Pex
2017-01-28, 02:25 AM
You can now play in Middle Earth in 5E. The setting is The Wilderland 5 years after the slaying of Smaug.
Concept
Tyrannical DM: Eh, I guess. Maybe it will cut down on the ingrates whining.
Normal DM: Hooray! We get to play in Middle Earth.
Munchkin Player: Hooray! I get to play Gandalf!
Normal Player: Hooray! We get to play in Middle Earth.
Cultures
Tyrannical DM: What the heck is it with all these pluses to ability scores. Dunedain get four +1's and a Virtue? Fudge that. No Aragorns in MY game. Rich dwarves? Fudge that. Not for PCs.
Normal DM: Way cool Men are not just one race. Culture matters. They were serious in trying to match the setting.
Munchkin Player: Hooray! I get to play Aragorn! Hooray! I get to play Legolas! Wow, look at all the pluses to ability scores!
Normal Player: Wow, they went all in on the setting. I want to play them all.
Classes
Tyrannical DM: Sung to the tune of "Hallelujah" - Noooo spellcasters! Nooooo spellcasters! No spellcasters! No spellcasters! No spell-ca-sters! NOOOO SPELLCASTERS! NOOO SPELLCASTERS! NO SPELLCASTERS! NO SPELLCASTERS! NO SPELL-CA-STERS!
Oh, yeah, no way are Fighter Knights getting free magic items just for leveling. Foe-Hammer Slayer can rage, be in heavy armor, and have full Dex to AC? Fudge that. Ban!
Normal DM: Ok, they took the mundane classes from 5E and changed them a little to match the setting. Even the bard-type one works well without the spells. If someone does play the Scholar I need to emphasize how prized their skills are in this setting.
Munchkin Player: Aw man! I can't play Gandalf. At least Aragorn and Legolas are possible. Gimli too, I guess. Nice to start off rich. Oh cool, I can still play my halfling rogue again. I'm definitely staying away from the boring healbot Scholar. What's it good for?
Normal Player: Yeah, Gimli is the Warrior Weaponmaster and Bilbo the Treasure Hunter. Anyway, nice how they adopted the mundane classes for Middle Earth. Still so hard to choose. Scholar is the healbot, but the healing art is more prestigous in Middle Earth than normal games. Lots of roleplaying potential.
Virtues
Tyrannical DM: Pfft. Feats by another name. Add half-proficiency to damage? No, bye. Add proficiency to AC? No, bye. Free magic item? No, bye. I may just ban this whole thing.
Normal DM: Feats by another name. Nice how they have culture specific ones. Reinforces the setting. Some are pure mechanical while others have more roleplaying potential, but even the pure mechanical ones are about specifics to the culture. Good way to tie in skill with special training and Honor. One or two might be underwhelming here or overwhelming there, but it's not obviously so. You really can't make a bad choice, and they are worth giving up an ability score increase. Even the Cultural Heirloom is steeped in gameworld lore. It means something to have the item. Good roleplaying potential.
Munchkin Player: Look at all those pluses! Free magic items!
Normal Player: Feats by another name. Nice how they have culture specific ones. Reinforces the setting. Some are pure mechanical while others have more roleplaying potential, but even the pure mechanical ones are about specifics to the culture. Good way to tie in skill with special training and Honor. One or two might be underwhelming here or overwhelming there, but it's not obviously so. You really can't make a bad choice, and they are worth giving up an ability score increase. Even the Cultural Heirloom is steeped in gameworld lore. It means something to have the item. Good roleplaying potential.
Background
Tyrannical DM: Whatever.
Normal DM: Haha, Samwise is the first one. I like how they're all about personality and perspective, not profession. Nothing wrong with the regular 5E backgrounds about professions, just noticeably different.
Munchkin Player: No, that one that doesn't give me the skills I need. No, no that one either. Nor that one. Ah, here's the one.
Normal Player: Haha, Samwise is the first one. I like how they're all about personality and perspective, not profession. Nothing wrong with the regular 5E backgrounds about professions, just noticeably different.
