Play 4E D&D in Middle Earth
Is a Witch-King anything like a Witchalok?
Lots of gamers feel that Middle Earth is pretty much the greatest campaign world ever created, but the right combination of game system and Lord of the Rings awesomeness has never quite come together (oh MERP, how I loved thee…back before I knew any better). If you’re a fan of the mechanics of D&D 4E, Greywulf’s Lair might have just the thing for you: a conversion that will get your PCs up and running in Cardolan early in the Third Age.
Cardolan makes for a great D&D setting, especially in the era Greywulf suggests, almost 1,500 years prior to the events depicted in the Lord of the Rings. You’ve got a crumbling civilzation beset by bandits and nastier enemies, built on the ruins of the ancient kingdom of Arnor. It perfectly fits D&D’s new “bastions of good set against the encroaching darkness” theme. Cardolan is also familiar ground to Tolkien fans, as it encompasses the Shire and other well-trodden environs. The best part is the built-in villain, the captain of the Ringwraiths himself, the Witch-King of Angmar. He is active in the north during this period, conquering and harassing nearby nations with armies of orcs and undead.
This is not a full campaign world – there are no stat blocks for NPCs, no maps of the towns or specific adventure hooks. However, DMs looking to make the conversion should have no problem creating those elements themselves, and there are more than enough Tolkien resources available to base them on. Greywulf provides a rough outline, a rationale for the 4e races and classes, and a conversion chart for dieties.
One thing I was curious about was how the presence of wizards and warlocks could be accounted for in what has traditionally been a low magic world. I found the answer both interesting and plausible, though purists may cringe: “Two of the Istari known as the Blue Wizards (Alatar and Pallando) were charged with spreading the knowledge of Magic to the lesser races in order that they might better defend themselves against the wiles of Morgoth. They taught the ways of the Wand and Staff.”
The thought of exploring lonely barrow downs, creeping through Arnorean ruins, and eventually having an epic battle against the Witch-King of Angmar really has my imagination churning. I think this might be the site of my next campaign.
Cardolan: A Middle Earth campaign setting for 4e D&D.
[Image by: Lord of the Rings Online]
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February 10th, 2009 3:49 PM
I don’t know; early Third Age as a campaign setting might work, but I always felt like the Lord of the Rings setting lacked the outlandish density that I always looked for. There is a very small number of wizards!
February 10th, 2009 3:52 PM
MERP, gateway drug for Rolemaster– ah, if I had only known better…
I have come to the conclusion that the best LotR campaign is the Ring quest. If I ran a game there, I’d just do the Ring story, freeform. “Okay, let me see your character sheets. You made…three warlocks & a wizard, a cleric, & a paladin. Ohhhhkay. Paladin! Your weird uncle leaves you a ring of invisiblity….”
February 10th, 2009 4:01 PM
I’ve always disliked the need to try and shoehorn any setting or system into D&D. I applaud the creativity of anyone trying to do so but, really, there are better games for different settings. Lord of the Rings feels very different than the rules for 4e really support.
The best alternative, if you’re looking for a very Tolkienesque feel is, in my opinion, Burning Wheel (http://burningwheel.org). The game itself is well-written and thought out and does a lot for narrative play. Also, the inherent setting is highly LotR-flavoured and requires little more than knowledge of the useful proper nouns from Middle Earth and you’re on your way.
February 10th, 2009 4:32 PM
AH, MERP.. I think I have almost every supplement sans a few of the last. I don’t think I’d ever convert to D20 to play in Middle-Earth, and a pdf MERP is pretty easy to track down for free online. We do, however, use a custom skillset to replace or supplement the somewhat lacking skillset of MERP. Works great.
February 11th, 2009 12:13 PM
I think 4e can work for any setting but you need to change a lot of things.
I would expect you need differen classes and limited race, as i don’t see a warlock or cleric working in Middle earth, nor a tefling, elderin or Dragon born.
But the power system would work great for heros of middel earth.
I’ve also wanted to come up with a hero system using the base 4e rule, but i have not had the time.