Fri 21 May 2021, 09:05
DeusXLondon.
Thanks for mentioning the link to the Cthulu Roman thing. I'll take a look later. I've just discovered the campaign for Mythic Britain which so far looks like it will lend itself very well to early-mid TA roleplay and has I think the seeds of a main, over-arching plot around which other discreet adventures can take place. At the moment I'm working my way through some of those Merp campaign guides (Dagmar appears as a character name in one). I just need to knit the various adventure guides into something coherent and if I do manage that I may well run a game spanning 400+ years. Adventure or Fellowship phases will be over 5 or 10 year phases. I like the possibility of a player creating a family tree with deeds of ancestors being told. Very Tolkien in theme to do so I reckon.
I find the time period very compelling. Khazud Dum is still a Dwarf mansion (so a Khazad dwarf playable culture). Rohan is not yet a country. I don't think (from memory) Erebor is yet founded. (From memory) The Kin-strife is still to take place so pirating and incursions up and down the coasts could be a thing.
I have something now quite well-formed as a plan for running a game...
Cardolan and Arthedain are already two separated kingdoms but with conflicting and shared interests though Cardolan is without an apparent heir from the line of princes since the death of Osthir and his sons at the battle of Tyrn Gorthad (1409 Barrow Downs). The Barrow Downs have become increasingly corrupted and a source of fear and blight. Amon Sul destroyed. By 1601 Hobbits have completed their settlement of the Shire (which I will treat in my campaign as the 'bread basket' that feeds the two kingdoms with Hobbits being the ultimate farmers!). By 1640 the lands are still only just starting a recovery from the Great Plague of 1636-37 having already been long in decline since 1409 and constant raids by Angmar and Rhudaur and possibly from old Hollin.
Cardolan is 'ruled' by several remaining baronies or successor states but with a nominal High Commander (Canotar) sent by Gondor but these successor states are very difficult to unite around any consensus of shared interest and resist any claimship by Arveleg to re-unify the remaining two kingdoms (the shadow of greed under the guise of freedom and independence). The Dunedain descendants have begun to dissipate leaving for Gondor, being usurped by the 'lesser men' of the region and their interests, or in increasing numbers going North to Arthedain. By TA 1973-75 the third Northern War with Angmar will break out in which most of Arthedain will be destroyed along with Angmar. I will have an insidious shadow of Angmar corrupting the lands via the Hillmen of Rhudaur's return to worship of dark magic. Which will eqaute to localised corrupted or blighted villages.
Gandalf will primarily be known as Olorin but more than likely a background motivator to player character aims (salvaging heirlooms for keeping at Rivendell, small incursions, local solving of plots etc, 1640 Osgiliath in ruins capital is now Minas Anor, watch on Mordor abandoned,1643 great storm of Cardolan, 1934 Arvedui makes claim on sceptre of Gondor - rejected, 1964 Arvedui King of Arnor, 1974 destruction of Kingdom of Arnor, 1975 drowning and loss of Arvedui and two palantir. Angmar destroyed. 1976 Aranarth becomes chieftain of Dunedain.