Equipment
Tyrannical DM: Yeah, I can see where the NPCs have these particular items, but no way are the players getting the dwarf-forged stuff, not even if they play a dwarf who of course is definitely not going to start off rich. It's a no magic item game anyway, the little munchkins. Wonderful, I can just give out silver pennies for the little babies. I have special use for the gold, hehe.
Normal DM: These Cultural Heirlooms are wonderful. Powerful in some cases, yes, but they really mean something. Players can earn these and feel special. Let's not go overboard, of course, but all in good time. I'll probably leave the dwarf-forged stuff for near the end of the campaign, a great reward of a well-played campaign, but I can see a hint for a weapon in the middle. Yeah, just buying it is not going to feel right despite listing a cost. I'll let the players know.
Munchkin Player: Wow neat stuff. I can get these for free for a feat or class ability. Oh cool, I can buy dwarf-forged weapons and armor!
Normal Player: While there are some magic items in Middle Earth it's not a lot. These feel right. Hey, no mithral? Odd. Oh well, we'll see how it plays out. Ooh, I like the detail they go into with the herbs for treating injuries. That would go great with playing a Scholar to make a healbot not boring.
Journey
Tyrannical DM: Alright, now this is roleplaying! Exhaustion, Hunger, Disease, Poison. All sorts of things I can sick on the players and no silly magic spells to bypass it. They better hope someone plays the Scholar, hehe.
Normal DM: Cool, players have to rely on their skills more than normal. Cooperation is needed for success. It's not all about combat.
Munchkin Player: Oh this sucks. Fine, let's see, I need proficiency in Survival, Perception, and Stealth. Let me double check my class and background. Are we there yet?
Normal Player: Cool, players have to rely on their skills more than normal. Cooperation is needed for success. It's not all about combat.
The Shadow
Tyrannical: Excellent! Want gold? Have all the gold you want, suckers. It's tainted. Make a saving throw. Oh, so you defeated my monster? HAH! It was corrupted by the Shadow. Make a saving throw. You want this magic item? It's corrupted. Make a saving throw. You're all doomed!
Normal DM: Added complexity, but it is part of the setting. Need to make sure not every treasure hoard is tainted. It wasn't in the books. I can use The Shadow more for atmosphere. There are ways to cure it. That's good. Don't want the campaign ruined because everyone got corrupted.
Munchkin Player: Whatever. Hey, wait a minute, says here I can become spiteful or deceiving or arrogant. Vengeance is mine! Now I can go back to stealing from the party and lying saying I'm just roleplaying my character, and they can't say anything because it's right here in the rules that's exactly what I'm supposed to do. I'm Boromir! Maybe I won't have my Wisdom so high after all. I can get some extra Constitution out of it. Hmm.
Normal Player: It is part of the setting. Could be fun roleplaying trying to resist dark temptations, just like Frodo. Roleplaying Miserable would be fun once in a while even if I'm not suffering from the condition itself. There are ways to remove Shadow Points, so it's not crippling.
Audiences
Tyrannical: Rolls eyes. The players can't roleplay themselves out of a paper bag. They never say the right things. Still, it would be fun playing Gandalf or Elrond having to save their sorry butts again from their own foolishness.
Normal DM: Establishes roleplaying guidance. Ok, got it.
Munchkin Player: Let's see I need profiency in Persuasion, Intimidation, and Deception. Insight could help. Wait, but I still need Survival, Stealth, and Perception. I suppose the DM is going to want me to say something instead of just rolling Persuasion. Fine, have someone else do this. Are we done yet?
Normal Player: Establishes roleplaying guidance. Ok, got it.
Fellowship
Tyrannical DM: Oh yeah, I forgot about short and long rests. How could I when they whine about them all the time? Anyway, this should be easy enough. Can only long rest at a Sanctuary. Well, I suppose it they get really lucky during the Journey phase to find a good shelter. Oh very well if it would stop the whining. As for this Sanctuary thing, I wonder how often I can get them to waste it just to get rid of Shadow Points they're going to regain later, hehe. Not that they're going to get free magic items, I mean Cultural Heirlooms, but if I do bother to give them one and they lose it, tough feces. They're not getting it back for free. It's gone. Suck it up.
Normal DM: Alright! Cool stuff for downtime.
Munchkin Player: Alright! Cool stuff for downtime.
