But does it hobbit? 🧙🏻♂️ The One Ring 2e RPG Review & Mechanics
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2024
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The One Ring 2e is a tabletop RPG by Free League, published in 2021. It follows up on the original from 2011 with the same authors, and stays faithful to the Lord of the Ring trilogy and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.
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00:00 Introduction
01:01 Game Intro
02:55 The Physical Bundle
07:04 Action Resolution
10:01 Adventurers
17:15 Characteristics
19:41 Adventuring Phase
23:31 Fellowship Phase
24:27 The Loremaster Section
28:31 The World
30:21 Rivendell Supplement
31:47 Starter Set
34:51 My Thoughts
38:54 Conclusion
The One Ring Starter Set PDFs from DriveThruRPG:
bit.ly/TheOneRingStarter
The One Ring GM Screen and Rivendell Companion PDFs from DriveThruRPG:
bit.ly/TheOneRingGMScreen
Alternate Character Sheet by Jez Gordon:
jezgordon.itch.io/the-one-rin...
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"You can tell this supplement was written from a place of love."
Yes. Yes it was. Writing a Shire sourcebook for an official Lord of the Rings roleplaying game was the literal impossible dream of my writing career. I am unashamed that tears of joy filled my eyes when I got the job to write The Shire and The Adventures of the Starter Set.
Thanks for your amazing work, James! You knocked it out of the park. Or out of the pumpkin patch, as it were. Truly a remarkable achievement in these supplements.
Fantastic work American Hobbit!
Can't wait to get my hands on this! Thank you!
James, i bought this and am reading the material. I am absolutely ecstatic over this, and thank you so much for your hard work. It is stunning and beautiful
Have you checked out ICE attempt on writing a Shire sourcebook in the mid-90s?
Free League just makes premium RPG products, and I'm here for it.
They legit have become my favorite TTRPG publisher followed by Chaosium and Goodman Games.
@@Sammo212 They are great. The first time smthg of theirs caught my eyes was Mörk Borg, as a metal dude living in Norway, it was great. Then Forbidden Lands intrigued me with its awesome art and finally The One Ring sealed the deal and got me to purchase!!!
And now I saw Tales from the Loop gets me because I'm an 80's kid. Guess they going for people like me (40+, old gaming-metal-fantasy nerd, there is lots of us:).
Years ago, during my annual re-reading of the Lord of the Rings, I imagined a game setting, extrapolating from some of the lore and events of Eriador both past and contemporary. The Dunedain protecting the lands and people of ancient former-kingdom from the shadows. The hobbits of Michel Delving and the Mathom House. The fact that most of the agents of the "dark powers" were (prior to Fellowship's events) spies, agents, and saboteurs. The Winter Wolves and the frozen lake. Bullroarer Took and the comparatively badass Bradybucks of Brandy Hall. The Shire's sheriffs and the old history of hobbit archers. Taking in aggregate, I imagined.
I imagined a secret brotherhood within the Eriador; the Shire, Bree, and elsewhere in the north. If the Enemy had spies, agents, and informers everywhere, it would behoove the rangers of the north to have their own network of tipsters, eyes and ears, and locals with and ear to the ground and at least something of an idea of what to look for. And in a serious pinch, people who could rally together swiftly as a de facto defensive militia. I imagined perceptive rangers taking notice of a few locals with promise and potential: the right balance of capable, brave, pragmatic, and compassionate with a strong sense of community. I imagined rangers meeting with these folk in private, sharing some measure of truth and perspective with them, and asking if they will be members in this secret network of ranger sympathizers. These people receiving some modest training in arms, tactics, survival, stealth, and lore.
