[SixOfSpades]

Originally posted by Tancred: Why would Boromir be an Inquisitor? Surely his will is too weak to have anything like that kind of anti-magic power?

Boromir is highly distrustful of magic in general, especially Elven magic and the webs of deceit in the Golden Wood. Anything that is not Man, is not Gondor or Rohan, does not wield a sword and can be killed with a sword, is an object of deep distrust with him--and his father. (Denethor, speaking of Boromir, with a scornful reference to Faramir: "He was a true son and no wizard's pupil.") Thus, I would peg Boromir either as an Inquisitor or a Wizard Slayer: The two classes that are most anti-Magic. And Boromir was NOT weak-willed, he simply could not see the Ring as anything but a deus ex machina to rescue Minas Tirith. I have no problem seeing him as a Paladin--he simply Fell.

Aragorn; Human, highly charismatic Ranger. Not a Stalker - Aragorn ends up with some decent armour before the end, and certainly never casts spells.

I don't know, I toyed with making him a Stalker because of the Stealth bonus, because after all, most of his job in Book I was to avoid being detected by the Black Riders. I don't think any of his actions could be construed as a Backstab, though, so that's an argument for pure Ranger--although I don't think he's ever described as wearing any decent armor....unless maybe in Return of the King. I could be wrong, though. I would consider Cure Light Wounds and Good Berries to be practical spells to try to help Frodo during Book I.

Gimli; Dwarf fighter, damn right. A pure 'tank'. Massive constitution, grand master of the Axe.

Let's consider the Berserker kit for Gimli. He's never mentioned using ranged weapons at all, so that leaves the possibility open; then again, he's almost paralyzed in the Paths of the Dead, and his Rage is supposed to make him immune to Fear. Perhaps he couldn't Enrage himself in a non-combat situation?

Merry; Halfling Thief. Let's be honest - if there's one true backstab in the whole of the Lord of the Rings, it's Merry kneecapping the Lord of the Nazgul. Plus Merry never gets much armour, really...

Hear, Hear on the Backstab bit. He seems rather low-level to get the full x5 or x7 Backstab multiplier, though, but perhaps the Ent-draughts worked in a similar fashion to Potions of Power. Merry got the same armor that Pippin did, actually: Chain Mail, shield, helmet, although Merry's helm was only leather, I believe.

Pippin; Halfling Bard - probably closest to Jester, really. Gets some decent chainmail while fighting with Gondor. Irritating as hell. Sope pickpocketing ability - he does steal the Palantir, does he not?

I would call his theft equal parts Move Silently and Pickpocketing. He was also of insufficient PP skill to give the thing back.

Gandalf the White - Human Cleric. Gandalf's magic is far, far closer to clerical power than mage spells. He emboldens people, turns Undead (well, Nazgul) and as Gandalf the Grey even unleashes a Flame Strike... he never actually goes so far as to throw a real fireball.

Are you forgetting the battle on Weathertop versus 4 (I think it was 4) Nazgul? The lightning flashes were clearly visible from three days' walk away, and the grass was scorched and burned, as if from a fire. That kind of handiwork has "Invoker" written all over it. Also, his attack on the Worgs in The Hobbit practically *IS* Melf's Minute Meteors. His "Turn Undead" against the Witch-King at the gates of Minas Tirith might just as easily have been Hold Undead or Repulse Undead or Control Undead......and what exactly are you referring to when you mention him calling down a Flamestrike?

I gave Frodo a 22 CON to make him really, really, really difficult to kill, even if he's equipped with a cursed Ring that saps your WIS and CON.

[ 10-30-2002, 11:40 PM: Message edited by: SixOfSpades ]