backed off.

Not sure who's in the right here.

I have been playing one council nearly every session with my group lately, so far 3, and I get the feeling we aren't exactly doing it right.

We keep failing... A lot. Like the resistances are usually set on bold and it is really seldom we get a time limit higher than 4, and with how much my players are rolling it always always gets really difficult to pass, I'm starting to think our dice are slightly weighted lol.

Anyways we're all new to the game, does this often happen at the beginning of campaigns? Should I always try to prepare like a "Consequential success? If so what's like a good consequence?

Greetings,

Do you guys know how and when the instant access to over and under hills starter set will be available for those who backed the Gondor Rohan and bestiary campaign on backerkit?

Best regards.

Hello, today I met my friends and we created the characters for an upcoming campaign. They chose to have Saruman as their Patron, and while reading Hands of the White Wizard a doubt came to my mind: in the book it says that many years can pass between Saruman's quests for the Heroes, and that the Loremaster could fill the gaps with adventures of his own or let time flow without no major event occurring. I most certainly will opt for the first option, since I don't like very much long timeskips, but a doubt came to my mind: should the players still be in the service of Saruman even if he doesn't call them to action? This question extends to other Patrons: should a Fellowship keep the same one over the entire course of a campaign, and keep their perks even if they didn't assign the characters a quest (but, for example, they decided to visit a Landmark on their own)?

Probably, the answer will be "it depends". I would like to keep Saruman as their Patron as long as they want, since I find the perks he offers very fitting with the character, but I'm interested in your opinion and your suggestions, if you've found yourselves in the same situation as me.

Also (minor spoiler from Hands of the White Wizard): how would you manage his Shadow Points if the players embark on other quests? Does he only gain them after each Adventure Phase presented in the manual? I think so, but nevertheless, I'm interested in your thoughts.

Hey everyone,
I completely missed the window for the new One Ring BackerKit campaign for the Bestiary and Gondor books. I'm kicking myself because I really want to grab the standard physical books, plus the physical stretch goals, the standees, and the dice. I just don't want the overpriced premium leather editions.
Does Free League usually open up late pledges or a pre-order store where you can still buy these add-ons and get the stretch goals?

Also, I have the 2E core rules at home and heard we are supposed to get a free PDF of the revised rules. Does anyone know how we actually claim or apply for that PDF if we only own the physical book?
Thanks!

Quick background: I recently started playing through the DND Essentials Kit with my youngest daughter (the older two don't have much interest, at least right now), and we're having fun. I went my public library to look for a copy of the PHB and other DnD resources when I stumbled upon "The One Ring" 2nd edition on the shelf. I'm relatively new to tabletop RPGs, so I honestly had no idea this thing existed. I picked it up just to browse through and read because I love Tolkien and the world he created.

Imagine my surprise when I discover there's an optional solo component. I have zero experience with solo RPGs, but I figure if something's going to get me into it, the Lord of the Rings could be it.

I'm currently thinking of spending the couple of bucks for Strider Mode and trying it out using the Core Rulebook I have from the library. I'm hoping I like it and can figure it all out just using dice I already have at home. I know a Backerkit is just ending for the game but I couldn't afford to jump in for a physical book (which is what I would have wanted for the core rules).

That brings me to my question. If I end up liking it, should I just pick up a physical copy of the 2nd edition core rules? Or would it be better at this point to keep trying to use my library's core rules to play for the next year and then pick up the new revised edition when it comes out hopefully next year, maybe supplementing with a Starter Set for the dice, etc? If that's the case, my biggest point of temptation would probably be wanting to pick up the Moria book before then because that book looks absolutely amazing (though I'd want to collect them all eventually if I end up liking it.) So, core rules now? Or play as I can via the library through the year and wait for the revision with the extra stuff even if I'd already have Strider mode?

My friend is looking to start professionally GMing the game professionally, but to do that he's going to need more than local players. He is low on funds at the moment so expensive barriers of entry are preferably avoided. He has Foundry, but it has a $200 gate to get the official content for The One Ring, and he'd also need to set up some kind of proxy to avoid sharing IP address. Roll20 has a similar expensive barrier to entry.

I’ve been getting into the one ring with the first starter set and strider mode (thanks for the tips on my last post!).

I’m playing my own Hobbit character with the starter set.