Normal Player: Alright! Cool stuff for downtime.
Concept
Tyrannical DM: Eh, I guess. Maybe it will cut down on the ingrates whining.
Normal DM: Hooray! We get to play in Middle Earth.
Munchkin Player: Hooray! I get to play Gandalf!
Normal Player: Hooray! We get to play in Middle Earth.
Cultures
Tyrannical DM: What the heck is it with all these pluses to ability scores. Dunedain get four +1's and a Virtue? Fudge that. No Aragorns in MY game. Rich dwarves? Fudge that. Not for PCs.
Normal DM: Way cool Men are not just one race. Culture matters. They were serious in trying to match the setting.
Munchkin Player: Hooray! I get to play Aragorn! Hooray! I get to play Legolas! Wow, look at all the pluses to ability scores!
Normal Player: Wow, they went all in on the setting. I want to play them all.
Classes
Tyrannical DM: Sung to the tune of "Hallelujah" - Noooo spellcasters! Nooooo spellcasters! No spellcasters! No spellcasters! No spell-ca-sters! NOOOO SPELLCASTERS! NOOO SPELLCASTERS! NO SPELLCASTERS! NO SPELLCASTERS! NO SPELL-CA-STERS!
Oh, yeah, no way are Fighter Knights getting free magic items just for leveling. Foe-Hammer Slayer can rage, be in heavy armor, and have full Dex to AC? Fudge that. Ban!
Normal DM: Ok, they took the mundane classes from 5E and changed them a little to match the setting. Even the bard-type one works well without the spells. If someone does play the Scholar I need to emphasize how prized their skills are in this setting.
Munchkin Player: Aw man! I can't play Gandalf. At least Aragorn and Legolas are possible. Gimli too, I guess. Nice to start off rich. Oh cool, I can still play my halfling rogue again. I'm definitely staying away from the boring healbot Scholar. What's it good for?
Normal Player: Yeah, Gimli is the Warrior Weaponmaster and Bilbo the Treasure Hunter. Anyway, nice how they adopted the mundane classes for Middle Earth. Still so hard to choose. Scholar is the healbot, but the healing art is more prestigous in Middle Earth than normal games. Lots of roleplaying potential.
Virtues
Tyrannical DM: Pfft. Feats by another name. Add half-proficiency to damage? No, bye. Add proficiency to AC? No, bye. Free magic item? No, bye. I may just ban this whole thing.
Normal DM: Feats by another name. Nice how they have culture specific ones. Reinforces the setting. Some are pure mechanical while others have more roleplaying potential, but even the pure mechanical ones are about specifics to the culture. Good way to tie in skill with special training and Honor. One or two might be underwhelming here or overwhelming there, but it's not obviously so. You really can't make a bad choice, and they are worth giving up an ability score increase. Even the Cultural Heirloom is steeped in gameworld lore. It means something to have the item. Good roleplaying potential.
Munchkin Player: Look at all those pluses! Free magic items!
Normal Player: Feats by another name. Nice how they have culture specific ones. Reinforces the setting. Some are pure mechanical while others have more roleplaying potential, but even the pure mechanical ones are about specifics to the culture. Good way to tie in skill with special training and Honor. One or two might be underwhelming here or overwhelming there, but it's not obviously so. You really can't make a bad choice, and they are worth giving up an ability score increase. Even the Cultural Heirloom is steeped in gameworld lore. It means something to have the item. Good roleplaying potential.
Background
Tyrannical DM: Whatever.
Normal DM: Haha, Samwise is the first one. I like how they're all about personality and perspective, not profession. Nothing wrong with the regular 5E backgrounds about professions, just noticeably different.
Munchkin Player: No, that one that doesn't give me the skills I need. No, no that one either. Nor that one. Ah, here's the one.
Normal Player: Haha, Samwise is the first one. I like how they're all about personality and perspective, not profession. Nothing wrong with the regular 5E backgrounds about professions, just noticeably different.
Equipment
Tyrannical DM: Yeah, I can see where the NPCs have these particular items, but no way are the players getting the dwarf-forged stuff, not even if they play a dwarf who of course is definitely not going to start off rich. It's a no magic item game anyway, the little munchkins. Wonderful, I can just give out silver pennies for the little babies. I have special use for the gold, hehe.
