# D & D on the Straight Dope setup thread. (In Middle Earth FA63) **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Tags:** middle-earth-game\ **Created:** [February 26, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276 "2008-02-26T20:17:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/381 "2008-03-17T14:59:06Z")
I got the map and it’s perfectly clear. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/382 "2008-03-17T15:34:02Z")
I got a map too, and I think I understand it, though I am not 100% sure where I am on it now that the first attack has ended. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/383 "2008-03-17T18:17:16Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Thoroncir whispers, “That’s King _Elessar_.” [/QUOTE] My grandfather remembers Wose scouts telling him about the passing of a company through Dunharrow to the Dimholt. And their leader was called Aragorn, who led them where we would never go. :eek: It matters not what he calls himself now. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/384 "2008-03-18T14:46:27Z")
[QUOTE=glee] …It matters not what he calls himself now. [/QUOTE] “Well,” says Thoroncir, smiling, “you may think that, friend Ghan, and I will not fault you, but the heralds in the Court of the King at Minas Tirith will surely think otherwise.” The maps came through just fine. Thanks, **What Exit?** Very helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/385 "2008-03-18T14:55:55Z")
Grandad forgot to mention that when the King came back after the War was won, and gifted the forest to the Druedain in perpetuity, he did so under the name ‘The King Elessar’. /bard moment ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/386 "2008-03-18T17:01:09Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] “Well,” says Thoroncir, smiling, “you may think that, friend Ghan, and I will not fault you, but the heralds in the Court of the King at Minas Tirith will surely think otherwise.” [/QUOTE] “Well, indeed.” replies Ghân. “We Woses don’t get out much…” ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/387 "2008-03-18T17:02:22Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] Grandad forgot to mention that when the King came back after the War was won, and gifted the forest to the Druedain in perpetuity, he did so under the name ‘The King Elessar’. /bard moment [/QUOTE] It is possible that my grandfather celebrated too much at that ceremony. We Woses are not used to those beverages you call alcohol. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/388 "2008-03-18T19:16:49Z")
I don’t believe that for a minute. I’m sure you are hitting the blackberry brandy left and right. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/389 "2008-03-18T20:30:35Z")
[QUOTE=D\_Odds] I don’t believe that for a minute. I’m sure you are hitting the blackberry brandy left and right. [/QUOTE] Heh. Elves of Lorien and of the Wood of Green Leaves alike treat the blackberry brandy of the Druedain with sober respect, and that’s before we get started on the wacky baccy and funny fungi. No wonder they’re renowned for their numeracy - it’s like “Man, have you ever sat and counted, I mean _really counted_, the leaves on a tree?” ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/390 "2008-03-19T03:54:57Z")
[QUOTE=D\_Odds] I don’t believe that for a minute. I’m sure you are hitting the blackberry brandy left and right. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Malacandra] Heh. Elves of Lorien and of the Wood of Green Leaves alike treat the blackberry brandy of the Druedain with sober respect, and that’s before we get started on the wacky baccy and funny fungi. No wonder they’re renowned for their numeracy - it’s like “Man, have you ever sat and counted, I mean really counted, the leaves on a tree?” [/QUOTE] No really, we Woses don’t go in for that sort of stuff. It’s true we make a sort of beverage out of rotting apples that (strangely) makes you fall over, but (like the magic mushrooms) it’s all natural! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/391 "2008-03-19T18:05:03Z")
“Pass me a bottle, would you?” Thoroncir, curious, asks. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/392 "2008-03-19T20:20:38Z")
Mort: “A pint of scumble please, landlord”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2008, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/393 "2008-03-19T23:47:59Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] Heh. Elves of Lorien and of the Wood of Green Leaves alike treat the blackberry brandy of the Druedain with sober respect, and that’s before we get started on the wacky baccy and funny fungi. No wonder they’re renowned for their numeracy - it’s like “Man, have you ever sat and counted, I mean _really counted_, the leaves on a tree?” [/QUOTE] Ghân says that his grandfather could indeed count leaves on a tree - and men in the dark. The Riders from Rohan had a score of scores, counted ten times and five. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/394 "2008-03-20T12:57:22Z")
Okay, new question. No noogies, I promise. I’m still a bit curious about _how_ you proceed. I’m am following your thread a bit, although no faithfully. What precisely is your end-goal? If I were watching your game as a movie, how much longer am I watching i for? **Malacandra** , I did a Google search. It looks like you may have come up with the song yourself. Cool. ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/395 "2008-03-20T13:22:40Z")
