1

The Lord of the Rings

Role Playing Game
Converted to Unisystem
by

James Silvers
Chapter One: Character Creation.04
Chapter Two: Qualities and Drawbacks18
Chapter Three: Skills, Lore and Herbalism.30
Chapter Four: Game Mechanics...46
Chapter Five: Grimoire......60
Chapter Six: Mass Combat..104
Chapter Seven: Beasts of Middle-Earth 115

These works are in no way a challenge to any copyright or trademark, either from Tolkien
Enterprises, Eden Studios or Decipher. This work is not related in any official capacity to Eden
Studios.
 Chapter One:
Character Creation

3

CHARACTER
CREATION
CHARACTER POINTS
All characters start with 60 Character
Points to make their characters. The
following limitations apply to how these
points are spent:
A maximum of 15 points can be
spent on Initial Attributes. Initial
Attributes cost 1 point apiece until 4
and then cost 2 points per level up
until a Maximum of 6. Racial
Bonuses are applied after the Initial
Attributes are bought.
A maximum of 15 points should be
spent on Qualities. This limitation
is in addition to any Qualities given
by Race. However Qualities
provided by Order Packages and
Backgrounds are NOT exempted
from the 15 Character Point limit to
Qualities.
Additional Character Points can be
acquired by picking Drawbacks up
to a Maximum of 15 Character
Points.
Skills can be bought at a cost of 1
point per Level up to 3 and 2 points
per level afterward. In other words
a Level 4 Skill would cost 5
Character Points; Level 5 would
cost 7 points etc. If a combination
of Order and Background packages
raises a Skill to above Level 3 then
additional Character Points may be
necessary. For example: an Order
Package offers a bonus of +3 in
Armed Combat and a Background
Package offers a +1 in Armed
Combat. Therefore the character
has a total of 4 Character Points
spent in Armed Combat. However,
since a skill level of 4 costs 5
Character Points the player would
have to spend an additional point to
receive the skill at Level 4.
4
Additional Courage Points can be
purchased for 5 Points apiece.
The remaining Character Points can be
spent as desired by the player and are used
to buy Racial Packages, Order Packages,
Skills, Qualities and Spells.
ATTRIBUTES
I have adopted the names for the CODA
attributes as follows:
Strength = Strength
Nimbleness = Dexterity
Vitality = Constitution
Wits = Intelligence
Perception=Perception
Bearing = Willpower
This is done mainly to maintain the Flavor
presented in CODAs game system. The
exception is Bearing. Bearing combines
the qualities of Unisystems Willpower and
the Charisma Edge which is no longer
used.
ATTRIBUTES
Attributes are inborn characteristics of a
character: her physical strength, intelligence,
senses and so on. By selecting a set of
Attributes, players define the limits of what
the character can do. For example, if a
player buys a very low Nimbleness for her
character, she should not be surprised if the
character routinely fails to do anything that
requires grace and manual coordination. As
Attributes are bought, the player can
start getting a sense of what the character is
like. Is she strong but dumb, quick but weak,
sharp and perceptive but weak-willed?
STRENGTH
A measure of the physical power of the
character, Strength determines how much
damage the character inflicts with hand-to-
hand weapons, how much weight she can
carry, and how powerful she is. It also helps
determine how much damage and exertion
the character can withstand before
collapsing. Strength is useful to people who
do a lot of heavy lifting or anybody likely to
enter close combat.
A low Strength indicates either small size
and body weight, or just a lack of exercise.
A character may high jump (Strength x 10)
inches and broad jump (Strength) yards.
Double these numbers with a good running
start.
A chart detailing how much a character of
any given Strength can lift is below.
Strength Lifting Capacity
1-5 50 x Strength (lbs)
6-10 (200 x (Strength - 5)) + 250
(lbs)
11-15 (500 x (Strength - 10)) +
1,250 (lbs)
16-20 (Strength - 15) + 2 (tons)
A character can "push the limits" and try to
lift more by passing a Simple Strength Test.
Every Success Level achieved allows the
character to lift an additional 10% of her
maximum lifting weight. The Character is
forced to make an immediate Weariness
Test subtracting his Successes from the
Success Level of the Strength Test. The
remainder is taken in Weariness Levels.
A failure on the Strength Test causes
D4 Life Points of damage -- the character
strained herself and tore something up . . .
5
NIMBLENESS
Nimbleness is a measure of the characters
coordination, agility, and gracefulness. It is
used to determine how proficient a character
is with any Task that requires motor control
and precision.
This ranges from performing card tricks to
picking pockets to punching somebody in
the face (Nimbleness helps the punch land;
Strength determines how much the punch
hurt). Any Task where the characters speed
and coordination matter is influenced by
Nimbleness.
People with low Nimbleness are clumsy
and ungraceful.
VITALITY
This Attribute determines how physically
hardy or healthy the character is. Vitality is
important when it comes to resisting
diseases, damage, and fatigue. This
Attribute is used (along with Strength)
to determine how much physical injury the
character can survive and still remain
functional. Vitality also comes into play with
physical skills that involve endurance, like
swimming, long-distance running and the
like.
WITS
This Attribute determines the characters
ability to learn, correlate and memorize
information. The higher a characters Wits,
the easier it is to improve scholastic skills.
Also, this Attribute is used to understand
and interpret information. Note that
Wits and education are two separate things.
A person can be brilliant but illiterate.
Education is covered in the Skills section,
which determines what a character has
learned in her life.
PERCEPTION
Perception governs the five senses of the
character. It gives a general overview of the
sharpness of the characters ability to sense
things. This Attribute is used to find clues,
notice things, and avoid getting surprised.
Also, Perception determines the characters
intuition and alertness. A character with a
low Perception would be nearly oblivious to
what is going on around her.
BEARING
This Attribute measures the mental strength
and self-control of the character, her ability
to resist fear, intimidation, and temptation as
well as the characters force of personality.
Bearing is vital to Magicians; after all, Magic
is the Science and Art of causing Change to
occur in conformity with Will.
This Attribute is also important for others, for
it can be used to resist magical coercion,
and the influence of panic, greed and lust,
as well as to inspire others around you to
greater feats of bravery
Evaluating the Numbers
Level 1- Weak The character is
below average in that Attribute.
Level 2-Average Human This is the
average for human beings. Most
people in any given group have
Attributes in this range, typically with
one or two Attributes at levels 1 or
3.
Level 3-Excellent This is above
average and a person will be known
for this attribute. A person with 3
Strength would be known as Strong
for example.
Level 4-Remarkable A character
with this level is renowned in the
local area for her ability at this level.
Level 5-Amazing One in a
Thousand people would have this
level. This character would be
known throughout a region for her
Wits if they were at level 5.
Level 6-Max normal human One in
a million people would have this
level. Characters with abilities at
this level are legendary for this
attribute.
Level 7+-Superhuman Abilities of
this level are outside the human
range.
MONEY and
EQUIPMENT
All characters will start out with at least one
weapon, some armor and basic equipment
6
as agreed to by the Narrator. Also, all
characters start out with 4 silver pennies
(sp) unless they spend character points on
the Hoard edge.
Racial Packages
Suggested Backgrounds are presented
below each of the following Racial
Packages to reflect common skills among
the members of those cultures. They are
not mandatory and players can spend their
points as they like. All characters are
assumed to have the Lore Skill for their
Realm at +2 in addition to their Native
Language at +4.
Dwarves (Khazad)
Aule made the Dwarves strong to endure.
Therefore they are stone-hard, stubborn,
fast in friendship and in enmity, and they
suffer toil and hunger and hurt of body more
hardily than all other speaking peoples.
They will love first the things made by their
own hands... They will delve in the earth,
and the things that grow and live upon the
earth they will not heed.
The Dwarves indeed proved tough and hard
to tame; they ill endure the domination of
others, and the thoughts of their hearts are
hard to fathom, nor can they be turned to
shadow. They used their rings only for the
getting of wealth; but wrath and an
overmastering greed of gold were kindled in
their hearts, of which evil enough after came
to the profit of Sauron.
-- Various writings
The Dwarves are descendants of the Seven
Fathers, the original lords crafted by Aule,
the "smith" of the Valar, the maker of
mountains and master of crafts, whom the
Dwarves call Mahal. They were created first,
against the design of Eru, who forced Aule
to delay their awakening until after the
coming of Elves and Men. Aule gave them
knowledge of his crafts, their name and their
language, and made them tough and
steadfast to resist Morgoth, the first great
enemy.

Following their awakening in the First Age,
the Seven Kings formed tribes based on
their lines and separated. Now they have
spread across Middle-earth, but most favour
the rocky highlands and deep caverns of the
mountains. More so than any other race,
they remember their origin and heritage.
Description: Short and stocky. Males
average 4' 9" and 150lbs, females average
4' 5" and 135lbs. Black, red or dark brown
hair; fair to ruddy complexion. Beards,
sometimes braided. Heavy garb with
colourful hooded cloaks.
Culture: Live in tightly-knit groups and favor
underground cities cut into rugged hills or
mountains. They're monogamous, although
only a third are female. They believe that
each lineage has a common spirit that
permeates them and ties them together.
They revere their ancestors above all except
Mahal, whom they worship as their maker.
Lifespan: 200-400 years
Dwarves Total Cost: 17
Attributes +1 STR, +2 CON
Craftmanship +2 to Craft (Mason
and Smith)
Fire starting +2 to Survival to start
fires
Long Life (Dwarves live up to 300
years)
Hardness of Mind +2 to resist
Intimidate and other forms of
Domination
Hardness of Body +2 to resist
Weariness Levels, +6 to resist
Disease, Increased Life Points (see
below)
7
Animal Aversion -2 to animal rolls
Night vision +2 to perception rolls
versus Darkness penalties
Courage Points 3
Life Points (Strength + Vitality) x 4
+ 20
Speed Nimbleness + Vitality -2 =
Yards per Turn
Dwarven Background
Packages Cost: 6 Points
Dwarf of Balins Colony
Armed Combat +1, Lore: Moria +2,
Stonecraft +2, Survival(Mountains)
+1
Dwarf of the Blue Mountains
Armed Combat +1, Smithcraft +2,
Stonecraft +2, Survival(Mountains)
+1
Dwarf of Erebor
Appraise +1, Armed Combat +1,
Smithcraft +2, Stonecraft +2
Dwarf of the Iron Hills
Armed Combat +1, Ranged Combat
+1, Smithcraft +2, Stonecraft +2
Wandering Dwarf
Appraise +1, Armed Combat +2,
Smithcraft +2, Teamster +1
Elves (Quendi)
The hobbits sat in shadow by the wayside.
Before long the Elves came down the lane
towards the valley. They passed slowly, and
the hobbits could see the starlight
glimmering on their hair and in their eyes.
They bore no lights, yet as they walked a
shimmer, like the light of the moon above
the rim of hills before it rises, seemed to fall
about their feet.
(The Fellowship of the Ring)
The first to awaken, the Elves are a graceful
and noble race of immortals who resemble
Men but shine with an inner, celestial glow,
giving them an enchanted aura. They're
generally taller than men but slimmer and
more lithe, with fine features and unmarred
skin that are the epitome of human beauty.
They have very little facial and body, and
rarely can grow a beard. The Elves were the
first to use spoken words, and taught the
other races the gift of speech, thus their
name for themselves -- Quendi, the
Speakers.
They are not merely an ever-living humanoid
race but true immortals who age only slightly
-- if ever -- in a graceful, nearly
imperceptible manner. Elves commonly die
of two causes -- violence or from a
weariness of the world, where an Elf is
simply overcome from grief and loses the
will to live. Elves who pass away are
gathered in the Halls of Mandos, the Valar,
in Aman (Valinor). There they await the End
of the World, or are released back into the
world to replace another of their line who
has perished. Elves are sometimes reborn
as descendants of themselves.
The Elves revere the Valar and many know
their nature well, but they practice no formal
worship -- instead, being the beloved of the
Valar, they celebrate the Valar through song
and poetry, music and joy. Above all but
Eru, they revere Varda, the Queen of the
Valar and fairest of all in creation. She is the
bringer of light, and they call her "Lady of
the Stars" (Elentari or Elbereth). They're
more in tune with the Song of Creation than
any other race, and Elven music and song
always have an unearthly beauty.
There are two major groupings of Elves in
Middle-earth, thanks to a split in the early
First Age. The most exalted group is the
Eldar, three kindreds known as the Vanyar,
Noldor and Teleri which made the Great
Journey across Middle-earth to dwell with
the Valar. Some of the Teleri were delayed
in the journey, and stayed in Middle-earth to
become the Sindar. Many of the Noldor
returned to Middle-earth to war against
Morgoth. The Vanyar have never returned,
except for a short time to battle in the War of
Wrath that ended the First Age.
8
The Elves who never made the journey to
the West are called the Avari, or Sylvan
Elves.
The Elves (Noldor) 30 Points
Attributes +2 Bearing, +2
Perception, +1 Nimbleness, +1 Wits
Noldoran Lore +2 to any one Lore
or Craft Skill (2)
Inner Light +4 bonus to all tests to
resist or oppose the Powers of the
Shadow. This includes resisting the
fear caused by Nazgul, Intimidating
Saurons Servants, Counteracting
Sorcery. It doesnt include attacking
or defending against foes like Orcs
or Evil Men (4)
Also called "High Elves," the Noldor are the
only Elves living in Middle-earth who have
ever resided in the Blessed Realm of Aman
across the sea. Other names for them
include Deep-Elves, Golodhrim or Gelydh
(Sindarin labels), and Nomin (Adan label).
Finwe was the first king of the Noldor, and
his three sons -- Feanor, Fingolfin and
Finarfin -- produced the three traditional
lines that compose the whole of the Noldor.
Description: Strongest and sturdiest of
Elves, they're still slimmer than Men. Males
average 6' 7" and 215lbs; females average
6' 3' and 175lbs. Most are dark-haired with
grey eyes that project a proud demeanor;
descendants of Fingolfin and Finarfin are
often fair-haired and blue-eyed, for their
blood contains Vanyar influence. They favor
rich, graceful clothing.
Culture: They're the most well-ordered of all
Elves, and build permanent communities
more so than their kin. Many are great
craftsmen and builders, and also revere
Aule.
The Elves (Sindar) 27 Points
Attributes +2 Nimbleness, +2
Perception, +1 Bearing, +1 Vitality
(6)
Musical Gift +2 bonus on all
Singing or Performing tests (2)
The Sindar or Grey Elves are Eldar of the
Teleri group who never saw the Light of
Valinor, and are thus also known as
Moriquendi or "Dark Elves." They're not
Avari because although they never dwelt
with the Valar in Aman, their first queen was
a Maia, and thus they gained some measure
of enlightenment. They're the most tolerant
of other races, and have formed great
friendships with many, including Dwarves.
They're the quietest and calmest of the
Elves, less frivolous and playful than the
Sylvan Elves, less passionate and fiery than
the Noldor. However, their feelings run deep
and once aroused, are not easily stayed --
this is the basis of their Sea-Longing, which
also makes them some of the best mariners
and seamen.
Description: Thin compared to Men, almost
as tall as the Noldor but generally slimmer.
Males average 6' 5" and 190lbs; females
average 6' 1" and 155lbs. Most have fair hair
and pale blue or grey eyes, with fair
complexions. Their clothing is usually very
well-made, yet subtle and utilitarian. They
favor grays and silvers in their garb.
Culture: Most open and cooperative of the
Elves, they're great teachers who are just as
enthusiastic to learn from other races. They
have close-knit communities, and feel a
kinship with the sea, and have a special
reverence for Ulmo, the Vala known as the
"Lord of Waters."
The Elves (Sylvan) 25 Points
Attributes +1 Nimbleness, +2
Perception, +1 Bearing (4)
Woodsy +2 Bonus on Survival,
Track or Weather Sense (2)
When the Eldar left Middle-earth in the First
Age, some of their brethren remained, thus
becoming known as the Avari (Quenya for
Unwilling or Refusers). These Elves were
left to fend for themselves when the first
dark lord, Morgoth, cast his shadow over
Middle-earth. In those dark times, they were
forced to seclude themselves in forests,
where they wandered and hid themselves
from the other races. They became known
as the Sylvan or Wood Elves.
Description: Slight of build compared to
Men; males average 6' and 150lbs; females
average 5' 9" and 125lbs. Many have ruddy
9
complexions, with sandy hair and blue or
green eyes, but there is greater variation in
their coloring because they're actually many
kindreds. Generally prefer rustic garb in
forest green, grey or brown.
Culture: Independent, unstructured and
informal. They look upon life as a game to
be played, love music and mischief, are
masters of the woods. Like all Elves they
revere the Valar, especially Varda, but have
a special place in their hearts for Orome, the
"Huntsman and Tamer of Beasts."
The Elves (All)
Beast Skill +2 Bonus to Ride and
other Animal Related tests (2)
Comfort Elves do not suffer due to
hot or cold weather (3)
Elven Form Attractiveness Edge +2
(2)
Elven Sleep Recover all Weariness
Levels with a single hour of rest (3)
Farsightedness Acute Sense
(Sight) +3 on Observe tests
involving sight (2)
Night vision +2 versus all darkness
penalties (2)
Light-footedness +2 on all Stealth
tests, -2 to be Tracked, +2 to
Acrobatic(Balance) tests (6)
Immortality Immune to disease,
Forever Young (6)
Courage Points 2
Life Points (Strength + Vitality) x 4
+ 10
Speed Nimbleness + Vitality + 2 =
Yards per Turn
Elven Background Packages
Cost: 6 Points Each
Elf of the Grey Havens (Sinda)
Climb+1, Lore +1, Sea-craft +2,
Swim +2
Elf of Lorien (Noldo)
Armed Combat +1, Language +1,
Lore +2, Ranged Combat +1,
Smithcraft +1
Elf of Lorien (Silvan)
Armed Combat +1, Climb +1, Lore
+1, Ranged Combat +1, Survival
(Forest) +2
Elf of Mirkwood (Sinda)
 Armed Combat +1, Lore +1,
Perform +1, Ranged Combat +1,
Survival (Forest) +2
Elf of Mirkwood (Silvan)
Armed Combat +1, Climb +1,
Ranged Combat +1, Stealth +1,
Survival (Forest) +2
Elf of Rivendale (Noldo)
Healing +1, Language +2, Lore +2,
Smithcraft +1
Elf of Rivendale (Sinda)
Lore +2, Perform +2, Ranged
Combat +1, Ride +1
Elf of the Wandering Companies
Language +1, Lore +2, Perform +1,
Ranged Combat +1, Ride +1
Hobbits (Kuduk, Perianath)
Hobbits are an unobstrusive but very ancient
people, more numerous formerly than they
are today; for they love peace and quiet and
good tilled earth; a well-ordered and well-
farmed countryside was their favourite
haunt. They do not or did not understand or
like machinery more complicated than a
forge-bellows, a water-mill, or a hand-loom,
though they were skilful with tools. Even in
ancient days, they were, as a rule, shy of
'the Big Folk', as they call us ... . They are
quick of hearing and sharp-eyed, and
though they are inclined to be fat and do not
hurry unnecessarily, they are nonetheless
nimble and deft in their movements. They
possessed from the first the art of
disappearing swiftly and silently ... and this
10
art they have developed until to Men it may
seem magical. But Hobbits have never, in
fact, studied magic of any kind, and their
elusiveness is due solely to a professional
skill that heredity and practice, and a close
friendship with the earth, have rendered
inimitable by bigger and clumsier races.
(The Fellowship of the Ring)
The origins of Hobbits are unclear, although
it appears they arose in the First Age at
about the same time as Men, and seem to
be related to Men. Their habits are unique
however -- they burrow and reside in holes
called "smials."
Despite their pudgy look, they are quite
nimble and are so good at hiding and
disappearing that many superstitious
Mannish races think it's magical.
There are three groups of Hobbits: Harfoots
(the most common), Stoors and Fallohides.
Description: Smallest of the speaking
peoples, Hobbits tend to be fat or pudgy,
with curly or wavy hair, and tough soles on
their hairy feet. The Fallohides are the
tallest, with males averaging 3' 9" and 65lbs;
females averaging 3' 7" and 62lbs.
Fallohides tend to be fairskinned and
fairhaired. The Harfoots have brown skin
and hair, with males averaging 3' 5" and
54lbs; females averaging 3' 3" and 51lbs.
The Stoors are more varied, with build and
colouring forming a compromise between
the other two groups. All tend to wear linen
and wool garb, with brightly colored vests
and hats. They never wear shoes.
Culture: Hobbits enjoy the simple life of
rural folk, as long as they get six meals a
day (at the least). They are cheery,
unassuming and a generally peaceful folk.
They shun the unknown and excitement.
Lifespan: 90-110 years
Hobbits (Fallohides)
Attributes +1 Perception, +1
Nimbleness, -1 Strength
Hobbits (Harfoots)
Attributes +1 Perception, +2
Nimbleness, -1 Strength, -1 Bearing
Hobbits (Stoors)
 Attributes +1 Perception, +2
Nimbleness, -1 Strength, -1 Bearing
Hobbits (All) 10 Points
Six Meals a Day Craft (Cooking) +3
Small Folk Hobbits receive a +2 to
Dodge because of their small size.
They also get fewer Life Points
(see below)
Soft Footed +2 on all Stealth tests,
-2 to be Tracked
Sure at the Mark +2 with Ranged
Combat tests as per the Accurate
Edge
Tough as Old Tree-Roots +2
bonus to Willpower tests to resist
Corruption
Lucky Numbers Extra Courage and
the Luck edge +2
Courage Points 4
Life Points (Strength + Vitality) x
4+6
Speed Nimbleness + Vitality -2 =
Yards per Turn
Hobbit Background
Packages Cost: 6 Points
Baggins (Fallohide)
Craft +1, Games +1, Observe +1,
Persuade +1, Ranged Combat +1,
Hoard 1
Bolger (Fallohide)
Craft +1, Debate +1, Observe +1,
Persuade +1, Ranged Combat +1,
Hoard 1
Brandybuck (Fallohide)
Craft +1, Games +1, Observe +1,
Persuade +1, Ranged Combat +1,
Survival +1
Cotton (Harfoot)
Craft +2, Debate +1, Games +1,
Observe+1, Ranged Combat +1
Proudfoot (Harfoot)
Craft +1, Debate +1, Games +1,
Inquire +1, Observe+1, Ranged
Combat +1
Took (Stoors)
Craft +1, Debate +1, Observe+1,
Ranged Combat +1, Persuade +1,
Hoard 1
Men
Men are the Second Born, awakening in a
land called Hildorien in the First Age, to find
a wild continent. It was some time before
11
they encountered their first Elves, who gave
them the name "Hildor," or Followers.
They're also known as Atani (in Quenya) or
Edain (in Sindarin), which mean "Second
People."
Men have been given the Gift of Illuvatar,
Death -- they live brief but fiery and
passionate lives. They're the most varied
species, and are often considered flawed
and vulnerable. There are two greater
groupings of Men: The "High Men" or Edain,
and the Common Men who did not ally
themselves with the Elves in the wars
against Morgoth. Some consider the
Northmen a third group, "Middle Men" who
are racially close to the Edain but who did
not benefit from close contact with the Elves.
Men, Dunedain 6 Points
Attributes +1 Bearing or +1 Wits
(choose one), +1 Strength, +1
Vitality
The Dnedain are descendants of the Edain
who settled on the island kingdom of
Numenor in the Second Age. It was their
Numenorean ancestors who colonized and
conquered much of Middle-earth. When Eru
destroyed Numenor in S.A. 3319, two
groups survived: the "Unfaithful" Black
Numenoreans and the faithful Dnedain,
who settled Arnor in the north and Gondor in
the south, their realms in exile. They have
traces of Elven and even Maiar blood.
Description: Tall and strong; men average
6' 5" and 225lbs; women average 5' 10" and
150lbs. Fair skinned with black or dark
brown hair, and grey, hazel, blue or green
eyes. They wear rich and well-made clothes,
usually tunics without leggings.
Culture: Traditional and well-educated, the
Dunedain are the "nobles" of Mannish
peoples. Their religion is restrained and
personal, largely the reverence of the Valar,
especially Manwe, Orome and Varda.
Lifespan: 100-300 years
Men, Middle 5 Points
Attributes +1 Strength, +1 Vitality
A general term for the Men who have
varying degrees of Dnedain, Dunlending
and Northman blood. They are represented
by the rural folk of Gondor. The information
below also applies to the "Arnorians," the
people of Annuminas, Bree, Fornost and
Tharbad among others.
Description: All bodily types, but typically,
males average 5' 10" and 160lbs; women
average 5' 4" and 125lbs. Complexions vary
from fair to tan or olive skin, and they have
all colour of hair and eyes. They wear
practical linen and woolen garb.
Culture: Mostly farmers and herders with
little contact with outsiders. They practice a
subdued reverence of Eru and the Valar, as
well as local spirits. Araw (Orome) is their
patron spirit, and many also revere
Yavanna, whom they call Dalam or Ardalam.
Lifespan: 60-80 years
Men of Darkness 4 Points
Attributes +1 Nimbleness, +1
Strength, 1 Wits
Wood Men 4 Points
Attributes +1 Perception, +1
Strength, 1 Wits
The Woodmen have long dwelt in Mirkwood
as a loose tribe of hunter/gatherers who live
in or below the great trees as extended
families, bands or clans. They are of
Northman stock and distantly related to the
Beornings, and even more distantly to the
ancestors of the Rohirrim.
Description: Average to stocky, with strong
but angular features. The men possess
large amounts of facial hair, and average 6'
12
1" and 195lbs; women average 5' 5" and
135lbs. They wear crude woolen tunics and
short pants with leggings. Most favor coats,
cloaks and fur hats.
Culture: An independent lot with no formal
political structure, they live off the gifts of the
forest in small, secluded groups. They
interact with few other than Beornings and
Sylvan Elves. They have an animistic
worship of spirits, with female "Wuitan"
acting as shamans and spiritual leaders.
The Wuitan manage the ancient Cult of
Growing (Alanakyn) which meets for rare
tribal ceremonies. The Vala Araw (Orome) is
revered above all others.
Lifespan: 65-85 years
Men, All
Adaptable +1 to any Attribute
Dominion of Man Men get higher
initial Courage than the other races
(see below)
Skilled may add +2 to any one Skill
or +1 to any two Skills
Courage Points 5
Life Points (Strength + Vitality) x 4
+ 10
Speed Nimbleness + Vitality =
Yards per Turn
Men Background Packages
Cost: 6 Points
Man of Arnor (Middle Man)
Armed Combat +1, Lore 1, Ride +1,
Run +1, Survival(Forest or
Mountains) +1, Track +1
Man of Arnor (Dnedain)
Armed Combat +1, Debate +1, Lore
+1, Persuade +1, Ranged Combat
+1, Survival +1
Man of Arthedain (Dnedain)
Armed Combat +1, Climb +1, Lore
+1, Ranged Combat +1, Stealth
(Sneak) +1, Survival (Forest) +1
Man of Cardolan (Dnedain)
Armed Combat +1, Craft +1, Lore
+1, Ranged Combat +1, Ride +1,
Survival (Plains) +1
Man of Rhudar ((Dnedain)
Armed Combat +1, Climb +1,
Observe +1, Ranged Combat +1,
Survival (Mountains) +2
 Beorning (Middle Man)
Armed Combat +2, Ranged Combat
+1, Survival (Forest or Mountains)
+1, Track +1, Hardy Edge (Reduce
all penalties due to injury by 1)
Dunlending (Middle Man)
Armed Combat +1, Climb +1,
Ranged Combat +1, Ride +1,
Survival (Forest or Mountains) +1,
Track +1
Easterling Tribesman (Man of
Darkness) Armed Combat +2,
Ranged Combat +2, Ride +1,
Survival (Plains) +1
Southron Tribesman (Man of
Darkness) Armed Combat +1,
Ranged Combat +1, Run +1,
Survival (Jungle or Southern Waste)
+1, Travel-Sense Edge
Man of Bree (Middle Man)
Craft +2, Debate +1, Games +1,
Run +1, Ally Edge 1
Man of Dale (Middle Man)
Armed Combat +1, Craft +1, Debate
+1, Ranged Combat +1, Ride +1,
Run +1
Man of Gondor (Middle Man)
Armed Combat +1, Craft +1, Lore
+1, Observe +1, Ranged Combat
+1, Run +1
Man of Minas Tirith (Dnedain)
Armed Combat +1, Climb +1, Lore
+1, Persuade +1, Ranged Combat
+1, Run +1
Woodsman of Mirkwood (Middle
Man) Armed Combat +1, Ranged
Combat +1, Survival(Forest) +1,
Track +1, Woodsy Edge (+2 Bonus
on Survival, Track or Weather
Sense)
Rider of Rohan (Middle Man)
Armed Combat +2, Ranged Combat
+1, Ride (Horses) +3
ORDER PACKAGES
These packages are optional guidelines for
players. They are not intended to be all
inclusive but should give a player an idea of
the possibilities and reflect the skills that
various occupations and cultures favor.
13
Barbarians Cost: 17 Points
Note that Dwarves, Elves of the West,
Hobbits and Dnedain cannot be
Barbarians.
Druadan Tribesman (Woses)
Armed Combat +1, Climb+1,
Observe+1, Ranged Combat+2,
Run+1, Stealth+3, Survival
(Forest)+3, Track+3, Pick one of the
following edges: Accurate, Acute
Senses or Woodsy.
Southron Nomad
Armed Combat +2,
Observe+2,Ranged Combat+2,
Run+2 Stealth+2, Survival
(Southern Wastes)+3, Track+2,
Pick one of the following edges:
Acute Senses, Hardy or Tireless (2
Levels).
Mountain Folk
Armed Combat+2, Climb +3,
Observe+2, Ranged Combat+1,
Stealth +2, Survival (Mountains)+3,
Track +2, Pick one of the following
edges: Doughty (2 Levels), Swift
Recovery, Hard to Kill (2 Levels).
Craftsman Cost: 17 Points
Gardner/Farmer
Appraise (Fruits and Vegetables)
+1, Craft: Gardening or Farmerr +3,
Any one other Craft+2, Games+2,
Lore (Choose an appropriate Lore
such as Herbalism)+3, Any one
other Lore +2, Observe+1,
Persuade+1, Pick one of the
following edges: Craftmaster,
Curious, Good Luck (2 Levels) or
Wise.
Innkeeper
Appraise +2, Craft: Inn keeping +3,
Craft (Brewing)+3, Any one other
Craft+1, Debate (Bargain)+2, Lore
(Local Gossip)+2, Observe+1,
Persuade+1, Pick one of the
following edges: Allies (2 Levels),
Craftmaster, or Honey-Tongued (2
Levels)
Smith
Appraise +3, Craft (a appropriate
craft like Jewelry)+2, Debate
(Bargain)+2, Observe+2, Persuade
+2, Smithcraft +3, Stonecraft +1,
Pick one of the following edges:
 Craftmaster, Doughty (2 Levels), any one Language +1, any one
Hardy, Hoard. Language +1, any one Lore +3, any
Stonemason one Lore +1, Observe +1, Persuade
Appraise +3, Craft (a appropriate +1, Plus the Following edge: One
craft like Sculpture)+2, Debate Level of Spellcasting (Wizardry,
(Bargain)+2, Observe+2, Persuade Runes or Songs of Power).
+2, Smithcraft +1, Stonecraft +3, Student of the Secret Arts
Pick one of the following edges: Debate +2, Intimidate +2, any one
Craftmaster, Doughty (2 Levels), Language +2, any one Language
Hardy, Hoard. +1, any one Lore +3, any one Lore
+2, Observe +1, Persuade +2 , Plus
Loremaster Cost: 17 Points the Following edge: One Level of
Spellcasting (Wizardry, Runes or
Eriadorian Sage
Songs of Power).
Any one Craft +2, Debate +2,
Healing +2, Insight +2, any one Lore Traveling Magician
+2, any one Lore +1, Observe +2, Healing +1, Insight +1, Intimidate
Perform +1, Persuade +1 Pick one +1, any one Language +2, any one
of the following edges: Curious, Gift Language +1, any one Lore +3, any
of Tongues, Valar Virtue or Wise. one Lore +2, Observe +2, Persuade
+2, Plus the Following edge: One
Gondoran (or Arnorian) Scholar
Level of Spellcasting (Wizardry,
Debate +2, Insight +3, Lore: History
Runes or Songs of Power).
(Gondor or Arnor) +3, any one Lore
+2, any one Lore +1, Observe +1, Tribal Magician
Perform +1, Persuade +2, Pick one Healing +1, Insight +1, Intimidate
of the following edges: Curious, Gift +2, any one Language +1, any one
of Tongues or Wise. Lore +3, any one Lore +2, Observe
+2, Persuade +2, Weather-sense
Healer
+1, Plus the Following edge: One
Healing +3, Insight +1, Language:
Level of Spellcasting (Wizardry,
Quenya +1, Lore: History +1, Lore:
Runes or Songs of Power).
Wilderness Herbalism +3, any one
Lore +1, Observe +1, Persuade +1
Pick the following edge: Healing
Hands
Rivendale Scholar
Debate +1, Healing +1, Insight +1,
Language (any Elvish) +2, Lore:
History (Elves) +3, any one Lore +2,
any one Lore +1, Observe +2,
Perform +1, Persuade +1, Pick one
of the following edges: Ally (2
Levels), Curious, Gift of Tongues,
Valar Virtue or Wise.
Master of the Wild
Guise +1, Healing +1,
Language +1, Lore/Wilderness +3,
Mimicry +1, Observe +2, Ride
+1, Survival +2, Track +2,
Weather-sense +1, Pick one of the
following edges: Acute Senses,
Wise or Woodsy. Minstrel Cost: 17 Points
Gondorian or Arnorian Minstrel
Magician Cost: 18 Points Debate +1, Games +1, Inspire +2,
Wizards Apprentice Legerdemain +1, Lore: History
Debate +1, Healing +1, Inquire +1, (Gondor) +2, Mimicry +2,
Insight +1, Inspire +1, Intimidate +2, Perform+3, Persuade +2, Stealth

14
 +1, Pick one of the following edges:
Ally (2 Levels), Artistic Talent,
Curious, Honey-Tongued or Wise.
Herald
Debate +2, Inquire +1, Insight +1,
Inspire +1, Any one Language +2,
Any other language +1, Lore: Group
(your own) +2, Lore: Realm (your
own) +2,Observe +1, Persuade +1,
Ride +1, Pick one of the following
edges: Ally (two Levels), Gift of
Tongues, Honey-Tongued.
Performer
Acrobatics +2, Games +2,
Legerdemain +3, Mimicry +1,
Perform +3, Persuade +2, Ranged
Combat +1, Stealth +1, Pick one of
the following edges: Acute Senses
(Sight), Ally (2 Levels), Artistic
Talent or Honey-Tongued.
Tribal Chanter
Any one Craft +1, Inspire +2,
Legerdemain +1, Lore: Tribal Lore
+2, any one Lore +1, Mimicry +1,
Perform +3, Persuade +2, Stealth
+2, Pick one of the following edges:
Acute Senses (Sight), Ally (2
Levels), Hardy or Honey-Tongued.
Persuade +1, Ride +2, Pick the
following edge: Status Level 1
Rogue Cost: 17 Points
Burglar
Acrobatics +1, Appraise +2, Armed
Combat +1, Climb +3, Dodge +1,
Jump +1, Legerdemain +1, Observe
+1, Search +1, Stealth +3, Pick one
of the following edges: Acute
Senses, Furtive or Situational
Awareness.
Outlaw
Armed Combat +2, Climb +2,
Conceal +2, Dodge +1, Observe+2,
Ranged Combat +2, Stealth +3,
Survival +1, Pick one of the
following edges: Hardy, Tireless or
Woodsy.

