Lord of the Rings in D & D?

[Balgin]

Okay, here's a few clarifications. WFRP, about a quarter of characters could be academic types (minor priests, druids, alchemists apprentices, physicians apprentices etc). Now, about 4% of academical characters could actually cast spells. The players could chose most things during character generation but had to randomly roll a starting carreer wich they could later change (viable carreer exits only. ie. mercenary could leave to mercenary captain, bodyguard, racketeer etc). It was a skill based percentile system. However, with respect to what Asterix wrote about creating the right kind of characters, AD&D/D&D just doesn't fit due to it's magic heavy, occassionally stupidly high numbers and other reasons. I only said that no mortal man was supposed to be able to harm the Morgohl Lord, it's what he said, however we have no proof of this. As far as major NPC's go the nearest I ever let PC's get to such things is a whispered mention, heard across a crowded tavern. I have various reasons for this, I like to use my own NPC's, I feel plagiaristic if I borrow them, I don't want things to happen to them (for instance, Frodo, Samwise, Merriadoc, Pippin and Aragorn being given wrong directions to Weathertop or a party of characters contriving to be there at the same time). If they quibble about timelines please remind them that the entire story (as they know it) was written up by Bilbo, Frodo and Sam. There is bound to be some discrepency. Yes, I hate the "you've just taken another three hitpoints" method of gaming. I prefer "you just about bring you're shield to bear in time, the orcish blade screeming across rim and boss. The impact of the blow drives the rim of the shield back against you're shoulder, jarring you're wrist against the poorly crafted hauberk" method of gaming, unfortunately some of my local players aren't that patient (that system only works if the GM keeps such things as hp totals secret, personally I believe the GM should keep all the game mechanics secret but not many players can cope with that).

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Balgin, the Dwarf