Tabletop RPG Games and Family Friendly Fellowship
In the aftermath of their harrowing ordeal, the companions found themselves burdened with dark revelations. Therian, long separated from his kin, was revealed to be the lost brother of Sylvaris. His hand had been severed, for upon it he had worn a cursed ring, a relic of shadowed intent. Yet his greatest agony was not in flesh, but in spirit, for he had been enthralled to a hooded sorcerer of Umbar, a dark servant whose name remained unknown.
Continue readingRunning a tabletop RPG at a convention can be an absolute blast. Most con games run about four hours, but sometimes you’ve only got three. That’s just enough time for an epic, fast-paced adventure… if you plan it right. Here’s how to keep the game tight, fun, and on schedule.
Continue readingDuring the fall season of the past year, Yorric courted the dwarf-maid Arica, and they were soon wed. Months later, a son, Kendric, was born—a rare child of both human and dwarf. Yet, even as joy filled his hearth, Yorric brooded on his rivalry with Adric, a fellow Rider of Rohan. Though Adric was his equal only in skill, his highborn status gave him favor among the lords of Rohan, a privilege Yorric lacked.
Continue readingEarly in the year T.A. 2967, our fellowship of brave adventurers embarked in the heart of winter, venturing to the Trollshaws, enduring bitter winds and treacherous terrain to rescue a waylaid courier. The courier, beset by orcs and hill trolls, carried tidings that revealed growing unrest in Middle-earth.
Continue readingThe heroes contacted patrons and learned of Zoril, a Black Numenorean behind much of the corsair activity along the coast. Captain Nerek
leads a ship with various foul folk from Umbar, far to the south.
In the year 2965 of the Third Age, our heroes met with Círdan, the ancient Elvish shipwright, and his envoy, Galdor of the Havens. Galdor was said to speak with Círdan‘s authority across Middle-earth should Círdan make future requests for the party’s assistance.
Continue readingThe first session of our Middle-earth game I thought ran really well, particulary with nine players plus me as the GM! Here are things I would have done differently and ideas to improve future games.
Continue readingThe OGG will be trying out Open Table Gaming. Open Table Gaming is similar to West Marches play (learn about West Marches campaigns here and here). Open Table gaming is sightly different, and includes these key elements:
So it’s a bit like an organized play program.
The Alexandrian Guide for open tables features a great overview of this play style (with additional articles on this topic here and here).
I have written a game called Third Age which is based on the Paragon RPG rules and uses standard polyhedral dice. You can read about this conversion — called Third Age.
Any standard D&D dice sets will work, but themed dice are cool. In particular, I love the Q Workshop Elvish and Dwarvish themed dice which I’ve collected over the years. Paragon uses a dice pool system so you need a lot of these dice — three sets of normal D&D dice — to play.
Check out some of the Q Workshop themed dice styles here:
The Orthodox Gamer's Guild is currently running an open-table game series set in Middle-earth. Our adventures will be based on the Ruins of the Lost Realm campaign guide for Middle-earth.
The OGG's Open Table games are currently set in Middle-earth and use the Third Age RPG rules.
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