Noble Cost: 17 Points

Gondorian (or Arnorian) Lord
Armed Combat +2, Dodge +1,
Debate +2, Inspire +2, Intimidate
+2, Language: Quenya or Sindarin
+1, Lore: History (Gondor or Arnor)
+1, Observe +1, Persuade +1, Ride
+2, Pick the following edge: Status
Level 1.
Eriadorian Gentry
Debate +2, Inquire +1, Inspire +2,
Intimidate +1, any one Language
+2, any one Lore +2, Observe +2, Lurker
Persuade +3, Pick the following Appraise +1, Conceal +2, Guise +2,
edge: Status Level 1. Inquire +2, Legerdemain +1,
Leader of Folk Observe +3, Persuade +1, Stealth
Armed Combat +2, Dodge +1, +3, Pick one of the following edges:
Inspire +2, Intimidate +2, any one Hardy, Tireless or Woodsy.
Lore +1, Observe +2, Persuade +1, Pickpocket
Ranged Combat +2, Ride +2, Pick Appraise +1, Armed Combat +1,
the following edge: Status Level 1. Conceal +2, Dodge +1, Inquire +1,
Tribal Chieftain Legerdemain +3, Observe +2, Run
Armed Combat +2, Debate +2, +1, Stealth +3, Pick one of the
Inquire +1, Inspire +2, Intimidate +2, following edges: Ambidexterity,
any one Lore +1, Observe +2, Furtive or Situational Awareness..

15
Warrior Cost: 17 Points
Man at Arms
Armed Combat +2, Dodge +2,
Healing +1, Inspire +1, Intimidate
+1, Observe +2, Ranged Combat
+2, Ride +2, Siegecraft +2, Pick one
of the following edges: Bold, Hard
to Kill (2 levels) or Valor.
Bowman
Armed Combat +1, Dodge +1,
Healing +1, Jump +1, Observe +2,
Ranged Combat +3, Ride +2, Run
+1, Siegecraft +1, Survival +1,
Track +1, Pick one of the following
edges: Accurate, Furtive or
Situational Awareness.
Horseman
Armed Combat +2, Dodge +1,
Healing +1, Inspire +2, Intimidate
+2, Observe +2, Ranged Combat
16
+1, Ride +3, Siegecraft +1, Pick one
of the following edges: Born to the
Saddle, Honors Insight (2 Levels)
or Valor.
Scout
Armed Combat +1, Dodge +1,
Healing +1, Observe +3, Ranged
Combat +2, Ride +2, Stealth +3,
Track +2, Pick one of the following
edges: Furtive, Woodsy or
Situational Awareness.
Sentinel
Armed Combat +2, Dodge +1,
Intimidate +2, Observe +3, Ranged
Combat +2, Ride +1, Run +1,
Siegecraft +3, Pick one of the
following edges: Acute Sense,
Faithful (2 Levels) or Tireless (2
Levels
 Chapter Two:
Qualites and Drawbacks

17
 QUALITIES AND DRAWBACKS
ACCURATE
2-point Quality
Prerequisite: Weapon Skill 4+
Pick one Ranged Weapon (Longbow,
Shortbow, Spear etc.). Character gets a +2
to attack with it.
ACCURSED
Variable Drawback
Depending on its severity, a curse can be
worth anywhere between 1 and 5 points. A
5-point curse would be a terrible thing,
something that would utterly ruin any chance
of the character leading a normal or happy
life, or which might kill the victim at any
moment. A major inconvenience or
annoyance is worth 1 point. For example,
the character seems to attract flies, fleas
and vermin; milk sours quickly in the
presence of the victim; little accidents
plague the accursed one. Something more
dramatic and harmful would be worth 2 to 3
points. For example, people tend to be
distrustful and angry at the character for no
apparent reason (-2 to -3 on all attempts to
influence people), or the character can
never accumulate a lot of money without
losing it. Severe or life-threatening curses
will be worth 4 to 5 points. For example,
every day, an accident, mishap or random
occurrence will endanger the characters life.
If the character is alert, she might survive
the mishap without injury, but every day, she
has to live with the knowledge that
sometime, somewhere, something
dangerous and terrible is going to happen.
ACUTE/IMPAIRED SENSES (Pick one)
2-point Physical Quality or Drawback
This Quality/Drawback must be purchased
separately for each sense: sight, hearing,
touch, smell or taste. When bought as a
Quality, an Acute Sense gives the character
a +3 bonus to any Perception related Test or
Task that relies on that sense. If acquired as
a Drawback, Impaired Senses give a similar
3 penalty to Perception-based Tests or
Tasks.
ADVERSARY
Variable Social Drawback
18
The more powerful the Adversary, the higher
the value of this Drawback. Individuals are
worth 1 to 3 points as Adversaries,
depending on their resources and abilities. A
normal person would be worth 1 point; a
Magician, a Ranger or a Powerful Noble
would be worth 3 points. An organization
may be worth 2 to 5 points, depending on its
power. A Tribe of Orcs would be worth 2
points, the City Guard of a city would be
worth 3 to 4 points (depending on its size
and competence), and a nations armies like
the Witch-Kings forces would be worth 5
points or more.
AGE
2-POINTS/LEVEL QUALITY
Ancient characters are very powerful, having
refined their abilities with centuries of
practice. This Quality is most appropriate
for Elves or Dwarves but it is not
inconceivable that a Dnedain could have
one or two levels of this quality.
Each level of Age adds one century to your
characters life span. Truly ancient beings (a
millennium old or older) have ten or so
levels of Age, and are extremely powerful.
As such, they are not appropriate as
characters in most games.
The Age Quality only refers to periods
during which the character was active. Many
Elves and other beings have long periods of
down time when they are inactive. If you
want to create a character from the First Age
of Middle-Earth, that is fine; add as many
levels of Age as you can afford, and
consider the rest of the time to be down
time for whatever reason. The bonuses
your character gets are restricted to those
levels of Age purchased though. Age gives
your character more points to put into skills.
Each level of Age grants one point per level
of Wits to put into skills, to a maximum of
four per level. Age is not without its down
side though. Over time, enemies and
secrets are accumulated, and these always
seem to outlast friendships and renown. For
each level of Age, the character must take
one level of either Adversary or Secret and
gains no character points for that
disadvantage.
ALLIES
1-point/Level Quality
The character has friends or allies who can
provide her with information, warnings and
even help, should she require it. The more
helpful or powerful the ally the higher the
point cost. A beggar in the city who
occasionally overhears matters of some
import might be worth 1 point, while
befriending Rhadagast the Brown or Thom
Bombadil would be worth 5 points.
AMBIDEXTERITY
3-point Quality
Prerequisite: Nimbleness 4+
When using a weapon in his off-hand the
character can make an extra attack or
defense action without penalty.
ARMOR OF HEROES
2-point Quality
When not wearing armor character are
considered to have 2 points of armor. This
can be used with shields.
ARMOR PROFICIENCY
2-point/Level Quality
Prerequisite: Strength 3+
This Quality represents a warriors training
and experience while wearing heavy armor.
Each level reduces Encumbrance Value
Penalties by 1 per level. Maximum 3 Levels.
ARROGANT
2-point Drawback
The character cannot spend a point of
Courage on tests with Social Skills except
for Intimidate. See LotR p. 153.
ARTISTIC TALENT (Type)
2-point Mental Quality
Pick a favored type of art. Whenever a work
of art is created, the character receives a +3
bonus to all related Task attempts.
Additionally, even if the Task is failed, a
minimum of one Success Level is always
acquired -- even a failure by the truly
talented still has artistic merit.
ATTRACTIVENESS
Variable Quality or Drawback
19
This Quality or Drawback determines the
characters looks (or lack thereof). The
average person has an Attractiveness of 0,
which means the person looks plain and
undistinguished unless she takes steps to
enhance her appearance (clothing, makeup
and poise always make a difference).
Positive values in Attractiveness indicate
pleasing features, while negative values
indicate ugliness, scars, or unpleasant
characteristics. The characters
Attractiveness value can be added to or
subtracted from any Test or Task that
involves making an impression on other
people. In some cases, negative
Attractiveness values can be useful. When
trying to intimidate or scare people, positive
Attractiveness values have no effect, but
negative ones count as bonuses!
BATTLE-FURY
1-point/level Drawback
Level One-needs to make a Simple Bearing
check to leave a battle while foes are still
standing or spend a Courage Point. Level
Two-Cannot leave a battle while foes are
still ALIVE unless a Simple Bearing check is
made or a Courage Point is spent. Level
Three-Cannot leave a battlefield while
ANYONE (including friends) is still standing
unless a Simple Bearing check is made or a
Courage Point is spent.
BOLD
2-point Quality
Character gets an additional +5 Bonus (For
a total of +10) when they spend a Courage
Point in Combat. See LotR pg.143
BORN TO THE SADDLE
2-point/Level Quality
Character gets a +2 to Ride checks.
CHARMED LIFE
5-point Quality
Once per game session, if you are attacked
and hurt, you may make a Difficult Vitality
test at -1 per 10 points of damage. If
successful you take half damage.
CLOWN
1-point Drawback
Clowns are generally accepted and liked
during situations where their quirky humor is
not out of place (parties and other social
gatherings, or among friends). Their sense Bearing Test, at a penalty of -1 to -3
of humor gets them in trouble during tense if the temptation and possible
and dangerous situations. rewards are great.
Level 3: The third level is the
COMMAND strongest -- a desire so strong that it
3-points/Level Quality often overwhelms any scruples the
You have Authority over and command a character may have. When
force of men. Note that a character must presented with temptation, she can
have Status equal to his Command level. only avoid acting by passing a
Difficult Bearing Test, with penalties
Level 1-up to 150 men ranging from -1 to -5 depending on
the size of the prize. For a high
Level 2- 151-1000 men
enough reward, the character will
Level 3-1001-5000 men
turn on friends or loved ones, and
Level 4- over 5000 men even betray her cause or principles.

COVETOUS CRAFTMASTER
1- to 3-point Drawback 2-point Quality
A Covetous character wants certain things +2 bonus with all Craft Skills. See LotR pg.
and is prepared to go to great lengths to 144.
acquire them. She may be motivated by love
of money, lust for sensual satisfaction,
hunger for power, or the search for glory. A
Covetous character usually refrains from
breaking her own moral code or the laws of
the land in the pursuit of her goals, but if a
golden opportunity presents itself, the
temptation may be just too great. There are
four types of covetousness, based on what
the character wants: Greedy (money and
wealth), Lecherous (sexually attractive
people), Ambitious (power and influence),
and Conspicuous (fame and renown). It is
possible to covet two or more of those
things, but each additional source of desire
adds but a single point to the value of this
Drawback. CURIOUS
2-point Quality
Level 1: The first level is relatively Character gets an additional +5 Bonus (For
mild. The character knows what she a total of +10) when they spend a Courage
wants, and she spends a great deal Point with Lore and Search skills. See LotR
of time and effort to attain her goals, pg.143.
but she wont break her own rules or
those of society to do so. Her desire
otherwise dominates her life, CULTURAL CONFLICT
however. 2-point Drawback
You disagree with the ideals and
Level 2: The second level is
philosophies of your people and so shun
stronger presented with enough
them as they shun you. You have a -2
temptation, the character may act
penalty to all social tests when dealing with
even if it goes against her better
the people of your realm.
judgement or morality. She may
resist if the action she contemplates
DARK HEART
is truly wrong and reprehensible --
1-point/Level Drawback
stealing credit for a heroic deed
Your pure heart has become sullied as you
performed by a friend, for example
further your knowledge and understanding
but resisting requires a Simple

20
of the Enemy. When you gain ranks in Lore
skills concerning the Enemy, you must make
a Corruption test and all Corruption tests
have an additional penalty equal to -1 per
level in Dark Heart.
DEPENDANT
2 or 3-point Drawback
Dependants are usually family or friends the
character feels responsible for such as a
little sister or a young squire. If something
were to threaten that person the character
must do everything in his power to stop it.
One dependant would be worth 2 points and
more than one is worth 3 points.
DOUGHTY
1-point/Level Quality
Prerequisite: Str 4+
+1 Bonus to Strength based tests.
Maximum level equal to Strength. See LotR
pg.145.
DULLARD
2-point Drawback
When you spend Courage on a test
regarding Lore or you receive only a +2
bonus to your roll instead of +5. See LotR
p. 154.
DUTY
2-point Drawback
The character has an obligation of some
kind laid on him. Whether it is the Duty of a
Noble Lord of Arnor to protect his Lands and
Peoples or a Gardners oath to keep his
friend and master safe the player must pay
heed to his obligations. If a character is
known to have failed to fulfill his duty they
suffer -5 to all Social Rolls. See LotR p.
155.
ELF-FRIEND
1-point Quality
21
+2 Bonus on Renown tests and +1 to Social
Skills with Elves. See LotR, p. 145.
ELVEN ENCHANTMENT
10-point Quality
All Elves have an affinity with magic. Elves
that Pick this ability get +2 Bonus on all
Magic Related Tests including Resisting
Weariness when casting Spells, tests
needed to use a spell successfully and any
other tests magic-related. When using Craft
Skills Elves can imbue items made with
minor Magical Qualities. This requires an
appropriate Craft Skill of at least 5+ and a
minimum of 5 Success Levels on the Craft
Skill Check.
FAITHFULL
1-point/Level Quality
The character picks a person (a loved one, a
friend, a King), a group (the Wise, your
children, the Dnedain), or a Realm
(Arthedain, Khazad Dm, Rivendale). When
fighting on behalf of that which you are
faithful to you receive a bonus of +1 to all
attempts to defend (parrying, dodge, fear
saves etc.) against attacks on it. However,
because you are willing to do almost
anything to protect that which you are
faithful to, you are susceptible (-1 to Bearing
Saves/Level) to Corruption while defending
it. Max 5 Levels. See LotR p. 145.
FEALTY
3-point Drawback
Having sworn an oath of allegiance and
obedience to a lord or ruler the player must
now comply with his lawful commands. By
the same token your liege-lord must reward
you with honors befitting your service and
stature. If the player breaks his oath he
suffers a -8 penalty with those who know of
his faithlessness and may face the wrath of
his lord. See LotR p. 155.
FELL-HANDED
1-point Quality/Level
Prerequisite: Weapon skill 6+
Each level of this ability adds a +1 bonus to
attacks against a specific enemy group,
which is determined as per LotR, p.146. A
character can have as many levels as his
weapon skill.
FORE-SIGHTED
2-point Quality
Prerequisite: INT 5+
The character has premonitions of the future
days seeing dimly something of what is to
come. Your control over this power is never
great and your foresight of the future is
usually somewhat vague. Once per game
session the character with Foresight may
ask to fortell the future. He makes a Difficult
Wits test. If successful he receives a brief
vision of events that may occur in the future.
See LotR, p.146.
FURTIVE
2-point Quality
+2 to either Stealth, Legerdemain or
Conceal. Player must pick one. See LotR,
p.146.
GIFT OF TOUNGES
2-point Quality
Prerequisite: WITS 5+
Character receives an additional Skill Rank
in each language he learns for free at
character creation. A character who buys
three ranks in Westron would actually have
4 Ranks. Also languages cost half the
normal price with Experience Points. See
LotR, p.146.
GOOD LUCK/BAD LUCK
1-point/Level Quality or Drawback
Each level of Luck counts as a +1 bonus (or
-1 penalty) that can be applied to a Task or
Test, once per game session. Multiple levels
can be added together for a big bonus on
one Task/Test, or spread around several
different actions. The Chronicler will decide
when Bad Luck rears its ugly head.
22
HAMMERHAND
1-point/level Quality
Prerequisite: STR 4+
Each level of this ability adds a +1 bonus to
Brawling damage (not Multiplier). A
character can have as many levels as his
Strength attribute.
HARD TO KILL
1-point/level Quality
Each level of Hard to Kill adds 3 Life Points
to the characters Pool. Additionally, each
level adds a +1 bonus to Survival Tests.
Max 5 Levels.
HARDY
2-point Quality
Prerequisite: VIT 4+
When reduced to 10 Life Points the
Character suffers no penalties to act. At 5 to
zero Life Points the character only has a
penalty of -2 (instead of -4). If using the
optional Health Levels rules it reduces the
Wound Penalties by 2.
HEALING HANDS
3-points/Level
The character can heal an additional Life
point per Level when a successful Healing
Check is made. This healing can be spread
in any way, and can be used to heal the
character as well as others. The character
who is being healed recovers these bonus
points at a rate of a Life Point per minute he
is at rest. Max 5 Levels. See LotR, p.147.
HOARD
2-point/Level
This represents the amount of wealth and
property (lands, weapons armor etc.) a
character has access to. Characters with
Hoard at Level 3+ receive a free level of
Status to reflect the influence of the wealthy.
Rank Item(s)
1 1d6 2 Success Level Craft,
Smithcraft, or Stonecraft items;
small apartment in the city or small
house in the country; <1 acre of
land; 50 sp worth of goods; 250 sp
in coin.
2 2d6 2 Success Level, Smithcraft, or
Stonecraft items; large apartment in
the city or large house in the
 country; 1-5 acres of land; 250 sp
worth of goods; 1,000 sp in coin.
3 2d6 3 Success Level Craft,
Smithcraft, or Stonecraft items;
small house in the city or small
manor in the country; 6-20 acres of
land; 500 sp worth of goods; 2,000
sp in coin.
4 1d6 4 Success Level Craft,
Smithcraft, or Stonecraft items;
large house in the city or large
manor in the country; 21-50 acres of
land; 2,500 sp worth of goods;
10,000 sp in coin.
5 2d6 4 Success Level, Smithcraft, or
Stonecraft items; large house in the
city or estate house in the country;
51-100 acres of land; 10,000 sp
worth of goods; 50,000 sp in coin.
HONEY-TOUNGED
1-point/Level Quality
Character receives a bonus of +1/level to
social tests where pleasant speech is
involved using Debate or Persuade but not
Intimidate. Max 5 Levels. See LotR, p. 148.
HONORABLE
1- point/Level Drawback
Level 1: These characters do not lie or
betray friends or loved ones, or people they
respect. Anybody else, especially people
from groups they dislike or are prejudiced
against, are fair game.
Level 2: This code of honor is more
complex, and applies to everyone, friend or
foe. The character always keeps her word
and does her best to fulfill any promises she
23
makes. She does not betray the trust of
others once she has accepted it.
Level 3: This person lives by a strict set of
rules that control most of her actions
towards others. In addition to all the other
restrictions above, she refuses to participate
in acts of betrayal such as ambushes,
striking a helpless or unsuspecting foe, or
cheating in any way. Lying is anathema, and
she only lies in cases of extreme need. Even
then, she feels guilty and dies not do a very
good job at deceiving; any tasks requiring
lying have a -2 to -6 penalty, determined by
the Chronicler given the circumstances.
HONORS INSIGHT
1-point/Level Quality
Character receives a bonus of +1/level to
Insight tests to detect deception and lies.
Max 5 Levels. See LotR, p. 148.
HORSE ARCHER
2-point Quality
This quality halves the penalties for using a
bow while riding a horse (see page 53).
HORSE LORD
4-point Quality
When riding a horse in combat the character
with this quality doesnt suffer the -4 penalty
to Armed Combat attacks while moving.
However, depending on the mount he could
still suffer a -1 to -4 penalty if the horse isnt
used to combat (see page 53).
HUMORLESS
1-point Mental Drawback
The Humorless character lacks the ability to
laugh at life, and takes everything with the
utmost seriousness. Most people find this
facet of her personality to be unattractive or
bothersome. The character receives a -1 to
social checks that involve general interaction
outside of formal events.
INCORRUPTIBLE
1-point/Level Quality
Character receives a bonus of +1/level to
Bearing tests to resist Corruption. Max 5
Levels. See LotR, p. 148.
KINDLE SPIRITS
2-point Quality
Prerequisite: Perform 4+
Your stirring exhortations can renew
courage in the hearts of your friends and lift
flagging spirits. As a full-round action you
may make a Perform test. Every ally who
can hear your words receives a bonus equal
to the Success Level of the Perform Test to
resist Fear and for a Weariness Test. You
may use this ability only once each day.
LOVE/TRAGIC LOVE
2- OR 4-POINT DRAWBACK
The characters love life is the stuff songs
are made of. A character with this Drawback
starts the game with a relationship or
develops one shortly after the campaign
begins (usually during the first or second
game). This love may or may not be
reciprocated; your character might be in love
with someone who barely knows she exists.
Whenever the character has to choose
between following her heart or her head, she
must make a Bearing (not doubled) roll at a -
3 penalty. This Drawback is worth two
points.
Tragic Love is as above but any romantic
relationship the character develops ends
badly. This can happen in two possible
ways: something bad happens to the
characters beloved, or the character has an
unfortunate tendency to fall for the wrong
people. Tragic Love is a 4-point Drawback.
MENTAL PROBLEMS
1-TO 3-POINT DRAWBACK
Your character has some major malfunction.
Maybe her parents abused her, or she is in
dire need of some Prozac. The short circuit
could be quirky or downright insane,
depending on how severe the problem is.
Some common Mental Problems follow.
COWARDICE: Your character is
more afraid of danger and
confrontation than normal people.
She may shun danger altogether, or
only risk it when shes sure she has
the upper hand. Use the value of
this Drawback as a penalty to rolls
to resist fear.
CRUELTY: This is a person who
actually likes to inflict pain and
suffering. At the lower level, she
reserves this for people who have
angered or attacked her, but at the
24
highest level she is a sadist with no
feelings of remorse (this is probably
not appropriate for most Players, but
is typical among servants of
Sauron).
DELUSIONS: Your character
believes something that just isnt
trueshe might be a confirmed
racist, or convinced that she can talk
to trees.
OBSESSION: A particular person or
task dominates your characters life,
to the exclusion of most other
things. To pursue her Obsession,
she will go to almost any length (as
limited by her morality). She may
neglect other duties, both personal
and professional, to pursue that
which fascinates her. The
obsessee may be a person (who
may or may not be aware of your
characters feelings, but who almost
certainly would be upset about their
intensity) or a task (like getting
revenge on somebody, or
performing some important or
notorious feat).
PARANOIA: They are out to get
you. Trust no one. Everything is a
conspiracy and everyone is keeping
secrets. Your character never
knows when somebody is going to
turn against her, but she knows they
all will, sooner or later. A paranoid
character expects treachery at every
turn, and rarely trusts even her
friends and relatives. This makes
her testimony less likely to be
believed, even when she is
speaking the truth.
PHOBIA: Something gives your
character the wigginssnakes,
heights, enclosed spaces, public
appearances, etc. The harder it is
to overcome the fear, the more this
Drawback is worth. Whenever the
character faces the subject of her
phobia, she must make a Fear Test
with a penalty equal to the value of
the Drawback. If the situation is
normally frightening (say, someone
afraid of wolves now faces the
terrifying specter of a werewolf), add
the Phobia value to the regular Fear
Test penalty.
 RECKLESSNESS: This character is
supremely overconfident and
impulsive, willing to take incredible
risks, often without thinking of the
consequences. Most of the time,
she never looks before she leaps
and gets into all kinds of trouble as
a result. A Reckless character
prefers to act first and think about it
later. She says whats on her mind
with no consideration for diplomacy
or courtesy, rushes into dangerous
situations, and rarely wastes time on
second thoughts. Reckless does
not necessarily mean suicidal,
however. Acting on impulse no
doubt puts the character in
jeopardy, but doing something that
is clearly lethal is not roleplaying, its
just stupid.
ZEALOT: A zealot is a person
whose beliefs (political, religious or
personal) are so strong that they
dominate her life and behavior. She
is willing to sacrifice anything,
including her life (or the lives of
others) in service to the ideals she
holds dear. This character is a
danger to herself and others, and
shows a total disregard for the law
whenever it conflicts with her
beliefs. This differs from Obsession
in scope (Zealot behavioral dictates
are more comprehensive) and
severity. This Drawback is rare
outside of the Deranged level. Your
Narator will determine if lower
severity levels are even possible.
The higher the value of the Mental
Problems, the more debilitating it is.
Generally, Characters should not have
Mental Problems worth over two points,
although playing the lunatic can be fun every
once in a while.
MILD: The Mental Problem is
controllable and your character
seldom allows the problem to
control her during times of crisis,
especially when friends and loved
ones are involved. People may not
even know something is wrong with
the character. This is a 1-point
Drawback.
25
SEVERE: The problem is severe,
and affects your characters daily
life. Anybody who knows the
character realizes or strongly
suspects that something is wrong
with her. This is a 2-point Drawback.
DERANGED: The character is
clearly deranged, with no regard for
such considerations as the law, the
safety of others, or the integrity of
her immortal soul. That does not
mean she is completely berserk.
She may control herself out of fear
of being stopped or discovered by
the law or other major threat, but
when no such fear exists, watch out.
OATH
3-point Drawback
The character has made a powerful Oath
that is more binding than the strongest steel.
When called upon to fulfill the Oath the
character must do so no matter what the
cost or face a dire consequences. The one
who you swore an Oath to will punish you or
if unable to do so the subtle magic of Middle
Earth will make you suffer. See Accursed.
See LotR, p. 157.
OUTCAST
2-point Drawback
You have been cast out of your homeland.
Serious consequences may take place if
ever encountered by someone of your
people who recognizes you as an outcast. If
you encounter another of the group of which
you were cast from and you are recognized
as an outcast, double your Renown penalty
to all social tests, minimum of -2.
PHYSICAL DISABILITY
Variable Physical Drawback
This Drawback covers any physical
problems affecting the limbs of the
character. A disabled character may suffer
from limb loss, spinal column damage, and
any number of tragic impairments. The
possibilities are discussed below.
Missing or Crippled Arm/Hand:
The hand in question cannot be
used to grab or hold objects. Any
Test or Task requiring two hands is
at a disadvantage (-3 or worse) or
simply impossible. This is a 2-point
Drawback.
 Missing or Crippled Leg/Foot: The
character is unable to walk or run
normally. With the help of crutches
or a cane, she can move at up to
one-third the normal Speed value of
the character. Hand-tohand combat
Tasks are at -2. This is a 3-point
Drawback. Prosthetics can reduce
the penalties, increasing speed to
up to half-normal, and reducing
combat penalties to -1. This reduces
the Drawback value to 2 points.
Missing or Crippled Arms: Both
arms are missing or crippled. The
character cannot use any tools
normally. Some people with this
handicap have learned to use their
feet with great skill to compensate
for their loss. This is a 4-point
Drawback.
Missing or Crippled Legs: The
character is unable to walk. Without
the help of a wheelchair, the best
she can do is crawl or roll on the
ground. This is a 4-point Drawback.
Paraplegic: Both arms and legs are
crippled or missing, or the character
is paralyzed from the neck down.
Almost all physical activities are
impossible. A special wheelchair,
operated with the neck or mouth,
can help the character move around
(if the unfortunate has access to
such instruments). Someone needs
to take care of all the basic needs of
the character, from feeding to
changing her. This highly debilitating
trait is an 8-point Drawback.
QUICK REFLEXES
2-point/Level Quality
Prerequisite: Nimbleness 3+
The character receives a +1/Level bonus to
Initiative to a maximum equaling his
Nimbleness.
RECURING NIGHTMARES
1-point Mental Drawback
This character is plagued by terrifying
dreams that relive some traumatic
experience or which are just frightening and
disturbing. Every night, the Chronicler may
check to see if the character suffers from the
nightmare. This may be done at the
Chroniclers discretion, or may be rolled
26
randomly (a roll of 1 on a D10 means the
character experiences a nightmare that
night). On any night when the character is
afflicted by the nightmare, she loses a
Weariness Level as the result of her inability
to go back to sleep.
REKNOWN
1-point/Level Social Drawback or Quality
This Attribute becomes a Quality/Drawback
that costs/gives 1 point per level (maximum
of 5). Its level adds (or subtracts, if its a
Drawback) in social Tasks where the
character is recognized. In order to find out if
a character recognizes another, roll 1D10
and add the recognizers Wits, plus the
targets Renown level (it doesnt matter if its
positive or negative).
RIVAL
1 or 2-point Drawback
A rival is a person of equal or greater stature
than the Player whose enmity causes him to
seek out ways to hinder the Player. He
does not seek the characters death but
would dearly love to see them humiliated or
shamed. For one point the Rival is an Equal
for 2 points they are of higher status than
the character. See LotR, p. 157.
SECRET
Variable Social Drawback
There is a hidden fact about the character
that would hurt her should it ever come out.
The more damaging the secret would be if it
became known, the higher the value of the
Drawback. For example, damage to ones
reputation and livelihood would be worth 1
point; a threat to the persons well being
(she might be arrested if the truth were
known) is worth 2 points; if the secret could
cost the character her life, it is worth 3
points.
SHOWOFF
2-point Mental Drawback
The whole world is the Showoffs audience,
and she loves to perform for it. She never
misses a chance to cast the spotlight on
herself or her accomplishments, while
quickly excusing or covering up her
mistakes. A Showoff loves to get public
acclaim, or at least the respect of her peers.
Most of the time, she simply makes sure
people notice her, but on occasion she
might try a bit too hard to attract attention to
herself and her deeds. This Drawback is
slightly more complex than the Covetous:
Conspicuous Drawback, and the Showoff is
less likely to betray her principles in order to
hog the spotlight.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
2-point Quality
These characters gain a +2 bonus to any
Perception-based rolls to sense trouble or
danger in the immediate surroundings.
SPELLCASTING- (Wizardry, Rune-casting
or Songs of Power)
5-points/Level Quality-double after 5
A character with this edge can caste spells.
Spellcasters must choose which version of
Spellcasting they wish to pursue: Wizardry,
Rune-casting or Songs of Power. The
higher a players Spellcasting ability the
more likely they will be able to resist
Weariness while using magic.
SPELL SPECIALTY
2-points per Specialty
A character with this edge receives a +1
bonus to resist Weariness when casting
spells that fall into a specific category (see
Spell Specialty in the Magic Section below).
Additional powers may be added to the staff
as well (see Staff of Power in the Grimoire
Section Page xx).
STERN
2-point Quality
Character receives a bonus of +2 to Debate
or Intimidate tests when trying to cow others.
See LotR, p. 150.
STIFF-NECKED
1-point Drawback
Once you set a course of action and a
contrary course is suggested you must
make a difficult Bearing or spend a Courage
Point check to change your mind. See LotR,
p. 157.
SWIFT RECOVERY
2-point Quality/Drawback
Prerequisite: CON 4+
Your natural healing rates are doubled.
Under the care of someone with Healing
Hands the healing rate is tripled. The
reverse version of this Quality is the
Drawback Slow Recovery.

STATUS
Variable Social Quality or Drawback (2
points/level, positive or negative)
This represents a characters Social
standing within the various communities of
Middle Earth. A status of -5 would represent
a slave, -3 to -4 a criminal or outcast, -2 to -
1 a serf bound to a feudal lord, 0 a common
freeman. +1 to +2 would be a very minor
noble (a knight) or a sergeant of the guard,
+2 would be a common knight or a guard
captain, +3 to +4 would represent higher
nobility (a count or duke) or a general of an
army.

STAFF OF POWER SWIFT STRIKE

2-point Quality +variable (see text in the 5-point or 10 point Quality
Grimoire) Prerequisite: Nimbleness 5+
When this power is purchased the This ability grants an extra attack or defense
Spellcaster receives a bonus of +1 against action to the character without penalty. It
all Weariness Level penalties while casting a can be bought twice.
spell while in possession of his staff. Also
his staff becomes impervious to all physical TIRELESS
harm although it can be destroyed by Magic 1-point/Level Quality
or Magical effects such as Dragon fire.

