I'm gonna run the starter set as a first ever TTRPG for the whole table next week, I'm envisioning it might be quite fitting as a simpler introduction to RPGs both for the players and for me as a loremaster, I am planning on freestyling it a bit and for example making use of some of the event tables in the shire compendium, but it feels really nice to have the option to fall back on an essentially pre-scripted linear adventure even with prewritten speeches and descriptions, if my improvisation skills don't hold up. The Shire also feels like a perfect setting as we're planning on meeting IRL, sitting around a table, having some beers, cracking some jokes, and really just having a good time while playing this game and not have to put our full effort into any overly complex battle-plans or solving any half-hour-long riddles. Anyways, I might return to this video and give an update on how the game went! PS. Would love to see you review Tales from the Lone Lands! Great video as always
I hadn't really thought about the starter set being an introduction to running a game as well. Having the simple adventures and reduced rules probably would help with that. Good luck with your first game! Please let me know how it goes!
That's awesome, welcome to the hobby! It's such a fun time, especially with food and drink that feels on brand. I hope it goes well and everyone has fun!
Just as a heads-up on your idea about playing the ancestors of Hobbits that might one day go on an adventure, a close look at the genealogies of the Fellowship might be in order. :)
This Starter Set was exactly what my table needed after a bombastic final session of our D&D campaign. Whilst they had good fun roleplaying through silly Hobbit adventures (the last adventure most of all), we all agreed it was a little bit devoid of player choices having an impact. Fortunately they enjoyed the rules system enough to want to play the core game, and were most excited upon discovering that there are playable cultures beyond Hobbits (no-one plays a Hobbit anymore). If you have a table of players willing to try something different this set can be a great introduction despite the faults in its adventures (plus the psychical goodies are a key part of each session)
As a sucker for physical media, I'm glad I have the Starter Set. I adore the maps, the dice are lovely, the item and stance cards are helpful, and the books are really nice. I agree that the adventures are a little simpler, especially compared to things I've already been preparing, but part of me wished I had actually started with the hobbit adventures if only for a nice, easy way into the game as someone with no prior TOR experience. The standout for me among the books, without a doubt, is the Shire book. Having that to build out the area is amazing, and my first adventure takes place in Buckland, so it was great having even more information. Obviously the Core Rule Book is a must, and so good, but I also praise Ruins of the Lost Realm! The 12 Landmarks provided are detailed and isolated enough to easily weave into your own narrative, the city of Tharbad is an exciting box to play in, but what excited me most was the Tale of Years. The Tale of Years gives a year by year bullet point style "guide" to possible plotlines, where a single year can easily inspire 3 adventure phases. I'm setting my first game 3 years before those timelines suggest starting, which will give us time to start lighter and slowly pepper in rumors or hooks, before they really see some pieces starting to move. I'm so excited about the potential of this game.
The starter set is a fantastic intro to both Loremaster and Player. The physical media is a must if you plan on playing the core book. I find a modified version to fit in an hour is a great intro to the game at store events. Cross the river. Everyone knows how to use the dice now. Do a basic journey from the inside of the box rules. And then fight a wolf or an orc. And remember it’s a joint story so getting folks to fill in the gaps of a bland story is part of the adventure!
I just picked this up last week, because I'm a huge Tolkien fan and some of my players were interested in a low-stakes adventure after finishing our d&d campaign. Subsequently found and binged most of your videos on the game. I'm excited to see what sort of adventure you come up with too, if the timing works out I very well might incorporate it!
I have the starter set and have run most of it for some friends (we ran out of time to finish things). Overall impressions are v positive, the pre written quests are really low states hijinks which means they can completely ignore the shadow points mechanics (something that I'd love to play around with in a longer campaign but isn't essential for running the core rules of the game). The maps are great as mentioned, and the equipment cards are extremely useful. My main criticism is just how linear the adventures are, I understand why in a starter module you'd want the training wheels on but I also think they could have expanded out the starter adventures with some more options as to how the players might acheive their aims. It plays out as a bit like a telltale game where players are along for the ride and making dice rolls at key moments rather than properly having their own adventures.
Another great video! I have the actual starter box, but have yet to play it still. Might be worth noting that some of the starter boxes have dice misprints, so verify you have the correct ones. Free League was quick to fix the error, which was great to see.
100% agree with this review. The art, map, lore book and rule books are top notch but the adventure (Shire setting too IMO) is just soooooo bland and boring. I might also add that some of the Starter boxes came with misprinted dice so if you buy a box with those misprinted dice (if you see an 11 on a dice and no 1's) you can contact Free League Publishing and they will replace those dice.
Only the initial run had misprinted dice, and I think Free League recalled most (if not all) of them. If you buy a set now, from Free League directly or from Amazon etc, you're pretty much guaranteed to get the fixed version. It would only be if you bought from a local store with old stock that you might still get the original.
Are you ready for a Hobbit Heist? Here is my version of a Starter Adventure for the Shire: ua-cam.com/video/0HrJjkBqrnE/v-deo.html.
