LOTR CODA Revised/Optional Rules

Based on discussions since the completion of my "Lord of Darkness" PBeM campaign, the LOTR CODA Revised and Optional Rules compilation has been revised one final time (V7.0)-- numerous small changes throughout cleaning up the text, providing some more examples, and refining some of the mechanics. The compilation features revisions to over twenty edges and flaws to make them better balanced, mechanically balanced and graduated revisions to tactical movement and encumbrance, fixes to sweep and other combat moves to make them more balanced with each other, simplified mechanisms for checking for Weariness, alternate "mook" rules for horde creatures, optional rules for when "double ones" are rolled, and much more.

The document can be found on my web site (http://www.geocities.com/scott_metz), in the LOTR RPG section. Enjoy!

Haven't had a chance to read it yet.

Could you give us an idea of what it entails?

Might generate more convo on the topic :)

Oh there's not anything in particular I was trying to generate a discussion over, although I'm more than happy to listen to feedback and discuss new ideas in response. I suppose there are a few particular topics I'd really like opinons on, because I and my group weren't totally convinced we had made the right decisions:

* Power Attack and Two-Handed Attack: Does the +1d6 damage revision improve these options enough to justify the cost of 2 actions? As written in the rulebook, the effect was too weak for 2 actions but too good for 1 action.

* Sweep: Is the -4/4 and -6/-6/-6 penalty prohibitive enough for the cost of 1 action? Nobody in my group was able to come up with a 2-action Sweep revision that actually worked (because you can make two 1-action attacks for -0/-0 and three 1-action attacks for -0/-0/-5).

* Misc.--Healing: Using the recipient's Health rating as the base healing amount does away with the awkwardness of "all points in current Health level" (everybody hates when you've got 1 damage in your current level), but does this make "leechcraft" too effective?

* Weariness: There are three optional rules at the end that simplify Weariness tests over time so that only one big test needs to be made rather than lots of little tests. The result is that, even for high Stamina characters, some degree of Weariness is very likely. Is this a good thing, or is this ultimately too prohibitive to the average character?

Any and all feedback of these topics (or others) is welcome.

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Originally posted by Scottomir
* Weariness: There are three optional rules at the end that simplify Weariness tests over time so that only one big test needs to be made rather than lots of little tests. The result is that, even for high Stamina characters, some degree of Weariness is very likely. Is this a good thing, or is this ultimately too prohibitive to the average character?

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Thanks for the simplified Weariness tests for overland travel. I have been looking for something like this.

Jeb

I'm glad the simplified Weariness rule is useful to you. Please let me know how it works for your gaming group. It definitely gives Weariness a different feeling--it is something that you only check for at dramatically appropriate moments, and even stout characters are likely to suffer a Weariness level or two if they've been exerting themselves over a long period of time. I would love to hear how other groups feel this system works for them.

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Originally posted by Scottomir
...and even stout characters are likely to suffer a Weariness level or two if they've been exerting themselves over a long period of time.

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Like crossing High Pass in full armour for example? :D

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Originally posted by Meneltin
Like crossing High Pass in full armour for example? :D

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Yeah, exactly! I mean, that is so grueling a task that even the hardiest warrior could pass out and nearly plummet off the pass into a raging river below. It would be a good thing to have a Hobbit companion swift enough to catch you before you fall. ;)

You know, I am so psyched for "The Two Towers" Extended DVD and the ROTK movie in December, I'm already thinking of the next "Lord of Darkness" chronicle. Hmm, maybe in January or February...

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Originally posted by Scottomir
It would be a good thing to have a Hobbit companion swift enough to catch you before you fall. ;)

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And strong enough... ;)

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Originally posted by Scottomir You know, I am so psyched for "The Two Towers" Extended DVD and the ROTK movie in December, I'm already thinking of the next "Lord of Darkness" chronicle. Hmm, maybe in January or February... [/B]

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TTT extended? RotK? I'm beyond psyched. ;)

The Moria box set looks really awesome, and Amazon has it for $23 or something (and with another item it's free shipping), so I'm asking for that for Christmas, and I'm going to create a big chronicle around that... probably a checking-up on the progress of Balin's colony there, plus adventures in Mirkwood, Dale, Erebor, and the rest of Rhovanion... it will be loads of fun.

Have fun with your chronicle! I enjoyed reading your old Lord of Darkness logs (though I haven't read them completely yet; quite long!). :)

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Originally posted by ben hur
Have fun with your chronicle! I enjoyed reading your old Lord of Darkness logs (though I haven't read them completely yet; quite long!). :)

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I can tell you as the player who plays Finbor, that is was even more fun to play it, and the posts couldn't have been long enough! :)

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Originally posted by Scottomir I'm already thinking of the next "Lord of Darkness" chronicle. Hmm, maybe in January or February...

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Great! December would be fine for me as well ;)