27
Character receives a bonus of +1/level to
Vitality tests to resist Weariness Levels (this
does not include Magic tests however). Max
5 Levels. See LotR, p. 150.
TRAVEL-SENSE
2-point Quality
You cannot get lost traveling through any
place you have been to. Also you
automatically know what direction you are
facing (north, south, east, west). See LotR,
p. 151.
VALLIANT
5-point Quality
Prerequisite: Bearing 4+
When only heroic action can win through to
victory, you can succeed where others fail.
If a difficult Bearing check is made the
character receives +2 Courage Points to use
in any action in that scene. This can only be
used during a truly heroic action not simply
to make the character look good. See
LotR, p. 151.
VALA VIRTUE
2-point Quality
Select one Valar whose virtues your
character best embodies. When the
character invokes that Valars name in the
service of light they receive a bonus to
certain skills and abilities depending on
which Valar is invoked. This quality can be
taken only once. LotR, p. 87.
Aule the Smith-+2 to Craft,
Smithcraft, Stonecraft or Appraise
tests (pick one).
Elbereth-the character receives a
+2 bonus versus all Sorcery and
Spells cast by evil powers (the
Nazgul, Sauron, Sauruman etc.
Este the Gentle-the character
receives a +2 bonus to Healing
Tests
Lorien-+2 to Inspire tests and Lore
Tests to interpret dreams
Mandos- +2 To all tests involving
memory
Manwe Sulimo-+2 to Insight and
Observe tests
28
Nessa-+2 to Perform (Dance) Tests
and Run Tests
Nienna the Weeper-+2 to Healing,
Bearing and Stamina tests involving
Endurance of Spirit
Orome-+2 to Track Tests when
hunting wild beasts.
Tuklas Astaldo-+2 Unarmed
Combat Tests.
Ulmo-+2 to all tests involving the
sea and to resist Corruption while
near the sea.
Vaire the Weaver-+2 to Lore:
History Tests
Vana the Ever Young- +2 to
Perform (Sing) and Persuade Tests.
Yavanna Kementari-+2 to all tests
involving animals and plants except
tests to harm, kill or otherwise
abuse them.
VALOUR
2-point Quality
Prerequisite: Bearing 3+
Character receives a +4 bonus to resist Fear
and Intimidation. See LotR, p. 151
WEAPON MASTERY
5-point or 10 point Quality
Prerequisite: Weapon Skill 5+
You are supernaturally proficient with a
weapon. Each level adds to the Damage
Multiplier of the attack. For example if a
character with 2 levels of Weapon Mastery
hit a target with 1 success the damage
would be (Strength x Success Level +2) +
Damage Roll. Maximum of two levels. See
LotR, p. 153.
WISE
2-point Quality
+2 Bonus on all Lore Skills. See LotR, p.
153.
WOODSY
2-point Quality
+2 Bonus on Survival, Track or Weather
Sense. See LotR, p. 153.
 Chapter Three:
Skills, Herbalism and
Lore

29

SKILLS
SKILL LEVELS
Level 1 A beginner or amateur,
somebody who has just learned the
rudiments of a skill.
Level 2 Basic Professional level of
training. Someone who has an
average competency.
Level 3 Experienced Professional
level. Someone who has had
general training paired with the
lessons that experience provide.
Level 4-5 Extreme competence in a
subject. The result of extensive
training and experience.
Level 6+ Higher levels represent
true mastery of a skill or craft and
the ability to perform the most
difficult tasks with ease.
Skill List
When picking skills a character picks a free
Specialization for it if they are available. If a
character has a Base Skill that can be used
Untrained but is forced to attempt a task for
which he doesnt have a Specialization he
suffers a -2 to his Skill Test. For 2
Character Points he can pick additional
Specializations for his Skill effectively
negating this penalty.
For Example Anar has an Armed
Combat Skill of 3 with a specialty in
Swords. If he attempted to attack
an Orc with a Sword he does so
without difficulty. If he was forced to
use a Battle Axe in combat he would
suffer a -2 penalty to his Skill Check.
Skills that cannot be used Untrained require
a character to spend Character Points for
each Specialization as if it was a separate
skill. If a character does not have the
Specialization he suffers the normal
penalties for being Unskilled (see Mechanics
below).
For example Anar has Legerdemain
2 with a Specialization in Pick
Locks. If he attempted to Pick a
Pocket he would suffer the normal
penalties for being Unskilled
(Nimbleness -2 plus a d10) instead
30
of a simple -2 penalty from his
Legerdemain skill.
ACROBATICS
Trait: Nimbleness Untrained: Y
Specialties: Balance, Swing, Tumble
This skill is used for performing deft
movements of the body in precarious
positions such as swinging on a rope,
balancing on ledges or precipices, etc.
APPRAISE
Trait: Wits Untrained: N
Specialties: Gems, Gold, Art, Weapons etc.
This skill is used for judging the value,
determining the worth, or amount of some
thing, be it the quality of a weapon or the
value of a gold trinket.
ARMED COMBAT
Trait: Nimbleness Untrained: Y
Specialties: Axes, Maces/Hammers,
Spears, Polearms, Swords, Shields, Knives
This skill group covers the many different
melee weapon skills including Blades, Axes,
Polearms, etc. When this skill is selected a
type of weapon must be chosen as the main
specialization. The options include Blades
(swords and knives), Polearms (spear,
quarterstaff, halberd etc.), Axes and Maces
(which includes clubs, hammers etc.), and
Shield. Weapons outside that specialization
suffer a penalty of -2.
CLIMB
Trait: Strength Untrained: Y
Specialties: None
This skill is used when a character attempts
to scale a wall, climb a tree, or rappel down
a steep rock.
CONCEAL
Trait: Wits Untrained: Y
Specialties: None
This skill is used when a character wants to
hide something other than himself, such as
treasure or a weapon.
CRAFT
Trait: Nimbleness Untrained: N
Specialties: Carpentry, Cooking, Pottery,
Painting, Gardening etc.
This skill group covers all sorts of different
crafting skills like pottery, leatherworking, or
toy-making. See page 33 for more
information.
DEBATE
Trait: Wits Untrained: Y
Specialties: Bargain, Negotiate, Parley
This skill is used when characters attempt to
persuade others to their point of view
through reasoned argument.
DODGE
Trait: Nimbleness Untrained: Y
Specialties: None
This skill allows the character to attempt to
avoid attacks.
GAMES
Trait: Wits Untrained:
Specialties: Chess, Dice, Riddles, Etc.
Though a character uses his Wits for this
skill, he must physically perform a task to
play the game, like throwing darts and the
like.
GUISE
Trait: Wits Untrained: N Specialties:
None
This skill is used for allowing a character to
properly alter his appearance to look as
though he were another person, a man or
woman, man, elf, or orc.
HEALING
Trait: Wits Untrained: Y
Specialties: Treat Illness, Treat Wound
This skill allows a character to bandage,
staunch, and treat wounds and diseases in a
variety of manners.
INQUIRE
Trait: Bearing Untrained: Y
Specialties: Converse, Interrogate
Inquire allows a character to gather
information from a target whether they are
willing or not. It can be used either covertly
or overtly and is resisted by the targets Wits
or Bearing depending on the circumstances.
INSIGHT
Trait: Perception Untrained: Y
Specialties: None
Insight allows a character to decipher what a
characters intentions may be and whether
or not they are being deceived by them.
INSPIRE
Trait: Bearing Untrained: Y
Specialties: Leadership, Lift Spirits
Inspire measures the characters ability to lift
31
flagging spirits or lead a group of characters
out of despair. It can be implemented by
actions or words depending on the situation.
INTIMIDATE
Trait: Bearing Untrained: Y
Specialties: Fear, Majesty, Power, Torture
Intimidate is used to cause fear or awe in
the targets either through words or actions.
JUMP
Trait: Strength Untrained: Y
Specialties: None
This skill is simply used when a character
wishes to jump over a chasm or up to
branch on a tree above his head. Base
Long Jump distance is equal to a characters
Strength divided by 2 rounded up in Yards.
Each Success Level with the Jump Skill
adds 1 yard. Half that distance can be
jumped vertically.
LANGUAGE
Trait: Wits Untrained: N
Specialties: Specific Language
This skill may be selected multiple times to
allow the character to speak and decipher
many tongues. See page 33 for a greater
explanation on Language as well as a list of
possible languages to select.
LEGERDERMAIN
Trait: Nimbleness Untrained: N
Specialties: Pick Pocket, Open Lock
This skill reflects a character's ability to
manipulate his hands faster than the
average eye can see, allowing him to make
them 'disappear' or to deftly pick locks.
LORE
Trait: Wits Untrained: N
Specialties: Group, History, Magic, Nature,
Race, Realm
This special skill group covers many
different skills such as Group, History, Race,
Realm, etc. See page 35.
MIMICRY
Trait: Bearing Untrained: N
Specialties: Animals, Voices
This skill represents a character's ability to
imitate voices and sounds such as that of
another person or animals.
OBSERVE
Trait: Perception Untrained: Y
Specialties: Hear, Smell, Sense Power,
Spot, Taste, etc.
This skill represents a character's ability to
sense and detect things out of the ordinary,
specializing in the five senses and, for those
with extraordinary powers, 'seeing' beyond
what is contained by those five senses.
PERFORM
Trait: Bearing Untrained: Y
Specialties: Compose Verse, Sing, etc.
This skill is used when a character wishes to
play an instrument, sing a song, tell a story,
etc.
PERSUADE
Trait: Bearing Untrained: Y
Specialties: Charm, Fast Talk, Oratory
This skill is used when a character is
attempting to sway an opinion using charm
or emotional appeal instead of reason
(which is the province of Debate).
RANGED COMBAT
Trait: Nimbleness Untrained: Y
Specialties: Bows, Slings, Spears, Knives,
Axes, Stones
This skill group covers the many different
ranged weapon skills and a specialty must
be selected from the following: Bows,
Crossbows, Spears, Thrown. If a character
attempts to do Ranged Combat but does
have the proper specialization he is at -2 to
his base skill.
RIDE
Trait: Bearing Untrained: Y
Specialties: Specific Animal
This skill is used when a character attempts
to use a beast for transportation like a horse,
pony, etc. See page 52 for more information
on Riding.
RUN
Trait: Vitality Untrained: Y
Specialties: Sprint, Long Distance
This skill simply reflects a character's ability
to cover much ground with very little time.
For every success in a Run (Sprint) test add
two to the Characters Run Speed for that
round. Vitality+Run(Long Distance) can be
used to resist Weariness while traveling on
foot instead of Vitality doubled.
SEA-CRAFT
Trait: Wits Untrained: N
32
Specialties: Boating, Sailing, Shipwright
This skill represents a character's ability to
create and use boats and ships.
SEARCH
Trait: Perception Untrained: Y
Specialties: None
This skill allows a character to examine his
surroundings in a methodical manner to find
hidden or lost items.
SIEGECRAFT
Trait: Wits Untrained: N
Specialties: Defense, Siege Engine, Unit
Leadership
This skill reflects a character's ability to
effectively fight and/or direct others during a
large battle. See Mass Combat rules page
106.
SMITHCRAFT
Trait: Strength Untrained: N
Specialties: Armorsmith, Goldsmith,
Weaponsmith, etc.
Not covered under the Craft skill, this skill
represents a character's ability to work and
mold metal to his purposes for jewelry,
armor, weapons, etc. See below for further
explanation of the Smith and Craft Skills.
STEALTH
Trait: Nimbleness Untrained: Y
Specialties: Hide, Shadow, Sneak
This skill is used when a character attempts
to evade others by hiding, moving quietly, or
following another.
STONECRAFT
Trait: Strength Untrained: N
Specialties: Building, Fortification, Mining
Not covered under the Craft skill, this skill
represents a character's ability to work and
mold stone to his purposes for works of art
or building a wall. See Craft section below.
SURVIVAL
Trait: Perception Untrained: Y
Specialties: Forests, Mountains, Oceans,
Plains, Hills, etc.
This skill is used when a character needs to
live off the land so he can find edible plants
and animals, where and how to build proper
shelter, etc. in specific environs.
SWIM
Trait: Strength Untrained: Y
Specialties: None
This skill simply reflects how strong of a
swimmer a character is.
TEAMSTER
Trait: Strength Untrained: Y
Specialties: Carts, Chariots, Wains
This skill represents a character's ability to
use and direct wagons, carts, and other
vehicles using animals to move them.
TRACK
Trait: Perception Untrained: N
Specialties: Specific Terrain, Specific
Animal or Race
This skill allows a character to examine the
ground and surroundings looking for clues
as to follow others or to befuddle those
trying to follow him.
UNARMED COMBAT
Trait: Nimbleness Untrained: Y
Specialties: Brawling, Wrestling
This skill group covers the ways of combat
without using weapons such as brawling or
wrestling.
WEATHER-SENSE
Trait: Perception Untrained: N
Specialties: None
This skill represents a character's ability to
'read' the weather and attempt predictions.
Craft and Smith Skills
When crafting an item using the Craft Skill or
the Smith Skills the characters Success
Levels determine the relative quality of an
object as seen below:
1 Success Item is competently
crafted but is crude. If the item is a
33
tool or a weapon it would provide a -
1 to all checks using it. Item would
sell for 50% to 75% of normal
market value.
2 Successes Item is of Average
Quality and is very utilitarian. Most
common items found in a market
would be of this level of quality. It
sells for the normal market value.
3 Successes Item is of Good
Quality and is recognized as being
superior to average works of its
kind. It will often have flourishes
and engravings and is constructed
of superior materials. Items of this
quality will often sell for 125-150%
of normal market value.
4 Successes Items is of Excellent
Quality and is often elaborately
decorated and made of obviously
superior materials. Only the very
wealthy can afford items of this
quality. If object is a weapon it
provides a +1 point of damage OR
+1 to hit. Armor can either provide
+1 point of protection or have any
armor penalties associated with it
reduced by one. Masterwork tools
will provide a +1 when used by a
skilled practitioner. Item will sell for
200-500% of normal market value
when available.
5+ Successes Item is a
Masterpiece. If it is a weapon it will
provide a bonus of +1 to hit AND
damage. Armor will provide a
bonus of +1 to protection AND -1 to
Armor penalties. Tools provide a
bonus of +2 in the hands of a skilled
character. Only items of this quality
or greater can be enchanted. Item
will sell for 500-1000+% of normal
market value and is never seen on
the open market. Works of this
quality are commissioned by the
very wealthy and cannot be found
for sale in legal markets. In fact,
because of there rarity items at this
level are very difficult to fence and
are often recognized by
connoisseurs. For every TWO
successes above 5 add an
additional +1 Bonus.

Languages of Middle-
Earth
Below is a short overview of the most
important and common tongues.
ELVISH TONGUES: Quenya, Sindarin,
Nandorin (a.ka. Bethteur or Silvan), Avarin.
DWARVISH: a.k.a Khuzdul.
ENTISH: A character cannot learn the
language of the ancient treeherds.
MANNISH TONGUES: Westron (Common
Speech of north-western Middle-earth and
mother-tongue of most folk in the Third
Age), Adnaic (Nmenoreans), Ro-hirric
(formerly called Eothric), Atliduk
(Beornings), Na-haiduk (Woodmen),
Gramuk (Rhovanion Northmen), Eriedaic
(Northman dialects of Eriador like Breeish,
closely related to Westron and substituted
by it in Mid-Third Age), Dunael
(Dunlendings), Blarm (Dunnish hill-men of
Eriador), Haradaic (northern Haradrim),
Apysaic (southern Haradrim), Varadja
(Variags of Khand), As-dradja (Asdriag
Easterlings), Ioradja (Balchoth), Labba
(Lossoth), Tyran (spoken in the northern
basin of the Ta-lathrant), Urdarin (spoken in
the far north-east of Endor), Pkael (Woses
or Dredain).
OTHER TONGUES: Morbeth (Black
Speech), Orkish (comes in many dialects,
sometimes without any similarities. Orcs
from different tribes use Common or Black
Speech to converse with each other).
34
Language Skill Levels
Level 1 User may converse on very
simple subjects, using whole
sentences instead of broken
phrases as long as both sides are
speaking slowly and carefully.
Level 2 Allows user to converse
freely in everyday conversation of
an average nature (e.g., market talk,
peasant discussions, conversation
with guards, etc.). User still has a
strong accent and is himself able to
distinguish major dialects.
Level 3 True fluency. Allows
understanding of, and conversation
with, the most learned of native
speakers. Sophisticated folk may
still brand you as an outlander,
however, and archaic or unusual
concepts will still prove
troublesome.
Level 4 The normal speaking level
of the native population, the
common man. Subtle or particularly
sophisticated concepts still prove
troublesome.
Level 5 Absolute fluency of the
language and allows imitation of all
closely related dialects. Extremely
archaic and complex concepts may
prove troublesome.
Level 6+ Needed for the
understanding of the obscurest lore,
such high skill ranks can only be
learned from Wizards or other
ancient and well-educated beings.

Lore
The Lore skill groups cover the improbable
art of knowing everything there is to know
under the sun that shines on Middle-earth
improbable because the bodies of lore that
course through it run so vast and so deep.
The rules set out here both amplify and
modify the brief description of Lore.
Lore is represented by seven different skill
groups: Lore/Group, Lore/History, Lore/
Race, Lore/Realm, Lore/Spellcraft, Lore/
Wilderness, and Lore/Other. Each group,
which contains a multitude of skills (each of
which contains many possible specialties), is
described in the sections that follow.
Lore/Group
The Lore/Group skill group rep-resents
knowledge of the many different cultures
and sub-cultures in Middle-Earth.
It represents understanding of the various
political, historical, economic, and cultural
elements that shaped them. Recent
historical events (those within living
memory) are also a part of such bodies of
lore, as is knowledge of famous individuals
still living or only recently passed away.
Lore/Group skills are classified by the
culture that they describe, such as Lore/
Group: Noldor, or Lore/Group: Angmaram.
One may come to the knowledge
represented by the Lore/Group group by
study, but most acquire it by practical
experience. Travelers who visit a place often
or stay for a long time acquire the bits of
understanding that make up familiarity with a
culture.
Of course, the best way to acquire a Lore/
Group skill is to be a native of a particular
Culture, to grow up in it and live in it for
much of ones life. It is entirely possible to
acquire skills in this group simply by
absorption.
Lore/History
The Lore/History skill group represents
knowledge of past events, both near and
ancient, and the great figures who moved
and shaped them by their deeds. This
includes knowledge of individuals very old or
35
long dead, such as Elrond Half-Elven, Beren
One-Hand, and even Sauron himself.
Lore/History skills are classified by political
entities (Lore/History:Umbar, Lore/History:
Lothlrien, and so on), or races or cultural
groups (Lore/History: Hobbits, Lore/ History:
Lossoth, and so on).
Specialties within these skills often refer to
prominent individuals. If you specialize in
Lore/History: Dwarves (Durin the
Deathless), for instance, that means you
know the tales of the life and deeds of the
legendary first King of the Dwarves.
Other specialties cover a specific aspect of a
nation or groups history; if you have the
specialty Lore/History: Gondor (Kings), that
means you have learned at least some of
the lore surrounding the royal succession of
Gondor from Anrion down to the last king,
the ill-fated Ernur. Lore/History skills may
also encompass general classes of historical
events such as wars (Lore/History: The War
of the Ring), natural disasters (Lore/History:
The Long Winter of TA 2758-9), and so on.
Lore/History is most commonly learned
through study, whether formal or informal.
While it is possible to learn a lot of history by
listening to tales told by those who know
them well, more frequently, one must read
history in tomes and scrolls. The more
ancient the knowledge you seek, the more
likely it is that you will have to read it, rather
than listening casually to bards and
loremasters.
Lore/Race
The Lore/Race skill group describes
knowledge of Middle-Earths races, and
each skill in this group represents one of
Middle earths distinct racial groups.
Therefore, there are six: Lore/Race:
Dwarves, Lore/ Race:Ents, Lore/ Race:
Elves, Lore/Race: Hobbits, Lore/Race: Men,
and Lore/Race: Orcs.
You can acquire knowledge of Middle-
Earths races through one of three ways:
being one of them, living among them, or
reading or hearing about them through
written accounts or tales. The first two are
the most reliable and most popular means,
as the third may provide knowledge from
unreliable sources.

Lore/Realm
The Lore/Realm skill group covers
Geographical knowledge. This is defined as
knowing the landscape of a particular
region, where its major features are in
relation to each other, what regions border
on it, and whether the terrain consists of
mountains or marshes, farmland or
wilderness. If you have a Lore/Realm skill,
you are able to picture a map of that place in
your mind.
Skills in this group represent regions of
Middle-earth defined by contemporary
political boundaries, such as Cardolan, the
Shire, and Umbar.
They may also represent regions defined by
tradition and convention, such as Rhn and
Forochel, or by political boundaries that no
longer exist.
Specialties within these skills can also
represent smaller geographical units within
these regions. They may be cities, such as
Minas Tirith in Gondor and Bree in Eregion,
or significant individual features of the
landscape, such as Mount Doom in Mordor
and the Emyn Muil in Gondor.
Lore/Realm skills may also encompass
types of landscape features, such as
Lore/Realm: Cities and Lore/Realm: Rivers,
rather than individual realms.
Realm lore may be acquired by either
experience or formal study. Traveling
frequently or for extended periods through a
certain part of Middle-earth will give you
knowledge of that realms geography. You
may also learn it by studying maps and
other such documents.
Lore/Spellcraft
The Lore/Spellcraft skill group comprehends
the practice of magic in all of its forms,
whether of nature or craft, or for good or evil.
It is by no means the same as knowing how
to cast spells, since one may have a Lore/
Spellcraft skill without possessing the ability
Spellcasting.
Having a Lore/Spellcraft skill means that you
know something about how spells from a
36
certain specialty behave in theory, and that
you can identify them when they are cast. If
you wish to identify a spell being cast by one
of your foes so that you may counter-spell it,
you may make a Lore/Spellcraft test with a
Difficulty equal to the spells Weariness
Test.
The principal skills of the Lore/Spellcraft
group are each defined by a different spell
specialty: Lore/Spellcraft: Beasts and Birds,
Lore/Spellcraft: Sorcery, and so on.
Specialties within these skills cover
individual spells. Spells with no specialty are
covered by the skill Lore/Spellcraft: Other.
The skill Lore/Spellcraft: Runes allows you
to recognize magical inscriptions, while the
Lore/Spellcraft: Songs of Power skill enables
you to recognize a spell being cast using the
Songs of Power method simply by listening
to it.
Specialties for Lore/Spellcraft: Runes and
Lore/Spellcraft: Songs of Power include all
of the various spell specialties. The skill
Lore/Spellcraft: Enchanted Items
encompasses all magical weapons and
artifacts; specialties include classes of
items, such as weapons and staves, or
enchanted items produced by different
races, such as Elves and Dwarves.
Lore/Spellcraft skills are almost never
acquired except by long and arduous study.
Lore/Wilderness
The Lore/Wilderness skill group covers all
manner of knowledge of beasts and plants,
whether wild or domesticated; the ways of
the water, air, and earth; and craft that
enables one to survive in the wilderness.
This group consists of a handful of skills.
Lore/Wilderness: Fell Beasts refers to
creatures that are distinctly evil in nature,
such as Wargs, or monstrous beings that
have ever tormented the Free Peoples, such
as dragons.
Lore/Wilderness: Wild Beasts covers all
other creatures that live in the wild.
Lore/Wilderness: Domesticated Beasts
covers animals in the service of Men, such
as horses, cattle, pets, and familiars.
Lore/Wilderness: Herbalism covers all
manner of plant life, whether found in the
wild or cultivated. It includes knowledge of
healing plants, such as athelas, but
excludes Ents, who constitute a race.
Lore/Wilderness: Starlore covers knowledge
of the stars in the sky, their names, and the
courses that they follow. Those who know it
also understand the movement of the sun
and moon across the sky.
Finally, Lore/ Wilderness: Survival describes
knowledge of how to preserve life and limb
in a difficult spot. It overlaps to some extent
with the Survival skill group (and has similar
specialties), but is distinguished from it by
the fact that one may know Survival Lore
from having read or heard of certain
procedures without having much skill at
putting that information into practice.
Lore/Wilderness is the one category of
knowledge that is most commonly acquired
through hard experience, for it is certain that
the easiest way to learn about a wild beast
is to study it face to face. Those who travel
long or frequently through uninhabited lands,
such as Rangers, may learn much
wilderness lore over the course of a lifetime.
Even so, it is not impossible to learn Lore/
Wilderness through the study of books or
tales. For instance, some among the
Dnedain of the North have left written
accounts, both narrative and analytical, of
their experiences as Rangers, and these
constitute useful bodies of lore. Nor should
one overlook Merry Brandybucks essay on
pipe weed, written after his return from the
War of the Ring.
37
Lore/Other
Any Lore skill that does not fit into one of the
aforementioned six groups belongs in the
Lore/Other group. You should therefore feel
free to add your own Lore skills and
specialties as your chronicle presents you
with the need to do so. One example would
be Lore: Servants of the Shadow which
would provide a character with knowledge of
the Enemy and his creatures.
Overlapping Lore Skills
Inevitably, this system of handling Lore skills
will create many areas of overlap between
different skill groups, skills, and specialties,
and it will not appear obvious how they
differ.
For instance, what is there to distinguish the
skill Lore/History: Dwarves from the
specialty Lore/Races: Dwarves (History)? In
practical terms, very little. All of the skills
and specialties presented or suggested here
are, after all, abstractions of what facts,
tales, rhymes of lore, and so on characters
might actually know.
Both Lore/History: Dwarves and Lore/
Races: Dwarves represent the same basic
body of knowledge; the difference in how
they are classified and demonstrates that
two different characters might come to it by
different routes. Therefore, Narrators should
demonstrate flexibility in determining
whether a possible Lore test fits a
characters specific skills.
 Herb-Craft
In the hands of a skilled naturalist a clump of weeds can draw out poisons, halt the progress of a
disease, or remove the crippling fatigue of a long march. In game terms, the Lore/Wilderness skill
is used to gather and prepare the various plants described below to unleash their virtues.

To put herbs to use, one must first find them. This requires one hour of time and a
Lore/Wilderness: Herbalism test against a Find Difficulty Modifier that varies by the herb sought.
The Find Difficulty Modifier represents the difficulty of finding enough of the herb for one dose,
identifying it among similar plants, and properly harvesting it. A character searching for an herb
where it does not grow automatically fails at this test.

One success indicates the searcher finds a single dose of the herb sought. Each additional
Success Level achieved results in an additional dose of the herb located. On a disastrous failure
the searcher mistakes some other herb determined by the Narratorfor the one sought. If the
herbalist winds up preparing and applying this herb, roll on the Random Herb Effects Table
below to find out what happen.

38
 Random Herb Effects
Random herb effects are the equivalent of poisons. Roll 1d6 once on each sub-table below to
determine all of the poisons statistics.
Random Herb Effects Table
Roll Onset Time
1 1 round
2 1 minute
3 20 minutes
4 1 hour
5 6 hours
6 1 day
Roll Stages
13 1 Modifier to ready the herb. Failure wastes
45 1/2-d6
6 1d6
Roll Potency
12 0 Vitality Test
34 -1 Vitality Test
5 -3 Vitality Test
6 -4 Vitality Test
Roll Treatment
12 0 effect, there is no game difference between
34 -1
5 -2
6 -4
Roll Effect/Secondary Effect
1 Nausea: Reduce Vitality by 1/No
effect.
2 Weakness: Reduce Strength by
1/No effect.
3 Befuddlement: Reduce Wits by
1/No effect.
4 Extreme Nausea: Reduce Vitality
by 1d6/Reduce Vitality by 1.
5 Extreme Weakness: Reduce
Strength by 1d6/ Reduce Strength
by 1.
6 Extreme Befuddlement: Reduce
Wits by 1d6/ Reduce Wits by 1.
The first table determines how long it takes
for each stage of the effect to occur. The
second table determines how many stages
will occur. The Potency table determines
the penalty applied to a simple Vitality Test
to resist the effect of the herb. A victim of
this kind of poison can be treated by
someone with Healing or Lore/Wilderness:
Herbalism check with a penalty determined
by the Treatment table. For each success
39
achieved in this test the victim receives a
bonus of +1 to their Vitality Test. If the
victim is successful in their Vitality Test they
suffer from the Secondary Effect of the
poisonous herb. If no successes are
achieved they suffer the full effects of the
herb.
Once an herbalist has gathered an herb, he
must make a second Lore/ Wilderness:
Herbalism test against its Prepare Difficulty
one dose worth of the plants gathered but
does no other harm. On a disastrous failure,
however, things go wrong but the herbalist
fails to realize his mistake and must roll on
the Random Herb Effects Table to see
what happens.
The procedures used to prepare different
herbs vary. Although the Narrator may wish
to specify what is being done for narrative
brewing an herb, crushing an herb, and so
forth.
Once an herb has been prepared, it can be
applied for effect with a Lore/Wilderness:
Herbalism or Healing test. Although neither
of those skills can typically be used
untrained, any character who has had the
procedure for application explained to him
can use either skill untrained for the
purposes of application. Giving an
explanation to an unskilled character
requires only a Lore/Wilderness: Herbalism
or Healing test. As with herb preparation,
there is no mechanical difference between
the various ways herbs can be applied or
consumed, though the Narrator may wish to
describe characters chewing on bark,
inhaling vapors, applying poultices, and so
on.
Unless otherwise noted, consuming more
than one dose of a given herb does not
increase its effects. The Narrator may rule
that, in fact, consuming extra doses requires
Vitality tests to avoid sickness.
Consuming more than one type of herb at
once or consuming a second herb while a
previously consumed herb is still active in
ones system requires a Vitality test. (An
herb is active in ones system for four hours
or until its effects wear off, whichever is
longer.) If successful, the second herb takes
effect as normal. If failed the second herb
causes random effects per Random Herb
Effects Table.
Consuming even more herbs past the
second type is certainly possible, though
each additional herb increases the Vitality
Tests Difficulty by one.
It is possible to purchase, trade for, and
receive as gifts doses of fresh or prepared
herbs, but an herb will keep (in either state)
for only a finite period of time, which varies
from herb to herb. These periods are known
as the fresh term and prepared term. Skilled
herbalists can try to revive an herb even
after it is past its prime, which requires a
Lore/Wilderness: Herbalism test against a
Penalty equal to 2 x the number of full or
fractional terms that the herb is older than
one.
For example, if a given herbs fresh term
was one week, reviving a dose harvested
three weeks ago would require a test at -4
because the herb is two full terms older than
one term.
On a complete or disastrous failure the
herbalist does not realize he has failed to
revive the herb. If eventually consumed,
these herbs cause effects determined by
rolling on Random Herb Effects Table.
Sample Herbs
The following descriptions detail a variety of
sample herbs found throughout Middle-
earth. They serve both as herbs that can be
sought and used by characters and as
creative springboards for Narrators who
wish to create additional herbs.
Aelgus
Aelgus is a small, green, leafy fern that
grows in thick patches. It is a common herb,
and like athelas was originally grown and
used by the Nmenoreans. Shepherds and
farmers consider it a nuisance and work to
40
uproot and burn it. The knowledge of its use
has been lost in the mists of time to all but
the wisest herbalists; only those with Lore/
Wilderness: Herbalism 3+ knows of its
beneficial effects.
Location: Throughout Arnor.
Find Difficulty Modifier: -2
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -3
Fresh Term: 1 week
Prepared Term: 1 month
Prepared Cost: 2 sp
Effect: Aelgus is used to treat ingested
poison. When properly prepared and eaten,
it induces vomiting that cleanses the system
and purges it of venom, rendering inactive
any ingested poison in the victims body.
Alambas
Location: Deserts and Plains
Find Difficulty Modifier: 0
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: 0
Fresh Term: 2 weeks
Prepared Term: 6 months
Prepared Cost: 1 sp
Effect: Alambas grass is an excellent herb
for treating minor injuries. When made into a
poultice this grass provides a bonus of +2 to
Healing checks when treating patients that
are at the Healthy or Dazed Health Level.
Anserke
Location: Woods and Hills
Find Difficulty Modifier: 0
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -1
Fresh Term: 6 weeks
Prepared Term: 11 months
Prepared Cost: 1 sp
Effect: When made into a paste this leaf
provides a bonus of +2 to Healing checks
when treating burns.
Arfandas
Location: Plains and Woods
Find Difficulty Modifier: 0
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -2
Fresh Term: 1 Week
Prepared Term: 4 months
Prepared Cost: 2 sp
Effect: Arfandas speeds the mending of
fractures and sprains. If a successful
Healing Check is made the stem of this plant
adds two points of additional healing to any
wound it is applied to.
Balaak
Location: Ocean shores and Riverbanks
Find Difficulty Modifier: -2
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -1
Fresh Term: 3 days
Prepared Term: 1 month
Prepared Cost: 2 sp
Effect: The tough stalk of this large grain
like plant can be found on coastal shores
and on the riverbanks of tributaries leading
to the ocean. This plant can ease the pain
of a patient allowing them to function despite
being seriously wounded. If a successful
Healing or Herbalism Check is made while
applying this herb the patient may reduce
penalties due to injury by one.
Belan
Location: Woods
Find Difficulty Modifier: -2
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -3
Fresh Term: 3 weeks
Prepared Term: 5 months
Prepared Cost: 1 SP, 2 sp
Effect: Another stalked plant this herb can
quite literally be a life saver. It reduces a
patients metabolism to a crawl allowing
them to survive the most dangerous of
wounds. A successful Herbalism or Healing
check while applying this plant to a
character whose Life Points have gone
below -10 will give the patient a bonus of +2
to a single Survival Check per dose. Each
dose beyond the first in a 24 hour period will
cause the patient to lapse into a coma
lasting 8 days minus their Vitality per dose.
Bluereed
Bluereed isas its name implies a tall,
thin reed with a slight blue tinge. It is well
known among Horsemen, who use it to
sustain their scouts and messengers.
Location: Riverbanks
Find Difficulty Modifier: -2
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -2
Fresh Term: 2 days
Prepared Term: 3 months
Prepared Cost: 1 sp
Effect: Valued by messengers, scouts, and
others who must toil for hours at a time
without rest, bluereed banishes sleepiness
and allows those who take it to go a day
without sleep. While this herb has no effect
41
on a patient who is already exhausted, if
taken as a preventive measure it staves off
the need for sleep. For 24 hours after
consuming a properly prepared dose of this
herb, a character does not need sleep and
suffers no penalties for going without it. After
24 hours have passed, though, fatigues toll
returns and tests to resist weariness from
lack of sleep are made as normal at -6.
Bluereed has no noticeable effect on Elves.
Bursthelas
Location: Woods
Find Difficulty Modifier: 0
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: 0
Fresh Term: 11 days
Prepared Term: 6 months
Prepared Cost: 1 sp
Effect: When chewed this common bark
will slow bleeding by promoting blood
clotting and help prevent shock. The
character who chews this bark will stop
bleeding immediately without requiring a roll.
However, if a character takes more than one
dose of Bursthelas in a 24 hour period he
must make a Difficult Vitality test or he will
take an additional 1d12 damage from
vascular difficulties.
Blue Pine
Location: Woods and Mountains
Find Difficulty Modifier: -1
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: 0
Fresh Term: 2 days
Prepared Term: 9 months
Prepared Cost: 1 sp
Effect: The nut of the Blue Pine Tree is
highly prized by rangers and naturalists
throughout Middle-Earth. Eating 5 of the
nuts from the Blue Pine Tree is the
equivalent of a full meal of preserved
rations.
Bodezlist
Location: Deserts and Plains
Find Difficulty Modifier: -3
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -4
Fresh Term: 2 days
Prepared Term: 7 days
Prepared Cost: 2 sp
Effect: The heart of this desert flower can
provide a days worth of water to an adult.
 Fresh Term: 9 days
Prepared Term: 3 months
Prepared Cost: 4 sp
Effect: This moss is most commonly found
Carnastad on rocks in Mountain Passes. When applied
This short, squat mushroom has a bright red in a poultice to a wound this plant provides
cap and a thick, brown stem. When an additional point of Healing per Success
collected and properly prepared, carnastad Level in a Healing or Herbalism check.
(Sindarin for red healing) neutralizes
diseases, breaks fevers, and clears up the
bothersome symptoms of most sicknesses.
The Elves of Mirkwood jealously guard the
areas where carnastad flourishes. Many
intruders such as Men and Orcs venture into
Mirkwood to recover as many of the
mushrooms as possible. While the Men do
so to sell them or make use of their healing
properties, the foul Orcs seek only to deny
others access. The giant spiders of
Mirkwood commonly build nests above
patches of these mushrooms or lurk near
them, eager to fall upon those who seek to
gather them.
Location: Mirkwood
Find Difficulty Modifier: -1
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -1
Fresh Term: 1 month
Prepared Term: 4 months
Prepared Cost: 4SP
Effect: After taking a dose of this herb, a
character may immediately make a Difficult
Vitality Test to recover from any diseases he
currently suffers. If this test fails additional
doses have no effect on the existing
diseases. Recovery is a gradual process
which takes place over the course of 1d6
days.
Din Fuinen
Carnerem Location: Hills and Plains
Find Difficulty Modifier: -1
Location: Swamps and Riverbanks
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -2
Find Difficulty Modifier: -2
Fresh Term: 5 days
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -1
Prepared Term: 6 months
Fresh Term: 3 days
Prepared Cost: 1 SP 3 sp
Prepared Term: 7 months
Effect: Used by some Hillman tribal
Prepared Cost: 4 sp
warriors this blue flower can be crushed into
Effect: Applying the crushed petals of this
a paste and is spread on the skin usually in
flower to a poisoned wound will delay the
ritual patterns. The paste induces a feeling
effects of the poison for four times the
of invulnerability in the subject giving them a
patients Vitality in hours.
bonus of +4 to Bearing checks to resist fear
or to intimidate their foes. This effect lasts
Curfalaka for 4 hours.
Location: Hills and Mountains
Find Difficulty Modifier: -2
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -3

