# Middle Earth FA63 D&D Game, the Game itself **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Tags:** middle-earth-game\ **Created:** [March 3, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917 "2008-03-03T04:52:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**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 8, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/261 "2008-03-08T21:38:21Z")
Glee: To use the spell, you need the actual food animal, the Owl has no clue it would like a goodberry. Yes, Moose can make the trip up the hills. He is as least as nimble as the Ponies. Let’s take the rest of the Owl conversation & questions to PM please. Ghân finds he can talk to this Owl, it is quite bright. Owl, “There are many creatures, but you are probably asking about manlike ones. There have been goblins around for the last few months. None of your people though down this way, just the tall men, mainly staying to the road.” Ghân is of course sleeping at 2am. [QUOTE=Malacandra] I’ll try a counter-sneak - alert the person nearest me without making it too obvious to our goblin friend that I’ve done so, slip out of sight and, as the camp starts to rouse, get on the tail of the goblin as he pulls out. Follow at a discreet distance. [/QUOTE] You successfully counter sneak, alerting the 2 am watch of Gimli, Moose & Thoroncir and two Knights. As expected the Goblins sneaks off and you easily follow behind. Gimli alerts the camp, rouses the sleepers. Gil-Gandel, follows the Goblin for about 7 minutes and he starts hooting like a Owl. A dozen Goblins appear shortly, one walking only a few feet past you. (it’s good to be a elf in a Cloak of Lorien.) ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/262 "2008-03-08T21:57:18Z")
If they’re moving in on our camp, I’ll follow them fifty or so yards behind, sticking to whatever cover’s available, ready to hand them a surprise when the fighting starts. If they’re pulling out, I’ll just make a note of their location and, assuming it doesn’t look like rain, I’ll let the rangers and Brin follow it come sun-up - a dozen goblins should leave sign enough for expert trackers to follow. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2008, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/263 "2008-03-08T22:11:34Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Glee: To use the spell, you need the actual food animal, the Owl has no clue it would like a goodberry. Let’s take the rest of the Owl conversation & questions to PM please. [/quote] Will do. [QUOTE=What Exit?] Ghân is of course sleeping at 2am. [/quote] Probably dreaming of spicy deer curry. 🙂 ---
**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 9, 2008, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/264 "2008-03-09T12:42:39Z")
[QUOTE=glee] Probably dreaming of spicy deer curry. 🙂 [/QUOTE] I made sure to choose a spot to sleep upwind of the Wose. ---
**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 9, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/265 "2008-03-09T17:52:46Z")
The Party Rouses, preparing for incoming Goblins. Surprisingly the Goblins blow a small horn and charge in. As the camp is still waking up and trying to get armor on, Gil-Gandel can pick some choice targets from behind. We will assume those with chain mail have at least partially put on their mail but not properly, Brin has his armor secured. (leather). The two sleeping knights had no hope and quickly toss off the little they had on. Gwaelur had Gimli helping and is partially wearing his banded. It will be sword work in the night, though Gimli and Gwaelur should be able to get off a single bolt before the melee. For the humans, it is too dark and too sudden. As the bolts release (if Gwaelur wishes), A horn of Rohan is heard, followed by, “AWAKE! FEAR! FIRE! FOES! AWAKE!, a dozen Orcs from the west.” Mulligan of course, recognizes the battle cry of the Shire and Merry’s horn. \*\*At this point, give me your battle options please. \*\* I sent a map of the battle out as a .jpg ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/266 "2008-03-09T18:11:22Z")
Ghân can see in the dark, so wants to: - cast Entangle if he can trap opponents (but not player characters) - cast Faerie Fire on opponents surrounding any humans in our party (else any outnumbered party member) - cast Summon Insects on any opponent larger than an orc (if there is one) - cure, using (Goodberry, then CLW), any party member badly injured If there’s no time to cast, he’ll use his blowpipe on opponents coming for him. He will try to protect Deor and will block opponents from hitting Deor (since Ghân can sleep in his Armour). Deor will try to cast Sleep, but presumably has to wait for decent light… I assume Moose will hit opponents as soon as he can see them. ---
**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 9, 2008, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/267 "2008-03-09T18:44:56Z")
Brin will rely on his longsword, fighting one handed, no shield. If someone drops a shield (like a dead goblin) and it is handy, then I’ll pick it up, as long as it doesn’t add any danger. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/268 "2008-03-09T19:44:35Z")
