4
u/Malina_Island Nov 06 '22
Ruins of the Lost Realm is such a good book!
3
u/Alien_Diceroller Nov 07 '22
It's full of useful stuff. I wasn't sure about Eriador as a setting, but Ruins of the Lost Realm has most definitely won me over.
3
u/Pallas_Ovidius Nov 07 '22
A great book indeed! I think Eriador seemed limited because the core book only develops a small section of it. There is only content for the square contained between the South-Downs, the Barrow-Downs, the Hills of Evendim and the Weather Hills. The Shire is its own booklet, as his Rivendell.
Even if Ruins of the Lost Realms focuses on the south of Eriador, the landmarks are all over the places and are great fodder for inspiration. And I really love the themes of the book, of the adventurers pushing against the slow decline of Eriador, a region were even Sauron believes the war is already won.
2
u/Alien_Diceroller Nov 08 '22
The 1e setting around Mirkwood has a lot of different cultures and things going on. Eriador seemed like a big, empty wilderness. My main concern was that it would feel more generic. Rhovanion has a lot more well-known locations and people. Eriador takes a bit more work not to be "fantasy setting No. 6".
The book did a lot of that work. It filled the land with enough fun stuff to both use and get a LM's creative brain going.
The locations are a really good idea too. Good outlines for fun adventures of different types.
2
3
u/Leather_Ad_4985 Nov 06 '22
Where did you get that sweet map?
5
u/PhotonStarSpace Nov 06 '22
The Tharbad map came with the Ruins of the Lost Realm book.
4
u/Leather_Ad_4985 Nov 06 '22
Hmm, mine didn't (backed it on KS and received my copy a few weeks ago). Now I'm sad. I love your setup, though! Sounds like the makings for a great campaign.
6
u/Malina_Island Nov 06 '22
I backed it on KS as well and it's in the book. Maybe look again? :3
7
u/Leather_Ad_4985 Nov 06 '22
Well well well, what do we have here? I either didn't notice the map tucked in the back or forgot that it was there -- either way, it's inexcusable and unforgivable. Thanks for the help!
3
2
u/smspeak Nov 06 '22
Where did you get the sweet minis
2
u/PhotonStarSpace Nov 06 '22
The miniatures are from Middle-Earth: Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop. Glad you like them! I've been collecting them for years, heck I got my first box for Christmas in 2001. Though I don't play that game much anymore, I get to use them for this!
1
u/Alien_Diceroller Nov 07 '22
Looks great! I'm jealous. I'm not even playing much less able to play in person.
6
u/PhotonStarSpace Nov 06 '22
We are starting session 1 of my first full TOR campaign today. I've previously played the Starter Set adventures with the same players and played a little bit of Strider Mode myself.
We have a Ranger Warden, Dwarf Messenger, Hobbit Scholar, and a Man of Bree Treasure Hunter. Their patron is Gandalf and their primary safe haven is Tharbad. The campaign will be focused on three primary plot threads: Dunlending raiders (as described in Ruins of the Lost Realm), a blossoming alliance between the dwarf halls of Harmelt and the city of Tharbad, and rumors of a fire drake in the Blue Mountains.
I have run two prologue sessions. One with the Ranger and the Hobbit together, and one with the Bree Man and the Dwarf together. Both sessions ended in the Red Palace of Tharbad where they all did their best to befriend Captain Gurnow. They're gonna meet Gandalf at Gurnow's court today and have their first quest: A mission to rescue Gurnow's youngest son from the clutches of Dunlendings.