42
Dragul
Location: Woods, Riverbanks and Swamps
Find Difficulty Modifier: -3
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -3
Fresh Term: 6days
Prepared Term: 7 months
Prepared Cost: 1 sp
Effect: Eating this mushroom provides the
user with a bonus of +2 to Spot checks for 2
hours. Each dose of these mushrooms in a
24 hour period requires an Easy Vitality Test
at -1 per dose. Failure means the character
suffers from stomach spasms which cause a
-4 penalty to all tests for the next 2 hours.
Eater s Leaf
Greatly valued in the Shire, this herb
strengthens and fortifies the digestive
system, allowing those who take it to
consume great quantities of food and
alcohol without suffering gastric distress or
becoming ill. The Brandybucks gather it for
sale across the Shire, though the daunting
prospect of entering the Old Forest prevents
this trade from becoming too widespread.
Still, young, adventurous Hobbits have been
known to brave the forest to gather eaters
leaf on a dare.
Location: Old Forest.
Find Difficulty Modifier: -1
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -1
Fresh Term: 1 week
Prepared Term: 2 weeks
Prepared Cost: 3 sp
Effect: Consuming this leaf prior to a meal
protects the digestive system from distress
and the (unpleasant) effects of alcohol.
Additionally although the Hobbits do not
realize iteaters leaf gives a +4 bonus to
Vitality Tests against any poison for four
hours after it is consumed.
Elendils Spear
Location: Woods and Mountains
Find Difficulty Modifier: -2
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -1
Fresh Term: 4 days
Prepared Term: 7 months
Prepared Cost: 5 sp
Effect: Crushed into a powder this herb can
be added to food or drink to help purify it
and give the drinker +2 Vitality Tests to
resist poisons for up to 4 hours.
43
Eludram
Location: Woods and Hills
Find Difficulty Modifier: -2
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -3
Fresh Term: 3 weeks
Prepared Term: 12 months
Prepared Cost: 1 SP
Effect: Eating or drinking the juice of these
berries once per day prevents infection to
wounds and speeds healing in patients who
are critically wounded. If a character that is
under Zero Life Points consumes one dose
per day for a full week they will heal
VitalityX2 (double the normal rate) in Life
Points per week. If for some reason the
dosage is interrupted before a full week has
passed the patient does not gain the
benefits of it. Also, this herb is considered
Active in the patients system for the full
week that he or she is on this treatment.
Equial
Equial, also known in Sindarin as sdhroch
(horse-rest), is a hardy, thick-stemmed
weed that is difficult to find because many
wild animals feed on it for its mildly narcotic
properties. It is valued by the Men of the
North as a mild an aesthetic that calms their
horses nerves and allows beasts to relax
under even the most trying circumstances.
Location: Slopes of the Misty Mountains.
Find Difficulty Modifier: -1
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -1
Fresh Term: 1 week
Prepared Term: 1 month
Prepared Cost: 1 sp
Effect: Well-suited to calming animals,
equial has no effect on humanoid creatures
or fell beasts. For 2d6 hours after
consuming a dose of this plant, a creature
benefits from a +5 bonus to resist the effects
of fear or panic. During that time, horses and
other mounts are also easier to ride; their
riders receive a +2 bonus to all Ride tests.
Using this herb too frequently can prove
deadly, however. For each dose past the
third consumed in a single week, the
creature must make a Vitality test at a
cumulative -1 per dose. Failure results in the
loss of 1d6 points of Vitality. A creature
reduced to 0 Vitality by equial perishes.
Fresh Dew
Fresh dewknown as amrnan, or sunrise-
gift, in Sindarinis a small, leafy plant with
a tough, white, woody stem and small,
circular leaves that develop purple bruises
when handled. When crushed, fresh dew
creates a pungent, invigorating odor. Fresh
dew grows too high in the mountains for
anyone but an experienced woodsman or
tracker to reach it. The Houses of Healing in
Minas Tirith sponsor a yearly expedition to
recover stores of this herb, dispatching a
small band of warriors, scouts, trackers, and
herbalists to find sufficient quantities for the
coming year.
Location: High in the Mountains near
regions where snow remains on the ground
throughout the year.
Find Difficulty Modifier: -3
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: 0
Fresh Term: 1 week
Prepared Term: 1 month
Prepared Cost: 75 cp
Effect: A single dose of fresh dew can be
administered to one who has fallen to the
Exhausted Weariness Level; doing so
returns the subject to Spent. It can also be
used to revive someone from
unconsciousness due to injury.
Hwanestad
A thin, pale green fungus. Its name means,
literally, healing fungus in Sindarin.
Location: This mould grows only among the
Ents of Fangorn Forest. The smell and feel
of its growth pleases most Ents and makes
them loath to allow its harvest, but it is not
unheard of for Ents to gift those in need with
it.
Find Difficulty Modifier: -2
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -2
Fresh Term: 1 year
Prepared Term: 1 decade
Prepared Cost: 1 GP
Effect: Hwanestad is a powerful antidote to
most poisons. When consumed, it grants a
+4 bonus to resist poison effects for the next
24 hours and immediately cures half the
damage caused by any poisons in the last
1d6 rounds.
44
Gwathlas
Gwathlas (Sindarin for shadowleaf) is a
leafy plant whose thick, round root can be
compressed to produce an oily fluid that is
consumed. In Arnor, this plant is associated
with the forces of the Shadow, whose
sorcerers use it to fortify themselves against
their rivals and improve their ability to study
their masters dark lore. It was first cultivated
by the Black Nmenoreans, who were
taught its virtues by Sauron himself. In
Arnor, possessing, extracting, or consuming
gwathlas is a crime punishable by death.
Location: Arnor and Angmar
Find Difficulty Modifier: 0
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -3
Fresh Term: 3 weeks
Prepared Term: 1 year
Prepared Cost: 4SP (due to its illegality)
Effect: When consumed, this noxious drink
sharpens the mind and gives speed to
thoughts and ideas, increasing ones Wits
score by 2 for two hours. Due to its nature
any who consume this herb are susceptible
to Corruption suffering a penalty of -2 to all
Corruption Tests.
Naurant
Naurant (Sindarin for red-vein) is a large,
leafy fern with bright red veins running
throughout its leaves. It is used by the
healers and herbalists of Arnor as a
sedative.
Location: Arnor, east of the Gwathl River.
Find Difficulty Modifier: 0
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -3
Fresh Term: 3 days
Prepared Term: 2 months
Prepared Cost: 30 cp
Effect: A single dose of naurant causes
drowsiness, resulting in a 2 penalty to all
tests until the character goes to sleep. This
effect can be resisted with a Vitality Test,
though a character may choose to forgo this
test and accept the herbs effects. Once
asleep, the character recovers lost
Weariness levels at double the normal rate.
Norrog
A puffy, brown fungus with a gritty, dusty
taste. Because of its taste, it is easy to hide
poisons within the prepared fungus. Many
an Orc-chieftain has achieved his office by
slipping a dose of poison into his former
leaders supply of these mushrooms.
Location: In deep underground caverns
throughout Middle-earth.
Find Difficulty Modifier: -1
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: 0
Fresh Term: 1 year
Prepared Term: 1 year
Prepared Cost: 3 SP
Effect: A mere handful of norrog (one dose),
even unprepared, can sustain a Man for a
day. In addition, when properly gathered and
prepared, norrogs natural virtue to lend
vigor to those who consume it is amplified.
After eating prepared norrog a character
gains a +2 bonus to Vitality tests for a
number of hours equal to his Vitality score.
Soldier s Root
One of the rarest and most treasured herbs
in all of Middleearth, soldiers root is a small,
stringy plant whose stem and leaf are no
larger than a clover. The plants orange,
pulpy root is greatly valued for its ability to
lend strength to those who eat it. It is known
as dagorthond (battle-root) among the
Elves at Imladris.
Location: Among rocks alongside rivers.
Find Difficulty Modifier: -4
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -4
Fresh Term: 1 hour
Prepared Term: 1 week
Prepared Cost: 4SP
Effect: When prepared by an herbalist, a
dose of soldiers root imparts a +2 bonus to
ones Strength score for 24 hours. Soldiers
root has one serious drawback that leads
most captains to forbid its use and the Elves
of Rivendell to purge the plant when they
45
find it. Anyone who consumes soldiers root
must make a Bearing Test or be affected as
with the Battlefury 3 flaw, for the duration of
the herbs effect. Furthermore, in a stressful
situation, those under the herbs influence
must make a Bearing Test or resort to
violence to resolve any problem that
presents itself.
Spirit Fire
The Men of the region surrounding the
Lonely Mountain risk many dangers to
gather this tall, thin reed, as it has a
tremendous ability to lift spirits and impart
renewed vigour to weary limbs. Spirit fire is
highly sought-after throughout Middleearth,
and the Men of Laketown rely on its trade for
much of their income. Competition for prime
gathering areas is both vicious and intense.
Business rivals have been known to resort
to swords when their jealousy and
resentment grow too strong for words. The
Orcs of the Misty Mountains also use spirit
fire in their foul liquors. Bands of those
creatures frequently sally forth to gather
supplies of the herb, making an already
dangerous trade more perilous.
Location: The shores of the Long Lake.
Find Difficulty Modifier: -1
Prepare Difficulty Modifier: -2
Fresh Term: 1 week
Prepared Term: 1 month
Prepared Cost: 5 SP
Effect: A single dose of spirit fire halves test
penalties due to weariness. (Apply any
modifiers to a characters Weariness penalty
before halving it.) It also gives a +2 bonus
on all Vitality tests made to resist
Weariness. Both effects last until the one
who consumed it sleeps.
 Chapter Four:
Game Mechanics

46
 GAME MECHANICS
The ten-sided die (D10) is the one most
commonly used in the game; all Tasks and
Tests are resolved with a D10. Basically, a
player rolls a D10 and adds the appropriate
Attribute and/or skill to the number rolled. If
the result is 9 or higher, the action was
successful. If it is less than 9, the action
failed. A higher total value means a more
spectacular success, and some actions may
be more difficult than others (when modifiers
are applied).
Most actions are considered Tasks; these
add the values of one Attribute and one skill
to a D10. The Chronicler always determines
which Attribute and skill should be used for a
particular action. Tests are used when there
is no appropriate skill. There are two types
of Tests. In a Simple Test, the value of the
Attribute is doubled and added to a D10. In
a Difficult Test, the value of the Attribute is
not doubled before adding it to a D10. The
Chronicler determines which Attribute is
used for the Test, and whether it is a Simple
or a Difficult Test.
Anar wants to climb up the drainpipe
of a three-story building. The
Chronicler decides that this should
be resolved with a Task using
Anars Strength of 4 and Climbing
Skill of 2. The player rolls a 4 on a
D10, and adds 6 (the sum of
Attribute 4 and Skill 2). The result is
10. Since this is higher than 9, Anar
succeeds in making his way to the
47
rooftop. The Chronicler then tells the
player to roll a Simple Perception
Test. Anars Perception is 3, so
this is doubled to 6. A D10 is rolled
and comes up 6, for a total of 12.
The Chronicler informs the player
that Anar cannot help but notice the
four City Guardsmen on the roof all
aiming shortbows at his chest . . .
If a character does not have the appropriate
skill, she may make an Unskilled Attempt.
This uses the appropriate Attribute (without
doubling it) with a minimum penalty of -2.
Regardless of the outcome of the attempt,
the Success Level is never more than
Decent (see Outcome Table).
For example, Anar has no Teamster
(Chariot) Skill, but is forced to leap into a
chariot to escape the Guardsmen hot on his
heals. He hits a rut in the cobblestone road,
and the chariot starts to roll over on its side.
He rolls a D10 and adds his Nimbleness
with the -2 modifier to the roll. As his
Nimbleness is 3, only 1 (Three Nimbleness
minus two for unskilled) is added to
whatever comes up on the die. He had
better roll something high.
Sometimes a character attempts something
and another character tries to stop her or
avoid the action. This is a Resisted Task or
Test. It is resolved as a normal Task or Test,
but both sides get to roll. If both rolls fail,
neither side gets the desired effect. If one
fails and one succeeds, the successful
character wins. If both rolls are successful,
the better result wins. Ties are rerolled.
On an unmodified roll of 10, that result is
added to the total. Further, the player rolls a
D6 and subtracts 1. This number is also
added to the total. If a 6 is rolled on the D6
(5 is added to the total), roll the D6 again.
Continue until the D6 result is something
other than a 6. Truly large numbers can be
generated this way.
On an unmodified roll of 1, nothing is added
to the total. Again, a D6-1 is rolled, but this
time the result is subtracted from the prior
total. Again, repeat this process as long as 6
is the result of the additional rolls. This can
result in very low negative numbers.
Sometimes circumstances make an
attempted Task easier or more difficult. In
such a case, a positive or negative modifier
determined by the Chronicler may be added
to the attempt. The following table shows
some modifiers that may be used.
Skill Roll Modifiers
Routine: No roll needed
Easy: +5 to the roll
Moderate: +3 to +4 to the roll
Average: +1 to +2 to the roll
Challenging: No modifier (this
includes most combat rolls)
Difficult: -1 to -2 to the roll
Very Difficult: -3 to -5 to the roll
Heroic: -6 to -9 to the roll
Near-Impossible: -10 or more to
the roll a result of 9 or more
generally means that the attempt
was accomplished, but sometimes
the degree of that success is
important. In such a case, take the
final result (including all negative
and positive modifiers) and consult
the table below.
Skill Success Table
9-10First Level (Adequate): The
Task or Test is accomplished but is
nothing special.
11-12Second Level (Decent):
The Task or Test is completed with
48
relative ease and even a little flair.
Complex Tasks take 10% less time
to complete. Social Skills gain future
benefits for the character (including
a +1 to further attempts to affect the
same people in similar
circumstances).
13-14Third Level (Good): The
Task or Test is completed with
ease. Artistic results are appreciated
by connoisseurs and the public.
Complex Tasks take 25% less time
to complete. Social Skills gain a +2
on future attempts (not cumulative
with subsequent high rolls, only the
highest bonus ever applies).
15-16Fourth Level (Very Good):
The Task or Test is very successful.
Complex Tasks are completed in
half the time. Social Skills produce a
lasting impression and have a +3 on
future attempts.
17-20Fifth Level (Excellent):
The Task or Test produces excellent
results. Artistic endeavors lead to
fame and recognition. Social Skills
have a future bonus of +4.
21-23Sixth Level
(Extraordinary):The Task or Test
produces amazing results,
accomplishing far more than
intended. Artists gain fame, but all
future accomplishments are
measured against this one. Social
Skills have a future bonus of +5.
Further Levels (Mind-Boggling):
For every +3 to the total above 23,
increase the Success Level by 1,
the Social Skills future bonus by 1
FEAR TEST
When facing a fearsome creature or
otherwise experiencing fright first-hand
players need to pass an Easy Bearing Test,
also known as a Fear Test. If the Fear Test
is failed, the victim succumbs to panic. Most
of the time, the character will freeze up for
at least a Turn. Alternatively, he may run
away. All tests made while under the
influence of fear are made at a -4.
Certain circumstances make it easier for the
character to feel afraid. Very gory and
gruesome events add penalties of -1 to -4,
depending on how graphic the violence is.
Hideous creatures may bring penalties of -1
to -5. Some beings have alien or thoroughly
evil auras (like the Nazgul) that inspire a
deep, instinctual fear in people: such
creatures may bring penalties of -2 to -8 to
all Tests to resist fear! Some of the
supernatural creature descriptions include
specific modifiers to Fear Tests.
COMBAT
Combat is broken down into a series of
actions called Turns. A Turn lasts one to five
seconds of Game Time. Everyone rolls
Initiative on a D10 and adds their Dexterity.
Once initiative is determined, the intended
Tasks and Tests are rolled.
In close combat, attacking is a Task using
Nimbleness and the appropriate skill
(Brawling, or Hand Weapon). If the target
has a hand weapon, he may attempt to
parry with a Nimbleness and Hand Weapon
Task. Shields provide a bonus to this task
(see below).
49
Anyone may attempt to dodge an attack. If
the character has the Dodge Skill, a
Nimbleness and Dodge Task is used. If he
does not have that skill, a Difficult
Nimbleness Test is required. Attacking and
defending are treated as Resisted Tasks.
Usually, a character may only take one
action per Turn. If she wishes to do more
than one action there is a cumulative -2
penalty. So the first action in a Turn is
resolved normally, a second action taken in
that same Turn incurs a -2, a third action
incurs a -4, and so on. Close combat
(fighting an opponent at arms length or
closer) is a little bit differentone attack and
one defense Task are allowed per Turn.
Beyond that, the cumulative -2 penalty
applies.
Ranged attacks use a Nimbleness and
Ranged Weapon skill Task with modifiers
based on the range. Point blank range adds
+1 to the strike Task and +1 to the Damage
Multiplier. Short range has no modifier.
Medium adds -1 to the strike task. Long
range adds -3 to the strike Task and
reduces the Damage Multiplier by one.
Extreme range adds -6 to the strike Task
and -2 to the Damage Multiplier. Ranged
weapons list their ranges in yards,
separated by slashes (for example, a
longbow has a range of 10/30/50/100/200
yards).
Multiple shots are possible with bows. For
each additional shot fired in a single Turn,
the strike Task suffers a cumulative -2
penalty. The player must declare how many
shots he is attempting and makes a single
Attack Roll. Subtract the -2 penalty for each
arrow fired until the total is brought below 1
Success Level or the declared amount of
arrows has been accounted for.
Lighting can affect combat. Poor light (a
dark alley or moonlight) gives a -1 to the
combat Task. Bad lighting (a moonless
night) gives a -4. Total darkness is a special
case; roll a D10 and only a 9 or higher
strikes the target. If the character makes a
Difficult Perception Test, she can add the
Success Level to the D10 roll. This signifies
the use of other senses besides sight to hit
the target.
Damage is measured in Life Points. If the
Life Points are reduced to 0, the character is
critically injured and risks death. Damage is
reduced by armor. In the case of an arrow
or a slashing weapon, damage that makes it
through armor is doubled.
DAMAGE (REVISED)
Unisystem Combat is inherently deadly
which precludes the kind of Heroics found in
Tolkiens novels. To account for this,
damage will be handled a bit differently for
this game than in the standard Unisystem
Rules. Instead of multiplying melee weapon
damage by Strength use the following
formula:
(Strength x Success Level) +
Damage Roll
For example an Orc with a Strength
of 4 attacks with a broadsword and
gets 3 Success Levels. He rolls his
damage and gets 6 points. His total
damage is (Strength 4x Success
Level 3)+6=18. Whatever damage
gets past the characters armor is
multiplied by 2 because a sword is a
slashing/piercing weapon

WEAPONS
Armed Combat Weapons Damage Weight (lbs.) Price
Axe, Battle D8 + 1(5)**& 8 3SP,1sp
Axe, Great D12 + 1(7) **@ 17 4SP,3sp
Small Club/Stick D6 1(2) 2 Free
Club 1d6(3) 4 Free
Huge Club/Pipe/Chair D8(4) & 8 Free
Dagger Small Knife D4 1(1)** 1 2SP,2sp
Dagger, Long Knife D4(2)** 1.5 2SP,3sp
Dagger, Orc /Huge Knife D6(3)** 3 3SP
Halberd D12(6)**@ 14 4SP,1sp
Hammer, War D8(4) & 8 2SP,3sp
Mace, Small D8(4) 7 3SP
Mace D10(5) & 9 3SP,2sp
Mace, Large D12 + 1(7) @ 12 3SP,3sp
Mattock D12(6) @ 15 4 SP
Maul D10(5) & 12 3SP,2sp
Pikestaff D8(4)@ 15 2SP,3sp
Shield (bash) 1d6(3) 4, 8 or 12 see armor
Spear D6(3)**& 7 2SP,3sp
Staff D8(4) 4 Free
Sword, Bastard D10(5)**& 8 3SP,3sp
Sword, Great D12+ 1(7)**@ 11 4SP,2sp

50
Sword, Longsword D8+1(5)** 6 3SP,1sp
Sword, Scimitar D8(4)** 5 3SP,1sp
Sword, Short Sword D6+1(4)** 3 3SP
** Indicates a stabbing/slashing weapon. After penetrating armor (if any), damage is doubled.
& Weapon may be used two-handed, raising the characters effective Strength by 1 when calculating damage.
@ Weapon must be used two-handed.

Ranged Weapons Damage Range (in yards) Weight (lbs.) Price

Arrow, regular or Orc See Bow See Bow 2 (20) 2sp(20)
Longbow D8(4)** 10/30/50/100/200 3 2SP,2sp
Nmenorean Steelbow D10(5)** 7/40/65/150/250 3 Priceless
Shortbow D6(3)** 5/20/40/65/100 2 2 SP
Dagger, Throwing D4(2)** 3/5/8/10/13 1 2SP,2sp
Javelin D6(3)** 5/15/30/50/75 2 3 SP
Spear, thrown D6(3)** 5/10/20/40/60 7 2SP,3sp
Stone, thrown D4(2) 3/7/10/13/20 0.5 Free
** Indicates a stabbing/slashing weapon. After penetrating armor (if any), damage is doubled.
& Weapon may be used two-handed, raising the characters effective Strength by 1 when calculating damage.
@ Weapon must be used two-handed.

Tests as well as Initiative. This penalty also

ARMOR
If a character wearing armor is attacked he
will subtract the Armor Value (AV) from any
damage he takes. The Encumbrance Value
(EV) is subtracted from any skills Using
Nimbleness including Attack and Defense
applies to Weariness Tests as well as
Spellcasting Tests. For each point of
Strength over 3 a character reduces these
penalties by 1 (this doesnt apply to Casting
Spells however).

Armor Type Armor Value Encumbrance Value Weight Price

Padded/Quilted Cloth Armor 3 None 5 lbs. 1SP
Soft Leather/Skins 4 None 8 lbs. 1SP,2sp
Leather Armor 5 -1 10 lbs. 2SP
Studded Leather Armor 6 -2 15 lbs. 2SP,2sp
Scale/Ring Mail 8 -3 20 lbs. 4SP
Chain Mail 10 -4 30 lbs. 5SP
Chain Mail, Dwarven 12 -4 35 lbs. 7SP
Chain Mail, Mithral 20 -1 8 lbs. Priceless
Plate and Mail 14 -5 40 lbs. 6SP

SHEILDS
Shields can be used to block attacks on the character using the standard parry rules. A character
makes a Parry Test using their Hand Weapon (Shield) skill. Shields provide a Defense Bonus
to this task. If the Parry Test provides more Successes than the attack roll the attack is blocked
without damage to the character or his shield. If the Parry Test succeeds but the Success Level
is less than the Attack Success Levels the Shield takes the damage from the attack normally.
Subtract the damage from the shields Armor Value and then apply the damage to the shields
Damage Capacity. If the Damage Capacity is depleted the shield is destroyed and any damage
remaining is applied to the character as normal.

Shields provide effective cover from missile weapons. As a free action a character may duck for
cover under his shield. The character makes a Dodge Test modified by the shields Defense
Bonus. If successful the missile strikes the shield. Any damage that the missile causes that is
over the Armor Value of the shield is applied to the character as normal. Arrows and Spears do
very little damage to shields so their Damage Capacity is reduced by one per missile that
penetrates.

51
 SHIELD TABLE
Shield Size Defense Bonus Armor Value (AV) Damage Capacity
Small Shield +1 6 30
Medium Shield +2 7 40
Large Shield +4 8 50
ALTERNATE COMBAT RULES
This is an optional rule that can be ignored
since it adds a bit more complexity to
combat. In combat subtract the Defenders
Success Levels from the Attackers
Success Levels. If the Defender gets
Successes equal to or greater than the
attackers then he managed to defend
himself and takes no damage as usual. If
the Attacker gets more successes then he
uses the remainder after subtracting the
defenders successes to determine damage.
Also to speed up play GMs may want to get
rid of the Damage Roll in their games. The
number provided in parentheses after the
damage code on the Weapons Table can be
substituted as a flat rate of damage instead
of rolling Damage Dice.
For Example: Thardor attacks a
Hillman Marauder with his trusty
axe. He makes an Armed
Combat(Axes) Test and ends up
with 5 Success Levels. In
desperation the Hillman tries to duck
out of the way and manages only 3
Successes. Thardor succeeds in
striking his opponent and
determines damage. He subtracts
his 5 Successes from his
opponents 3 and gets a total of 2.
He multiplies that by his Strength of
5 and adds 5 points of damage from
the Battle Axe base damage for a
total of 15 points which is doubled
after accounting for armor. If the
Hillman had not managed to
generate any successes in defense
he would have taken 30 points of
damage before subtracting armor!
MOUNTED COMBAT
The rider substitutes the horses movement
rate for his own and uses the horses Run
skill for movement tests. Ride tests are
required only in difficult situations (if the
mount is panicked or in combat) and are
normally free actions.
52
Weight Price
6 lbs. 1SP
10 lbs. 2SP
12 lbs. 3SP
There is a -1 to -4 test penalty (based on the
size and noisiness of the battle) to Ride
tests in combat, unless the horse possesses
the Steady ability (see Mounts of Middle-
Earth below). If the rider falls off (or is
knocked off) his horse, he must make an
Acrobatics or Jump test as a free action. If
he fails he falls prone and takes 1d6 falling
damage (2d6 on a disastrous failure); he
avoids damage if he succeeds, and with 3 or
more Successes he lands on his feet
(instead of prone).
When in combat while riding the characters
Weapon Skill can only be used equal to the
level of his Ride Skill. For example a
character with a 5 in Armed Combat has a
Ride skill of 2. Therefore he can only use 2
levels of his Armed Combat skill.
Ranged Combat tests are more difficult
while mounted: the attacker suffers a -2
penalty, -6 if the mount is moving. A
mounted attacker is in a fully advantageous
position (+3) for Armed Combat tests
against a dismounted foe (this benefit is
negated if the foe is armed with a long-reach
weapon, like a pikestaff).
It is possible to charge while mounted: the
rider may move up to the horses Run
distance and make one attack, and the
horse is required to make a Run test at -2
(on a disastrous failure the horse trips and
falls prone, and the rider also may be thrown
unless he makes a Ride test at -4).
Furthermore, when making an attack during
or immediately after moving (including a
charge), the rider can substitute the horses
Strength for his own for the purposes of
determining damage. Also, during a charge,
the mounts Strength is used in the test to
determine if the target is knocked prone.
Attacking while moving increases the
difficulty of any required Ride or Armed
Combat tests by -4.
 COMBAT MANEUVERS
AIMING: Aiming delays the shot action until
near the end of a Turn and automatically
loses Initiative (unless an opponent is
aiming as well in which case roll initiative as
normal for the two). The player adds
Perception and the appropriate Ranged
Combat Skill to the roll. The shot action roll
gets a bonus equal to the Success Levels of
the Aiming roll.
DECAPITATION: Decapitation uses a
Nimbleness and Armed Combat - 5 roll but
damage is multiplied by five (after Success
Level bonuses are added and armor effects
subtracted; the slashing/piercing damage
multiplier of x2 does not apply). If the
damage is enough to bring the victim to -10
Life Points or less, a Survival Test is in
order. If that fails, the head comes off and
the character is most likely very dead.
DISARM: Disarm uses a Resisted Action
with a Nimbleness and Armed Combat - 2
roll, or Nimbleness and Unarmed Combat -
3 roll against the Targets Parry action. The
target gets a +1 bonus to defend if the
weapon is being used two handed. If the
character succeeds then the target looses
grip on the weapon and is disarmed.
FEINT: The art of faking out the adversary
and attacking her from an unexpected
direction. A Feint counts as a Resisted
Action. It uses a Wits and Armed Combat or
Unarmed Combat roll and is resisted by the
targets roll adding Perception and either of
those skills. If the attacker wins, she can add
a bonus equal to the Success Levels of the
Feint roll to her next attack action roll
against the same opponent.
FULL DEFENSE: Sometimes, fighting is not
the best option. Going fully defensive allows
the character to defend against two attacks
at no penalty and gives her a +3 bonus to all
defense actions (dodges and parries). No
attacks are allowed on the Turn the
character goes into Full Defense mode.
FULL OFFENSE: The character attacks
recklessly, without worrying about defense.
Best reserved for surprise attacks or suicide
troops. Its also good when several attackers
are going after one target. The character
gets a +2 bonus on all attacks in that Turn,
but cannot defend against any attacks.

EFFECTS OF DAMAGE
Characters reduced to 10 Life Points or below are severely injured, and find it hard to continue
fighting; any combat roll suffers a -2 penalty. If reduced below five Life Points, this penalty goes
up to -4.

CONSCIOUSNESS TESTS: When reduced to zero Life Points or below, unconsciousness or

incapacitation (i.e., the character is conscious, but can only lie there and work very hard on
breathing) is likely. The player must make a roll modified by both Bearing and Vitality, with a
penalty of -1 for each of the characters negative Life Points. So, a character at -4 Life Points (she
has taken enough damage to reduce her Life Points to zero, and four more points on top of that)
has a -4 penalty to her Consciousness Test. If successful, she can act normally (with the usual -4
penalty) but any further damage requires another roll (with new and no
doubt greater minuses).

SURVIVAL TESTS: If the character is reduced to -10 Life Points or worse, death is a possibility.
She has to make a Survival Test. This uses Bearing and Vitality (just like Consciousness Tests),
but suffers a -1 penalty for every 10 points that the character is below zero (i.e., a character
reduced to -32 Life Points would have a -3 penalty to her Survival Test). The Hard to Kill Quality
provides a bonus to Survival Tests. If the character passes the Test, she lives. If she doesnt, she
Passes On to the Great Beyond (cue somber music). Remember those Courage Points!

53
SLOW DEATH: If a character is below -10 Life Points and makes a Survival Test, but doesnt get
medical help within a minute, she may still die. Survival Tests are required every minute after the
first, at an additional -1 penalty per minute (so after five minutes, the additional penalty would be -
5; half an hour later, it would be -30, and even a Courage Point may not be enough to save her).
A successful Wits and Treat Wounds roll stabilizes the character, and eliminates any need for
further Survival Tests (based on that injury).

DYING WORDS AND ACTIONS: Characters who fail a Survival Test are most likely unconscious
and incapacitated. This is a huge downer, both for them and for the storyline. Such events should
be marked in a significant wayimmortalized. Thus, a special rule applies. If a character dies, the
player has the option of performing one last deed, or saying some famous last words, at your
discretion. The Last Deed option allows the character to act normally for one or two Turns (no
wound penalties apply). Famous Last Words can take as much as a minute (more likely, they
should consist of a couple of sentences). These are the characters last actsmake them count.

HEALTH LEVEL (Alternate Rules)

These are alternative rules to determine the effects of wounds. These rules are not necessary
and should be considered optional. Health Level is determined by dividing Life Points by 6. This
number is the Damage Threshold for a characters Health Level. The 6 different Health Levels
are Healthy, Dazed, Injured, Wounded, Incapacitated and Near Death. Any left over points after
dividing by 6 are applied to the Near Death Level.

For example: An average man would have 26 Life Points (Str. 2 + Vit. 2) x 4 + 10 =26
It would take 4 points of damage to cause him to fall from the Healthy Wound Level to the
Dazed Level. This character would have 6 points in his Near Death level.

Damage Penalties
As a character is wounded he is less effective. As his Wound Level increases so do the
penalties to accomplish tasks. This does not include Consciousness or Survival Tests (see
below).
Healthy 0
Dazed -2
Injured -3
Wounded -4
Incapacitated -5
Near Death -6

At zero LPs or below, the character is knocked down, stunned and semi-conscious. A
Consciousness Test (Vitality and Bearing minus the number of LPs below zero) is required to
remain conscious. So, at -7 LPs, a Consciousness Test suffers a -7. At - 10 LPs, a Survival Test
is required (Vitality and Bearing minus 1 for every 10 LPs below zero). The Survival Test must be
passed once each minute until the character receives some First Aid. Each additional Test is at a
cumulative -1. If a Survival Test is failed the character is dead.

BLEEDING and STABILIZATION (Alternate Rules)

Healing stabilizes the patient (no more Survival Tests or damage from bleeding), and grants One
Life Point per Success Level of a Wits and Healing Task. If someone does not have the Healing
Skill they may simply use their Wits at no penalty to stabilize the wounded party and stop
additional damage due to bleeding and shock but provide no Life Points for extra Successes.

If a character does not have his wounds tended to he will continue to suffer damage equal to the
Damage Penalty he initially suffered from every 10 minutes (2 points at Dazed, 3 points at
Injured, 4 points at Wounded etc.). All tests for Consciousness and Survival apply to a character
that is reduced below Zero Life Points because he has not had his wounds tended to.

54
 For example Melnor is severely injured by an Orc sword reducing him to the Wounded
Level. He and his companions are forced to flee from the Orcs and he has no time to get
his wounds tended to. After fleeing for 20 minutes Melnor suffers 8 more points of
damage as he continues to bleed. He will continue to lose 4 Life Points per 10 minutes
until his wounds are tended to.

RECOVERY
While completely resting, a Stabilized
character who is under Zero Life Points
regains One Life Point for each point of
Stamina per Week if under the care of
someone who makes a Successful Wits
Check.
If under the care of someone with the
Healing skill the character receives an
additional Life Point per Success Level
made on a Wits and Heal check. If the Wits
or Healing check is unsuccessful the
character does not recover any Life Points
for that week. If the check is fumbled or
there is no one tending to him the patient
suffers 1D6 points of additional damage.
The character is forced to make a Survival
Test if this reduces them below -10 Life
Points as normal. Characters recover
consciousness when their Life Points rise
above zero.
Once a character rises above Zero Life
Points they regain One Life Point per point
of Vitality per Day thereafter. The character
cannot do any activities that day that are
more than the Standard Weariness Rate
(see below). Under the care of someone
who makes a successful daily Healing check
this rate is doubled.
WEARINESS
Every character has six Weariness Levels:
Hale, Winded, Tired, Weary, Spent and
Exhausted. A character that exerts himself
too much for too long risks Weariness. You
must make Vitality Tests to resist Weariness
depending on the type of action you are
attempting. If a character fails to succeed
on the Vitality Test he will gain Weariness
Levels that will penalize his actions.
Weariness Penalties are cumulative with
Wound Penalties. These Levels can be
recovered through rest. The amount of time
it takes to recover is listed on the table
below.
An Exhausted character can recover to
Spent if he gets 2 Successes in a Difficult
Vitality Test. This test can be attempted
once each round in a combat situation or
once per minute outside combat. A
companion who attempts to revive the
character may make a Healing Test to help
the Exhausted character come around. If
successful the Exhausted characters Vitality
Test becomes Easy instead of Difficult.

