The One Ring RPG Returns To Kickstarter 11th February
February 10, 2021 by brennon
Free League Publishing has announced that The One Ring Roleplaying Game is going to be coming to Kickstarter tomorrow (11th February 2021) for its 2nd Edition. It will soon be time to wander the roads of Middle-earth once more...
The One Ring // Free League Publishing
After some time in limbo, The One Ring is returning with a new edition. The first version of the game released in 2011 and was generally considered to be one of the best representations of Middle-earth and the world of Tolkien on the tabletop. Game designer Francesco Nepitello has collaborated with Free League Publishing on this new edition to bring us back to The Third Age as we tell stories adjacent and far removed from the events of The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings.
The new edition of the game touts streamlined and updated rules thanks to player feedback and the artstyle has been utterly revamped. As you can see from the cover, the art team for this game has gone seriously overboard in the best way possible.
Sign Up To Get Notified Of Kickstarter Launch
The world of Middle-earth is one which is constantly at the back of my mind and as a collector of roleplaying games, I could very easily see myself picking this up when the Kickstarter goes live. I have had fun with Adventures In Middle-earth, the 5th Edition take on Tolkien's world, but I would be fascinated to give The One Ring a go too.
Are you going to be backing this campaign?
Supported by (Turn Off)
Supported by (Turn Off)
Supported by (Turn Off)
I preordered the Slipcase Edition of The One Ring and it was the first gaming pdf I read cover to cover. Updated to the Hardback edition when that came and have everything they did for the game so far. It’s a good system for the most part, but the ‘Journeys’ system could get a bit tiresome at times. I was looking forwards to Moria, but as is often the case with C7, they took far too long releasing product, probably because they got obsessed with GW rules and churning those out. I’ll look at the kickstarter, but it would have… Read more »
Not sure C7 were fully in control of the release schedule. As with any licence some delays creep in with all the people who need to sign off on the products.
Sounds good any game video’s of the first edition to see the basic rules?
I tried not to back, as I already have all first edition stuff, but faux leather bound book with a starter set for £105 and it’s already unlocked 14 stretch goals.
I pledged. Luckily I cancel Iron Kingdpoms Requiem yesterday as I decided didn’t want 5e.
I do love the art I’m seeing.
So different from the movies and the Alan Lee drawings.
I just can’t imagine adventuring in a setting where the big stuff has already been done (or will be done) by someone else.
My wallet says no …
I ran a campaign for best part of two years and took a break because I needed it. My players want to go back and when I told them I’d backed a new edition they were eager to return and by November this year when it releases we will be post-covid… I hope. Although it’s set between the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings you’re missing the big stuff… If you think back to the novels, there are references to great events performed by other heroes of legend… Luthien and Beren… ELendil… And the Silmarilian has the events of the… Read more »
I guess that’s true, but even though I know there’s more stuff to that world I only really know Gandalf and company. It just feels ‘wrong’ to go dungeon crawling like you would in D&D. And then there’s the potential for meta gaming when players know that creatures like trolls turn to stone in daylight. How does the game handle magic ? Gandalf is kind of a mythical creature … as are the rest of his fellow wizards. And yet I suspect that ‘everyone’ wants to be Gandalf just like every Star Wars game ‘needs’ to have Jedi (despite them… Read more »
Magic is rare and there are no lightning bolts, fireballs etc it’s all very low key.
You don’t dungeon crawl. It’s mostly wilderness and combat is rare, but dangerous, not kicking down doors and killing monsters.
No one can be gandalf. He’s a mentor if you every meet him and you run him as an advisor.
This game is nothing like d&d.
So players used to D&D are in for a huge dissappointment if they expect the same sort of things ?
btw : I do think that your description does match what Middle Earth is like in the books so I’m not disappointed to see that the game guides you into that direction.
If they want a d&d experience they should get the 5e version, Adventures in Middle Earth, although I have personally not played that version.
This about journeys in the wilderness,overcoming hazards of terrain and creatures, enduring the hardships, resisting temptation caused by your ‘shadow weakness’ as get corrupted by the terror and fatigue.
It’s as close to Tolkien as you will get in an RPG.
But don’t take my word for it, search the internet for other opinions.
please god no …
Settings like Middle Earth need their own mechanics.
You can’t use D&D to get the kind of experience you describe with those rules.
It’s like when they made a D20 version of Call of Ctulluh … totally missing the point of what the theme of the game should be like.
‘shadow weakness’ ? please tell me more, because that does sound interesting.
Makes me wonder if Warhammer Fantasy RPG should have used a similar corruption mechanic.
This may take a while to explain. When you build you character you choose a calling from the following: Scholar, Slayer, Treasure Hunter, Wanderer and Warden. Each of these has a Shadow Weakness (in order): Lure of Secrets, Curse of Vengeance, Dragon Sickness, Wandering Madness and Lure of Power Taking the example of Treasure Hunter… his Shadow Weakness is Dragon-sickness. You start the game with a Hope score based on your culture. You can spend Hope to improve skill rolls. You can restore some hope between adventures. You also have a Shadow of 0. If you do something evil you… Read more »
@pagan8th thanks for the info.
It is an interesting concept and definitely one that helps keep the murder hobo under control.
Although it does make me wonder about the non-hero characters, because I doubt they would fall into any of the classes(?) mentioned. Do they suffer corruption as well ?
If you mean the NPC’s… they are not built the same way as PC’s are. NPC’s are generally corrupted, or not, they don’t gain corruption… unless you have one that the party can influence their fate, preventing the corruption, or redeeming them. If you look at the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings there are several corrupted characters, or ones that become corrupted… Boromir, Denethor, Saruman, Grima, the Master of Laketown, Thorin… they didn’t end well. Boromir did repent… dying in the process. However, Gandalf, Aragorn, Galadriel, Faramir all resisted the ring. As did Sam Gamgee. Even Frodo gave in… Read more »