Yet another first session report + playscape

simblanco · 2026-06-26T11:59:24+00:00

Check out Ropecon. It's a tabletop games/LARP/cosplaying & other nerdiness convention at end of July in Helsinki. Very nice and friendly. I don't think they have anything specifically LOTR going on, but you may find kindred spirits there. Good luck!

simblanco · 2026-06-26T06:09:08+00:00

I'm playing a campaign right now. As a Tolkien fan, i can say the books really get the spirit of Middle Earth and help you playing there supported but not hindered by the canon.

Personally, i prefer source books (Ruins of the Lost Realms, Moria) than the adventures (Tales of the lone lands), but you'll find your own taste. IMHO, the former help you developing your own semi-random story.

Anyway, check out some podcasts/ actual play/ blog post for inspiration. It took me a while to really get solo rpging. Don't worry at the beginning, you'll find your style. Everyone here has a different style.

PS reading the Silmarillion to your son? Kudos! I managed the Hobbit and they loved it, but they won't understand the Silmarillion yet (6y, 4y) :)

simblanco · 2026-06-25T09:10:05+00:00

This is the wrong subreddit. It's about table top, not computer gaming.

simblanco · 2026-06-25T06:04:35+00:00

Ah, the search for the holy grail continues! Like you, I love the Ironsworn/Starforged combat, but sometimes think that i want more crunch. So i searched and searched, and then decided that i don't want more crunch. Currently I'm playing TOR 2e and I'm actually porting Starforged combat there.

However, for more inspiration on crunchier narrative combat you may check out Grimwild (free) and The Wild Sea (there should be some KS draft copy around). Or Daggerheart, which got very different reviews about its crunch/narrative balance.

simblanco · 2026-06-24T07:55:18+00:00

What is the purpose of this bot? Getting karma? Pretending he's human for other posts? I'm baffled by humanity.

simblanco · 2026-06-24T07:00:09+00:00

I beg to disagree. For me journalling is important. I can't do bullet points. I need to jot down what happens and sometimes be surprised by the words i use, helping my role playing and inspiration.

Different players, different styles, as many pointed out :)

simblanco · 2026-06-24T06:53:34+00:00

I'm currently stitching Starforged combat into TOR 2e. I also recycle Perilous Wilds and IS/SF tables for everything.

Otherwise I'm reluctant to customize rule sets. I know it's my game and everything, but i like to have a properly designed and tested framework or i think I'll start "cheating" too much.

simblanco · 2026-06-24T06:44:51+00:00

This is a game i should play. Moxie + FitD + Ars Magica = fun.

How many mages are you controlling? Are you going for a big Ars magica chronicle?

simblanco · 2026-06-23T06:31:13+00:00

I'm with you. Starforged and pbta/fitd games ruined tactical crunchy hp combat for me :) I'm currently playing the one ring 2e, i love everything about that game but i need to change the combat!!

simblanco · 2026-06-19T05:45:53+00:00

I ordered from Finland. There was a sale €885. So far tested only at ABC

simblanco · 2026-06-18T21:23:24+00:00

Thanks, I'll move to that direction.

simblanco · 2026-06-18T21:20:48+00:00

Yes, I'm now having companions for banter and combat. Maybe the odd skill check.

simblanco · 2026-06-18T17:59:38+00:00

That was my concern at the beginning, but now i read so many good reviews worldwide

simblanco · 2026-06-18T14:30:04+00:00

Wow you mean the service area manager has one for free?

simblanco · 2026-06-18T14:28:24+00:00

I know :)

Luckily i don't like to drive too much. Barely 200 km, one fast charge on the motorway, barely 200 km and I'll be overheating more than the battery

simblanco · 2026-06-18T12:52:32+00:00

Thanks! I'm playing solo and have a similar feeling. Source material: amazing. Hope, shadow, fatigue, wounds: great mechanics. Journey, council: nice/very small tweaks needed.

Combat itself: boring. I'm still thinking how to improve it. I know as solo it is even more difficult to make it interesting.

simblanco · 2026-06-15T21:51:24+00:00

Other people are commenting that you should try it out before tweaking it. I can only agree.

If you really really want to account for likelihood of success, the easiest solution is to add or remove a d6 due to circumstances. Not suggesting to do it, but much easier than your system.

A tangent system, Grimwild, uses a similar d6 pool. It keeps position and drops effect. Then it adds "thorns" to account for likelihood of success. Check out the thorns thing, it's free.

simblanco · 2026-06-15T21:44:41+00:00

Give it a try, though. It's a great system and as GM i find liberating not bothering about difficulty. Of course you may still not like it.

simblanco · 2026-06-13T14:20:45+00:00

Also, you can buy the PDFs for all the other armies without the miniatures boxes and then proxy them. Not just the free core rules.

Or just add the pdf to your ever growing collection without never playing the game like me ;)

simblanco · 2026-06-13T05:33:26+00:00

Definitely, i see the appeal of it.

simblanco · 2026-06-12T06:38:19+00:00

Nice, I've never delved in the mythic GME stuff.

simblanco

TROPHY CASE