55
 Weariness Levels
HALE Effect: None Rest Needed: None
WINDED Effect: -1 Rest Needed: 10 Minutes
TIRED Effect: -2 Rest Needed: 1 Hour
WEARY Effect: -4 Rest Needed: 2 Hours
SPENT Effect: -6 Rest Needed: 4 Hours
EXHAUSTED Effect: Character Collapses and can do nothing until he regains
at least one Weariness Level

To determine when and how often a character must make Vitality Tests to resist Weariness
consult the table below. Level refers to the amount of exertion a character is doing, Base Time is
how long a character can continue an activity before prompted to make the first Vitality Test, and
Interval is the amount of time of sustained activity before the next Test is required.

Weariness Rate

LEVEL BASE TIME INTERVAL

EXTREME 10 Minutes 5 Minutes
DEMANDING 1 Hour 30 Minutes
STANDARD 2 Hours 1 Hour
RELAXED 4 Hours 2 Hours

EXTREME-Vigorous activity such as sprinting. Combat is always considered an Extreme

activity
DEMANDING-Sustained activity that requires attention to detail such as studying under
pressure, climbing a mountain or other non-combat physical skills.
STANDARD-Jogging, Healing, searching a room and routine uses of physical skills.
Sustained use of Social Skills fall into this category.
RELAXED-Walking at an easy pace, reading, riding a horse at a leisurely pace and most
academic tests are considered Relaxed.

56
 OVERLAND TRAVEL
This optional rule simplifies Weariness for long overland travel. Rather than making many rolls
over time intervals, one Easy Vitality Test or a Running (Marathon) Test is made with the Base
Difficulty of the test equaling the number of miles traveled Divided by 5 (i.e. 20 miles = Base
Difficulty 4). The Tireless Advantage can be added to this roll.

Subtract the amount of Successes rolled from the Base Difficulty to arrive at how many
Weariness Levels are suffered from traveling. If no successes are rolled use the Base Difficulty.
If any Beasts of Burden are used to during the travel (i.e. horses) a bonus of +4 is added to the
roll.
For example: After a day of Travel Alwis has gone 20 miles. He has a Vitality of 2 and is
traveling at a walk on a well traveled road. He rolls a d10 getting a 5 and adding his Vitality x2
plus a modifier of one from a walking travel pace and one for easy ground (5+4+1+1=11)
resulting in 2 successes. Since the Base Difficulty is 4 Alwis suffers a loss of two Weariness
Levels until he can get some rest. If he had been on a horse he would have suffered no loss of
Weariness because of the +4 bonus for riding.

Travel Pace Terrain

Condition Modifier Condition Modifier
Walk +1 Easy Ground +1
Jog/Trot 0 Average Ground 0
Run -1 Rough Ground -1
Sprint/Gallop -2 Very Rough Ground -2

SLEEPING IN THE ROUGH

This optional rule makes camping out in the wilderness more tiring. At the end of each days
travel, one character must make a successful Survival test (narrator may modify depending on
terrain and weather) to find a place where the travelers can get some rest. If failed each of the
characters must make an Easy Vitality Test modified by the table below. On any success, the
character does not suffer additional Weariness; on a failure the character suffers 1 level of
Weariness (2 levels on a disastrous failure).

SLEEPING IN THE ROUGH MODIFIERS

CONDITION MODIFIER
Sleeping on the ground without bedding -4
Insufficient or Interrupted Sleep -2
Insufficient Protection against Cold, Wind or Rain -2
Insufficient Food or Water -2
Sleeping in Leather Armor -2
Sleeping in Mail Armor -4

57
 TRAVEL SPEED
TYPE OF TRAVEL SPEED(MPH) HORSE TYPE SPEED(MPH)
WALKING: Pony -.25
Easy Ground* 2.5 Average Horse 0
Average Ground 2.25 Superior Horse +1
Rough Ground** 1.25 Mearas/Elven Horse +1.5 (or more)
Very Rough Ground*** .75 (or slower)
HORSE PACE SPEED(MPH)
RIDING HORSE: Walk 0
Easy Ground* 3 Trot +2
Average Ground 2.75 Run +4
Rough Ground** 1.25 Gallop +8
Very Rough Ground*** Not possible Injury -1 per Damage Penalty Level

RIDING A WAGON: RACE SPEED(MPH)

Easy Ground* 2.75 Dwarf +.2
Average Ground 2.25 Elf +.3
Rough Ground** .5 (or slower) Hobbit -.1
Very Rough Ground*** Not possible Man 0
Orc +.2
*(meadows, plains)
**(hills, low mountains, forest, snow) SIZE OF GROUP SPEED(MPH)
***(mountains, thick forests, swamp) 1-10 +0
11-100 -.1
MODIFIERS SPEED (MPH) 101-1,000 -.2
ENCUMBERANCE: 1,001-5,000 -.3
Light Burden* .2 5,001-or more -.4
Average Burden** 0
Heavy Burden*** Half Normal Rate STEALTHY TRAVEL Half Normal Rate
Very Heavy Burden**** Quarter Normal
TIME OF DAY SPEED(MPH)
*(STRx1-10 lbs.) Daytime 0
**(STRx11-20 lbs.) Nighttime -.5
***( STRx21-30 lbs.)
WEATHER SPEED(MPH)
FOOT PACE SPEED(MPH) Fine/Normal 0
Walk 0 Rainfall -.1
Jog +1 Storm -.3
Run +3 Snowfall -.2 (or more
Sprint +6

COURAGE (New) Survival Test etc.). A player can

Cinematic Unisystems Drama points
become Courage Points with some
differences listed below. Courage Points
can be spent in several ways. They are
recovered if and when a character acts in a
Heroic way. Courage Points spent in a
particularly Heroic action may be recovered
immediately at the choice of the Chronicler.
Heroic Feat by spending one
Courage Point a character gains a
+ 5 to any single test (Attack,
Defense, Fear test, Lore Test,
also choose to do an extra 10 points
to damage instead. Only a single
point can be spent in this way per
turn.
Its Just a Flesh Wound For one
Courage Point the character
immediately heals half the Life
Point damage he has suffered up to
that point. Effectively the character
realizes that he wasnt as hurt as he
originally believed. This can be
used once per day and takes a full

58
 minute of inaction as the character
catches his breath.
The Stuff of Heroes Some tasks
take courage to even attempt. Such
as Attacking the Lord of the Nazgul.
A courage point will allow characters
to overcome any effects of Fear or
Intimidation for 3 rounds.
CORRUPTION (New)
Whenever a character succumbs to evil
temptations (like Sauruman did) they may
suffer the effects of Corruption. Eventually,
if no one saves him or he cannot or will not
save himself, he becomes totally Corrupt, a
Servant of Darkness. At the Chroniclers
discretion a player may be forced to make a
Corruption Test (an Easy Bearing Test). If
he succeeds he does not gain a point of
Corruption. If a natural one is rolled on the
d10 he suffers two points of Corruption. If a
character achieves more than 3 Success
Levels he reduces his Corruption Points by
one.
Characters with Corruption Points arent
visibly different than others but there is
some indefinable difference that sets most
people on edge. For every Corruption Point
a character has they suffer a -1 to all Social
Skill Tests. The exception to this is
Intimidation. The character gets a bonus to
his Intimidation Test per point of Corruption.
If a character gains Corruption Points equal
to two times their Bearing they are Corrupt.
He becomes an NPC and is controlled by
the Chronicler.
59
Characters can atone for Corruption by
strongly resisting its taint through honest
repentance and confession or by performing
noble and heroic deeds. If a character with
Corruption does a particularly noteworthy
and heroic deed out of the goodness of his
heart the Chronicler may reduce his
Corruption by as many points as he deems
appropriate.
EXPERIENCE
People change with time. In the Unisystem,
characters live and learn and become more
experienced as they participate in the
Stories created in the course of the game.
After several such Stories, the character will
be more skilled and powerful than he was
when he began. This is also borne out in
fiction: the Hobbits from the Lord of the
Rings trilogy were much tougher, stronger
and experienced at the end of their heroic
quest.
Character improvement is represented in the
Unisystem by experience points. Experience
points are awarded to each player at the end
of every gaming session. The better the
game and the players performance were,
the more points should be awarded. With
these points, the players can improve their
characters Attributes, skills and other
elements.
Awarding Experience
During or at the end of each roleplaying
session, the Chronicler awards each player
with experience points. Outlined nearby are
some guidelines as to how many experience
points should be awarded for a playing
session: average awards range from 2 to 6
experience points, with the higher awards
going to the best roleplayers.
Being There: All characters who
participated in the game session
receive 1 point.
Good Roleplaying: 1 point per
instance.
Advancing the Storyline While
Remaining in Character: 1 to 3
points. This rewards players whose
roleplaying, planning and character
actions helped develop the Story.
Heroic Roleplaying: 1 to 3 points.
Given to players whose characters
 remained true to themselves even
when it meant they would suffer for
it. The heroic type who risks his life
for others, or even the coward who
runs or surrenders when the wise
course would be to fight are good
examples of this.
Ingenuity Award: 1 to 3 points.
Given to players who used
impressive and unexpected tactics
and problem-solving to deal with a
plot device. This, however, only
applies if the devious plan or tactics
were true to the character (not the
player). If the village idiot suddenly
starts having spurts of Machiavellian
brilliance for no good reason, then
no award should be given.
Improving Characters With
Experience
So what do players do with all these
experience points? They work much like the
character points used to create the
character. They can be used to raise
Attribute and skill levels, to acquire new
Qualities or reduce or eliminate Drawbacks,
or to increase Magic abilities. The cost of
these improvements is different than the
cost of acquiring them during character
creation, however. After a character has
been defined, it is a lot harder to advance in
some areas. To determine how to improve
characteristics, refer to the nearby Character
Improvement Tabl

Character Improvement Table

Improvement Point Cost
Attribute see text below
Existing Skill The cost of the next level x 2 (e.g., to go from level 3 to 4 costs 8 points)
New Skill 6 points for level 1
New Specialty 4 points
Quality Same as per character creation x2
Remove Drawback Pay off Double the original value of the Drawback
New Spell or Staff Ability Double the cost at character creation

Improving Attributes
Unlike skills and powers, Attributes represent relatively fixed qualities of a character. As a result,
after character generation, Attributes may be improved no more than one level. If the Attribute
was 5 or less before improvement, the one level increase costs 10 experience points. If the
Attribute was 6 or greater before improvement, the one level increase costs 20 experience points.

Reasons For Improvement

Having enough experience points to raise a characteristic is usually not enough. There must also
be an explanation as to why the character improved in that area, and usually those reasons are
determined in the course of the game. If the character used a skill or Attribute repeatedly in the
previous few game sessions, it would make sense for that skill or Attribute to get better through
practice. To learn a brand-new skill, the character must have spent some time and effort working
on that skill before being allowed to spend the points to acquire it. To acquire a Quality, eliminate
a Drawback or gain new Metaphysical powers, there must have been a series of events or
circumstances that make it sensible for the new characteristic to appear in the character.

Saving Experience Points

The player does not have to spend all earned experience points right away. He can elect to save
them for a later date, perhaps waiting to have enough points to raise a specific characteristic.

60
Chapter Five:
Grimoire

61

GRIMOIRE
THE SUBTLE MAGIC OF
MIDDLE-EARTH
Magic exists throughout Middle-Earth.
Subtle, flavorful and evocative, it is a key
element of the setting. Players, by under-
standing the rules that govern how this
subtle magic works, can find ways to use it,
enhancing both their own abilities and the
chronicle as a whole.
The Rightness of Things
The Subtle Magic of Middle-Earth has its
greatest effects when it displays, reflects or
reinforces the rightness (or wrongness) of
certain actions. It echoes strong emotions,
particularly good or kindly ones but also
negative feelings. It helps make the world
as it should be, in an ideal or romantic
sense, and it allows That Which Is Right to
show through. For example, it might cause
flowers to always bloom at a place where
two heroes confess their love for each other
or ensure that the weather remains clear for
a Kings coronation.
Mirror of Nature
In Middle-Earth, the weather and other
natural effects reflect and embody great
events that take place or the moral qualities
of certain actions. For example when
Sauron sends his forces to war, a dark
storm erupts from the east, blotting out the
hope of Gondor. But when the Rhohirrim
arrive to aid their allies, sunlight breaks
through the clouds dispelling the darkness
and renewing hope.
This subtle magic can affect the land itself.
In places like Rivendale and Lorien the land
is bright and beautiful while Saurons
shadow casts a pall over Mirkwood and
Mordor. The very presence of the Ents,
manifestations of the spirits of trees, is the
ultimate form of this powerful magic.
The Narrator can represent these effects in
many ways in a chronicle. Spellcasters,
Elves and other sensitive characters might
be allowed a Perception, Lore or other
appropriate test to recognize the shadow
that lies upon the land or its beneficent
qualities. To reflect the feel of a region, the
62
Narrator can provide bonuses or penalties to
Weariness Tests, increase or decrease the
rate at which a character regains lost
Weariness Levels or Heal from injuries,
impose modifiers to Spellcasting Tests, or
make certain attributes or skills - particularly
Bearing, Insprire or Intimidate - easier or
harder to use.
The Power of Words
In Middle-Earth words themselves can have
power. Gandalfs speaking of the Ring-
inscription in the Black Speech in Rivendale
shows how evil words can darken shadows
and make stout hearts quail. On the other
hand the invocation of Elbereth or other
Valar or sometimes other powers -such as
Tom Bombadil-can bring hope and courage
to good folk trapped in dark places.
Narrators can use any appropriate effect
from the following list to simulate the power
of words:
Heighten Courage: When a
character invokes the name of
one of the Valar and spends
Courage on a task he receives a
bonus of +6 instead of +5 to
accomplish that task.
Inspiration: Speaking or
hearing the names of the Valar
or other inspiring words grants a
+1 bonus to Inspire Tests or
Bearing tests to resist
Intimidation.
Pain Evil: Once per encounter
while confronting the Chief
Servants of the Enemy or other
Great Evils (like the Nazgul,
Shelob or the Mouth of Sauron),
the names of the Valar cause
them discomfort giving them a -
1 penalty to all Tests for a
number of rounds equal to the
speakers Bearing divided by 2.
Dispel Despair: If the
character is in a place, such as
Mordor, where the subtle magic
makes it harder to rest or regain
Weariness Levels, speaking
names and words of power can
dispel those effects for one hour
once per day.
Of course there are some restrictions on
invoking words of power. They cannot
simply run around shouting Elberath! at the
tops of their lungs getting bonuses
whenever they like. First, invoking the
power of words takes a full action and can
often take an entire turn. Second,
characters can only get the bonus when it is
dramatically appropriate for them to do so-
for example facing a powerful, evil foe not
when simply facing some Orcs. Third they
must role-play the situation and not just say
My character is shouting Elbereth! I want
heightened courage. The Narrator has final
say over the use of Words of Power.
Staff of Power
A wizards staff- or rod, wand, or similar
object- grows to reflect his increasing power
and ability. When a wizard chooses this
ability he forms a deep bond with his staff
that transforms it from a personal talisman
or trinket to a physical representation of his
magical skill.
A wizards staff is difficult to sunder. A staff
cannot be destroyed by mundane physical
means though powerful magic such as a
spell or a Dragons fire may ruin it. If a
wizards staff is destroyed or lost he may
gain anew one by re-purchasing the base
Staff of Power 2 point Quality with
Experience at which point he regains all the
abilities his previous staff possessed. Below
is a list of powers a wizard can imbue into
his staff along with their cost in Character
Points.
Beacon of Hope: A wizards
staff serves as a symbol of his
power and will. The mere sight
of it inspires hope in allies and
despair in enemies. The wizard
spends a full round holding his
staff aloft which gives him a +4
bonus to Inspire and Intimidate
tests. The wizard can only use
this ability only per scene or
battle. Cost: 2 Points
Defence: In battle a wizard
wields his blade in one hand
and his staff in the other. In
Melee Combat only a wizard
counts his staff as a large
shield. This has no effect on
Ranged Combat. While the
staff can only absorb damage
equal to a large shield per round
63
(58 points Maximum) it is not
sundered when this threshold is
met. In addition his staff is so
light and easy to handle that he
receives an additional free parry
attempt per round. This ability
cannot be used in the same
round that the staff is used for
any other actions or the wizard
casts a spell. Cost: 5 Points
Spell Patterns: When this
ability is chosen a wizard
selects a spell that has a
Difficulty of 1. Once per day he
can cast that spell without
having to make a Spellcasting
Test or incurring any Weariness.
Additionally this spell doesnt
count towards the penalty of
casting more than one spell per
minute. This ability can be
bought more than once with a
specific spell chosen each time.
Cost: 2 Points
Enduring Magic: When this
ability is chosen a wizard
selects a spell that has a
Difficulty of 1. When he casts
that spell its duration is
increased by 50%. This ability
can be bought more than once
with a specific spell chosen
each time. Cost: 2 Points
Steady Magic: When this
ability is chosen the wizard
selects a spell that has a
Duration of concentration and
Difficulty of 1. When that spell
is cast the staffs magic allows it
to persist for Bearing minutes
after the wizards concentration
is broken. This ability can be
bought more than once with a
specific spell chosen each time.
Cost: 2 Points
Smiting: When a staff is used
to strike an enemy it does
damage equal to a Greatsword
(1D12+1 damage). Damage
that pierces armor is NOT
doubled however. Cost: 2
Points
Strength of the Staff: When
recovering lost Weariness
Levels a wizard cuts in half the
amount of time needed to
 restore himself. The staff can
restore a maximum of 3
Weariness Levels per day using
this ability. Cost: 2 Points
Wizards Endurance: Once
per day the wizard leans on his
staff and ignores the effects of
CASTING A SPELL
When a character attempts to cast a spell he
makes a Spellcasting Test (Bearing +
Spellcasting + d10). If the test is successful
the spell goes off. Some spells are more
taxing than others. They have a Difficulty
Level indicating how many Weariness
Levels are inflicted on the Spellcaster when
the spell is cast. Subtract the Success Level
rolled from the Difficulty Level of the Spell.
The Spellcaster will take Weariness Levels
equal to the remainder. If the Spellcasting
Test is unsuccessful the character suffers
the full amount of Weariness Levels equal to
the Difficulty Level of the Spell and the spell
does not work. If a character rolls an
unmodified 1 on a Spellcasting Test the
Spell is not successfully cast and they suffer
Weariness equal to the Difficulty Level +1.
A Spellcaster suffers a penalty to his
Weariness Test if he casts more than one
spell per minute. For every Spell he casts
after the first he suffers a cumulative -1
penalty to the Spellcasting Test.
For example, Belegon attempts to
cast a spell that has a difficulty of 3.
He has a Spellcasting Level of 2
and a Bearing of 5. He rolls a d10
64
Weariness Levels for one
action. Any additional levels he
incurs due to his action
immediately add to his current
level of fatigue after he
completes that action. Cost: 2
Points
and gets a 4 for a total of 11 which
is 2 Success Levels. The Spell is
successfully cast but he suffers a
Weariness Level. If Belegon had
rolled 3 Success Levels he would
have been able to cast the Spell
without suffering any Weariness. If
Belegon was unsuccessful in his
Spellcasting Test he would suffer
the full 3 Levels of Weariness and
the spell would not work. If Belegon
had rolled a 1 during his test he
would suffer 4 Levels of Weariness
and the spell would not work.
Casting a spell requires great concentration
and leaves a Spellcaster vulnerable to
physical attack. While casting a spell any
opponent who attacks them gains a +4
bonus to hit them. If a spell has a Duration
of Concentration then the Spellcaster is
vulnerable the whole time he spends
maintaining the spell. While concentrating
on a spell a caster can move at a normal
movement rate or even ride a horse but
cannot do anything more taxing or complex
than that.
 Combining Spells
Spellcasters may at times wish to combine
spells to create new effects or overcome the
penalties to casting more than one spell per
minute. The Narrator has an ultimate say in
how and when this may be done. In general
the two spells being combined must have
similar effects or be related somehow to be
combined. To combine spells the caster
takes the spell with the highest Difficulty and
increases it by one. The Casting Time is
increased by taking the spell with the
longest Casting Time and multiplying it by 2.
For example, Belegon wishes to
combine Beast Summoning with
Beast Speech. Beast Summoning
is a Difficulty 2 spell. This increased
by one to Difficulty 3. Additionally,
the base casting time of Beast
Summoning is increased from 2
rounds to 4 rounds.
Methods of Spellcasting
When a Spellcaster chooses his
Spellcasting Edge he must choose what
form of Magic he wishes to use. There are 3
choices: Wizardry, Rune Casting and
Songs of Power. The Difference between
the 3 methods is delineated below.
Wizardry All spells can be cast in
this method unless otherwise noted.
This is the most common form of
magic and ultimately the most
versatile.
Rune-Casting Often used by
Dwarves this method employs
drawing, etching, or engraving
symbols of power onto or into an
object the caster wishes to protect
or use. Because of this many spells
are unavailable to a Rune-Caster
such as Lightning because there is
nothing for the caster to write or
grave a rune on. Casting the rune
takes more time but lasts longer as
well. The Casting Time for Rune-
casting is equal to two minutes or
double the listed casting time
whichever is longer. Additionally the
Caster must have an object and
tools in which to inscribe the Runes
with. Arcane Gestures are always
required in Rune-Casting (see
65
below). The Spell Duration is
doubled.
Songs of Power Favored by the
Elves Songs of Power require more
time to cast (sing) but increases
the power of a Spell. The Casting
Time for Songs of Power is equal to
one minute or double the listed
casting time whichever is longer.
The Spells damage or other
quantifiable affects are increased by
50%. Words of Power are always
required in Songs of Power (see
below).
Spell Specialties
Some magicians and wizards devote special
effort to studying some particular aspect of
magic. This makes it easier for them to cast
spells of that type and to withstand the
wearying effects of doing so. In game terms
they do this by taking the Spell Specialty
edge. This grants them a bonus of +1 to
resist Weariness when casting spells that fit
that particular category. Note that some
spells fall into more than one category.
Possible categories include:
Air and Storm: Spells pertaining to
weather, storms, clouds, fogs, and
wind such as Fog-Raising, Fog-
Weaving, Lightning, and Wind
Mastery.
Beast and Birds: Spells pertaining
to animals, birds, and perhaps even
plants, such as Animal Messenger,
Beast Speech, and Beast
Summoning.
Fire, Smoke, and Light: Spells
pertaining to the various aspects of
fire such as Blinding Flash, Burning
Sparks, Create Light, and Kindle
Fire.
Secret Fire: Spells that manifest
the power of goodness and
 freedom, the powers that the Wise
serve, such as Create Light, Flame
of Arnor, Healing Spell, and Resist
Fear.
Sorcery: Saurons servants often
specialize in the dark arts of magic,
such as Blast of Sorcery, Evoke
Fear, and Ruin.
Water: Spells pertaining to rivers,
streams and water in general such
as Fog-Raising, Fog-Weaving and
Watershaping.
Magic Abilities, innate powers that dont
require Weariness Tests, Words of
Command or Arcane Gestures like spells
do.
Not every spell can become a magic ability.
For example, Beast Speech and Mastery of
Shapes can become abilities but Lightning
and Quench Fire cannot. Generally spells
that affect ones person can become an
ability while a spell that affects others or the
environment cannot.

To turn a spell into a magical ability one

Sorcery must spend Character Points or Experience
Sorcery is a dark and evil form of Wizardry,
to remove the requirements of Words of
a foul form of magic primarily practiced by
Power and Arcane Gestures as discussed
the Enemy and his servants such as the
above. Once this happens a character must
Witch-King of Angmar and the Mouth of
spend 5 Character Points or 10
Sauron. Sorcery, by its very nature,
Experience to make it a magical ability.
corrupts and twists its users. The Wise and
heroes avoid it at all costs. For each spell of
Sorcery a PC knows he acquires one point
of Corruption. Additionally any time a
character casts a spell of Sorcery he must
make a Corruption Test or gain another
point of Corruption.

Arcane Gestures and Words

of Power
When a character is choosing spells she
must spend the required amount of
Experience or Character points listed under Counter-Spells
each spell. Generally a spell will cost 3
A Spellcaster can cast a Counter-Spell to
Character Points per Difficulty Level
any spell he knows. A Counter-Spell
although there are exceptions to this general
counteracts and dispels the effects of any
rule. Normally casting a spell requires the
spell that he knows although it cant reverse
user to speak Words of Power and make
permanent affects such as wounds caused
Arcane Gestures. If a character is unable to
by Lightning or the destruction wrought by
speak or gesture (for example if he is bound
Sundering.
and gagged) he or she would be unable to
cast a spell. However a player may choose
Casting a Counter-Spell requires the same
to spend additional Experience or Character
Casting Time and Weariness Test as the
Points to remove this restriction. For 3
spell being countered. To attempt a
Character Points each a player may
Counter-Spell make an opposed
remove either the Arcane Gestures or
Spellcasting Test. If the magician casting
Words of Power restrictions of any spell.
the spell gets more successes then his spell
Note that Songs of Power will always require
functions as normal. If the caster of the
a spoken component to the spell while
Counter-Spell wins the spell is stopped.
Rune-casting requires the Spellcaster to
Both characters involved in the Counter-
gesture.
Spell test suffer Weariness as normal based
on the amount of successes made on the
Magical Abilities Spellcasting Test.
Spellcasters sometimes become so attuned
to their magical powers that they become

66

Spells
ANIMAL MESSENGER
Casting Time: 2 Rounds
Range: Touch
Duration: Bearing x2 Hours
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Songs
Requisite: Beast Speech or Beast
Summoning
Specialty: Beasts
Effect: The caster uses a beast or a bird as
a messenger, having it deliver information to
someone else. The caster must have the
creature available to him-either a pet or
companion, or through Beast Summoning or
other magic. The caster speaks the
message to the creature, describes the
person to deliver it to, and where that person
can be found. The creature travels and
searches for a number of hours equal to the
casters Bearing x2. If the creature gets
close enough to the target it delivers the
message. If the creature fails to find the
target before the spell ends the creature
returns to its normal pursuits.
BANE-SPELL
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Duration: Bearing x2 Minutes
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Wizardry, Runes
Requisite: Beast Speech or Beast
Summoning
Specialty: None
Effect: The caster can lay upon a weapon
the Power to cause special harm to one type
of creature or being. The caster must
specify the target affected, e.g. Orcs,
Wolves, Dunlendings etc. By increasing
the spells Difficulty by 2 the caster can
67
expand the target to cover more than one
type of being; e.g., Orcs and Trolls,
Beasts, Servants of Sauron etc. A Bane
Spelled weapon provides the wielder a
bonus of +4 to Armed or Ranged Combat
tests to hit the specified type of target
against whom it is enchanted. Also, at the
Narrators discretion, a bane-weapon may
have the ability to pierce or diminish
protective spells used by the target, such as
Bladeshattering or the Guarding-Spell.
BEAST CLOAK
Casting Time: 2
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 hours per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard, Ability, Song
Specialty: Beasts
Effect : Traveling long distances in Middle-
earth is fraught with hazards, as much of it,
deserted by Man, Elf, and Dwarf alike, has
fallen into wilderness by the Third Age. This
spell aids travelers by shielding them from
the eyes (and other senses) of wild and
domesticated beasts. Whenever such
beasts try to spot the target of this spell,
they suffer a penalty to their Observe tests
equal to the combined Bearing modifiers of
the caster and the target. (When casting on
himself, the caster applies his Bearing
modifier twice.) This spell has no effect on
fell beasts, whether they serve the Enemy or
their own ends.
BEAST-SPEECH
Casting Time: 1 Round
Range: Self
Duration: Bearing x2 Minutes
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Songs, Ability
Requisite: none Specialty: Beast
Effect: This Spell grants the Caster the
ability to speak with birds and animals. He
can speak with any creature close enough to
hear him, and that creature automatically
understands and responds with Wits equal
to those of a typical Man. Other people
listening to the conversation merely hear the
animal respond with typical animal noises.
A Spellcaster can cast this spell on another
by touch, but only when it is a standard spell
not a magic ability.
BEAST SUMMONING
Casting Time: 2 Rounds
Range: Special
Duration: Special
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Wizardry, Songs
Requisite: None Specialty: Beast
Effect: The caster can call to himself
beasts and birds. When he casts the spell,
he must specify the type of animal he
wishes to summon specifically (horses,
thrushes, foxes etc.). For an additional level
of Difficulty the category can be more broad
(large four-footed animals, birds etc.). Any
creature within 200 yards times the casters
Bearing x2 that fit the description travel to
him at best possible speed for Bearing x2
minutes. The spell confers no ability to
command beasts. If the caster asks the
beasts to perform a task, they consider it
and may agree. This a Persuade (Charm)
test and the Narrator must decide how
difficult the test is based on the situation. If
the caster cannot speak with beasts he will
suffer a -6 penalty to this test as he attempts
to use hand signals or other means of
communicating.
BLADE PRESERVATION
Casting Time: 5 Minutes
Range: Touch
Duration: Bearing x 100 years
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Runes, Song
68
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: This spell preserves swords and
daggers, keeping them from becoming dull,
rusted, pitted, or weakened by the passage
of time. A weapon under the protection of
Blade Preservation can still be damaged or
harmed directly, but remains untouched by
the wear of years. This spell affects one
blade per casting. The Spellcaster may
double the number of blades affected at
once by raising the difficulty by 1 per
increase. The caster can use this spell to
protect other metallic items no larger than a
swords blade at the Narrators option.
BLADESHATTERING (Sorcery)
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 10 yards
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Ability
Requisite: None Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: This spell allows the sorcerer to
cause one blade an axe dagger or sword-
to shatter or melt into smoke. This causes
no harm to the person holding the blade.
BLAST OF COLD
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: 20 yards per point of Bearing
Duration: 2 rounds per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Requisite: Wind-mastery
Method: Standard, Song
Specialty: Air
Effect : This powerful spell summons the
primeval force of the airspecifically,
the frozen blasts that sweep down from the
far Northto harry ones foes. It is primarily
a creation of the Lossoth of Forochel, but
knowledge of it has disseminated south-
ward, through the Dnedain of the North and
even to some servants of the Enemy. The
caster conjures a blast of freezing air that
affects an area 6 yards in radius, centered
on a point of the casters choosing, within
the range limit of the spell. All living things
caught in the area of effect must make a
Difficult Vitality Test. All who fail suffer a -4
penalty to all physical tests for the duration
of the spell. Those who suffer disastrous
failure suffer the penalty for twice the
duration of the spell (that is to say, they
continue to suffer the effects of the spell
even after the freezing blast has died away).
BLAST OF SORCERY (Sorcery)
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Bearing x20 yards
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Wizardry, Ability
Requisite: None Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: The caster fires a blast of sorcerous
power. The caster makes a simple
Nimbleness test to hit a target with it, and
the target can attempt to dodge. If the beam
strikes a target roll 4D6(14) plus Bearing x2
for damage. Improvement: For 3 Character
Points or 6 Experience 1d6(3) damage can
be added. For each 1d6 added the Difficulty
of the spell is increased by 1.
BLESSING OF AULE
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 hours per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard, Ability, Song
Specialty: Secret Fire
Effect : This spell draws on the residual
power of Aul the Smith, the Vala who
created the Dwarves and is the Guardian of
Forging and Crafting. It grants a temporary
+2 bonus to the targets Smithcraft tests and
a +1 bonus to his Craft tests. If either the
target or the caster is a Dwarf (or if both are
Dwarves), the target receives a further
temporary +2 bonus to his Smithcraft tests.
This spell may not be cast on servants of the
Enemy.
BLESSING OF ELBERETH
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Touch
Duration: 20 minutes per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard, Ability, Song
Specialty: Secret Fire
Effect: This spell draws on the residual
power of Varda the Exalted, known in the
Sindarin tongue as Elbereth. It grants a
temporary +2 bonus to the targets tests to
resist sorcery spells and their effects. If
either the target or the caster is an Elf (or if
both are Elves), all Armed and Ranged
Combat tests made against the target suffer
a 2 penalty (in which case the Narrator
may require the Elf involved to invoke the
traditional plea, A Elbereth Gilthoniel!). This
spell may not be cast on servants of the
Enemy.
69
BLESSING OF OROME
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 hours per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard, Ability, Song
Specialty: Secret Fire
Effect: This spell draws on the residual
power of Orom the Great, the Vala who, it
is said, came often to Middle-earth in the
days before the Eldar awakened and
stocked it with noble animals of all kinds. It
grants a temporary +2 bonus to the targets
Survival and Ride tests and a +1 bonus to
his Armed and Ranged Combat tests. In
ages past, Orom was revered by the Men
of the North; if either the target or the caster
is Rohiric, Dnadan, or a Mannish native of
Rhovanion the target instead receives a +2
bonus to his Armed and Ranged Combat
tests. This spell may not be cast on servants
of the Enemy.
BLINDING FLASH
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Bearing x 10 yards
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 1* Cost: 3*
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: None Specialty: Fire
Effect: This spell creates a bright flash of
light to blind an enemy. If a caster
successfully casts this spell he blinds the
target for 1d6+1 rounds. The target may
make a Swiftness Test Difficulty 2 to reduce
the duration by half, rounding up. When
blind a character suffers a -4 penalty to
attacks and all other actions requiring sight.
The Narrator may impose other penalties or
even forbid certain actions as seems
appropriate. If a caster wishes the spell may
be improved by spending 3 more Character
Points to affect a 10 foot radius. This radius
can be doubled for every 3 Character spent
on top of that. The Difficulty of the spell
increases to 2 at a 20 feet radius and by one
per increase after that.
BREAK BINDING
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: 5 yards
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: With this spell the caster can dispel
the effects of a single casting of the Holding
Spell or Spellbinding, freeing those trapped
by magic. If the Spellcaster who cast the
Holding Spell or Spellbinding is present
when he tries this and wishes to stop him,
the two Spellcasters must engage in an
Opposed Bearing test to see whose magic
prevails.
BURDEN OF EVIL Sorcery
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 5 yards x Bearing radius
Duration: Bearing minutes
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9
Requisite: None
Method: Standard, Song, Rune, Ability
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: The oppression of evil abounds
around the most dreaded of the Enemys
servants. The air thickens, weighing down
the spirit and fatiguing all who oppose them.
The caster makes an Intimidate test and
determines how many success he recieves.
This is resisted by a difficult Bearing Test by
all non-corrupted characters within the
spells range. Subtract the Casters Success
Levels from the Targets Success Level.
The Target looses a Weariness Level for
each Success Level the Caster has over
him. Improvement: For every additional 3
Character Points spent, the caster improves
the range of the spell by 5 yards or may gain
an additional +2 bonus to the Intimidate test
(max +4 total).
BURNING SPARKS
Casting Time: 1 Range: 5 Yards
Duration: Instant Difficulty: 1
Cost: 3 Method: Wizardry
Requisite: Kindle Fire Specialty: Fire
Effect: With this spell the caster can cause
an existing fire to flare, casting burning
sparks. Anyone within 10 ft of the fire may
suffer injury, but the Spellcaster can decide
to hurt someone while sparing others. The
damage caused by Burning Sparks depends
on the size of the fire the caster uses for it
(see table below). Anyone affected by the
spell may reduce the damage sustained by
half by succeeding with a Difficulty 2
Swiftness Test. Except for with candle
flames, this spell does not extinguish the fire
used to fuel it. Also a candle can only
damage a single target.
70
BURNING SPARKS DAMAGE
CANDLE 1 Point TORCH 1/2D6
CAMPFIRE 1D6 SM. BONFIRE 1D6
LG. BONFIRE 2D6
CALL FELL BEASTS (SORCERY)
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: See text
Duration: See text
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Standard, Song
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect : This spell compels all fell beasts
within 200 yards times the casters Bearing
to travel immediately at the best possible
speed to the casters presence, where they
must remain for a number of minutes equal
to the casters Bearing x2. This spell confers
no ability to converse, communicate with,
control, or compel the beast or beasts
summoned. Depending on the situation, the
caster may be able to Intimidate the
summoned beast into doing its bidding, or
may be able to dominate it in a contest of
will. This spell can be highly dangerous
to casters without great power and the
means to defend themselves. Many fell
beasts summoned by this spell turn wrathful
when compelled to do anything at all, even if
it consists of no more than traveling a few
hundred yards. The Narrator should keep in
mind that each fell beast has goals and
instincts of its own which may be at odds
with those of the caster. On the other hand,
those vile enough to cast this spell may well
be able to bargain with those they summon
on equal footing, offering treasures, slaves,
or other valuable consideration.
CALLING
Casting Time: Special
Range: Special
Duration: Special
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: The caster can grant another
person the ability to call upon him, even over
long distances, and seek his aid. The caster
casts the spell by explaining to the other
person how to call him. This takes at least a
minute and requires the caster to make the
usual test to resist Weariness. The call has
to involve speech, but it could be a simple
rhyme or song, the casters name uttered
with a particular inflection, or a complex
incantation. The call must take at least two
actions to use. The person taught the spell
remembers it forever after, unless stronger
magic takes away his memory of it. When
he uses it, the caster hears it, knows who is
calling him, and knows if that person is in
peril. Distance may affect the casters ability
to respond. The spell grants no ability to
travel quickly.
CHANGING HUE
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Self
Duration: Bearing x 20 minutes
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Song, Ability
Requisite: None Specialty: Beasts
Effect: With this spell, the caster can alter
the color of his skin, hair, eyes, and clothes.
Within the duration of the spell, he may
change the hues of any or all of these things
as often as he wishes, as a free action.
Proper changes of color can help a
character hide in wild areas, providing a
bonus of up to +4 to appropriate Stealth
(Hide) tests.
CLOAK OF SHADOW
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 rounds per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 3
Method: Standard, Song
Specialty: None
Effect : In spite of what its name might
suggest, this spell is not a work of sorcery.
Rather, it dims the targets form, blending its
edges into a hazy halo that surrounds its
body. The target of the spell thus becomes
71
harder to see, and therefore harder to strike
in combat. All Observe(Spot) tests and
physical attack tests against the target suffer
a 4 penalty. Cloak of Shadow does not
affect magical attacks against the target, but
it does affect physical attacks by enchanted
and heroic weapons.
COLD-WARD
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Self
Duration: Concentration
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard
Specialty: Air, Water
Effect : This handy spell first appeared in
the North of Middle-earth in the days when
the Nmenorean kingdoms traded and
exchanged knowledge with the Lossoth of
Forochel. It combines the magical skill of the
Dnedain with the survival craft of the
Snowmen, and it protects the caster from all
effects of cold and falling snow. It does not
alter the weather itself, but instead forms a
protective barrier against the elements
around the caster.
COMMAND (Sorcery)
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Bearing x20 yards
Duration: Bearing x2 hours
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9
Method: Wizardry, Song, Ability
Requisite: None
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: This spell allows the caster to
overwhelm the will of another, dominating
his mind and forcing him to do the casters
bidding. The effect may seem gentle
words of kindly advice from one offering
wise counsel or inspirational speeches from
a great and noble leader- but the effect is
nothing less than the ultimate power of the
Shadow. Anyone in within range of the
caster must make an opposed Bearing test
against him. The Sorcerer receives a +8
bonus to this roll. If he wins then for the
duration of the spell the target must do as
the Sorcerer says, even if carrying out the
orders given could cause the target harm. If
the Sorcerer loses the test then the target
may proceed as normal.
CORRUPTING AFFLICTION - Sorcery
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Duration: Indefinite provides a +6 bonus to any Craft,
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 12 Smithcraft, Stonecraft, or similar skill for the
Requisite: Corrupted (The caster must forging and creation of one item, object or
himself be overcome and corrupted by evil) work of art. All items successfully created
Method: Standard, Song, Rune, Ability with the help of this spell count as
Specialty: Sorcery masterworks, but the creator may not add
Effect: The caster makes an Intimidate enchantments to them without the Narrators
(Torture) test. By using torturous devices he permission.
can twist an individual to his dark purposes,
thusly corrupting the targets essence. The CREATE LIGHT
victim may oppose with a Bearing vs. Casting Time: 1 round
Torture test. If the caster is the one who Range: Touch
wins, the target will gain a number of Duration: Bearing x 40 min.
Corruption points equal to the difference in Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Success Levels rolled. If the target is the Method: Wizardry
one who wins, he applies the bonus to the Requisite: None
result of his next Bearing vs. Torture or Specialty: Fire, Secret Fire
Corruption test influenced by the caster only Effect: The caster may create light,
through the use of this spell or other means; typically on his hand or at the end of a staff.
normal Corruption rules apply. The caster can vary the intensity and color
of the light at will, though it is equal to that of
CORRUPT SURFACE (SORCERY) a strong torch at most, sufficient to light a 20
Casting Time: 1 round foot radius, under most circumstances, or a
Range: 3 yards slightly larger area at night or underground.
Duration: 2 rounds per point of Bearing For every additional 3 Character Points
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 6 spent on this spell the caster can increase
Method: Standard the radius by 20 feet.
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect : This powerful sorcery wears away
at any single, discrete, contiguous, solid
surface on which it is cast, be it of wood,
stone, or even flesh. Example targets
include a single door, structure, or creature.
The target of this spell must make a Vitality
Test every round until Corrupt Surface
expires. If it fails it suffers 1d6(3) points of
damage. In the case of living targets, this
damage bypasses armors damage
absorption. Inanimate targets, however,
receive the full benefit of their Protection
characteristic. Immersing the target of this
spell in water stops its progress; in effect, it
negates any further power it has to cause
damage. In the case of a structure, dousing
a large area is sufficient.
DARK STENCH (SORCERY)
Casting Time: 1 round
CRAFTING SPELL
Range: 10-yard radius
Casting Time: 5 Minutes
Duration: 2 rounds per point of Bearing
Range: Touch
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Duration: see Text
Method: Standard, Song
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Specialty: Sorcery
Method: Wizardry, Runes, Song
Effect : This sorcery enables the caster to
Requisite: None Specialty: None
exude a cloud of stench that sickens all
Effect: This spell, most often used by
within it except for him. It affects every living
Dwarves, enhances and augments the
thing within its area of effect, whether friend
casters skill as a craftsman. When cast it