And naturally, our party would be members of this secret network, this secret brotherhood. And our game would be an outgrowth of them and their vigil. A few tiny missions or modest tasks over the course of several years, the occasional meeting about noteworthy events or suspicious folk. And then BAM, the story of their first real threat. Wells being poisoned. Crops burning. Folk going missing on the road. And some mysterious new militia popping up, offering protection for a fee and garrison. Like proto Sharkey's Thugs. Out of fear, the folk of Bree, the Shire, and elsewhere are trading money and autonomy for security. And the local rangers suspect this is part of some larger play. And our party goes investigating. Campaign proper starts.
Years passed with this idea simmering on the back burner. I wrote out characters. Setpieces. Mysteries. Clues. Maps. Tinkering on this campaign here and there for years, almost entirely for my own satisfaction. Never actually believing I would or could run it some day. That a proper Tolkien RPG lay out of my reach. And now...here we are.
Thank you for sharing. I have a book to buy.
What a badass concept!
The only thing stopping me from running this is I’m afraid I’ll run into players who will be like “NO, this character would never be here, because Alunder’ler the Shadow Star, son of Alundelon, the Morning Mist died 100 years prior!”
More like 1000 years prior XD
But yeah I got the point
Set clear expectations - e.g. that you're happy for player input on lore but ultimately as the Loremaster you are responsible for presenting the world, and will be motivated more by guiding the group in a compelling story than showing off a comprehensive knowledge of the Legendarium.
Happily Free League have done a lot to set the story away from lore dense regions of Middle Earth, and they give you a lot of info on Eriador, so this problem shouldn't come up much even with Tolkien fanatics.
Late comer to the party (though long time GM of TOR 1e), one thing I felt worth mentioning is that the Fellowship Phase occurs (ideally) at the end of each game session as the post Adventure Phase wrap-up, with the Yule Fellowship Phase occuring generally every 3rd game (as each adventure is assumed to occur during a single season and no adventures occuring in the Winter).
Another thing worth noting is that my group had a game running from 2011 to 2019 in the original system so it definitely can handle longterm campaigns (they released a campaign for the original edition called the Darkening of Mirkwood that had adventures spanning 30 years).
Loved your review, just one thing I noticed worth calling out :)
This is probably the best review and explanation of a roleplaying game that I've ever seen.
The nameless thing is straight out of the book. This section is used build creature like both the Watcher in the Water and the nameless elder evils he saw while fighting w/the Balrog.
Exactly. The name comes from the line that Gandalf says "There are nameless things that lurk in the dark places of the world" totally in line with the lore. All of it is. So well done.
I have run 3 multi year campaigns in the first Edition of the One Ring, and that was only using 2 of the scenario book they released for the first edition. The second edition is an improvement on the first it just currently doesn't have as much scenario support as the first, but you could easily run a campign that runs for years and years
That’s very high praise.
First off, glad to know you are as pumped as I am. My group has been playing for months (since the alpha PDFs dropped over the summer last year) and that was a continuation of a long running 1e game. You will be proud to know that Bledic Stonebranch (a former Bounder of the Shire) and his wife Rosemary Brandybuck (a hobbit lass who set out on adventure to catalog all the recipes of Middle-earth) not only had a very successful career in which they befriended the Beornings of Wilderlands and set up a homestead farm there, but they also went on to have a large family of adventuring children, including Meliot and her pet goat and her brother Brego who were instrumental in protecting the Beornings from the encroaching shadow from Mirkwood. LOL. The 1e Darkening of Mirkwood campaign book contains something like 60 years worth of adventures, and that was just that small corner of the map! 1e also had Rohan, Bree, Dale, and Rivendell supplements, all with adventure collections for them as well, and then we have all the adventures that can be had moving into the other areas of Middle-earth that are less seen (either relying on information from the older Decipher and Middle-earth Roleplaying Game supplements or on the details given in the more obscure Tolkien books). So Yes, there is much long term fun to be had in the game, and if Free League rereleases those great 1e books updated to 2e or they plot their own course, either way there is a wealth of stuff to do IF you are knowledgeable about the setting (I've read the Histories of Middle-earth and all the other "non-canon" books and am a huge Tolkien fan, if that wasn't clear, lol).