Assuming there’s starlight enough for Gil-Gandel, he will start to pick off the following, in order of preference:[ol]leaders [li]spellcasters (contemptible as they’re likely to be!)[/li][li]archers[/ol][/li]If the light is too poor even for him, or all the bad guys are getting into melee and GG cannot trust his archery not to hit friends, he’ll instead try to pick a target by the same criteria and move in for a back stab. (Merciful as he is to defeated enemies, Gil-Gandel doesn’t believe in giving a sucker an even break!) Unlike those people who have to wear half a hundredweight of ironmongery, he is fully battle-ready at the moment. He won’t stay at hand to hand range though - backstab, disengage, and if the enemy can be induced to break ranks and try to chase him, he’s cool with that. Horse-archer tactics. 🆒 ---
**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 10, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/269 "2008-03-10T00:26:28Z")
If there’s time, Thoroncir will put on what armor he can. Otherwise, he’ll just grab his sword and have at whichever foes are closest, with the battlecry “Elendil!” ---
**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 10, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/270 "2008-03-10T01:04:00Z")
This is 5 of 8 characters. I am going to give the rest a chance to check in tomorrow. ---
**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 10, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/271 "2008-03-10T01:43:42Z")
I am assuming that Gwaelur is already fully armored. If so he will fire his crossbow for as many bolts as he can before the battle engages. If not he will armor first and then fire off his crossbow (probably a single bolt). At which point he will switch to his war axe and shield. When it comes to defense, Brin and Ghan are the first two people he will try to keep the goblins away form, followed by Deor then the elf. ---
**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 10, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/272 "2008-03-10T02:41:39Z")
[QUOTE=NAF1138] I am assuming that Gwaelur is already fully armored. If so he will fire his crossbow for as many bolts as he can before the battle engages. If not he will armor first and then fire off his crossbow (probably a single bolt). At which point he will switch to his war axe and shield. When it comes to defense, Brin and Ghan are the first two people he will try to keep the goblins away form, followed by Deor then the elf. [/QUOTE] You are partially armored, but only have a chance to fire off one bolt before the melee begins. ---
**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 10, 2008, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/273 "2008-03-10T02:44:59Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] You are partially armored, but only have a chance to fire off one bolt before the melee begins. [/QUOTE] Ah, so no chance of changing that bit, it was worth a shot. One bolt it is. The rest of the post stands. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/274 "2008-03-10T12:42:10Z")
Theogrim will draw his bastard sword and march in the direction of the goblins. I’ll make my stand about 100 feet from **Deor** , and as things unfold, I’ll move laterally to try and intercept any goblins who attempt to get past me at the spellcasters. ---
**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 10, 2008, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/275 "2008-03-10T13:01:46Z")
Assuming I might get to three of them, my battle cry, uttered as each goblin falls: 1. For Dale 2. For King Bard (See note in control thread) 3. For King Aragorn ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/276 "2008-03-10T14:08:23Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] Theogrim will draw his bastard sword and march in the direction of the goblins. I’ll make my stand about 100 feet from **Deor** , and as things unfold, I’ll move laterally to try and intercept any goblins who attempt to get past me at the spellcasters. [/QUOTE] We spellcasters really appreciate the blocking. 🆒 However 100 feet sounds a long way away: - the goblins could run around you - some of our spells can’t reach that far ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/277 "2008-03-10T14:18:40Z")
[QUOTE=glee] We spellcasters really appreciate the blocking. 🆒 However 100 feet sounds a long way away: - the goblins could run around you - some of our spells can’t reach that far [/QUOTE] How about 60 feet? _backs up_ ---
**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 10, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/278 "2008-03-10T14:52:57Z")
Of course Thoroncir will try to protect Ghan, if necessary and if possible. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/279 "2008-03-10T16:15:52Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] How about 60 feet? _backs up_ [/QUOTE] That’s great and thanks. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917/280 "2008-03-10T16:17:54Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Of course Thoroncir will try to protect Ghan, if necessary and if possible. [/QUOTE] Ghân really appreciates this, but please feel free to bash opponents as well! 🙂 (Ghân is a bit nervous about how brave the goblins are - what do they know that he doesn’t?) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-earth-fa63-d-d-game-the-game-itself/439917.md?page=15)