72
or foe. Each must make a Bearing Test to
resist its effects. Those who fail the test
suffer a 2 penalty to all of their test results
for the duration of the spell. Those who
suffer disastrous failure are affected for
twice the duration of the spell.
DETECT FOE
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Self
Duration: 2 hours per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard
Specialty: Secret Fire
Effect : This bit of magical craft helps the
caster divine the presence of servants of the
Enemy. It was first developed by the Elves
to alert them to the presence of Orcs and
other foul beings in their woods, and it is
presently popular among those Dnedain
who possess dwimmercraft. When casting
Detect Foe, the caster names one type of
enemy Orcs, Wargs, Trolls, or any such.
For the duration of the spell, he receives a
+8 bonus to all Observe and Search test
results related to finding the chosen foe. He
also receives a +2 bonus to all Track tests
related to trailing the chosen foe.
DISARM
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 2 yards per point of Bearing
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell causes a single target
to lose his grip on one weapon or shield
(casters choice) that he is presently
wielding. The item leaps from his hand, and
he may not pick it up until the next round. If
the item is enchanted or heroic, the wielder
is entitled to an opposed Bearing test
against the caster. If the caster wins, the
spell has its normal effect; if the wielder
wins, he retains his grip on the item. The
size of the item has no bearing on the
effectiveness of the spell.
DISPLAY OF POWER
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Self
Duration: 1 round
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Wizardry, Song, Ability
Requisite: any five other spells
73
Specialty: None
Effect: With this spell, a caster summons
forth his power, displaying it in ways that all
can see and none can mistake. The effects
depend on the situation and mood. Thunder
and lightning may flash from his staff, fire
may fill him, or a great light may surround
him. Many effects are possible. Whatever
the appearance of the spell, it grants him a
+8 bonus to Inspire and Intimidate tests
made that round, and half that bonus for
tests made in the following 1D6+1 rounds.
The bonus is only effective when working
with- or against- those able to witness the
Display of Power.
DULL SENSES
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 6 yards per point of Bearing
Duration: 20 minutes per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Standard
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell allows the caster to
hamper one targets ability to sense what is
going on around him. The target must make
a successful Difficult Bearing Test, or else
he suffers a 2 penalty to all Observe,
Search, Track, and Weather-sense tests for
the duration of the spell. Dull Senses may
be cast on any living creature, including
beasts, whether wild, domesticated, or fell.
DUMBNESS (Sorcery)
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Bearing x 5 yards
Duration: Bearing x2 minutes
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: None
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: This spell strikes the victim dumb.
If the victim achieves 2 successes on a
Difficult Bearing test the spell is ineffectual.
If he fails then for the duration of the spell
the victim cannot speak, though he may
communicate through gestures or writing.
ENHANCE FOOD
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Duration: Special
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Ability
Requisite: none Specialty: None
Effect: This spell improves the taste and
quality of food. Alternately the caster can
reverse the effects to ruin food: sour ale,
curdle milk, spoil meat, and so on. When
souring or ruining food the spells effects
take place and are permanent. When
improving food, the duration lasts as long as
the food would normally last. Normal food
would spoil naturally in a day or two at best
in most situations. If cast on beer, the beer
remains improved until allowed to go stale,
perhaps up to a year if it remains in its keg.
ENSLAVE BEAST (Sorcery)
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Bearing x 3 yards
Duration: Bearing x2 days
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: Beast Speech or Beast
Summoning
Specialty: Beasts, Sorcery
Effect: This spell allows a caster to enslave
a single large animal (such as a bear or
horse), 1D6+1 Medium animals (wolves,
dogs, hunting cats etc.), or up to 50 small
animals (birds, bats, rats etc.). The animals
can understand his commands and must
follow them regardless of the danger to
themselves.
EVOKE AWE
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Special
Duration: Bearing x 2 rounds
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: Bearing 4+
Specialty: Secret Fire
Effect: This spell functions like Evoke Fear,
but isnt a form of Sorcery. It grants the
caster the skill Intimidate (Power or Mastery)
+4 (or a bonus to the same if the character
74
already has the skill). The spell only works
to inspire awe and dread in those who serve
the Shadow and are confronted by the
caster. At the Narrators option, it may apply
in some situations where the hero needs to
awe those whom he wishes to recruit as
allies, such as when Gandalf spoke to
Thoden and broke Wormtoungues hold
over him. The subtle magic of Middle-Earth
may reflect the use of this spell, such as a
shaft of light breaking through the clouds.
EVOKE FEAR (Sorcery)
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: See Text
Duration: Bearing x2 rounds
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Ability
Requisite: None Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: This spell inspires terror within the
hearts of anyone the caster confronts. It
grants the caster +8 to any Intimidate (Fear)
Tests for the duration of the spell. If
appropriate the subtle magic of Middle-Earth
may reflect the use of this spell. Strom
clouds gather and thunder rumbles, a cold
wind blows out of the East or the like.
EXCLUSION
Casting Time: 2 hours
Range: Touch
Duration: Bearing x 2 Years
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 6
Method: Wizardry, Runes
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: This spell works a prohibition and
exclusion upon those the caster does not
wish to enter an area, go through a door, or
open a lock. The caster places the spell
upon the item or area he wishes to protect
and defines who may enter or open it. The
spell may not be used as a backhanded way
of detecting things the average person
ordinarily could not. For example the caster
cannot define the spell by stating: Anyone
who does not serve the Shadow may enter
freely. The effects of the spell are twofold.
First any tests required to enter or open the
area suffer a -8 penalty. Second anyone
who knowingly violates the spell comes
under a curse that the caster defines when
casting the spell.
FAIR-SEEMING (SORCERY)
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Self
Duration: 20 minutes per point of Wits
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Standard, Ability
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect : The Enemy and his servants have
long known that beguilement is sometimes
the only way short of brute force to bend the
Free Peoples to their will. This sorcery does
not alter the physical appearance of the
caster, but subtly twists the minds of those
who come into contact with him, so that they
are more likely to view him favorablyor at
least to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Fair-seeming grants the caster a temporarily
negates any social penalties due to
Corruption and provides a +4 bonus to his
Social Tests.
FARSEEING
Casting Time: 5 Min.
Range: Special
Duration: Bearing x 2 Minutes
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9*
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: Perception 4+
Specialty: None
Effect: With this potent spell, the caster can
see places far away. To cast it, he needs a
reflective surface a pool of calm water or a
mirror, for example. If he succeeds in his
Spellcasting Test, he can see any location
within 100 miles that he can specify by
name or reasonable description. He cannot
focus on a specific person or object, only on
a place; nor may he attempt to scry the area
where so-and-so is right now. The spell
only grants sight of the designated area.
The caster cannot hear spoken words or
other sounds from there and cannot
penetrate darkness. For each additional 3
points spent on this spell the caster doubles
the range.
FARSPEAKING
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Bearing x 2 Miles
Duration: Concentrate
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: With this spell, the caster can cause
his voice to issue from an object, such as a
mirror or stone. The object must be within
one mile per 2 points of Bearing he
possesses, and he must have seen it
before, either with his own eyes or with
75
Farseeing. The object repeats his speech
as he speaks it. It does not speak on its
own and cannot be programmed to talk
when a given condition arises. The caster
can cast Voice of Suasion or Voice of
Command through this spell if desired,
though his inability to see the people to
whom he is speaking may hinder him in that
regard.
FIERY MISSILE
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Special
Duration: Bearing x 2 Minutes
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: Kindle Fire Specialty: Fire
Effect: This spell grants the caster the
power to make small flammable objects,
such as pinecones or small branches, burst
into flame so that he can throw them as
burning missiles. He can create up to one
missile per 2 points of Bearing, with any
color flame he desires. They burn for up to
Two minutes per point of Bearing, and they
each shed the light of a candle. If not used
before the spell expires, the objects simply
burn to ashes. Throwing each missile
counts as an action. The caster uses his
Nimbleness or Ranged Combat to determine
if he hits. A hit causes 1D6+1 damage and
may set clothes, fur or other flammables on
fire.
FINDING AND RETURNING
Casting Time: 1 Minute
Range: Touch
Duration: Bearing x 2 Months
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Runes
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: This spell protects travelers, making
it more likely that they can find their way to
their destination and then return, safe and
unhindered. It grants the recipient the virtue
of the Travel Sense edge though he must
make an Easy Wits Test to use it.
Additionally, he receives a +2 bonus to
overcome all obstacles of the road: to climb
cliffs, ford rivers, run and hide from
pursuers, and the like. However, the
Narrator decides what constitutes an
obstacles of the road for purposes of this
spell.
FIRE OF UDUN (SORCERY)
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: 6 yards per point of Bearing*
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9
Method: Standard, Ability, Song
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: This sorcery calls upon the fearsome
power of the underworld, Udn, to consume
in flame every living thing in its path,
whether friend or foe. It produces a cone of
fire emanating from the caster and
extending 6 yards per point of casters
Bearing. This cone is half as wide as it is
long. Each living thing within this cone takes
3d6 damage from the spell and armor is
innefective.
FIRESHAPING
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Bearing x2 yards
Duration: Concentration
Difficulty: 1* Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: Kindle Fire Specialty: Fire
Effect: Casters use this spell to shape fire
creating pleasing images of flame. The
listed Difficulty assumes the flame is no
larger than a torch. It is increased to 2 for a
campfire, 3 for a small bonfire and 4 for a
large bonfire. For the most part Fireshaping,
is simply for idle amusement or distraction.
However, in appropriate circumstances, it
may grant a bonus of +2 to Inspire,
Intimidate or Bearing tests.
FLAME OF ANOR
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Bearing x 300 yards
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: character cannot know any
Sorcery Spells
Specialty: Secret Fire
Effect: This spell, one of the most powerful
spells the Wise have against the Shadow,
projects a bolt of white light bright enough to
pierce any gloom. The beam harms
servants of the Enemy ranging from
Nazgul to Orcs and other evil creatures as
well. The caster makes a simple
Nimbleness test to hit a target with it, and
the target can attempt to dodge. If the beam
strikes a target who is a Servant of Evil
4D6(14) plus 2 points per point of Bearing of
76
damage is done. Improvement: For 3
Character Points or 6 Experience 1d6(3)
damage can be added. For each 1d6 added
the Difficulty of the spell is increased by 1.
FLAME ARROWS
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 3 yards
Duration: See text
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Standard, Runes
Specialty: Fire
Effect: This spell turns any one projectile,
whether an arrow, a thrown rock, or a
boulder thrown by a siege catapult, into a
thing of fire. It can be cast on a projectile
before it is launched, in which case it causes
no damagewhether to bow, hand,
catapult, or even an enemyuntil it is shot
or thrown, or one minute passes and the
effect fades. Alternatively, it can be cast on
a projectile in range just as it is hurled. A
projectile so enchanted causes an additional
1d6 + casters Bearing x2 points of fire
damage to whatever it strikes. It also sets
alight any wooden object (such as a wooden
shield) or structure it strikes. If it strikes an
object or structure made of a non-flammable
substance such as stone, however, it
causes no additional damage and starts no
fire. In any case, the projectiles fire is
extinguished after it strikes home.
FOG-RAISING
Casting Time: 1 Minute
Range: Bearing x 50 yards.
Duration: see Text
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: None
Specialty: Air and Water
Effect: This spell allows a caster to create a
thick bank of fog. The natural conditions
must be right for fog: there must be a
source of water, the proper temperature,
and so forth. Not even the most powerful
Spellcaster can create fog out of nothing on
a warm sunny day. The fog cloud can have
a radius of up to Bearing x 60 feet. Once
created it lasts until the caster stops
concentrating or natural conditions remove
it, whichever comes first. The fog provides a
penalty of -4 to physical tests while in it.
The fog moves normally, according to the
wind and lay of the land. The caster has no
control of the fog once it is created.
FOG-WEAVING
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Bearing x 20 yards
Duration: Bearing x 2 minutes
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: None
Specialty: Air and Water
Effect: With this spell, a caster can shape
fogs and mists, whether natural ones or
ones he created with Fog-Raising. He can
form phantoms of men, dragons and fell
beasts, or wondrous tableaus out of fog.
Ordinarily this is done for amusement or to
distract enemies, but may provide up to a +2
bonus to Intimidate tests.
FORGETFULNESS (Sorcery)
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Bearing x 5 yards
Duration: Bearing x2 weeks
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Song, Ability
Requisite: None Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: This foul spell allows the sorcerer to
cloud a persons memories with a darkness,
preventing a target from recalling who he is,
where he lives, who he knows, or anything
else of use. If the caster succeeds in an
opposed Bearing test against the target the
spell takes effect. The Sorcerer receives a
+2 bonus to this test.
GUARDING-SPELL
Casting Time: 1 Minute
Range: Touch
Duration: Bearing x2 minutes
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 6
Method: Wizardry, Runes
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: This spell makes the caster or
anyone upon whom he casts the spell on
more difficult to injure. All tests to hit him
suffer a -2 penalty. Furthermore any
Courage spent to enhance attempts to
dodge, parry or otherwise protect himself
grants a +7 bonus instead of the standard
+5.
77
HEALING SPELL
Casting Time: 1 Minute
Range: Touch
Duration: see Text
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: None
Specialty: Secret Fire
Effect: This spell grants the caster power to
heal injuries more quickly. When cast the
spell gives him a bonus of +8 to the Healing
Skill and can apply it using standard rules.
When tending to a characters injuries after
casting the Healing Spell the healing rate is
improved to 3 Life Points of healing per point
of Stamina a day on a successful Healing
Test instead of 2. The spells effects last
long enough to treat one person for a major
wound or illness or similar condition a
person Near Death for instance. It could be
used to treat 2 Incapacitated people, 4
Wounded people, 8 Injured people, or 16
Dazed people or similar combination
thereof- instead.
HEX-SPELL (Sorcery)
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 minutes per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 6
Method: Standard, Runes
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: This spell inflicts ill-luck upon its
target. Whenever the target uses Courage to
gain a test bonus the bonus he gains is
three less than it otherwise would be. In
most cases, this completely nullifies the
effects of Courage, but those with edges or
abilities such as Bold or Battle-Hardened
still gain a reduced benefit. This spell
does not affect other uses of Courage.
In addition, the target is also likely to fall
victim to cruel turns of fate while this spell is
in effect. At the Narrators discretion the
target must make frequent tests to avoid
tripping over tree roots, putting his foot in his
mouth, and suffering similar misfortunes.
Anything that can go wrong, will.

HIDES VIRTUE
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 minutes per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Requisite: Beasts and Birds spell specialty
Method: Standard, Ability, Song
Specialty: Beasts
Effect: This spell calls upon the casters
familiarity with beasts that have tough hides
to grant their protection upon a single target.
Hides Virtue has no visible manifestation,
except perhaps for a soft glow around the
target. It forms a magical shell that can
absorb a number of points of damage equal
to the casters Bearingx2. Damage points
marked off against the effect of this spell do
not go through to the target. Once the shell
suffers total damage exceeding the number
of points it can absorb, the target takes
damage normally and the spell ends. When
the duration of Hides Virtue expires, all
unused points of damage protection
disappear with it.
HOLDING SPELL (Sorcery)
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Bearing x20 feet
Duration: Bearing x2 rounds
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: Evoke Fear or Spellbinding
Specialty: Sorcery
78
Effect: With this spell a sorcerer can
paralyze another person using great fear or
terror to freeze them to the spot so they
cannot move or flee. If the caster succeeds
in an opposed Bearing Test, in which he
receives a +2 bonus, the victim remains
paralyzed for the duration of the spell unable
to defend himself or run. Otherwise the
spell has no effect. For an additional 3
character points and an increase of Spell
Difficulty to 3 the Sorcerer can affect a
number of targets equal to his Bearing within
the spells normal range.
IMITATION SPELL
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Bearing x 2 yards
Duration: Concentration
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: Mimicry 2+ Specialty: None
Effect: This spell enhances a casters
ability to imitate the voice of others, granting
+4 to Mimicry tests for that purpose.
Furthermore it allows the caster to imitate 2
voices at once, so that some listeners hear
one voice and others hear another.
INTERCEPT MISSILE
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 6 yards per point of Bearing
(measured from caster to source of
missile)
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard, Rune
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell issues a blast that
destroys any single fired missile of any kind
of the casters choice, whether it is an arrow,
a javelin, or a boulder. The caster must be
able to see the source of the missile. If the
projectile is enchanted or heroic, the caster
must make an opposed Bearing Test
against the character, creature, or beast
firing or throwing it. If the caster wins, the
missile is destroyed as per the spells
normal effect; if the attacker wins the attack
is resolved normally. If the enchanted
projectile is fired by a siege engine or similar
device, assume an attacker Bearing modifier
of 1. If the projectile is not enchanted or
heroic, the spell succeeds (unless a counter-
spell is cast) without any tests. Note that an
arrow fired from an enchanted or heroic bow
is not itself enchanted or heroic for the
purposes of this spell. When reckoning the
timing of actions, treat Intercept Missile as a
counter-spell to the act of firing a missile or
throwing a projectile. Intercept Missile may
be cast on a shield or suit of armor using the
Rune method. In this case, all ranged
attacks against the wearer or wielder of the
enchanted item receive a 1 penalty. This
effect lasts for 20 minutes per point of
casters Bearing. When the spell expires, the
runes disappear. This spell may not be cast
more than once on the same item for
cumulative effect.
INVOCATION OF ELBERETH
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 hours per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard, Ability, Song
Specialty: Secret Fire
Effect: This spell grants one temporary
Courage point to be used as the target sees
fit. The target must use this Courage point
within the duration of the spell, otherwise it
is lost. This spell may not be cast on
servants of the Enemy.
ITHILDIN FIRE
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Duration: Bearing x 20 minutes
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Ability
Requisite: Create Light
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell activates ithildin, a
magical, metallic substance Elves made of
mithril. It mirrors only starlight and
moonlight and it sleeps until touched by one
who knows this spell. Until, activated,
ithildin remains invisible, and if activated in
sunlight seems only like faint lines of tracery.
Only at dusk and night is its true silver
beauty seen. This material was used on the
outlines of the door leading to Moria among
other places.
KEEN SENESES
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Duration: 20 minutes per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard
Specialty: Beasts
79
Effect: This spell sharpens the five senses
and allows the target of the spell to eliminate
environmental distractions. Keen Senses
confers a temporary +4 bonus to Observe,
Search, Track, and Weather-sense tests.
This spell may not be cast on beasts of any
kind.
KINDLE FIRE
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch*
Duration: Special
Difficulty: 1* Cost: 3 *
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: None
Specialty: Fire
Effect: By touching some readily flammable
object the caster can cause it to burst into
flames, even if it is wet. Living flesh does
not count as readily flammable but at the
Narrators discretion hair, fur or clothing
may. Once kindled the fire burns normally
and can be quenched normally. For an
additional 3 Character Points and an
increase of Difficulty of 2 the caster can
make this spell function at a range up to 5
feet per point of Bearing. If he uses it as an
attack he must succeed at a Ranged
Combat attack test and the target can avoid
the effects by Dodging. For 3 more
Character Points a caster can affect multiple
objects up to one object per point of
Bearing. All objects must be within 10 feet
of the caster.
LAME (SORCERY)
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 4 yards per point of Bearing
Duration: 20 minutes per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Standard
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: This cruel work of Sorcery can
cripple even the mightiest warrior. The target
of the spell must make a successful
Resisted Bearing Test, or else he is
stricken in one of the following ways chosen
by the caster: he loses full use of one arm (
4 to all Nimbleness tests and loss of the
Ambidexterity edge), he loses full use of one
leg (4 to all Nimbleness tests and all
movement rates and paces are halved), or
he is blinded in one eye (4 to Ranged
Combat and Spot tests).
LIGHT OF THE VALAR
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Self
Duration: Bearing modifier in rounds
Difficulty: 1* Cost: 9*
Requisite: Blinding Flash, Flame of Anor
Method: Standard, Song
Specialty: Secret Fire
Effects: The Spell has three selectable
effects; the selected effect(s) will augment
the Spells Difficulty. First, the spell confers
10 points of armor that is stackable with any
existing armor or Armor of Heroes edge,
conferring +1 Difficulty. Second, it can allow
the character to parry/block ranged attacks
with a staff or other weapon, conferring a +1
Difficulty to the Spellcasting Test. Third, a
brilliant globe of white light surrounds the
caster. The light illuminates an area with a
radius equal to the casters Bearing in yards
and imposes a penalty to all attack rolls
against the caster equal to the casters
Bearing. This effect does not confer a
Weariness test modifier. Improvement:
Each time the caster spends 3 Character
Points (6 Experience) to improve this spell,
choose one effect to enhance: add +2 points
of armor, add a +2 bonus to parry/block test,
or impose a 1 penalty to attacks against
the caster. Each improved effect confers a
+1 Difficulty Modifier to the Spellcasting test
each time it is selected
LIGHTNING
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Bearing x 10 yards
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: Create Fog Specialty: Air
Effect: From his had or staff the caster
looses a bolt of lightning powerful enough to
slay even mighty warriors. The caster
makes a simple Nimbleness test to hit a
target with it, and the target can attempt to
dodge. Lightning does 5D6(18) points of
damage and armor provides no protection.
Improvement: For 3 Character Points or 6
Experience 1d6(3) damage can be added or
the number of targets can be increased by
one. For each 1d6 added the Difficulty of the
spell is increased by 1.
MASTERY OF SHAPES
Casting Time: 1 Minute
Range: Self
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Duration: Bearing x 2 Hours
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9
Method: Wizardry, Ability
Requisite: Changing Hue + 3 other Animal
Spells and Lore: Wilderness 5+
Specialty: Beasts
Effect: A caster who knows this spell can
change his shape to that of any normal bird
or beast but not a fell beast or being. When
the caster changes form he retains his Wits
and Bearing but has all the attributes of the
creature. He retains the use of all his skills,
though lack of hands or other faculties may
prevent him from using them. He may
change back to his normal form at any time,
ending the spell. He may not shift from one
animal to another. He must first change
back to his normal form and cast the spell
again.
MIND BARRIER
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Self
Duration: 20 minutes per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9
Requisite: Mind Shield
Method: Standard, Ability
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell wards the caster against
serious intrusions into the workings of his
mind, such as the spells Command and
Voice of Command (any such spell that
costs more than 3 points qualifies as
serious) as well as the spells warded
against by Mind Shield (see below). If the
intrusive spell allows the target a test to
resist it, Mind Barrier grants a +2 bonus to
such tests. If the intrusive spell does not
allow a test to resist it, Mind Barrier allows
its caster an Opposed Bearing Test
against the caster of the intrusive spell to
resist the intrusive spell, though the caster
of the intrusive spell receives a +4 bonus in
this test. Mind Barrier may also be cast as a
counter-spell against any of the spells
against which it wards.
MIND SHIELD
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Self
Duration: 20 minutes per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Standard, Ability
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell wards the caster against
relatively minor intrusions into the workings
of his mind, such as the spells Divine
Truthfulness, Reading the Heart, and Voice
of Suasion (any such spell that costs only 3
points qualifies as relatively minor). If the
intrusive spell allows the target a test to
resist it, Mind Barrier grants a +2 bonus to
such tests. If the intrusive spell does not
allow a test to resist it, Mind Barrier allows
its caster an opposed Willpower test against
the caster of the intrusive spell to resist the
intrusive spell, though the caster of the
intrusive spell receives a +4 bonus in this
test. Mind Shield may also be cast as a
counter-spell against any of the spells
against which it wards.
MIND SPEECH
Casting Time: 1 Minute
Range: Bearing x 10 yards
Duration: Concentrate
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Ability
Requisite: Spoken Thought
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell allows a caster the power
to talk to another person without speech,
communicating directly from mind to mind.
It works with other persons who also know
this spell or have it as a magical ability.
Communication takes place at the rate of
normal speech and all involved in the
conversation must maintain line of sight.
MISDIRECTION
Casting Time: 1 Minute
Range: Special
Duration: Bearing x2 hours
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: Finding and Returning
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell sets a web of
enchantment around an area, causing those
who enter it to become confused and lost or
even to draw closer as the caster wishes.
The spell affects an area equal to one mile
per point of Bearing. While the spell
remains in effect the caster automatically
knows of every thinking being not
including intelligent animals who enter the
area and may chose to affect them with the
spell or not. Affected people lose all sense
of direction. Skills and edges such as
Survival and Travel Sense are of no avail.
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Once per hour victims may attempt an
opposed Bearing test against the caster. If
the victim wins he is free for an hour and
may move normally.
MIST OF SPEED
Casting Time: 1 Hour
Range: Bearing x 20 miles
Duration: Bearing x 2 hours
Difficulty: 4 Cost: 9
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: Fog Raising & Fog Weaving
Specialty: Air
Effect: This spell, a working of great power,
creates a cloud of thick white mist. The
cloud covers an area with a radius of up to
100 feet times the casters Bearing,
centered upon a person, object or point of
the casters choosing. While within the
cloud, riders and horses alike can ride
nonstop at full speed, without becoming any
more tired than traveling at normal speeds
over the same amount of time. Moreover,
no their passage makes no noise and no
one outside the cloud can see those within,
not even with Farseeing. If the center of the
cloud is mobile, the cloud moves with it.
MORGUL WOUND (SORCERY)
Casting Time: 1
Range: 3 yards
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Standard, Runes
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: This dark sorcery deepens a wound
caused by a weapon upon which it is cast
and corrupts the surrounding flesh. Morgul
Wound targets one weapon each time it is
cast. The next time that weapon inflicts
wound damage, it causes an additional 1d6
+ casters Bearing modifier points of
damage to the victim. In addition, the victim
must make a Difficult Vitality Test, and if
he fails he suffers a 2 penalty to all
subsequent test results for a number of
minutes equal to the casters Bearing score.
Morgul Wound may never be cast on a
weapon of Elven origin.
MOVES AS THROUGH WATER
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 rounds per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Standard
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell makes a character,
beast, or monster of the casters choice
sluggish and slow to act. The targets
movement rate is halved for the duration of
the spell. He must also make a Simple
Nimbleness test at the beginning of each
round or lose 1 action that round. (Additional
actions may be attempted as normal, at the
normal penalties.)
NAMING
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: Beast Speech
Specialty: Beasts
Effect: With this spell, a caster can give a
name to any domesticated beast, such as a
horse cow or dog. For the rest of its life the
animal answers to that name, clearly
understanding it whenever anyone uses it.
It also becomes more likely to understand
and obey commands, provided the person
uttering the commands treats it well. The
animals are devoted to those who know its
name and treat it well. This gives a bonus
of +8 to Persuade tests made with the
animal.
OPENING SPELL
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Touch
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: None Specialty: None
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Effect: This spell allows the caster to open
locked doors, whether they are held by
magic or simple, mundane latches. The
spell opens any normal lock automatically,
even if the caster doesnt posses the key.
Doors sealed with a Shutting Spell require
an opposed Bearing check with the person
who cast the spell. The caster opens the
door if he wins the test. Some doors have
been sealed with extremely powerful
enchantments and may require a Bearing
test with 3 or more successes to open.
QUENCH FIRE
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Bearing x 10 yards
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: * Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: None
Specialty: Fire
Effect: With this spell the caster can
extinguish fires. The difficulty of the
Spellcasting check depends on the size of
the fire. See the table below. If the caster
wishes he can make the fire emit a huge
gout of fire of any color he desires when he
quenches it. The smoke can fill an area with
a maximum size of two cubic yards per point
of Bearing. This counts as dense smoke for
purposes of calculating its affects on tests.
SIZE OF FIRE DIFFICULTY
TORCH 1
CAMPFIRE 2
SM. BONFIRE 3
LG. BONFIRE 4
RAGING FIRE 5
OBSCURE
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 years per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Runes
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell helps the caster conceal
any object that he wishes to remain secret
and safe. It inscribes a rune on the object,
and for the duration of the spell, that object
is hidden from all except the caster himself
and one other character, whom he names at
the time of casting. Anyone other than those
two receives a 8 penalty when conducting
Search or Spot tests that might locate the
object. The rune disappears when the spell
expires, or after an authorized character
finds the object. It is possible to obscure an
item that contains other itemsan envelope,
bag, or box, for exampleto hide all of the
items contained within.
POWER OF THE LAND
Casting Time: 3 rounds
Range: 1 mile radius
Duration: Concentration (Max. Bearing x20
min.) Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: any six other Air, Beast or Water
spells
Specialty: Air, Beast, Water
Effect: This spell allows the caster to call
upon the subtle magic of the land and cause
it to rise up against his enemies. The
caster must concentrate to maintain the
effect and he must make a new Magic Test
every 5 minutes. When he fails a test, stops
concentrating or reaches the spells
maximum duration the surrounding
environment and weather quickly return to
normal. While this spell is in effect the
caster can raise or lower the temperature
slightly, control the ebb and flow of any
bodies of water (causing a raging flood if
necessary), direct the course and strength of
the winds as you choose and so forth.
Some sample game effects that might occur
is a -4 to ranged combat by raising the
winds, halving all movement within the
environment by making the undergrowth
inhibit movement, interfere with or aid sailing
or fording by causing water to raise or lower,
cause up to a -4 to traveling tests by
changing the weather dramatically etc. The
exact game effects of this ability are up to
the Narrator.
83
PRESERVE FIRE
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 4 yards per point of Bearing
Duration: Concentration
Difficulty: See Below Cost: 3
Method: Standard, Song
Specialty: Fire
Effect: This spell allows the caster to protect
any fire, whether mundane or magical, from
attempts to extinguish it. Any non-magical
attempt to put out the fire being guarded,
such as by throwing water or a blanket on it,
cannot succeed as long as the caster
maintains concentration. The caster cannot
attempt to preserve only part of a fire, such
as one particular log within a campfire. If
another caster uses magically manipulated
water or air to try to extinguish the preserved
fire, the two casters must engage in an
Opposed Bearing Test, with the caster of
Preserve Fire receiving a +4 bonus. If
another caster tries to put out the fire by
casting Quench Fire or some other spell that
directly affects it, the two casters must
engage in an Opposed Bearing Test, with
the victor determining the fate of the fire.
Using the Song of Power method against
another caster grants the caster of Preserve
Fire a further +2 bonus. Preserve Fire may
also be cast as a counter-spell against
Quench Fire. The Difficulty test required to
cast the spell depends on the size of the fire
the caster wishes to preserve (see Table
below).
Size of Fire Difficulty
Candle 1
Torch 2
Campfire 3
Small Bonfire 4
Large Bonfire 5
Conflagration 6
RAIN WARD
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Self
Duration: Concentration
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: None Specialty: Air, Water
Effect: This minor spell gives great comfort
to traveling Spellcasters, granting them the
ability to keep themselves from getting wet addition to any Weariness he may suffer
in the rain. It doesnt alter the weather or from casting the spell).
stop the rain from falling, but somehow no
raindrops hit the caster, no matter how RESIST FEAR
strong the storm. The spell will continue to Casting Time: 1 round
work until the caster stops concentrating on Range: Bearing x2 ft. radius
it without any more Spellcasting tests Duration: Bearing x2 rounds
needed. It wont protect the caster from Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
getting wet in a stream or even from Method: Wizardry, Ability
stepping in a puddle. It also only protects Requisite: None Specialty: Secret Fire
the caster themselves. Effect: This spell strengthens hearts and
banishes terror, allowing those affected to
READING THE HEART stand and face their foes. All friendly or
Casting Time: 1 minute allied people within the area of affect are
Range: 10 feet granted a bonus of +6 to resist fear including
Duration: Instant the caster.
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Ability
Requisite: Bearing or Insight 3+
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell allows the caster to gaze
into the eyes of another person and read
what lies within his heart: his hopes,
dreams, fears, worries, loves, hates, and
temptations. The Wise use this power to
find the ills that lie within a persons soul,
that they might be alleviated or cured.
Sorcerers sometimes learn it to better
torment their victims with the knowledge
gained. In effect every time the spell is cast
the caster can know one of the following:
how much Corruption or Courage a
RESIST FIRE
character has or either a single Quality or
Drawback will be revealed relating to the Casting Time: 1 round
persons character (for example an Arrogant Range: Touch
or Cowardly Drawback would be revealed or Duration: 2 minutes per point of Bearing
Bold or Nerves of Steel but not a physical Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
trait like Swift Strike or Weapon Mastery) at Method: Standard, Ability
the Narrators discretion. Specialty: Fire
Effect: This cunning example of spell-craft
RENEW harnesses the knowledge of fire to resist its
power. Resist Fire allows its target an Easy
Casting Time: 1 round
Vitality Test to negate totally any non-
Range: Touch
magical fire damage it might suffer. The
Duration: Instant
spell also allows its target a Opposed
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Bearing Test to negate any magical fire
Requisite: Revive
damage it might suffer, as from a spell or an
Method: Standard, Song
enchanted item. If successful, it suffers only
Specialty: None
half damage, but must make the same test
Effect: This spell renews the vigour of body
to avoid each possible secondary effect,
and limb. It provides welcome relief to a
such as being set aflame.
single character or beast worn with the
labors of the road or hard fighting, though it
REVIVE
saps the caster greatly. If successfully cast,
Casting Time: 1 round
the target recovers 2 Weariness Levels, but
Range: Touch
the caster sustains 3 Weariness Levels (in
Duration: Instant