Wow, that is impressive.
I just gotta say... I *LOVE* the artwork in this. The drawings capture that rustic elden feel that Middle-earth evokes.
A bunch of reviews on Drive-thru RPG criticize the art, but from what I'm seeing, it's fantastic.
People don't like the art?? I thought it's the best TRPG art i've seen in the western sphere in a long awhile
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Got my copy a few months ago and it's absolutely gorgeous, thank you for the review.
So stoked to see The One Ring gets some much-needed love and attention! The people at Free League create wonderful games with lots of love and dedication, and The One Ring is no exception.
If you're not already familiar with it in its entirety, I highly recommend checking out The One Ring 1E! It, too, was fantastic and I fell in love with it.
Been patiently waiting for this review.
I’m loving the manipulation of the dice pool results with various conditions.
Hi Dave, thanks for the deep dive. I received my books a few weeks ago and am yet to get very far in reading them. My group and I are still playing a 5e campaign, but TOR is likely to be next up *rubbing hands in anticipation*. I always appreciate your attention to and presentation of the rules, and find it makes it much easier for me to assimilate them when I get to reading them! Big thumbs up 👍
Excellent review and great visual references!
What a wonderful video! Thanks for making it!!
Lovely video as always. Just waiting patiently for mine arrive and interested to see the solo rules or Strider Mode as I should say come out.
Absolutely fantastic review, thank you so much!
Excellent review. I was hoping you would review this game. I adore starter sets that come with its own separate booklet on the starting towns like the ones you see in the Warhammer Roleplay games.
Excellent summary. Thanks so much!
Thanks so much for this thoughtful and thorough review, mate. I want to run this game but I’m so daunted by all the rules!
Thanks for such a clear presentation
The statement that the novels may not be entirely accurate is heavy stuff, but such a clever way to open up the "meta background" for the group to weave their own tales without any hesitation.
and very accurate, as Tolkien himself set up this very idea, treating the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings as a "translation" he did of a true history instead of a story he made up. The book that Bilbo starts and that Frodo (and eventually Sam) finishes is intended to be the actual books we got (the Redbook of Westmarch).
Been waiting for this one!
That is one meaty looking volume; and the artwork on the DM Screen looks sumptuous.
Wonderful review, you are an example to follow, thanks
Great video. I’ve been thinking of picking this up and you may have convinced me. Since I just finished collecting every released bit of the Alien RPG, might as well start in on The One Ring.
I am excited for the solomode that they announced
Ooh! A review by you of an rpg in really curious about! Let's watch.
This game deserved the in-depth review you gave it and the enthusiasm for all things hobbity. Another rpg from Free League that has to go on a birthday or Christmas wishlist. Even for those maps alone.
Awesome contents!
I really wanted Adventures in Middle Earth as it was already a rough experience trying to get my players to learn that system, so I hope the release that some day, because currently AiME goes for a ton of money.
But man, they designed the book beautifully. It looks amazing.
New subscriber here and I just want to say I’m a big fan of your videos already. You take a primarily objective view and break down the details but aren’t afraid to err on the subjectivity, like in this video. Your videos follow a clear narrative and offer a rounded conclusion. You have a chill way of delivering the content, too, almost therapeutic, my guy. Thanks, and keep it up.
Sidebar: what's the music you have playing in the background? If I ever run the one ring, I'm playing this for my table!
Thanks for watching and joining!
The music I use comes from the UA-cam audio library. I used four or five songs in this video but I can’t recall the names.
The One Ring is definitely in the starter box :)
Use it as you will, Loremaster. 😉
Oh darn, I must have missed it.
@@DaveThaumavore you just have to look in the right pocketses
What's the music you used? It's way better medieval ambience than anything I can find
Can't wait for Moria and whatever expansion is gonna give us Rohan as a culture
Moria is fulfilling now!