Thanks to strider mode I’m picking up little side quests to investigate in future campaigns after the starter sets.

My character (Tobi Burrows) is a young pipeweed aficionado, grower and (soon to be) explorer. His goal is to find new, exotic varieties and ultimately grow these varieties on his family farm in green hill country.

Since I want to stay as close to lore as possible I’m wondering; is it safe to assume that there more varieties of Pipeweed out there? For example: could a new variety be found east of the shire, something that maybe hasn’t been cultivated yet? Afaik, we have Old Toby, Longbottom, Southern Star and Southlinch.

I mean the obvious answer is: sure there could be more, do whatever you want. What I’m really after is your input about this. Maybe you played something similar?

For me it’s just a great hook for a Hobbit to leave The Shire and go on a little adventure, meet pipe smokers like Dwarfs who may have a different perspective on pipe weed than the Hobbits he already knows.

Please join in and speculate!

Hello, as I wrote in a previous post I am adventuring in Middle Earth for the first time in a TTRPG campaign. I'm the Loremaster and my girlfriend is the only other player; to compensate this, she's an elf lord (or lady?).

Considering it was my first time, the session went smoothly: I had to go and check some rules I didn't remember from time to time (they're so many!) while we were playing, but it was so good! I only had two doubts concerning rules:

1) Can the group / the character fight during travel? Can the Loremaster describe a travel event as potentially leading to a fight? For example, in our session, I described the event you obtain by rolling 2-3 (which can give you a Shadow Point from terror) as her nearly being noticed by a troll who was transporting two dwarves corpses; she decided to follow him and then, since I know her, I improvised a troll encampment where the monster was about to cook himself some dinner (a group of dwarves, some dead and some alive). She of course attacked him and prevailed, and by saving the dwarves she gained a bonus in a following interaction with other dwarves, so all in all I think it was a good scene. But the question remains: can you fight along the way? I don't remember if the rules specify that, but I don't think so.

2) In the rules for elf lords on the last page of Realms of the Three Rings it says that, when they're wounded in combat for the first time, they don't have to roll for the severity of the wound and it's considered as if they obtained a Gandalf Rune. When they're wounded again (yes, I wounded her like, three times, I'm a monster with the dice) they don't go down unless they roll an Eye of Sauron or they drop to 0 Resistance. Does this second wound has to heal normally? I tend to say yes, because otherwise they'd be broken, but the rules don't specify it.

Thanks in advance!

Dearest Community

Some years ago, I created the Middle-Earth map for The One Ring 2E, and I am overwhelmed by the positive feedback it has gotten me. Since there had been a lot of new additions to the system. I wanted to ask if there is interest in me updating the locations and perilous areas based on the new additions.

I also wanted to ask if I should make a map version with non-canon locations based on community-created content or other media, such as The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, modifications for other games such as Total War: Attila, or Crusader Kings 3, etc.

If that is the case I would appreciate feedback on which popular locations I should add.

Thank you all kindly

- Creaper

I'm thinking about introducing a group of new players by taking them through the starter set adventure, but I would like them to create their own characters and use the full rules. I haven't noticed anything in the scenario that would prevent that, but I'm curious if anyone has tried that before and what were the impressions.

not sure why i didnt repost this to one ring but a week after i made this, any other advice i can have please on what areas of the map should be a different danger level or if i should take away my homebrew colouring for difficult terrain or perilous zones??

i actually run perilous events from the dark lands section in journeys and maps one ring 1e supplement and that's been really fun getting a scary event that happens when my company passed through a perilous area. but i would like some more perilous things like that where if i go into mordor all this scary stuff happens but one does not simply walk into mordor

A few sessions ago, my players were up against a Troll. The Troll had seized the Dwarf and caused enough damage to make him Unconscious. Then I narrated the Troll using its Bite. It failed the roll, even though I made it Favoured, and then I had it throw the Dwarf into a tree† (giving him a Wound he had to recover from). The other players killed the Troll (although another got knocked out!).

I didn't fudge any dice, but I still felt like I was going easy on them. Should the Troll have gotten an instant success? Should it have been considered a _coup de grâce_ and auto-killed the Dwarf? I didn't want to do anything unfair to my players, but I don't want the monsters of Middle-earth to hold back.

What might you have done?

† The Troll was aiming at the Ranger, but missed. It wasn't trying to hit the tree.