84
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell gives the caster the power
to infuse strength into the tired limbs of a
single character or beast, though it saps his
own strength in equal measure. If
successfully cast, the target recovers 1
Weariness Level, though the caster of this
spell sustains 1 Weariness Level in addition
to any Weariness he may suffer from casting
Revive.
SAP STRENGTH (SORCERY)
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 4 yards per point of Bearing
Duration: 2 rounds per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard, Song
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: This spell taxes the muscle and
sinew of a single target, making him less fit
for tasks that require physical strength. The
target must make a successful Opposed
Bearing Test, or else he temporarily suffers
a 2 penalty to his Strength score and a 1
penalty to all Armed Combat and Unarmed
Combat tests. This spell may be cast upon
the same target multiple times to increase its
effect, although it may never reduce the
85
targets Strength score below 0. This spell
may also be cast on beasts and monsters.
SENSE POWER
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Bearing x 5 yards
Duration: 1 minute
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Ability
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: While this spell is active the caster
may make an Observe (Sense Power) test
or Perception test to detect the presence,
power and in very general terms the nature
of another Spellcaster, a creature of
supernatural power, the subtle magic of an
area or the like. The difficulty for the
Perception or Observe test depends on the
level of power displayed.
SENSE POWER DIFFICULTY
VERY STRONG 1 STRONG 2
AVERAGE 3 WEAK 4
SHADOW OF FEAR (SORCERY)
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: See Text
Duration: See Text
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Ability
Requisite: Bearing 4+, Intimidate 3+,&
Evoke Fear Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: This spell has two possible results.
First, it extends the range of Evoke Fear to a
range of 300 feet per point of Bearing and it
lets it inflict fear upon the target whether the
caster is aware of them or not. This version
of the spell has the same duration of the
Evoke Fear spell with which it is cast.
Second, the spell can extend the duration of
the effects of the Evoke Fear instead of its
range. This version of the spell has a range
of touch. The victim suffers the effects of
Fear for a duration equal to the Sorcerers
Bearing in weeks.
SHADOWS AND PHANTOMS (SORCERY)
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: See Text
Duration: Bearing x 2 hours
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: Wizards Guise
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: Sorcerers most often use this spell
to create illusions for their servants. For this
purpose it functions just like Wizards Guise
but it can affect persons other than the
caster. The range for such a spell is touch.
The person covered by it may go where he
will without dispelling the illusion. This spell
can also aid the caster when he tries to hide,
gaining a +4 bonus to Stealth(Hide) tests.
He must remain still and the spell doesnt
counteract any noise he might make. The
caster may also create completely
illusionary people and even change the
appearance of the landscape with this spell.
The Narrator may also allow Sorcerers to
devise other uses for this spell.
SHATTER
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Bearing x 5 yards
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Ability
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: This spell grants a caster the ability
to shatter small objects of wood, glass, horn,
stone or like substance but not metal. The
object must not be so large that a strong
man could not easily hold it in one hand. If
someone is holding the object the caster
wishes to shatter, the two must engage in an
opposed Bearing test with the caster
receiving a +2 bonus. If the caster wins the
object shatters. Otherwise it remains whole.
SHEATH OF ICE (SORCERY)
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 3 yards
Duration: 2 minutes per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Standard, Ability
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: This unusual sorcery imitates a
power of the helegrogs, the fearsome
demons that troubled the far North of
Middle-earth in times past. Sheath of Ice
encases a single target in a block of solid
ice. The target must make an Opossed
Nimbleness Test versus the Casters
Bearing. If he fails, he is encased in ice. He
is then immobile, and cannot move, use
weapons or enchanted items, or speak so
that it may be heard outside the ice
(therefore, the target cannot cast spells,
either). It does not, however, suffocate or
otherwise harm the victim. This effect lasts
for the duration of the spell or until a hot
flame is applied to the ice for one full round.
The target may also make a Difficult
86
Strength Test with two successes to free
himself.
SHELLS VIRTUE
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 roundS per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Requisite: Beasts and Birds spell specialty
Method: Standard, Ability, Song
Specialty: Beasts
Effect: Similar to Hides Virtue, this spell
calls upon the casters familiarity with beasts
blessed with shells or tough hides to grant
their protection upon a single target. Shells
Virtue, however, is more useful in sustained
combat. The magical protection created by
this spell absorbs a number of damage
points equal to the casters Bearing x2 in
each round of the spells duration. Damage
points marked off against the effect of this
spell do not go through to the target. If the
target suffers more damage points in one
round than the shell can absorb, the spell
does not dissipate; the excess damage
simply goes through to the target as it
normally would. At the beginning of the next
action round, the shell may absorb the
prescribed number of damage points all over
again.
SHUTTING SPELL
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Duration: Bearing x2 hours
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Runes
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: With this spell a caster magically
locks doors preventing anyone from opening
them. The door remains shut for the
duration of the spell. Not even the proper
key can open it. However, the caster can
specify a command word that does open the
door when anyone speaks it. Additionally
the door can still be broken by strength or
with weapons. The Opening Spell can also
be used to open the door as well. See
above.
SLUMBER
Casting Time: 2
Range: Bearing x 3 yards
Duration: Bearing x2 hours
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: With this spell a caster can place
one person into a deep sleep from which
they cannot awake on their own. Others can
awaken the sleeping person in the usual
ways: jostling them, shouting at them,
splashing water on their faces, and the like.
The Spellcaster and the victim must make
opposed Bearing tests with the Spellcaster
getting a bonus of +2. If the caster wins the
victim falls asleep. Otherwise there is no
affect.
SMITE
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 3 yards
Duration: See text
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9
Method: Standard
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell strengthens the sword-arm
of one engaged in battle and enables him to
make one especially mighty blow. The target
of Smite receives a +4 bonus on his next
Armed Combat, Ranged Combat, or
Unarmed Combat testwhenever he may
deliver itand a damage bonus of 1d6 +
casters Bearing x2 if he succeeds.
SMOKE WEAVING
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Bearing x 10 yards
Duration: Concentration
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: None Specialty: Fire
Effect: This simple spell, typically used to
amuse others, allows the caster to control
the color, shape and movement of smoke.
He cannot create smoke out of thin air,
increase the amount of smoke naturally, or
make the smoke thicker or denser than it
already is. However, by causing smoke to
gather around a targets head a caster can
cause a penalty up to -2 on any test made
by the victim.
SPELLBINDING
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Bearing x 3 yards
Duration: Concentrate(Max. Bearing x20
rounds)
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: None Specialty: None
87
Effect: With this spell a caster can
temporarily bind another persons limbs
preventing him from moving or attacking but
not from talking. If the caster succeeds with
his Spellcasting test he and the victim must
engage in an opposed Bearing Test. If the
caster wins the victim becomes paralyzed
and drops to the ground. Otherwise this
spell has no effect. The spell lasts as long
as the caster concentrates to a maximum of
Bearing x20 rounds or until he or anything
else physically threatens the victim at which
point the victim is immediately freed. For an
additional 3 Character Points and a Difficulty
of 3 the caster can affect Bearing x2 targets
with this spell as long as the targets are
within Bearing x2 feet of them.
SORCERY WARD
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 minutes per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9
Method: Standard, Song
Specialty: Secret Fire
Effect: This powerful spell shields the target
from the baleful effects of dark magic. It
grants the target a bonus of his own Bearing
plus the Casters Bearing to all tests that he
must make as a result of sorcery spells
being cast against him. If the sorcery in
question allows no tests to reduce or negate
its effects, the target may make Opposed
Bearing Test against the caster. If the
target wins, he suffers no effect from the
sorcery spell. If the caster of the sorcery
wins, the spell generates its normal effects.
If the target of Sorcery Ward is attacked by a
weapon enchanted by one or more sorcery
spells, he may make an Opposed Bearing
Test against the wielder of that weapon to
negate the effects of its sorcerous
enchantments. All other effects of the
enchanted weapon are not affected.
SPAWN WERES (SORCERY)
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: 3 yards
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9
Method: Standard
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: Werewolves are Wargs inhabited by
dreadful spirits, fell creatures that can
change shape to seem as wolves or as men,
according to their desire. This spell
summons a malevolent spirit to inhabit a
Warg and transform it into a Werewolf. The
caster must be within 3 yards of the target
Warg in order to use it successfully. He must
then make an Easy Bearing Test. If
successful, the Warg immediately becomes
a Werewolf. If he somehow suffers a
disastrous failure, both the dread spirit and
the Warg refuse absolutely; the caster must
make a Difficult Bearing Test. If he fails,
he suffers 1d6 points of damage and the
Warg immediately attacks him.
SPAWN WIGHT (SORCERY)
Casting Time: 2 hours
Range: 3 yards
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9
Method: Standard
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: This hideous sorcery enables a
Spellcaster to bind a malevolent,
disembodied spirit to a corpse, transforming
it into a wight. This spell may be cast only on
the corpses of Men, Orcs, Dwarves, and
Hobbits, and it turns a single corpse into a
Barrow-wight. In addition, the caster suffers
a 2 penalty to the Corruption test that he
must make as a result of having cast a
sorcery spell.
88
SPOKEN THOUGHTS
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Self
Duration: Bearing x2 hours
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Ability
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: A caster with this spell can
overcome his ignorance of another persons
language, for it reveals to him the thoughts
in the mind of another as expressed through
that persons speech. For the duration of
the spell it is as if the caster has 5 ranks in
any language spoken to him. He cannot,
however, read writing he has not learned
normally.
SPRINGTIME
Casting Time: 1 Minute
Range: Bearing x 50 yards
Duration: Concentration
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Wizardry, Song, Ability
Requisite: Power of the Land
Specialty: Secret Fire
Effect: This spell shatters the bonds of
winter, bringing a brief touch of the weather
of fine spring day. Within the area around
the caster frozen waters instantly melt, the
sun shines brightly, the temperature warms
to that of spring and flowers bloom. All
characters other than the Spellcaster
recover lost Weariness levels at twice the
normal rate. The effect doesnt move with
the caster but will remain so long as the
caster maintains concentration on it.
STEADY CRAFT
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 hours per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard, Song
Specialty: Water
Effect: Sailing upon any of Middleearths
great waters, whether the River Anduin or
the Bay of Belfalas, or even the inland sea
of Rhn, has its hazards. This spell grants a
+4 bonus to all Sea-craft skill tests needed
to sail the target vessel. Steady Craft must
be cast on a vessel; it has no effect if cast
on someone who pilots the vessel.
STEADY HAND
Casting Time: 1
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 rounds per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard, Song
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell allows the caster to aid his
comrades (or himself ) in any situation
where manual dexterity will prove helpful. It
confers a temporary +2 bonus to Craft,
Legerdemain, and Ranged Combat tests.
This spell may not be cast on beasts or
monsters. If the caster wishes to use the
Song of Power method, he must choose
whether the 50% bonus that it grants will
apply to the duration or effect of the spell.
The caster may not use Song of Power
when casting Steady Hand on himself.
STOUT BODY
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 minutes per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard
Specialty: Beasts
Effect: This spell allows the caster to fortify
himself or one of his comrades in a situation
where powers of endurance are important. It
grants a +4 bonus to all Vitality tests that the
target must make for the duration of the
spell.
STRENGTH OF LIMB
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Duration: 2 round per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard, Song
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell allows the caster to aid his
comrades (or himself ) in any situation
where the force of muscle and sinew will
prove helpful. It confers a temporary +2
bonus to the targets Strength score. This
spell may be cast on beasts and monsters
as well as characters. If the caster wishes to
use the Song of Power method, he must
choose whether the 50% bonus that it grants
will apply to the duration or effect of the
spell. The caster may not use Song of
Power when casting Strength of Limb on
himself.
89
SWIFT OF FOOT
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 round per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard, Song
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell grants fleetness of foot to
a character, beast, or monster of the
casters choice. The targets movement rate
is doubled for the duration of the spell. If the
caster wishes to use the Song of Power
method, he must choose whether the 50%
bonus that it grants will apply to the duration
or effect of the spell. The caster may not use
Song of Power when casting Swift of Foot
on himself.
TRANSFORMATION
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Bearing x1 yard
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 5 Cost: 15
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: Any 10 other Spells
Specialty: None
Effect: With this spell a caster can
transform a living being into another type of
creature or object. He cannot alter the
creatures sentience. A deer turned into a
man remains the mind of a deer, and a
Hobbit turned into a frog remains as smart
as he was before, although unable to speak
intelligibly. Nor can the caster kill the victim
by transforming him into an object. A man
turned into a block of wood would remain
alive. He is just unable to move. Also the
victim retains his Life Points but he may
become more or less vulnerable to attack as
a result of the transformation. A man turned
into a block of wood would have more Armor
Points than normal while being turned into a
pile of parchment makes one vulnerable to
fire. If the spell is successfully cast the
Spellcaster and his target roll a resisted
Bearing Test with the Spellcaster getting a
bonus of +6. If he wins the target
transforms, otherwise there is no effect.
VEIL
Casting Time: 1 Minute
Range: Self
Duration: Bearing x2 hours
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Ability
Requisite: None
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell shields the caster from
the effects of Farseeing or Sense Power.
Any who try to observe the caster with
Farseeing cannot see him or even traces of
him. They may be able to see the major
effects of his passing, such as smoke and
ashes from the fires he has lit, but that is all.
Against Sense Power this spell imposes a -6
penalty on the Observe or Perception tests
to detect the casters power.
VEILING SHADOW (Sorcery)
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Bearing x 100 yards
Duration: Bearing x20 min.
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: None Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: With this spell a Sorcerer can call
down a cloud of darkness to hide the evil
acts of himself and his minions. All within
the radius of the spell suffer as if in
darkness (-4 to tests). Only Creatures of
the Shadow who posses Night Vision (Orcs,
Trolls, the Nazgul etc.) are unaffected.
VICTORY SPELL
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Duration: Bearing x 2 minutes
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Wizardry, Runes
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: this spell grants the caster- or any
upon whom he confers its powers- the virtue
of victory and triumph. He receives a +2
bonus on all Armed Combat or Ranged
Combat tests and on Bearing checks to
resist Fear. Furthermore, any Courage
spent to enhance attacks grants a bonus of
+7 instead of the normal +5.
VIRTUE OF FINDING
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: 20 miles per point of Bearing
90
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Standard, Ability
Specialty: None
Effect: This spell allows the caster to
pinpoint the location of any object that
belongs to him, as long as it is within range
at the time of casting. The caster must name
a specific object as he casts the spell, such
as the front door key to Bag End. If the item
has been enchanted with Obscure, the
caster must make a successful Opposed
Bearing Test against the caster who
enchanted it. Virtue of Finding may not be
used to locate characters, beasts, or
monsters.
VOICE OF COMMAND
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Special
Duration: Max. Bearing x 2 hours
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: Bearing 4+ Specialty: None
Effect: Voice of Command allows the
caster to issue a single instruction, order or
command. The command must be simple
and easily expressed, such as Come back
here!, Leave this place! or Drop your
weapons! It must be a single order. The
caster cannot compound two or more orders
into a single sentence. The command only
affects a single individual who must be able
to hear it. The commands effects last until
fulfilled or until Bearing x 2 hours whichever
comes first. If desired, the caster may follow
the spell with Intimidate to convince the
target. Under no circumstance can this spell
cause someone to hurt themselves
knowingly.
VOICE OF SUASION
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Special
Duration: Bearing x 2 minutes
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Wizardry, Ability
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: This spell increases the casters
powers of persuasion. His every word
seems sweat and reasonable, his policies
and opinions worthy of consideration. He
receives a +4 bonus to all uses of Persuade,
though the victim may make an opposed
Bearing check to resist.
VULNERBILITY TO FIRE
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 6 yards per point of Bearing
Duration: 2 minutes per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Standard
Specialty:: Fire
Effect: This spell calls upon the primeval
power of fire to daunt anyone who may try to
resist that power. Vulnerability to Fire affects
a single target, who must make an
Opposed Bearing Test. If he fails, he
suffers a 5 penalty to all tests related to
resisting fire-based attacks directed against
him for the duration of the spell. Also, fire-
based attacks against the target that cannot
normally be resisted with tests (such as an
Armed Combat attack with a flaming torch)
receive a +5 test bonus.
VULNERBILITY TO SORCERY (SORCERY)
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 6 yards per point of Bearing
Duration: 2 minutes per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 6
Method: Standard
Specialty: Sorcery
Effect: This spell daunts anyone who would
resist the power of the Shadow, making
them more susceptible to the use of
Sorcery. Vulnerability to Sorcery affects a
single target, who must make an Opposed
Bearing Test. If he fails, he suffers a 5
penalty to all tests related to resisting
sorcery spells directed against him for the
duration of this spell. Also, all Armed
Combat or Ranged Combat tests against the
target using weapons enchanted by one or
more sorcery spells receive a +5 bonus to
the test result.
spell must make Opposed Bearing Test.
All who fail suffer a 6 penalty to all tests as
long as they remain within 10 yards of a
substantial body of water such as a river,
stream, lake, or sea. They may not cross the
water in a vessel, on foot, or on horseback;
they must either fly or cross at a bridge. If a
target of Water-fear suffers a disastrous
failure from his test to resist the spell, he
suffers its effects for twice the duration of
the spell.
WATERSHAPING
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Bearing x100 ft.
Duration: Concentration
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: With this spell, a caster can shape
nearby waters. He can form phantoms of
men, dragons and fell beasts, or wondrous
tableaus out of water. Ordinarily this is done
for amusement or to distract enemies, but
may provide up to a +2 bonus to Inspire or
Intimidate tests. It can also be used to
slightly slow small ships or boats at the

WATER FEAR
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 20 yards per point of Bearing
Duration: 20 minutes per point of Bearing
Difficulty: 3 Cost: 9
Method: Standard, Song
Specialty: Water
Effect: This spell is an enchantment first
woven in Imladris to protect the river borders
that separate it from the outside world.
Whether Master Elrond himself created it, Narrators option.
tales of lore do not say. It may affect two
characters or creatures per point of the WIND MASTERY
casters Bearing modifier. The targets of the Casting Time: 2 rounds

91
Range: Bearing x 50 yards
Duration: Concentration*
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry, Song
Requisite: None Specialty: Air
Effect: With this spell, a caster can control
the winds, altering their speed and direction,
causing them to rise where the air is calm
and stilling them where they are not. He
cannot create or enhance winds so that they
are strong enough to cause damage and
destruction but he can cause breezes stiff
enough to make people have to lean into
them as they walk. He can also use it to
help or hinder a ship. Doubling or halving its
normal speed under sail. Under the right
circumstances it may provide up to a +2
bonus to Inspire or Intimidate tests. This
spell will last as long as the caster
concentrates but they will need to make a
new Weariness test each hour to keep it
going.
WIZARDS GUISE
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Self
Duration: Bearing x2 hours
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: None Specialty: None
Effect: This spell allows a character to alter
his appearance slightly, enhancing a
disguise so that he may passed unnoticed
among other folk. It provides a +4 bonus to
Guise tests. People who have reason to
suspect he is not what he seems must make
an opposed Perception or Insight test
against the casters Guise skill.
WIZARDS HAND
Casting Time: 1 rounds
Range: Bearing x 5 yards
Duration: Instant
Difficulty: 2 Cost: 3
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: None Specialty: None
92
Effect: With this spell a caster can grasp
an object at a distance and move or fling it.
The object must be one that the caster could
lift with his own Strength, such as a pitcher
of ale or a weapon. The effect is
instantaneous, so while the caster can fling
an object away from him or draw it swiftly to
his hand he cannot move it back and forth or
cause it to dart about a room. To determine
how far a caster can throw an object, he has
a Strength of 4 or his Strength whichever is
greater. The caster uses a Simple
Nimbleness Test to aim the thrown item,
although he does not need to do so to draw
something to his hand. The spell does not
allow for fine manipulation in either case. If
another holds the object that person makes
an opposed Strength test to counter the
spell (caster has an 8 Strength for this test).
WORD OF COMMAND
Casting Time: Special
Range: Special
Duration: Special
Difficulty: 1 Cost: 9
Method: Wizardry
Requisite: Any 10 other spells
Specialty: None
Effect: By invoking Word of Power a caster
can enhance the power of any other spell.
This power comes at a price: the character
automatically loses one Weariness Level.
Any Weariness lost due to failure on the
Spellcasting test are in addition to this. This
spell requires extra time to use adding 1
time unit to the normal casting times for the
spell it modifies (a spell that normally takes
2 rounds to cast would now take 3 rounds,
while a spell that normally takes 1 hour
would take 2). The caster may choose one
of the following effects for the spell: Double
a Spells range or duration, Cause a spell to
do maximum damage, or provides a +4 to
any test needed to cast or use the spell-
other than the Spellcasting Test.

