# 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:** 86
**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:** [May 11, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1701 "2009-05-11T17:06:45Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > … **EH** : I don’t think Glee has been bombarded by the Gecko commercials in the UK. 😃 I suppose not. Might cause widespread eyerolling: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip5VOv92bC8&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip5VOv92bC8&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1702 "2009-05-11T17:26:25Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Just to be a stickler, Macaques are Monkeys and not Apes to the best of my knowledge. Doesn’t matter much for the game though. You try talking to Biologists about ‘spell casting’ reptiles! :eek: I was just keeping it brisk… > [@What\_Exit](#): > > I’ll allow the Eagle immediately and Marten eventually talk, but the Gecko I can’t do. There structure also does seem useful for casting somaticly. I think we will keep it to the Marten eventually casting. So the Eagle can’t cast because it has no hands and the Gecko because it can’t talk? Fair enough. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > Barkskin works with the others. +1AC and more importantly the B pen. > Fang, Ance, The Warhorse or the Eagle can carry it. Oh, so Barkskin gives a Weapon v AC bonus? - I thought it was a property of my Wooden Jerkin! > [@What\_Exit](#): > > Marten’s swim? Can you cite that anywhere, I was not aware that they could. But I don’t know much about them. I got that from [here](http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/07/pine.marten), but in fairness, it doesn’t mention swimming [here](http://www.ionalister.com/pinemarten/pmbehaviour.htm). 😕 ---
**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:** [May 11, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1703 "2009-05-11T17:38:03Z")
> [@glee](#): > > …I got that from [here](http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/07/pine.marten), but in fairness, it doesn’t mention swimming [here](http://www.ionalister.com/pinemarten/pmbehaviour.htm). 😕 Googling turned up a few scattered references to pine martens swimming, but it doesn’t seem they’re especially good at it. Only on the Dope would an RPG adventure in Middle-earth turn into a quick biology research project. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1704 "2009-05-11T17:46:50Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Googling turned up a few scattered references to pine martens swimming, but it doesn’t seem they’re especially good at it. > > Only on the Dope would an RPG adventure in Middle-earth turn into a quick biology research project. 😃 In another roleplaying thread, I brought up the subject of dropping a piano on a Paladin. 🆒 ---
**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:** [May 11, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1705 "2009-05-11T17:48:10Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > That is trading in your current War Shield and Armor (effectively, though you can pick the Dwarf that gets it.) for Elf Chain +2 and War Shield +4. Yes this is correct. Can you give me a list of dwarves who might be deserving of my expertly handcrafted armour? 😛 If that’s too much work for you give the armour to a young upstart that I take under my wing over the two month fast forward period that I am spending at Goblin Gate. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1706 "2009-05-11T17:52:26Z")
> [@glee](#): > > \*\*1)\*\*You try talking to Biologists about ‘spell casting’ reptiles! :eek: > I was just keeping it brisk… > > \*\*2)\*\*So the Eagle can’t cast because it has no hands and the Gecko because it can’t talk? > Fair enough. > > \*\*3)\*\*Oh, so Barkskin gives a Weapon v AC bonus? - I thought it was a property of my Wooden Jerkin! > > \*\*4)\*\*I got that from [here](http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/07/pine.marten), but in fairness, it doesn’t mention swimming [here](http://www.ionalister.com/pinemarten/pmbehaviour.htm). 😕 Added Numbers 1. 😃 2. Yes on the Eagle and on the Gecko it is no talk and no somatic. Legs bend the wrong way and very short. 3. Jerkin give but extends the time of the spell (6/G) The spell give the B, all Ents and trolls are B pen. 4. We’ll say Martens can swim but are not strong swimmers. x) The night senses are about vision, smell, hearing and even taste. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1707 "2009-05-11T17:53:33Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Yes this is correct. Can you give me a list of dwarves who might be deserving of my expertly handcrafted armour? 😛 > > If that’s too much work for you give the armour to a young upstart that I take under my wing over the two month fast forward period that I am spending at Goblin Gate. Let’s just say **Afi** would be suitable. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1708 "2009-05-11T22:25:58Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > **Deor** : The Brazier and Alchem Lab delivered to Edoras for storage. Meaning Deor should probably travel with it when it heads south. Time to call in that favor and start getting your Wizard’s tower designed. Remember, the King wants a Wizard of Rohan and will assist. Question: Elven Boots or more spells? Which do you value more? Truth be told, Deor will prefer wintering in the South. It’s get cold in Rohan when the wind comes ripping through, but winter simply doesn’t last as long and the days don’t get so short. Is there a party of Dwarves, Men, or Elves moving south that I can tag along with? I’d feel a little pretentious building a tower so early; how about snagging a building in Edoras near the palace, and spend my off-hours sketching up plans for a real tower to begin after my staff is a little further along? I can spend the rest of the winter fussing with my new alchemical equipment, brewing potions and researching spells, and eventually use the house as a secondary building. If Elfwine will help with materials costs, I should be able to brew a goodly number of potions to help protect the Rohirrim in battle, and keep a few for myself. New spells, no question. Elven boots will probably turn up as a hand-me-down from Gil-Gandel or a Hobbit at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1709 "2009-05-12T00:28:01Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > They can easily offer you a War Shield, Axe and Bolt upgrades if you like. > > You have two different +1 axes and a +1 War shield. We can work on upgrading all three. It looks like you are OK on bolts. > > If this is interesting to you, do you prefer the Dwarven Axe or the Battle Axe get the bigger upgrade? That sounds good. I’d prefer the Battle Axe get the bigger upgrade since I use it more often. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1710 "2009-05-12T00:52:30Z")