I love the way you do reviews. You are explanatory, objective and you show love of RPGs throughout. The One Ring looks great and well-crafted but I'm not so keen on hobbits. When they bring out a Laketown supplement, I'll probably buy it. This is just a personal thing I have after reading the books and watching "The Hobbit" - I love the whole concept of a town built on a lake.
That boxed set is gorgeous and all you would want from a starter set. Quality throughout.
At last, a sandbox instead of a railroad game. "Modern" RPGs return to their roots.
I'm just getting into this game after trying to find something to satisfy my Rins of Power induced tolkien fever... and yeah I agree 100% with you. This game is really cool, it manages to provide good frameworks for both a narrative-first adventure filled rpg experience, and a "faithful fanfiction" vibe for tolkien nerds. And it adds complexity where the game actually can use it instead of making things complex for complexity's sake.
Thank you for the very thoughtful and thorough video concerning "Hobbits" The One Ring 2e RPG. 🙂
Perfect timing. It is likely our next RPG system after our Expanse campaign will be The One Ring 2e.
In the beginning, I just collected feedback on the one ring, but now I do want to play this game.
Great review. I'll probably stick with my copy of MERP (Middle Earth Role Playing). Those 'open-ended' crit rolls are still awesome.
This is THE single best unboxing I have ever seen. Subbed!
Thanks, John!
What was the music that played during the unboxing? Very lovely
Awesome!
Stellar review
The maps are pretty, but I miss the hex map overlay ones from 1st edition which made planning and running journeys easier for the GM. In 2e it seems you need to draw up your own journey hex map based on the non-hex maps included. Not a huge issue, but the big pre-made ones were nice time savers in the original edition which also denoted the higher threat areas (for the GM).
We have been using ours from 1e. Just remember that the 1e hexes are half the size of the 2e hexes :D
@@jasonGamesMaster - Thanks. I haven't delved far into 2e yet to notice the differences. They said 1e content would be compatible but there are always minor adjustments needed in such edition jumps.
Quite happy all my 1e goodies are still useful. Kudos to them for keeping it so.
@@NefariousKoel the majority of adjustments you have to make are easy enough to be doable in your head for the most part.
Back cover of the rules has a GM hex map
@@al424242 not very large or practical though. I hope they release stand alone versions in the future
I think the setting timeline is more a suggestion than a rule.
Within the ruleset specifically, nothing would prevent a GM and players creating a campaign or sandbox within the first or second age, the start of the third age, the timeline of the Quest of Erebor, or even during The War of the Ring.
I think the designers just chose that period to reduce as possible any story contradictions or conflicts with Tolkien's lore
The One Ring 1st Edition uses a different timeframe and a different region and has different cultures to play as characters.
Hi ! Thanks a lot for your video, it's very usefull for me ! I'm just wondering what is the amazing song you're using for the unboxing ?
Great review! Quick question... Does anyone have any experience playing this at two players? As in one Loremaster and one character? If so, how was it? Thanks!
Thanks for the review! Can you please advice, where we can find the hex map from the final conclusion of the video?
Now THAT is what I call an unboxing.
The Rules in the Starter Set are NOT the same as in the Core Rule Book. For example, Hope and Shadow works different. And there is no Character Generation in the Starter Set Rules.
I don't know what Yule represents in The one Ring, but Yule is what we Scandinavians celebrated before becoming Christians, and Yule was merched with Christmas as it is today.
Hei, and thank you for the review! May i ask about the music you used under chapter "The Physical Bundle"?
thx!
Great vid! Been waiting for this one. Do you have plans to ever do FATE or the new Marvel Multiverse rpg?
Definitely interesting in the Marvel one. FATE I've been on the fence about for a long time.
Hi! Amazing professional vídeo. Very useful!!
Just one observation: do we have to sum the Initial Treasure (e.g. Standard of Living Average=30 points) to the load? It is quite heavy, isn't it? Do you have to bury our initial treasure? Or hire 10 horses (hehe)?