[QUOTE=bbs2k] Okay, new question. No noogies, I promise. I’m still a bit curious about _how_ you proceed. I’m am following your thread a bit, although no faithfully. What precisely is your end-goal? If I were watching your game as a movie, how much longer am I watching i for? **Malacandra** , I did a Google search. It looks like you may have come up with the song yourself. Cool. [/QUOTE] Our current end goal is an end to the problems caused Gash and his cronies. How long it will take is up to **What Exit?** and how we react to the situation placed in front of us. Don’t think if this as a movie, think of it more as an ongiong TV series. These things don’t have to have an end. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/396 "2008-03-20T13:39:36Z")
[QUOTE=CatInASuit] …Don’t think if this as a movie, think of it more as an ongiong TV series. These things don’t have to have an end. 😃 [/QUOTE] Who wants to know just how long you’ll be having fun, exactly? Relax and enjoy the ride. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/397 "2008-03-20T13:49:15Z")
I have had one campaign go through three generations of characters and last nearly 10 years. The play was heavy at times with up to 40 games session a year and as low as 8 sessions a year. I recently closed out a campaign in a world of my own devising where the Dwarves had a Tech Revolution. This game last 6 years but I think it only had around 85 sessions over that span. Back when I was in the Navy, I ran a massive 2-year campaign where we played almost daily for a 5 month stretch and we had at the max 21 participants with two sub-refs. It was insane and yet it worked. The bulk of the campaign was during a 6-month West Pac. There was more actual game time in that campaign then the 6 year campaign I had just closed out. The game I am ref’ing currently just got started and we are playing roughly 3 out of 4 Fridays. This is the most I have gamed in over decade. This game on the dope is moving quicker than I expected and who know how long it will go. This is just the first mission, it should lead to some other options and the campaign needs to build to a real goal. I am impressed with the game play and \*\*Malacandra \*\* blew my socks off his tribute to the fallen dwarf. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/398 "2008-03-20T14:03:30Z")
I tell ya, those Elves really know how to eulogize. I’m having a blast right now. And for future adventures, may I be so bold as to suggest: - sailing on the Sea of Rhun - bending the elbow in the vineyards of Dorwinion - hanging with Radagast - seeing what’s happened in Mordor since Sauron’s fall - visiting the refounded royal city of Annuminas - dropping by the Shire - a well-bundled visit to the Ice-Bay of Forochel (maybe with a side trip to see Cirdan in the Grey Havens) - a raid against Umbar - a return to Moria - a return to Dale and Erebor ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/399 "2008-03-20T14:36:13Z")
[QUOTE=bbs2k] Okay, new question. No noogies, I promise. I’m still a bit curious about _how_ you proceed. I’m am following your thread a bit, although no faithfully. What precisely is your end-goal? If I were watching your game as a movie, how much longer am I watching i for? **Malacandra** , I did a Google search. It looks like you may have come up with the song yourself. Cool. [/QUOTE] Roleplaying is **very** different from games like chess (where there is a clear competitive objective and a final result). It’s more like acting in an improvised play. :eek: 😕🙂 There’s a team effort by the players to work together using their characters’ different skills. Meanwhile only the referee (Dungeon Master) knows the full plot (and even he can’t predict what the players will do). The enjoyment comes from: - using your imagination to be a different person in a fascinating setting - working with the other players to solve problems, right wrongs and find out what happens next - roleplaying your character (you can be a heroic and virtuous knight; you can be a Scout nervously mapping ahead of the party; you can be a well-meaning healer, who makes bizarre suggestions…) - having a laugh when something unexpected happens - being impressed by other players getting into their role (Malacandra’s epitaph is a first-class example of this 🆒 ) I run roleplaying at my school and the pupils love it (a real change from all that studying!). Some players research their character and try for power (one acquired a dragon mount 🙂 ); some show concern for the communities in the story (one invested his treasure in opening a cheese shop and building low-cost housing…). ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/400 "2008-03-20T15:33:39Z")
[QUOTE=bbs2k] Okay, new question. No noogies, I promise. I’m still a bit curious about _how_ you proceed. I’m am following your thread a bit, although no faithfully. What precisely is your end-goal? If I were watching your game as a movie, how much longer am I watching i for? **Malacandra** , I did a Google search. It looks like you may have come up with the song yourself. Cool. [/QUOTE] I did. Being a Tolkienophile I referenced all I could of the dwarven afterlife myths. In character, an Elven bard with the kind of connections Gil-Gandel has would know these - he will have been no more than three handshakes away from people who were literally around at the beginning of the world, and who talked with the Valar besides. The Dwarves believe that their spirits are gathered by Aule the Smith-Vala to a place set aside, where they will help him at the shaping of the new world when Eru Iluvatar destroys the old one. And as said, this goes on as long as people feel like playing - hopefully for a while yet. Think of it less like a movie, more like an action-adventure series like the old _Star Trek_ where there wasn’t an overarching story as such, but a series of episodes with a common setting. I have been thinking I ought to start up yet another one of my own, possibly Viking-themed. I’ll post a setup thread in due course. 🙂 > [@glee](#): > > cheese shop Heh. I lately got into _Order of the Stick_. Are you familiar with the “Polearm Shop” episode? 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276.md?page=21)