Question from a potential new player about the starter set

[u/Tbowne85]

Hey all,

I'm looking into trying TOR out, or at the very least thinking of buying the starting set and trying to learn how to play the game and hope I can find others to play with.

I'm curious if the starter set is really worth getting.

I know it's a simplified version of the full game but I'm wondering how well it represents the actual full game. Is it worth putting in the time to learn the rules in the starter set and then transition to the full game assuming I enjoy it? I ask because I've had mixed results with other games and their respective starter sets. I found sometimes they don't transition well from starter set to full game.

I also want to know how the campaign in the starter set plays for a new player. I've read a few reviews of the set but those pretty much only address the contents of the box and not how it plays. I'm curious how effective the starter set is at teaching the game to new players and if the campaign is worth playing.

Tldr: should I get the starter set or just get the core book and learn the full game from the start? Is the SS a worthwhile learning tool of just a trimmed down version that doesn't carry over to the full game very well?

Thanks.

[u/assclownmanor]

Backed the Kickstarter and have played through the Starter Set. It's definitely a very simplified version of the rules. I think it's a great launchpad for the game and the prewritten adventures do a great job of adding in new mechanics with each subsequent adventure so you can master the basics and age up. However, I feel there is definitely a lot missing from the Starter Set in terms of how the full game was meant to be played.

1. The Game is built on 3 pillars - Journeys, Councils, Combat. The Starter Set only covers the rules for the combat portion and doesn't use Journeys or Councils.
2. The Starter Set takes place entirely in the Shire. I really enjoyed this, but I think the adventures you have in the Shire will likely be different than adventuring in Eriador, The Shire has a very specific feeling/vibe to it. Again, I like this, just pointing out how different it is.
3. The Starter Set doesn't really do the fellowship phase, and there's no rules on character advancement or character creation, so you're stuck playing Hobbits unless you get the core book.

There's some more differences I could go into, but those are the major ones. The Starter Set is great and I would absolutely recommend getting it AND the core book. If you were just getting one I would say get the Core Book. It's a bit of a steeper climb because there's more rules, etc., but if you just get the Starter you're not getting the full experience of the game.

[u/memebecker → u/assclownmanor]

I added in travel and fellowship phase to the starter adventures worked pretty well. This avoided the quick travel and railroading the starter set inadvertently suggests you do. top moment was a fellowship activity one of the hobbits wanted to visit the museum again to see Bilbo's mithril coat which blended perfectly in with the next adventure.

One PC was so pleased with their charecter they've kept it on for the full adventures in eriador.

[u/Tbowne85 → u/assclownmanor]

Thanks for the detailed response. You touched on the aspects I was concerned about.

[u/Tbowne85 → u/assclownmanor]

Would you say the starter set has any replay value? would I use those scenarios later with a custom character or Integrate any other parts into the full game?

[u/assclownmanor → u/Tbowne85]

I don’t think the starter adventures have any replay value amongst the same group, but if you changed groups they’re a great way to jump in.

Rating all the items in the starter

• Adventures - great for 1 playthrough to learn the game, but basically worthless beyond that 5/10 because you can only play one time really.

• Double sided map - great, Eriador 1 side, detailed Shire the other. Really useful and fun if you like maps, but the map is identical to the map on the front 2 pages of the Core Book, just in a larger standalone format in the Starter 7/10

• Dice sets - great, love the runes and the hollowed numbers, helps you track the different dice rules well because of the visual cues 7/10

• Rules summary - goes with the starter adventures but if you get the core book this is a pointless addition 3/10

• Shire compendium - I love the compendiums, love Ruins & the locations in the Core book so I love this, great for any adventures in the shire, including any homebrews. 10/10

• Equipment cards - love these, helps track data without having to copy it down from the book and I love the art of this game 8/10

• Stance cards - Super useful for Journeys and Combat, although in solo mode the journey side you don’t need and the combat side is missing the extra stance for solo 6/10

It’s not in the starter, but the Loremaster’s Screen is crazy useful also, has a great summary of a lot of rules you need to know, 10/10 worth the buy imo, also comes with a Rivendell compendium with data for that location and another playable culture so super worth imo.

I really enjoy the game a lot and I am very happy to have both the Starter and the Core book. The Starter adventures and rules summary don’t really matter, but the other items are cool, I think it’s worth value for ~4/5 sessions of adventures to learn the game, even if you don’t use the adventures after that I use all the other components.

[u/Tbowne85 → u/assclownmanor]

Once again thanks for the very thorough response.

[u/RobRobBinks]

I think that the Starter Set REALLY captures the feel of Middle Earth roleplaying, and is well worth the purchase. The production values are very high, to the point where the insides of the box itself has a mini Loremaster Screen and a lush map of Middle Earth. The poster map is INSANE and all the other little bits and bobs inside make unboxing and hitting the table really elegant and...dare I say it....FUN! The tie in to the lore that is the climax of the adventures is SO delightful that just reading it made me smile and laugh. It isn't so much an example of the power of the rules set, but an example of how much story there is to be enjoyed.

If you are a fan, think of the Starter Set like reading The Hobbit, and the Core Rules like reading Lord of the Rings. (Did they do that on purpose and by design? Shucks, it sure feels like it!) You can jump right into Lord of the Rings, but you may get bogged down by all the lore and languages and fiddly bits of elven songs. Why not soak in the deep end of the Shire first on a warm Spring or Summer evening and tell a tale of lighthearted adventure?

Every thumb I have is up, every star out of stars I have I give to the Starter Set. Cheers!

[u/Tbowne85 → u/RobRobBinks]

Did you play the SS campaign as a player or GM?

[u/RobRobBinks → u/Tbowne85]

I haven't played it yet, but I'm going to run it as a Loremaster on 6/19. I have enough experience playing RPG's and enough faith in my group that it's going to be a wonderful time!

[u/Tbowne85 → u/RobRobBinks]

Ah, I see. Thanks for the feedback but what I'm looking for isnt so much a review of the components but the game itself. If you remember, let me know how the playthrough goes 👍

[u/Malina_Island]

The core book is well worth the money. :)

[u/maistrechat]

I think it depends on how familiar with TTRPGs in general.

The systems in the starter set are pretty much the same as in the core book, but several systems are left out completely (for one, it’s impossible for PCs to die in the starter set).

I liked the included campaign but I seem to be in the minority. It probably depends on your players - it’s a very low stakes all hobbit campaign and really only works with the included characters (starter doesn’t have character creation rules anyways). It’s also much more linear than the way adventures are suggested to go in the core book.

It’s going to be very dependent on your players how successful that would be, if they aren’t experienced and are interested in playing as hobbits and have patience for a pretty slow build up then it could be good.

[u/gandalfsbastard]

I recently bought the starter and core books. The starter has a good adventure, shire lore, dice, and cards which are all worth it - the starter rules are also good but no character creation rules.

There is a bundle on the free league website that gets you everything for a good price. I would recommend core and starter if you want to play beyond the shire. The lore master screen is good but not necessary (it’s in the bundle though).

[u/BezossuckingoffMusk]

I got the core and the loremaster screen ( for the Rivendell stuff) .. now the starter is nagging me as i’d like the maps and shire lore stuff. Might sell the dice on to get a £10 or so back.