Normal DM: These Cultural Heirlooms are wonderful. Powerful in some cases, yes, but they really mean something. Players can earn these and feel special. Let's not go overboard, of course, but all in good time. I'll probably leave the dwarf-forged stuff for near the end of the campaign, a great reward of a well-played campaign, but I can see a hint for a weapon in the middle. Yeah, just buying it is not going to feel right despite listing a cost. I'll let the players know.
Munchkin Player: Wow neat stuff. I can get these for free for a feat or class ability. Oh cool, I can buy dwarf-forged weapons and armor!
Normal Player: While there are some magic items in Middle Earth it's not a lot. These feel right. Hey, no mithral? Odd. Oh well, we'll see how it plays out. Ooh, I like the detail they go into with the herbs for treating injuries. That would go great with playing a Scholar to make a healbot not boring.
Journey
Tyrannical DM: Alright, now this is roleplaying! Exhaustion, Hunger, Disease, Poison. All sorts of things I can sick on the players and no silly magic spells to bypass it. They better hope someone plays the Scholar, hehe.
Normal DM: Cool, players have to rely on their skills more than normal. Cooperation is needed for success. It's not all about combat.
Munchkin Player: Oh this sucks. Fine, let's see, I need proficiency in Survival, Perception, and Stealth. Let me double check my class and background. Are we there yet?
Normal Player: Cool, players have to rely on their skills more than normal. Cooperation is needed for success. It's not all about combat.
The Shadow
Tyrannical: Excellent! Want gold? Have all the gold you want, suckers. It's tainted. Make a saving throw. Oh, so you defeated my monster? HAH! It was corrupted by the Shadow. Make a saving throw. You want this magic item? It's corrupted. Make a saving throw. You're all doomed!
Normal DM: Added complexity, but it is part of the setting. Need to make sure not every treasure hoard is tainted. It wasn't in the books. I can use The Shadow more for atmosphere. There are ways to cure it. That's good. Don't want the campaign ruined because everyone got corrupted.
Munchkin Player: Whatever. Hey, wait a minute, says here I can become spiteful or deceiving or arrogant. Vengeance is mine! Now I can go back to stealing from the party and lying saying I'm just roleplaying my character, and they can't say anything because it's right here in the rules that's exactly what I'm supposed to do. I'm Boromir! Maybe I won't have my Wisdom so high after all. I can get some extra Constitution out of it. Hmm.
Normal Player: It is part of the setting. Could be fun roleplaying trying to resist dark temptations, just like Frodo. Roleplaying Miserable would be fun once in a while even if I'm not suffering from the condition itself. There are ways to remove Shadow Points, so it's not crippling.
Audiences
Tyrannical: Rolls eyes. The players can't roleplay themselves out of a paper bag. They never say the right things. Still, it would be fun playing Gandalf or Elrond having to save their sorry butts again from their own foolishness.
Normal DM: Establishes roleplaying guidance. Ok, got it.
Munchkin Player: Let's see I need profiency in Persuasion, Intimidation, and Deception. Insight could help. Wait, but I still need Survival, Stealth, and Perception. I suppose the DM is going to want me to say something instead of just rolling Persuasion. Fine, have someone else do this. Are we done yet?
Normal Player: Establishes roleplaying guidance. Ok, got it.
Fellowship
Tyrannical DM: Oh yeah, I forgot about short and long rests. How could I when they whine about them all the time? Anyway, this should be easy enough. Can only long rest at a Sanctuary. Well, I suppose it they get really lucky during the Journey phase to find a good shelter. Oh very well if it would stop the whining. As for this Sanctuary thing, I wonder how often I can get them to waste it just to get rid of Shadow Points they're going to regain later, hehe. Not that they're going to get free magic items, I mean Cultural Heirlooms, but if I do bother to give them one and they lose it, tough feces. They're not getting it back for free. It's gone. Suck it up.
Normal DM: Alright! Cool stuff for downtime.
Munchkin Player: Alright! Cool stuff for downtime.
Normal Player: Alright! Cool stuff for downtime.