Can you run this for years? Yes most definitely, probably more so than most d20 games. See the Darkening of Mirkwood for first ed.
Came here to say this. Most of this video is spot-on, but the tail end is inaccurate. This game has as much replayability and length of play as any ttrpg I can think of.
Yeah, this was a pretty solid review, but that bit at the end missed the mark. I know one GM who has run a TOR 1st edition campaign for eight years, and his players loved it. This game can easily be run for as long as a group wants to play it.
I liked the nephew joke :-)
Well thank you very much! 🙂
Any updates or thoughts on playing this solo? I know they’re working on a Strider mode for solo play, but curious to know your thoughts?
That could be fun. I guess it would come down to how good their oracles are.
Since TOR has a heavy hex-map travel facet to it I'd expect something similar to the publisher's treatment of the solo play in their recent Twilight 2000. Less equipment and survival focus, but more quest & journey oriented. Just a generalization. Hopefully the tables' content will be enough to provide good variety. The "Nameless Thing" generator in the core book is a positive indicator.
I’m curious, do you feel like buying the starter set on its own is worth it as a pick up and play roleplaying game? I don’t think I’m interested in playing the full game but having a fun hobbit box to open up and play with friends sounds pretty cool, especially if it comes with cool dice and cloth maps.
The rules aren’t really pared down in the starter set. You’re still getting the full game as far as I can tell, but with far less artwork in the core rulebook.
The cloth maps are actually sold separately.
Only thing I disagree with is the longevity of the play. While the feeling would be static-the storm is always coming but never does, you have 50 years worth of adventuring for one character, and can go back to the beginning and start a contemporary of your og character
35:00 free league is planning a bigger LOTR game , that hopefully does that. Not just a supplement. But a whole separate game. The new edition of Adventures of middle earth , I believe. Cubicle 7 lost the licence.
I'm not sure how much will be added to the one ring
Adventures in Middle-earth is just The One Ring adapted to D&D 5e. It doesn't have more information and it generally lagged behind the TOR releases during 1e. I don't expect that to change. The only benefit AiME has over TOR is no edition split as far as we know. they may very well do an updated AiME as well, which would be good in my opinion as AiME always felt slapped together to make a buck instead of a worthwhile game in of itself.
anybody catch a name on who does those beautiful full color pictures for the book?
Martin Grip
I am surprised not all RPG rulebooks have 2+ ribbons by now.
It’s a nice touch.
Very nice review. Im broke after buying the Alien RPG and the starter set for it. But maybe in a few months I can check this one out. The Hobbit is one of my favorite stories of all time and I agree with you wholeheartedly that 5e just doesnt get it right with hobbity halflings.
The Shire sourcebook was really nice I thought.
I meant from Merp:)
I always felt like Middle-Earth’s well established history and fully fleshed out storylines didn’t leave much room for adventuring.
To be honest, I did not catch the bilbo reference at the end and I just finished the extended editions for the first time today. 😅🤣 Some LOTR fan I am... 🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Where can I buy the starter box and hardcover in the USA! Not found anywhere yet...
Have you got a link for the music ?
What was the music you used in this video?
Great review! I'm torn between this and Warhammer Fantasy 4th ed. What's your thoughts?
I would have prefered a sandbox approach. thanks for the review
How do the journey rules compare to those in adventures in middle earth? those seemed rather popular but the books are no longer in print.
They are the same core concepts just built for different systems
What is the music in this video??? Please! Let me know lol.
I still can't quite understand how attacks work for PCs... the "match the strength TN modified by the enemy's parry score" makes my head spin. Can anyone here help me understanding it, please?
you mentioned a better character sheet?
He forgot to add to the description, but it's on Jez Gordon's itch dot io page:
jezgordon.itch.io/the-one-ring-2nd-edition-rpg-custom-character-sheet
@@allluckyseven thank you!
@@EugeneYunak Glad to be of help.