OK, please can I check I’ve got things straight for Ghân … 1. I’d like to put Taurgol, Queen’s Comb, Spell Stone, Leaf Clasp and Ent Bark in a magically light satchel and either give it to one of my animals before shapechanging or ask someone in the party to pick it up for me if I change in a hurry. 2. I’ll trade in all my other magic items to get a set of AC5 Bracers (Shapeshifting if my form has arms or legs), which will work with both my Shapeshifting Cloak and Barkskin. 3. I’d like to pick these shapes, which all allow me to wear the Bracers: - (bird) Golden Eagle (can’t cast, but can fly and scout superbly) - (mammal) Pine Marten (can cast, climb, swim, some night senses) - (reptile) Gecko (can’t cast, but can swim, and climb on ceilings) (I see the Eagle offering long-range scouting out-of-doors and the Gecko perhaps working with a Thief in a narrow tunnel. The Pine Marten is for combat!) Because the Bracers and Cloak shapeshift, you can’t tell simply by looking that any of these is actually a Druid, right? ---
**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:** [May 12, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1711 "2009-05-12T01:13:49Z")
> [@glee](#): > > OK, please can I check I’ve got things straight for Ghân … > > 1. I’d like to put Taurgol, Queen’s Comb, Spell Stone, Leaf Clasp and Ent Bark in a magically light satchel and either give it to one of my animals before shapechanging or ask someone in the party to pick it up for me if I change in a hurry. > > 2. I’ll trade in all my other magic items to get a set of AC5 Bracers (Shapeshifting if my form has arms or legs), which will work with both my Shapeshifting Cloak and Barkskin. > > 3. I’d like to pick these shapes, which all allow me to wear the Bracers: > > - (bird) Golden Eagle (can’t cast, but can fly and scout superbly) > - (mammal) Pine Marten (can cast, climb, swim, some night senses) > - (reptile) Gecko (can’t cast, but can swim, and climb on ceilings) > > (I see the Eagle offering long-range scouting out-of-doors and the Gecko perhaps working with a Thief in a narrow tunnel. The Pine Marten is for combat!) > > 1. Because the Bracers and Cloak shapeshift, you can’t tell simply by looking that any of these is actually a Druid, right? 1. Looks correct. 2. Yes 3. OK and check 4. The Bracers remain bracers, just smaller and the cloak will make you look a bit funny except for the Marten. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1712 "2009-05-12T03:22:36Z")
Is there really no interest in the magic lantern that burns oil so efficiently? If no one else wants it, I’d like it, given that I’ll be spending a lot of late nights this winter pouring over books and pouring into a cauldron. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1713 "2009-05-12T04:18:53Z")
Unless he wants to ruin them, I suggest that Deor spend the winter poring rather than _pouring_ over his books. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1714 "2009-05-12T15:14:57Z")
Still trying to catch up… [QUOTE=What Exit?] Hraedsig: Elftstone: gives +4 saves vs. undead abilities and +2 to turn And 1000 GP to tithe and about 100gp as pocket money. They can also replace your War Shield with a +3. [/QUOTE] Sounds perfect, thanks. Now I just need to figure out what I’m going to do on the downtime. Off to read the game thread… ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1715 "2009-05-12T16:07:56Z")
DM asked about swords - if there is a choice I would prefer a single +3 weapon to a pair of +2s unless, of course, there happen to be a matching pair with an interesting history. Otherwise, I’d prefer the +3 weapon for two reasons: more use on the off chance we meet something that needs such a weapon to hit it, and more likely to have the aforementioned interesting history. Naturally if the +3 can be a long sword then so much the better. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1716 "2009-05-12T17:58:52Z")
I fear we lost another Ranger. Has anyone seen **Love Rhombus**? ---
**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:** [May 12, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1717 "2009-05-12T19:27:33Z")
Hmmm, not lately. Here’s a Feud that may be of interest: [ITS ABOUT ME! FEUD by Elendil's Heir [Game Over] - The Game Room - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=517355) ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1718 "2009-05-13T12:19:41Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I fear we lost another Ranger. Has anyone seen **Love Rhombus**? Never mind the fact he’s a ranger, that’s another hobbit gone AWOL ☹ ---
**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:** [May 13, 2009, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1719 "2009-05-13T13:11:53Z")
> [@CatInASuit](#): > > Never mind the fact he’s a ranger, that’s another hobbit gone AWOL ☹ I think the answer is to retire Elfstan unless **[FONT=Calibri]RogueRacer** returns. Elfstan has a small but interesting role to play in my rough outline of the future as the father of an important Hobbit that inherits Sting and the Mithril Mail. If Elfstan died it was not terrible as this Hobbit could have been the eldest nephew instead. But this makes things neater.[/FONT] For Rorimac, I think we’ll see what happens by the next adventure. If **Love Rhombus** returns he’s got him. If he does not return and someone else wants to play him I’ll hand him off. He could also be someone’s second character. If we add another player but they don’t want Rorimac or a Ranger, I’ll keep Rori as an NPC. How does that sound? ---
**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:** [May 13, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276/1720 "2009-05-13T13:24:18Z")
Works for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276.md?page=85) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-on-the-straight-dope-setup-thread-in-middle-earth-fa63/439276.md?page=87)