Makin' Middle Earth :)

[Ferretz]

With Fantasy Craft coming out, I thought it would be a nice idea to make a Middle Earth campaign, but what I'm curious about is how "Tolkien-ish" Fantasy Craft is in general. Ok, let's see, what do we need to get a Middle Earth campaign going?

1. Setting information: Got that covered. I played the rpg by Decipher, and I have the excellent maps and rules-free geography folders (those were the only really good thing about that game, in my opinion). So I'm using these. Also, I'm a Tolkien nut, so this will be the easy bit.

2. Races: Elves, Dwarves, Pech, and Orcs from Classic Races. Great, but will Fantasy Craft or Classic Fantasy Races have a way to make the various Middle Earth sub-races different? Noldorin and Sindarin have subte differences. There are various cultures of Hobbits, for instance. Will there be room for subtle differences like these, or are characters made as just High Elves and Pechs? (Pech.. by the way, is this the same word they called Willow in that film?

Willow: "See this acorn? I'll throw it at you and turn you to stone!"
Madmartigan: "Ooh, I'm really scared. No! Don't! There's a- a peck here with an acorn pointed at me!" 
Willow: "Don't call me a peck!"
Madmartigan: "Oh, I'm sorry! Peck! Peck! Peck, peck, peck, peck, peck, peck, peck!"

3. Hmm.. any other ideas for making Fantasy Craft work well with Middle Earth? Heck, I'm just throwing out ideas here. I feel I'm very excited about this one.

Cheers,

Eirik

[Wolverine]

It all depends what you want to do with Middle Earth. Do you want Balrogs? What about Dragons and Drakes? What about intelligent Wargs? I'm sure all of this will be very doable in Fantasy Craft, and if not will be converted up within mere moments of the book becoming available.

When it comes to Tolkien's world, though, the real key is in the presentation. Elves and Dwarves and Pechs appear in most flavours of fantasy, what makes it unique is the setting. Places like the Shire, Rivendell and Edoras make LotR easily identifiable to gamers. Get the setting right and most of your work is done for you - just don't make the Elves happy hippies while you're at it

[Ferretz]

Yes. I'm very curious about how the classes in Fantasy Craft and the racial master classes fit with Middle Earth. I'd be very happy if I can just use most or all of them as is in the campaign. Guess I'm lazy, as I don't like doing conversion work

E.

[Ezram]

I thought Pech were rock-children: birdlike creatures from the Forgotten Realms?

[Krensky]

Pech are elements of of Scottish history/folklore/mythology, like Pixies. They were extremely strong gnome like beings.

As for sub-races, that's what Racial feats are for. One of the Signs and Portents has a sample of the Elf Talent with some examples of the Elven Racial feats. I don't recall which one though.

[spinningdice]

Fantasycraft Pech are able to (via feats) cover Gnomes & halflings, as well as closer to the scottish Pech, unless I'm mistaken.
I can't see any reason LotR wouldn't be fairly easily doable, we'll have elves, dwarves, orcs, hobbitses and so on, it's just swatting up on the background.

[Ferretz]

Nasssty hobbitses.. We hatess them!

Nice, I want my Fantasy Craft and Classic Fantasy Races now, please. Can I have it now? hehe..

E.

[Crafty_Pat]

Yup, species feats will cover you for elven, dwarven, etc. sub-races, and while our settings deviate from Tolkien in a lot of ways, the baseline remains pretty darn close. (Scott and I have been playing a lot of LOTRO, so...)

Sorry about the wait. FC is still a ways off, but we're working feverishly to get it done.

Classic Fantasy Races, though, is in edits and closing in one the finish line. It's one of three major projects on my plate at the moment, alongside the many smaller garnishes always vying for my attention.

[Ferretz]

No worries. If Classic Fantasy Races includes elves, dwarves, pechs and orcs, then I'm very happy! I looked through the Spycraft classes again and I can use those until FC comes along. And the setting I already have, if I'm going to use Middle Earth.
Just gonna have to make some additional fantasy gear

E.

[Bill Whitmore]

No worries. If Classic Fantasy Races includes elves, dwarves, pechs and orcs, then I'm very happy! I looked through the Spycraft classes again and I can use those until FC comes along. And the setting I already have, if I'm going to use Middle Earth.
Just gonna have to make some additional fantasy gear

E.

Yea, like a 10-foot pole.

[Ferretz]

Gotta have that pole too

[Toccata]

I'd say a 10 foot pole would just be a very cumbersome common item. Possibly part of a low-tech mechanics kit for disable checks, too 

[Ferretz]

Haha, can I use the Reserve Common Item rule for that?

Burglar: "Hmm.. to get up there, I need a 10 foot pole..."
Warrior: "No worries, friend. I happen to have one in this here bag!"

[Toccata]

Haha, can I use the Reserve Common Item rule for that?

Burglar: "Hmm.. to get up there, I need a 10 foot pole..."
Warrior: "No worries, friend. I happen to have one in this here bag!"

Reserve common items don't have to be something you brought with you necessarily.

"Hmm, I need a 10 foot pole...
"Oh, look, there's one right here on this pile of lumber. YOINK!"

[Morgenstern]

The 'Classic' in Classic Fantasy Races is very deliberately Middle Earth inspired. Using the races without additional sub-race feats should get you the desired effect - the subraces deal with both Eriador variation and many other popular fictional takes on the core concept for both games and novels. Butfor the baseline I tried to pull concepts directly from the source material. Elves have extremely good long distance vision. warves are both determined and skilled craftsmen. Pech are intrinsically good with thrown rocks. All things I'm sure a Tolkien fan might find familiar .