I'm gonna run the starter set as a first ever TTRPG for the whole table next week, I'm envisioning it might be quite fitting as a simpler introduction to RPGs both for the players and for me as a loremaster, I am planning on freestyling it a bit and for example making use of some of the event tables in the shire compendium, but it feels really nice to have the option to fall back on an essentially pre-scripted linear adventure even with prewritten speeches and descriptions, if my improvisation skills don't hold up.
The Shire also feels like a perfect setting as we're planning on meeting IRL, sitting around a table, having some beers, cracking some jokes, and really just having a good time while playing this game and not have to put our full effort into any overly complex battle-plans or solving any half-hour-long riddles. Anyways, I might return to this video and give an update on how the game went!
PS. Would love to see you review Tales from the Lone Lands!
Great video as always
I hadn't really thought about the starter set being an introduction to running a game as well. Having the simple adventures and reduced rules probably would help with that.
Good luck with your first game! Please let me know how it goes!
That's awesome, welcome to the hobby! It's such a fun time, especially with food and drink that feels on brand. I hope it goes well and everyone has fun!
Hey cheers man! Been a big fan of TTRPG videos on youtube for years now and super-excited to finally dive in myself :D @@user-jt1js5mr3f
Love your content! Thanks for this very important coverage!
Just as a heads-up on your idea about playing the ancestors of Hobbits that might one day go on an adventure, a close look at the genealogies of the Fellowship might be in order. :)
This Starter Set was exactly what my table needed after a bombastic final session of our D&D campaign. Whilst they had good fun roleplaying through silly Hobbit adventures (the last adventure most of all), we all agreed it was a little bit devoid of player choices having an impact.
Fortunately they enjoyed the rules system enough to want to play the core game, and were most excited upon discovering that there are playable cultures beyond Hobbits (no-one plays a Hobbit anymore). If you have a table of players willing to try something different this set can be a great introduction despite the faults in its adventures (plus the psychical goodies are a key part of each session)
As a sucker for physical media, I'm glad I have the Starter Set. I adore the maps, the dice are lovely, the item and stance cards are helpful, and the books are really nice.
I agree that the adventures are a little simpler, especially compared to things I've already been preparing, but part of me wished I had actually started with the hobbit adventures if only for a nice, easy way into the game as someone with no prior TOR experience.
The standout for me among the books, without a doubt, is the Shire book. Having that to build out the area is amazing, and my first adventure takes place in Buckland, so it was great having even more information.
Obviously the Core Rule Book is a must, and so good, but I also praise Ruins of the Lost Realm! The 12 Landmarks provided are detailed and isolated enough to easily weave into your own narrative, the city of Tharbad is an exciting box to play in, but what excited me most was the Tale of Years.
The Tale of Years gives a year by year bullet point style "guide" to possible plotlines, where a single year can easily inspire 3 adventure phases.
I'm setting my first game 3 years before those timelines suggest starting, which will give us time to start lighter and slowly pepper in rumors or hooks, before they really see some pieces starting to move.
I'm so excited about the potential of this game.
The starter set is a fantastic intro to both Loremaster and Player. The physical media is a must if you plan on playing the core book. I find a modified version to fit in an hour is a great intro to the game at store events. Cross the river. Everyone knows how to use the dice now. Do a basic journey from the inside of the box rules. And then fight a wolf or an orc. And remember it’s a joint story so getting folks to fill in the gaps of a bland story is part of the adventure!
I just picked this up last week, because I'm a huge Tolkien fan and some of my players were interested in a low-stakes adventure after finishing our d&d campaign. Subsequently found and binged most of your videos on the game. I'm excited to see what sort of adventure you come up with too, if the timing works out I very well might incorporate it!
I have the starter set and have run most of it for some friends (we ran out of time to finish things).
Overall impressions are v positive, the pre written quests are really low states hijinks which means they can completely ignore the shadow points mechanics (something that I'd love to play around with in a longer campaign but isn't essential for running the core rules of the game). The maps are great as mentioned, and the equipment cards are extremely useful.
My main criticism is just how linear the adventures are, I understand why in a starter module you'd want the training wheels on but I also think they could have expanded out the starter adventures with some more options as to how the players might acheive their aims. It plays out as a bit like a telltale game where players are along for the ride and making dice rolls at key moments rather than properly having their own adventures.
Thanks for the video
Looking forward to your next adventure!
Legend!
I have the physical version of the game, and if you're a lotr fan like me, you will cherish this box. At least I do, but nevermind me 😁
Another great video! I have the actual starter box, but have yet to play it still. Might be worth noting that some of the starter boxes have dice misprints, so verify you have the correct ones. Free League was quick to fix the error, which was great to see.
100% agree with this review. The art, map, lore book and rule books are top notch but the adventure (Shire setting too IMO) is just soooooo bland and boring.
I might also add that some of the Starter boxes came with misprinted dice so if you buy a box with those misprinted dice (if you see an 11 on a dice and no 1's) you can contact Free League Publishing and they will replace those dice.
Only the initial run had misprinted dice, and I think Free League recalled most (if not all) of them.
If you buy a set now, from Free League directly or from Amazon etc, you're pretty much guaranteed to get the fixed version. It would only be if you bought from a local store with old stock that you might still get the original.