@@allluckyseven There is also a vertically aligned one that someone linked in the comments of that character sheet that is also really nice.
Where did you get that cap? :D
Custom made for the video.
I love some of the ideas and feel of this game but it feels more like a board game at a glance with very specific phases to carry out and highly abstracted combat. I also worry that the setting doesn't lend well to syories as weird as that sounds. Like how do you tell any interesting story in a world where all the good stuff is either already done in the future or paat or at least known about. You can't really shock players. Enemies are basic, orcs etc. as opposed to other games with hundreds of different types of enemies and classes to fight.
This looks great! Wish there was an upcoming A Song of Ice and Fire TTRPG coming up...
😔
There is one, it’s from Green Ronin
@@EnigmaofGR Nice!
...Any good?
@@comradestannis no clue
@@EnigmaofGR Thanks anyways
Narrow Setting Focus - Con and Pro
I honestly hope we can see Lord of the Rings 5e for a future vid. Ive never been wanting to go into free league due to preference for classic fantasy and 5e but it seems there might be a chance.
That and AiME are no longer in sale.
Who is responsible for the BGM during the unboxing?
What is an index card rpg?
Was there such a mention? There is the Index Card RPG by Runehammer (he has a youtube channel as well) Hankerin Ferinale. It's a very streamlined d20 DnD variant with great concepts such as using index card mapping etc.
Do you have to play as Hobbits in this game?
Where'd you get that hat?
Designed it.
@@DaveThaumavore
Very sweet. Maybe add to your merch page😁
Only problem I have with this game is the kitchy dice... I hate kitchy dice
There are two kinds of games which use kitschy dice: the kind where you can use regular dice instead and it’s not much of an issue, and the kind where you can use regular dice but translating roll results is a pain. This game is of the former variety. ie, you don’t need the specialty dice and it won’t slow you down if you use your own dice.
Please, is it compatible with D&D 5e?
Great question.
This one isn’t. It is it’s own RPG
But the developers are releasing a 5e Lord of the Rings supplement next year
I was ready to not like this after "Twilight:2000" (because as good as it is, I can tell it's not the game for me. The hex maps, the complexity of the fight rules compared to Free League's ALIEN RPG? The ALIEN RPG is my speed, and "T:2k4" goes too far into the wargame side that I don't need at this stage in life). Yes, "Twilight:2000" is great... for its audience. Which isn't me.
The tight focus here is probably the best part of the game... the intentional design is brilliant. Like, Modiphius' DUNE gives you a sprawling canvas, but it's unintentionally limited to Arrakis... I just don't think they deliver with that title. Either focus on Arrakis or don't, but all the other mechanics (which are cool, but ultimately feel unfinished)... it just felt like DUNE is half of a book, like the current DUNE movies only give you half of a story.
TOR:2e is so tightly focused, and it delivers what it says. I think that's what I get from this review, and it's why I decided to pick it up. I'm a little annoyed by DUNE's almost greatness, which is expansive but feels incredibly unfinished. You buy DUNE for potential. TOR:2e is like the exact opposite in terms of design and game intent, I think.
Great review . But please it's not Gandolf (most Americans seem to say it like that). It's not Dolph. It's Alf. And it's not Sore-on. It's Sau-ron (like sow as in a pig)
You are barking up the wrong tree.
Hate to be that guy, but because you're already being that guy... it's actually "Gandalv" - source: Return of the King appendices
You're correct about Sauron though :)
Off brand Hobbits. Lol
D&D just makes hobbits (I mean halflings) too goofy and annoying.
Men refers to race not gender. Lol
Yeah, it looks good, but the mechanics are just flat out awful. It's not an RPG; it's a glorified board game. I don't want to replay the books over and over; I can just read them. Just give me a framework to game in Middle Earth. 75% of the rules could be jettisoned as it's all roll-playing over roleplaying. Currently trying to unload my copies online as I await the second printing of "Against the Darkmaster" to drop.
Too bad the game system has no depth.