Enchanting Items
Objects infused with the power of magic are
rare and wondrous in Middle-earth. By the
Third Age, many fine things into which
enchantments had been laid were lost to
catastrophes wrought by time and malice. In
many cases, even the knowledge of how to
fashion and use them was forgotten. In
these latter days, only expert craftsmen,
spellcasters, and the Elves (using their Art
racial ability) can craft enchanted items. Of
these, the Elves can forge only minor items
without intensive study, and neither crafts-
men nor most spellcasters can make
powerful items without each others help.
The Vessel
Only items of the finest workmanship may
hold enchantments. Therefore, the first
requirement of any vessel for enchantment
is that it must be a masterwork. This
requires the object to have been crafted with
5 or more success on its Craft Test.
93
There are four basic types of items that may
be enchanted.
Armor: This includes body armor,
shields, and helms.
Weapons: Any device used
primarily to make Armed Combat or
Ranged Combat tests qualifies as a
weapon.
Miscellaneous Items:
Enchantments are not woven into
arms and armor only, but into all
manner of useful items. Enchanted
cloaks and staves do valuable
service to travelers on the road, and
phials containing magical light can
prove useful in dark places.
Talismans and items of everyday
use may also receive
enchantments. This category
includes any item that is not a
weapon, structure, or piece of amor.
Structures: Enchantments may be
woven into structures during their
building, but only at great expense.
To enchant a door or a gate may
prove a manageable task for one or
a small team of craftsmen, but
 weaving magic into an entire
building may take years, even
generations, unless a large team of
talented enchanters is assembled
for the purpose. No one in Middle-
earth not even Sauron himself
has had such resources since the
Nmeorean kingdoms were at their
heights, but theoretically it is
possible to enchant an entire tower
or fortification.
Enchantments
Once a vessel is chosen for enchantment,
the spells which will be woven into it must be
selected. There are a number of restrictions
related to these enchantments. Whoever
wishes to craft an item with the powers of a
spell must know the spell. More than one
spell may be woven into an item to give it
greater power, but only at the cost of greater
time and effort invested in the making. As a
general rule, enchanters may not weave the
same spell into an item multiple times to
compound its effect. Also, sorcery spells and
non-sorcery spells may never be mixed in
the same item.
Not every spell may be woven into an
enchanted item, for not all spells in the
Middle-earth Grimoire are fit for such use.
Some spells may only be woven into certain
types of items, while many spells are not
suitable for enchantments at all.
The Spells for Enchanting Items Table lists
which spells may be used for this purpose,
and enumerates the items to which they
may be applied.
Generally speaking, placing a spell into an
item bestows the effects of the spell upon
the item. This is not the case for all spells,
however, as some do not grant the items
they enchant exactly the same powers that
they display when cast by a spellcaster.
Most cast spells have limits on their
duration, for example, and when they
become a permanent part of an item, it
dilutes their potency. Others function
differently when woven into an item than
they do when conjured by a spellcaster.
The differences between cast spells and
enchanted spells are enumerated below.
94
Bane-Spell: One enchanting a weapon with
Bane-spell must declare the type of foe the
weapon is created to slay. Such an item
may not target more than one type of foe in
exchange for +2 to the spells difficulty, as
when casting Bane-spell normally. Further -
more, a weapon enchanted with Bane-spell
may impart a bonus no higher than the
Bearing of the Spellcaster weaving the spell
into it. The bonus may not exceed +4, in any
event. The enchantment may be made less
powerful than the enchanter is capable of to
decrease the amount of time needed to
complete it.
Beast Cloak: This spell may be woven into
a cloak. Beasts attempting to detect one
wearing a cloak so enchanted suffer a
penalty to their Observe tests equal to the
Bearing of the enchanter.
Blade Preservation: The duration on this
spell is so long that it functions normally
when woven into an enchanted weapon.
Blade Shattering: Anyone who makes an
Armed or Ranged Combat test against a
person protected by armor with this
enchantment upon it must make a Simple
Nimbleness test. If that test is unsuccessful,
the attackers weapon is shattered. Anyone
using a shield or weapon with this
enchantment upon it may force a similar test
by successfully parrying an attack.
Blast of Cold: A horn enchanted with this
spell can be blown to create effects identical
to the spell. The duration, however, is only
as long as the horn continues to sound.
Each round past the first that the blower
continues, he must make a Simple Vitality
Test against a -1 penalty equal to the
number of rounds he has been blowing
consecutively or his lungs give out and he
must rest (and do nothing else) for one
round.
Blessing of Aul: This spell may be woven
into a set of smithing tools. Such tools
confer permanently the bonuses described
by the spell.
Blinding Flash: When a phial enchanted
with this spell is thrown, it explodes at the
point of impact. Every target within a 10-foot
radius must make a Easy Vitality test.
Targets that fail are blinded for 1d6 rounds.
Throwing a phial requires a Ranged
Combat: Thrown Weapons test as if
throwing a stone. If the test is unsuccessful,
the phial misses by 2 feet per range
increment the phial was thrown, deviating
from the intended target in a randomly
determined direction.
Change Hue: Cloaks enchanted with
Change Hue grant a +3 bonus to Stealth
(Hide) tests. Body armor enchanted with the
spell grants a +1 bonus.
Cloak of Shadow: All physical attack tests
against one wearing a cloak enchanted with
this spell suffer a 2 penalty. Magical
attacks are not affected, but attacks by
enchanted weapons are.
Cold-Ward: Weaving this spell into a cloak
enables it to protect its wearer from cold as
crippling as Middle-earth ever sees, even in
its far North. The cloak need not be woven
from heavy material; it will still protect its
wearer from the effects of chill and falling
snow. Melting snow will never soak into it
and it will never get wet, no matter how long
it is exposed to the elements.
Crafting-Spell: This spell may be woven
into any type of tool used for smithing or
crafting, such as hammers, chisels, weaving
instruments, and cutting implements. An
enchanted tool grants a +3 bonus to any
appropriate Craft, Smithcraft, or Stonecraft
skill tests. These bonuses are not cum -
ulative if more than one such enchanted tool
is used to craft a single item.
95
Create Light: A phial enchanted with Create
Light illuminates a 10- foot-radius area as if
it were a strong torch. The phial must be
activated by a command word or action
(such as tapping it three times) determined
by whoever crafts the item. It provides light
for 10 hours per point of the enchanters
Bearing score x2. The crafter may not
increase the phials area of effect by
weaving Create Light into it multiple times.
Dark Stench: Armor enchanted with this
Sorcery has the constant effect of the spell.
Detect Foe: A weapon or talisman
enchanted with Detect Foe glows with light
when members of the specified race near
the item. This glow is first noticeable (but
very faint) when the designated foes
approach within 500 yards, and increases to
tremendous brightness when the foes are
within sight. Weapons and talismans
enchanted with Detect Foe do not provide
their wielders any bonus to Observe,
Search, or Track tests.
Exclusion: This spell may be woven into a
gate, portal, or similar point of entry (such as
the open end of a hallway) into an area the
crafter wishes to forbid. The spell functions
normally.
Farseeing: This spell may be woven into
any object for which looking into it is a
common use (such as looking-glasses and
crystal spheres). The spell functions
normally, with the user of the item taking the
place of the Spellcaster (that is, the user
must have a Perception of 4+ and make a
successful Spellcasting Test in order to use
the item properly).
Fatigue: Anyone who loses a number of
Wound Points equal to his Vitality from a
single strike of a weapon enchanted with
this spell also loses one Weariness Level.
Finding and Returning: Holding a staff
enchanted with this spell grants you the
benefits of Finding and Returning. Finding
and Returning can also be enchanted into
boots or maps, though in the latter case, the
effects of the spell work only for travelers
passing through the region depicted.
Fire of Udn: Weapons enchanted with this
sorcery burst into flame when they strike a
foe, causing an additional 1d6 points of fire
damage. This damage cannot cause
flammable objects to burn, however.
Flame Arrow: This enchantment may be
woven into any projectile that is, into any
weapon that can be thrown, shot, or hurled
(such as spears, arrows, and stones).
Projectiles thus enchanted do additional
damage and start fires according to the
normal functioning of the spell.
Flame of Arnor: Enchanting a weapon with
this powerful spell enables it to do an extra
1d6 + enchanters Bearing x2 of damage
whenever it strikes a servant of the Enemy.
A weapon thus enchanted will not grant this
bonus, however, if it is wielded by a
character with Corruption points.
Guarding-spell: All physical attack tests to
strike one wearing body armor enchanted by
a Guarding-spell suffer a 2 penalty. The
penalty to strike one carrying a helm, shield,
or talisman so enchanted is 1. When a
structure is enchanted with Guardingspell,
all physical attack tests against it suffer a 1
penalty.
Hides Virtue: When woven into leather
armor, this enchantment increases its
ability to absorb damage by 2 points.
Intercept Missile: All ranged attacks
against someone wearing body armor
permanently enchanted by this spell suffer a
2 test penalty. All ranged attacks against
someone wearing a helm or wielding a
shield permanently enchanted by this spell
suffer a 1 test penalty.
96
Ithildin-Fire: This spell may be used to
enchant just about any hard object in order
that one may use it as a key to activate
ithildin. This object behaves as the spell
when touched to that magical substance.
Keen Senses: A helm or circlet enchanted
with this spell provides permanently the
bonuses described by the spell.
Lightning: Weapons enchanted with this
spell crackle with lightning when they strike
a foe, causing an additional 1d6 points of
damage.
Mind Barrier: A helm, circlet, or any other
type of headgear with Mind Barrier woven
into it confers benefits as per the spells
normal function.
Mind Shield: A helm, circlet, or any other
type of headgear with Mind Shield woven
into it confers benefits as per the spells
normal function.
Misdirection: Misdirection may be woven
into a structure as it is being built. The
enchantment has an area of effect of 50
square feet per point of enchanters Bearing,
and the enchanter must specify the location
of the affected area at the time of
construction. All intelligent beings who enter
the enchanted area suffer the spells normal
effects. In addition, once per hour, each
target of the enchantment must make an
opposed Bearing test against the Caster.
Those who fail act in a fashion determined
by the enchanter at the time the
enchantment is created (stand still, walk
east, turn around and go back the way they
came, and so on) until they are permitted
another Bearing test.
Morgul wound: A weapon that has had this
spell laid into it works deep and hurtful evil
on whomever it strikes. A weapon thus
enchanted causes additional damage equal
to 1d6 + enchanters Bearing x2. The
weapon also causes a wound so painful that
the victim suffers a 2 penalty to all
subsequent tests until he is healed. Damage
from a weapon enchanted with Morgul
Wound requires a Difficulty 4 Healing test to
heal, but only one Healing test is required,
no matter how many times the victim was
struck. It should also be noted that a
weapon permanently enchanted by Morgul
Wound cannot withstand the touch of the
sun, even if it has been enchanted by other
spells. Its blade withers into smoke and
disappears if it is exposed to daylight.
Obscure: This spell may be woven into any
miscellaneous item to keep it secret and
safe. Anyone searching for the object
receives a 4 penalty to Search tests that
might locate it. The enchanter receives no
special privilege if he forgets where he put
the item and must search for it; in this regard
an item permanently enchanted with
Obscure at the time of its making differs
from an item that has the spell cast on it.
Opening-Spell: This spell may be
used to enchant any hard object
permanently. Touching that enchanted
object to any normal lock opens it
automatically. It cannot open magically
sealed locks, however.
Rain-Ward: Any reasonably well made
cloak can keep the weather at bay, but even
the finest will soak through with rain
eventually and chill its wearer. As with Cold-
ward, weaving Rain-ward into a cloak will
keep water from soaking into it, no matter
how hard the downpour or how long it is left
out in the elements. The cloak will always
remain dry to the touch.
Resist Fear: This spell may be woven into
talismans to give the bearer heart in the face
of the Enemys works and designs. The
enchanter must invoke the name of one of
the Valar at the time of making the item to
imbue it with his or her blessing. The
talisman grants the bearer a +3 bonus to all
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Bearing tests associated with resisting fear
effects. If the enchanter also knows any of
Blessing of Aul, Blessing of Elbereth,
Blessing of Orom, or Invocation of
Elbereth, the talisman grants a +6 bonus.
Sap Strength: Anyone who receives
damage from a weapon that has had this
spell laid into it must make an Easy Bearing
Test. Failure results in a temporary loss of 1
point of Strength. One struck more than
once must make additional Bearing tests or
suffer additional losses, although ones
Strength may never drop below 0 as a result
of being struck by this weapon. This effect
lasts until the victim is fully healed.
Shells Virtue: When woven into leather
armor, this enchantment increases its ability
to absorb damage by 4 points.
Smite: Melee weapons that have had this
spell laid into them grant a +2 bonus to all
Armed Combat tests made with them. They
also cause additional damage equal to the
wielders Bearing when they strike their
target.
Smoke-Weaving: This spell may be woven
into a pipe to allow the user to blow smoke
exactly as if casting the spell. Note,
however, that using a pipe thus enchanted
to make a show out of blowing smoke is
considered cheating among those fond of
pipeweed. Its use is particularly frowned
upon when engaged in contests of
smokeweaving, whether friendly or serious.
Sorcery Ward: This spell may be woven
into any type of armour. Armor permanently
enchanted by Sorcery Ward grants a bonus
equal to the Wearers Bearing modifier to all
tests made by the wearer of the armor to
resist the effects of sorcery spells. If the
sorcery in question allows no tests to reduce
or negate its effects, the wearer may make
an opposed Bearing test against the caster.
If the target wins, he suffers no effect from
the sorcery. If the caster of the sorcery wins,
the spell generates its normal effects.
Shields and helms permanently enchanted
by this spell work in the same way, except
that they grant a bonus equal to half of the
Wearers Bearing modifier.
SpringTime: A phial enchanted with this
spell contains the essence of the spell,
which is released when it is activated by a
command word or action (such as tapping it
three times) determined by the enchanter.
The phials effects replicate the normal
functions of the spell, with an area of effect
determined by the Bearing score of the
enchanter. These effects last for a total of 1
hour per point of the enchanters Bearing
score, no matter how many times the phial is
used. Once it has been used for the
prescribed number of hours, its powers
disappear.
Victory-Spell: A weapon with Victory-spell
woven into it grants a +2 bonus to all
combat tests made with it.
Vulnerability To Sorcery: A weapon
enchanted with this spell inflicts the effects
of the spell itself upon anyone who sustains
even a single point of damage from it.
Wizards Guise: This subtle and clever bit
of Spellcraft may be woven into a cloak. A
cloak thus enchanted replicates the normal
functions of the spell.
The Enchanting Process
Once an enchanter has chosen a spell or
spells to weave into an enchanted item, the
process is begun.
If the enchanter is able to maintain his focus
over the long weeks required, the item will
be successfully created.
Time
Enchanting an item requires much time and
patience and cannot be done casually.
There is, however, a formula for calculating
the amount of time that this process will
require, and it consists of three elements.
Size Factor: The larger the item, the longer
it takes to weave a permanent enchantment
into it. The Size Factors Table defines the
size factors for various items based on their
size category or the size of an equivalent
creature.
Narrator judgement may be required to
properly categorise some items, but in most
cases, the appropriate size factor should be
obvious.
Size Factors
Size Equivalent
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1- Small Miniscule, Tiny, Little Items
less than one pound, shorter than
18 inches. Most items a Hobbit hold
comfortably in one hand.
2- Medium Small, Medium Items
between two and five pounds,
between 18 inches and one-half
yards. Most items a Man could hold
comfortably in both
3- Large Portable items heavier than
five pounds, between two and five
yards.
4 - Mammoth or larger Portable items
larger than size factor 3 and all
structures.
Effect Factor: An items effect factor is
based on the general magnitude of its
magical capabilities. It is determined by
adding up all of the test bonuses and
penalties caused by the item (penalties
represented as positive numbers) and all of
the dice of additional damage it causes in
combat.
Spells with additional damage measured by
the enchanters Bearing modifier add 1 to
the effect factor, as do spells that cause no
damage or do not bestow test bonuses or
penalties (such as Ithildin-fire).
For instance, a weapon enchanted with
Flame of Arnor would have an effect factor
of 2 because it causes its victim 1d6 points
of additional damage plus a Bearing
modifier.
Spell Factor: An items spell factor is the
sum of the Spell Cost associated with all of
the spells woven into the item, plus the
summed Difficulty Level of all spells woven
into the item.
For instance, Flame of Anor requires
9 Character Points and has a Difficulty of 3.
An item enchanted only with that spell has
spell factor 12.
The time in weeks required to enchant an
item is equal to the sum of the size, effect
factor and the spell factors.
For instance, weaving Flame of Arnor into a
longsword would take 16 weeks based on its
size factor 2, effect factor 2, and spell factor
12.
If that seems like rather a long time,
remember that part of an enchanted items
power in Middle-Earth is its rarity. A
character may never possess one in his
lifetime, and will probably only see a few.
They are not easy to make, especially in the
Third Age, when so much ancient
knowledge of craft has been forgotten, and
so one encounters them rarely. They are as
precious and valuable as heirlooms, not
commodities to be traded on the open
market.
An enchanter weaving a spell into an item
must work at this process continuously,
eating and sleeping little, taking no time
whatsoever for relaxation or tales by the
hearth. If more than four hours passes when
the enchanter cannot devote his full
attention to the process of laying in the
enchantment, the process is fatally disrupted
and he must start it all over again.
Fatigue
A working enchanter must make a Vitality
test at the beginning of every week during
the process of weaving an enchantment.
The Difficulty is the sum of the Spell
Difficulties for every spell he is weaving into
the item. For instance, the Difficulty for a
cloak with Change Hue would be 1, since
that is the Difficulty for that spell. However,
the Difficulty for a cloak with both Change
Hue and Rain-ward would be 2, since the
Difficulty for Rain-ward is 1 as well.
Failing a Vitality test causes the enchanter
to lose Weariness Levels Plus one based on
his degree of failure. This represents the
physical and mental strain required to
sustain ones concentration on laying in
enchantments. If the Spellcaster rests to
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recover lost Weariness Levels at any point
before he has finished enchanting the item,
he disrupts the process and must start all
over again (unless, as described below,
other Spellcasters are also working on the
enchantment).
On the other hand, the process also comes
to a premature end if he loses all of his
Weariness Levels and becomes Exhausted
before he can complete the item. If the
enchanter can make it through the requisite
number of weeks without interruption,
however, the item is completed and ready
for use.
Teamwork
Spellcasters may work as a team to reduce
the time needed to lay an enchantment into
an item. All of the enchanters involved must
know all of the spells being woven (even if
they divide the labor and work on different
spells as described below), and none must
be away for more than four hours to sustain
their contribution to it. Each Spellcaster
effectively contributes one Spellcaster-
week to the total number of weeks required
to create the item for each week of work he
contributes.
For instance, if two enchanters enslaved by
Sauron were to weave Morgul Wound into a
longsword instead of one, the process would
take Five and one-half weeks instead of 11.
Three such enchanters could complete the
work in 3 weeks.
When dividing the work in this way, each
Spellcaster must make Vitality tests against
the normal Weariness each week. If one
enchanter falters at some point in the
process, he falls out of the process and
may not rejoin the effort, and the remaining
time must be made up by those who remain.
For instance, if one of two enslaved dark
enchanters could not sustain his efforts
beyond three weeks, it would take the
remaining enchanter five more weeks to
finish. (While they were working together for
three weeks, they collectively accumulated
six of 11 Spellcaster-weeks, and nine more
remain to be finished.)
If, at any point, there are no Spellcasters
working on the project, it fails and must be
started over.
A team of Spellcasters may also collaborate
on a single item that is to contain multiple
enchantments by dividing the work between
them so that each member is responsible for
laying in different spells. In this case,
calculate the time needed to complete the
enchantment separately for each spell used.
The various lengths of time then run
concurrently. An additional benefit is that
each enchanter need only make his weekly
Vitality test against the Difficulty of the spell
he is working on.
For instance, imagine two artificers from
Minas Tirith collaborating to weave both
Change Hue and Rain-ward into the same
cloak. If they divided the labour so that one
concentrated on Change Hue and the other
on Rain-ward, the former would require 13
weeks to finish his part, while the latter
would need only five weeks.
It is even possible for multiple enchanters to
collaborate on a single enchanting task
which has already been divided by spell.
For instance, if a third spellcaster from
Minas Tirith joined the enchanter laying
Change Hue into the cloak described above,
the two of them would complete that
enchantment in six and one-half weeks. The
whole cloak would thus be done in six and
one half weeks.
Teams of enchanters become especially
important when weaving spells into large
structures. It would take a single spellcaster
decades of constant effort to lay an
enchantment into a tower the size of
Orthanc; setting more than one to the task
would make such a project much more
feasible. Making this process even more
complicated is the fatigue that sets in over
the course of weaving a spell into an
enchanted item. It is strenuous work, and it
cannot be assumed that an enchanter will
complete the task without complication, or
even complete it at all before exhaustion
overcomes him.
Accursed Items
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Although most Free People capable of
enchanting wondrous items wish only to
bring beauty, utility, and promise into the
world, others have fouler and subtler
motives. As the One Ring was forged with
evil intent to dominate the other Rings of
Power, and as it corrupted the hearts of
those who came into its possession, so too
may other artefacts of power lead to
suffering and loss.
Accursed items are rare. PCs may find them
misplaced in treasure hordes or buried in
barrows with their unfortunate owners. They
may encounter them as gifts given out of
malice rather than friendship. Or they may
not realiseuntil it is too late that they
themselves have unwittingly fashioned such
items.
Accursed items are created using the same
process by which other enchanted items are
made. Their accursed nature may be
reflected in two ways. First, those who carry,
wield, or use them may suffer the effects of
one or more flaws that are part of the items
fiber. Second, they may cause their owners
to gradually become Corrupt, just as the
One Ring tainted Smagol, Bilbo, and
Frodo.
Flawed Artifacts
The physical stresses involved in enchanting
items are severe. These prompt some
enchanters to take shortcuts which
ultimately allow hurtful power to infuse the
enchantment.
Any time an enchanter fails a Vitality test in
the course of enchanting an item, he may
chooseafter the roll has been madeto
add a +4 bonus to his test result. Such a
bonus saves him an entire Weariness Level
and can easily spell the difference between
success and failure.
Each time the caster takes this bonus,
however, the item is infused with a flaw,
chosen by the Narrator. Common flaws
associated with items are Covetous (the
bearer seeks to retain the item at all
costs), Battle-fury (found frequently
in enchanted arms), Arrogant (the
bearer believes the item makes him
better than others of his kind), and Coward
(the bearer becomes easily frightened that item of power has a corrupting influence
his prize will be taken from him by force of until it is used.
arms.
If the enchanter does not pass his Bearing
The flaw or flaws associated with an test the item gains the trait Corrupting. Any
enchanted item automatically afflict any time the magical powers of a corrupting
character who carries or uses the item as if artifact are used the bearer of the item must
that character himself had the flaw in make a Corruption test. The Difficulty for this
question. If the bearer already has that flaw test is equal to the items Effect Factor. To
he suffers magnified improved effects, if any keep track of this information the Narrator
as determined by the Narrator. A character should record an items corrupting potential
who wishes to act in a manner opposed to after the fashion of Corrupting (Difficulty X).
the nature of the flaw must make a Bearing
test or spend Courage to do so. Any enchanter who wishes may
automatically imbue items he creates with
Corruption the corrupting trait without making the
Even the most well-meaning wizard may Bearing test described above. When this is
accidentally create items which will corrupt done it is that much more difficult to resist
those who use them. The potential of an the items corrupting influence; the
enchanted item to corrupt depends on the Corruption test associated with the item is
magnitude of its power. At the beginning of the effect factor + 1.
the enchanting process the Narrator secretly
tests the enchanters Bearing against a Anyone who creates a corrupting item on
Difficulty equal to the Effect Factor of the purpose must immediately make a
item being created. Succeeding at this test Corruption test himself, against the
is not difficult for wise characters creating Difficulty the corrupting item will have. This
relatively minor enchantments, but as more test is made even if the item is not
powerful items are made the chance of the successfully completed. The malice involved
subtle influence of corruption increases. eats away at those who work baneful magic
That the test is secret is important; it is whether they succeed or fail.
impossible to know whether a newly created
Spells for Enchanting Items
Type of Item Allowable Spells
Armor Beast Cloak (body armor only), Bladeshattering, Change Hue (body
armor only), Cloak of Shadow (body armor only), Dark Stench, Guarding-
spell, Hides Virtue (body armor only), Intercept Missile, Keen Senses
(helm only), Mind Barrier (helm only), Mind Shield (helm only), Resist
Fire (body armor only), Shells Virtue (body armor only), Sorcery Ward,
Veil (body armor only)

Weapon Bane-spell, Blade Preservation, Bladeshattering, Corrupt Surface, Detect

Foe, Fatigue, Fire of Udn, Flame Arrow (projectiles only), Flame of
Anor, Lame, Lightning, Morgul Wound (bladed and pointed melee
weapons only), Sap Strength (melee weapons only), Smite (melee
weapons only), Victory-spell, Vulnerability to Sorcery

Miscellaneous Beast Cloak (cloak), Blast of Cold (horn), Blessing of

Aul (smithing tools), Blinding Flash (phial), Change Hue
(cloak), Cloak of Shadow (cloak), Cold-ward (cloak), Create Light (phial),
Crafting-spell (smithing or crafting tools), Detect Foe (talisman),
Farseeing (looking-glass, crystal sphere), Finding and Returning (boots,
map, staff), Guarding-spell (talisman), Ithilden-fire, Keen Senses
(circlet), Mind Barrier (circlet), Mind Shield (circlet), Obscure, Opening
spell (talisman), Rain-ward (cloak), Resist Fear (talisman), Resist Fire

101
 (cloak), Smoke-weaving (pipe), Sorcery Ward (cloak), Springtime (phial),
Veil (cloak),Wizards Guise (cloak)

Structure Exclusion, Fortify Works, Guarding-spell, Hides Virtue, Misdirection,

Resist Fire, Scribe Moon-letters, Shells Virtue, Sorcery Ward

Spellcasting Quality; and the Quality Spell

Familiars
In Middle-earth, it is not unknown that a
powerful Spellcaster should forge an
unusually close bond with an individual
beast, so that the creature functions in many
ways as an extension of his will. Gandalf
formed a particularly close friendship with
the mear Shadowfax during the War of the
Ring, so that the great steed would answer
only to him, and even accompanied him
across the Western Seas at the close of the
Third Age. Saruman the White also had a
particular affinity with carrion birds, which
served him as spies. Radagast the Brown
kept company with many beasts and birds in
and around his home of Rhosgobel, and
although history does not record a familiar
relationship with any individual creature, it
seems inconceivable that Radagast did not
keep familiars during his stay in Middle-
earth.
In order to keep a familiar, a character must
meet certain requisites: Bearing 4+; the
Specialty (Birds and Beasts) or the skill Lore
/Wilderness Lore: Wild Beasts 4+.
Note that this restricts keeping a familiar to
magicians, wizards, and loremasters who
have taken the spellcasting ability.
A Spellcaster may keep one familiar per
point of his Bearing. There are no absolute
restrictions on what creatures may or may
not be familiars. In practice, however,
aquatic creatures, insects, livestock, and
game animals rarely become such.
Introducing the Familiar
Gaining a familiar is a matter of making
friends with a beast, gaining its trust, and
establishing a relationship with it. But one
cannot simply snap ones fingers and expect
a familiar to appear, or go hunting in the wild
for one. A player who wishes for his
character to gain a familiar should discuss
the matter with the Narrator and figure out
how such an animal might enter the

102
chronicle, if no obvious candidates already
exist.
It might also be an animal whose life the
character saves by driving away a predator,
or one found wounded and then healed. It
could be as simple a matter as encountering
a creature of the woods while traveling; it
follows the character and refuses to go
away.
In a town or city it may be a stray cat or dog
that wont leave the character alone. In the
case of Shadowfax, Gandalf chose him to
ride among all of the King of Rohans
horses; he then bore Gandalf on crucial
errands and became his trusted companion.
The bottom line is that the appearance of
the familiar should be an element of the
unfolding chronicle rather than something
that occurs outside it, and in any event,
there must be some material basis for the
animal to become that characters familiar.
The species of the familiar are up to the
Narrator alone, though wise Narrators will
consider the players desires and characters
personality when introducing the familiar. In
any case, before the next steps in the
bonding process can occur, the Narrator
must determine the creatures statistics.
Bonding
Once a suitable period of acquaintance has
passed, the character must make a bonding
test to see if he has persuaded the creature
to follow him on a permanent basis. It is
ultimately up to the Narrator to determine
when a suitable period of acquaintance has
passed, but the conclusion of the adventure
in which the creature appeared is a good
general rule. The bonding test is a Lore/
Wilderness (Wild Beasts or Domesticated
Beasts) test modified by Bearing rather than
Wits.
The Difficulty is equal to the creatures
Vitality divided by 2 rounded up (minimum
one). For example, a cat with a 2 Vitality and
would require a single success while a horse
with a 7 Vitality would require 4 successes.
Success indicates that the character and
animal become keeper and familiar. On a
failure, the creature rejects the character
103
and continues to act of its own accord. The
character may never try to make that
particular creature his familiar ever again.
If the character succeeds in bonding with the
familiar he must then spend 5 Character
Points (or 10 experience points) to complete
the bond. Once the character has paid
these points he receives all the benefits of
Bonding with a familiar.
The Familiar in Play
Although the familiar and its keeper share a
close bond, the familiar is ultimately
controlled by the Narrator as a non-player
character. Although their close friendship
colors every interaction between them, the
familiar retains a distinctive animal identity. It
is a friend and constant companion whose
bond is in some ways more intimate than
those that its keeper will share with his
fellow heroes. A player character who
abuses this bond may find himself
abandoned by his familiar, with
consequences identical to those if the
familiar had died. Unless there is a
compelling reason, however, a familiar
carries out its keepers bidding to the best of
its abilities. It cant, of course, do things that
are physically impossible for it to
accomplisha cat cannot scribe a note, for
instance. And while many familiars are
brave, they do not put themselves in
dangers way without cause.
A character that abuses the friendship and
unduly jeopardizes the life and limb of his
familiar is likely to find himself abandoned.
The Abilities of Familiars
Familiars and their keepers gain access to
the following special capabilities that reflect
their bond.
Intuitive Communication: Familiars and
their keepers share an intuitive ability to
communicate with each other, effectively
reading each others thoughts as long as
they remain within 50 yards of one another.
Additionally, keepers may call their familiars
to them by whistling, singing, calling out, or
executing some other mutually understood
signal.
The familiar must make an Observe (Hear)
test,. The Narrator should determine the
difficulty based on distance and
environmental conditions. The subtle magic
of Middle-earth assists these callings,
however, and the noise may be heard and
understood over many leagues if
circumstances are dire or conditions are
ideal.
Talking With Beasts: Familiars can
communicate with other beasts of their
species, and can use this ability to gather
information and recruit help. Saruman used
this ability to spy on the Company of the
Ring as they headed south from Rivendell.
Only one crow served Saruman as a
familiar, but it could communicate with other
crows and recruit them to the task.
Ability Extension: A familiar and its keeper
can serve to extend each others senses.
When within 50 yards of each other, they
may cooperate when making Search or
Observe tests. Any time one of the pair is
entitled to a make a test, both may do so. In
addition, while each rolls separately, both
tests use the higher of the pairs number of
skill ranks (though each uses his own
attribute modifier).
Spell Coverage: Any spell cast on a familiar
or its keeper automatically affects the other
104
if they are within 50 yards of each other
when it is cast, unless the keeper is casting
the spell and chooses only to affect himself.
This includes spells which cause direct
damage to either. In the case of spells (such
as Rain-ward) cast by the keeper that last as
long as the caster maintains concentration,
the keeper may terminate the spells effect
on the familiar while sustaining the effect on
himself. He cannot, however, terminate the
effect on himself and maintain the effect on
the familiar.
Familiars Over Time
Each time a familiars keeper gains an
Experience Points he may choose to spend
them on the familiar using the same rules
that apply to normal characters instead of
himself.
If a familiar (or keeper) should die, either
from age or unnatural causes, a relationship
that runs deeply and strong is abruptly
severed.
The shock this causes goes beyond grief.
The surviving party immediately becomes
Exhausted (though can recover normally),
suffers a 4 modifier to all tests for one
week, and mayaccording to the
characters temperament and Narrators
ruling based on the situationbe unwilling
to bond with another familiar (or keeper)
ever again.
Chapter 6: Mass
Combat

105
 Chapter 7: Mass Combat
Battle Web
This tactical battle system overlays any battlefield with a Battle Web that identifies potential
Arenas of combat and the Paths that connect them.

Battle Webs can be drawn at any scale. They can cover battles between handfuls of units or
keep track of conflicts like the War of the Ring, tracking the movement of troops across all Middle-
Earth.

ARENAS
An Arena is any large section of the battlefield
where units are likely to gather and fight. Each
Arena represents a separate area of conflict,
through events in one Arena can effect the
outcome of conflict in another. In relatively
small conflicts such as the Helms Deep map
above, archers in one Arena can contribute
their Ranged Combat attribute to an adjacent
Arena. Arenas are considered adjacent if a
Path exists between them.

Arenas have two properties, Terrain and Size.

Terrain describes the dominant land feature of
the Arena. A single Arena cannot have more
than one kind of Terrain Type. Size indicates
how many units can normally fit into an Arena.
Because Unit Size varies at different scales of
battle, each battle web must be created with
one of those scales in mind (see Scales of
Conflict Table below).

PATHS
Paths represent the routes armies can take
when moving between different arenas. Each
Path has a Difficulty representing how difficult it is for a unit to move along that path in a single
round. High Difficulty Levels might represent great distances, difficult ground, or a combination of
both. Some Travel Difficulties are so high a unit must make extended tests and take several
rounds to travel along them. The Difficulty Level represents a number of Successes that must be
rolled when a unit uses a Path for Movement. Ranged Combat takes a Penalty equal to this
number when attempting to attack units in adjacent Arenas.

CONSTRUCTING A BATTLE WEB

The first thing you must do is consider the scale of the battle. Will the Battle Web host Skirmish-
sized units, Battle-sized Units or Epic Battle-sized Units? The next step is to take a map and put
the Arenas and Paths on it. Any large, open area is a good place for an Arena. After drawing
Arenas on all the open areas that troops might attack from you should also examine your map for
Fortifications, buildings or other terrain features the battle might be focused on. When
considering the Size of an Arena think about how many Units might be able to squeeze into it.
You must also choose the terrain of each Arena.

106
 Battle and War
The first thing that must be decided upon in large scale conflicts is the scale of the battle. A scale
will be chosen that has between 10 and 100 units per side.
For example if 3000 Dwarves were to face 8000 Orcs the most likely scale chosen would be the
Battle scale. This would result in 30 units of Dwarves and 80 Orcs. If, however, you want the
conflict to be faster (easier to resolve mechanically) or slower (but more nuanced and perhaps
more rewarding) then move the scale up or down a notch.

For Example in the battle mentioned above you could move the scale of the battle from Battle to
Epic which would result in 3 units versus 8 units and could likely be resolved quickly. If however
you wanted to take the better part of a game session you could change the scale down to
Skirmish which would result in 300 Dwarven units versus 800 Orc units.

Scales of Conflict Table

Scale Unit Suggested
Size EV
Skirmish 10 2500-
Soldiers 25000
Battle 100 25000-
Soldiers 250000
Epic 1000 250000-
Soldiers 1000000

Units
Armies are made up of soldiers and soldiers are organized into units. In game terms each unit
contains warriors who are all of the same race who have the same sort of arms and armor and
perform the same function on the battlefield. For example a unit of Dwarven Heavy Infantry is
composed of Dwarves, outfitted with heavy arms and armor and expected to engage the enemy
on foot.

Unit Attributes
All units have characteristics just like characters do. Unlike characters, however, units only have
a handful of attributes. Each Unit Attribute is described below.
Type: Type is a description of the unit such as Cardolani Heavy Infantry or Orkish Light
Calvary (Warg Riders) ect. Type defines the units race (such as Arthedain, Elven, Orkish
etc.) arms and armor (light, medium and heavy) and if applicable the battlefield function (infantry
or Calvary).
Heavy Units wear heavy armor, are difficult to injure and move very slowly. They are deadlier in
combat than light or medium units. Medium Units have better mobility but wear less armor than
heavies. Light Units are the most mobile of the 3 types of units but the least deadly.
Infantry are foot soldiers who engage the enemy directly and make up the bulk of most armies.
Archers are foot soldiers who stay away from the front lines usually behind the infantry and
assault the enemy with arrows. Calvary are mounted soldiers who are faster than infantry and
typically better armed. Calvary are able to capable of striking swiftly and wheeling away from the
front line out of danger to strike again.
Command: Measures a units training and experience in battle. This attribute is used to execute
Command Maneuvers, which grant a unit tactical superiority on the battlefield and allow it to take
advantage of terrain and positioning.

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Ranged Combat: Measures a units effectiveness with ranged weapons such as bows. It
servers as the bonus to Ranged Combat maneuvers. Ranged Combat can be used on adjacent
Arenas with a Path Difficulty of 3 or less.
Melee Combat: Describes the units effectiveness with melee weapons such as swords and
axes and serves as the bonus to melee combat maneuvers.
Toughness: Is a combination of how hardy and how heavily armored the members of a unit are.
It is used to determine whether a given unit is destroyed if it is imperiled in battle.
Support: Measures a units ability to employ healing and assist its fellows in other ways.
Typically, units with high Support values have low combat values.
Movement: Describes how mobile a unit is. Distances in combat are described as Difficulties
against which the Movement attribute is tested.

Special: Describes a units special abilities, if any. Heavy Calvarys Fell Charge for example
which grants a bonus to the charge maneuver.

Effect Value:
Abbreviated EV, this is an abstract value that lets the Narrator determine at a glance how potent
a given force is on the battlefield. Units with equal EVs are equally potent, in theory. You can
determine most troops Base EV by adding up their Command, Ranged Combat, Melee Combat,
Toughness, Support, and Movement. Some units will have modifications to this number based
on their Special Abilities. Once the base EV is determined multiply it by the number of troops in
the unit: 10 at skirmish level, 100 at battle level, and 1,000 at epic level.

FORMATIONS
To simplify record keeping, collections of units of the same type in the same army are treated as
a single formation. This allows many units to listed on the same line of the army record.

THE ARMY RECORD

Much as characters statistics are recorded on Character Sheets, the statistics of an army are
recorded on an Army Record.

At the top of the army record are spaces for the scale of the battle being fought, the total size (in
units) of the army and the name of the armys leader. There is also space to record the Armys
statistics.

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 EXAMPLE UNITS
ARNORIAN UNITS
UNIT/ TYPE C R Me T S Mo EV Special
Heavy Calvary 4 3 9 4 3 6 36 Fell Charge*
Medium Calvary 4 3 7 3 3 7 34 Fell Charge*
Light Calvary 4 3 6 2 3 8 32 Fell Charge*
Heavy Infantry 4 3 8 4 3 3 29
Medium Infantry 4 3 5 3 3 3 24
Light Infantry 4 3 4 2 3 4 22
Medium Archers 4 6 4 3 3 4 27
Light Archers 4 5 4 2 3 5 25
*Fell Charge Units that succeed at a charge maneuver double the charge bonus.
ORKISH UNITS
UNIT/ TYPE C R Me T S Mo EV Special
Medium Calvary 4 3 7 3 2 7 33 Warg Mounted*
Light Calvary 4 3 5 2 2 8 30 Warg Mounted*
Medium Infantry 3 3 5 3 2 3 22 Cave Dweller**
Light Infantry 3 3 4 2 2 4 20 Cave Dweller**
Medium Archers 3 6 3 3 2 4 24 Cave Dweller**
Light Archers 3 5 3 2 2 5 23 Cave Dweller**
*Warg Mounted Units gain a +2 bonus when attempting Flank Maneuvers.
**Cave Dweller These units suffer no penalties for fighting in Caverns terrain.
ELVEN UNITS
UNIT/ TYPE C R Me T S Mo EV Special
Heavy Archers 6 10 5 4 5 4 40 Forest-Friend*
Medium Archers 6 8 5 3 5 5 38 Forest-Friend*
Light Archers 6 7 5 3 5 7 38 Forest-Friend*
* Forest-Friend Elves suffer no penalties for fighting in Forest Terrain.
DWARVEN UNITS
UNIT/ TYPE C R Me T S Mo EV Special
Heavy Infantry 6 3 9 5 5 4 36 Mtn. Native*
Medium Archers 6 5 7 4 5 5 38 Mtn. Native*
*Mountain Dweller These units suffer no penalties for fighting in Mountainous terrain.

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 Battle Resolution
Once you have created the Battle Map and picked your units you are ready to fight. Battle is
conducted by performing the following steps, in order. Each step is described in full below.

1. Calculate Terrain and Situational Modifiers.

2. Determine Order of Battle.
3. Determine Leaders Positions.
4. Execute Maneuvers and apply Maneuver Modifiers.
5. Launch attacks against the enemies.
6. Determine Casualties.
7. Determine Leaders Fates.

Each iteration of steps 1-7 makes up one round of battle. The length of the round in game time
depends on the scale of the battle and is shown on the table below.

Battle Rounds
Scale Round Length
Skirmish 15 minutes
Battle 1 Hour
Epic Battle 4 Hours

Step One: Terrain and Situational Modifiers

Terrain and situational Modifiers are determined by Arena. Most situational modifiers apply to an
entire army but Terrain Modifiers might apply to one Arena and not another. Terrain modifiers
applied to a unit in Step One persist until the end of the Battle Round even when units
subsequently move to an Arena with a different Terrain. Also when units of opposing sides are in
the same Arena both sides gain the Terrain Modifier.

Terrain Modifiers
ARTIC Units without the special ability Cold-Hardy suffer -1 penalty to Melee Combat and
a -2 to Ranged Combat.
CAVERNS Units without the special ability Cavern Dweller suffer -2 penalty to Melee
Combat and a -2 to Movement and a -1 penalty to Support when in caverns.
DESERT Units without the special ability Desert Trained suffer -1 penalty to Melee
Combat and a -2 to Movement and a -1 penalty to Support when in a desert.
FOREST Units without the special ability Forest-friend have their Ranged Combat score
reduced to 0 and suffer a -2 penalty to Movement in a forest.
LIGHT FORTIFICATION Fence, moat or short wall. Units defending a Light Fortification
get a +1 bonus to their Toughness, Ranged Combat and Support scores.
MEDIUM FORTIFICATION Keeps, small castles, usually without a moat or outlying
defenses. +1 Toughness and +2 Ranged Combat and Support.
HEAVY FORTIFICATION Castles usually surrounded by walls or a moat. Units gain a
+2 Toughness, Ranged Combat and Support.
LEGENDARY FORTIFICATION Helms Deep, Minas Tirith etc. Units gain +5
Toughness, +3 Support, +2 Ranged Combat.
HILLS+1Melee Combat and +2 Ranged Combat.
MOUNTAINS Unless Units have the Mountain Native ability they suffer a penalty of -2 to
Ranged Combat and Movement.
PLAINS No modifiers.
SWAMP Units suffer a -4 to Movement and -1 to Command.

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 Situational Modifiers
AMBUSHED Ambushed units suffer a penalty of -2 Command and -1 to Movement in the
first round of battle only.
BADLY SUPPLIED -2 Command and -1 Toughness.
DISMAYED such as when an army learns of its leader dying or of the defeat has befallen
allies. -1 Melee Combat, Ranged Combat, Command and Toughness.
ENTRENCHED Takes a day +1 Toughness.
ESCAPE BLOCKED Those in a Fortification ignore this condition. -2 Movement and
Command.
EXHAUSTED -1 Toughness and Movement.
LEADERLESS -2 Command.
MERCENARIES -1 Toughness, +2 Melee and Ranged Combat.
NOBLE LED +1Command and Toughness.
OUTNUMBERED Up to two or three to one then -1 Command. More than three to one -2
Command.
RAIN AND SNOW -1 Movement, -2 Ranged Combat.
RECENTLY BEATEN Within the last month or so. -1 Command.
STRUCK FROM REAR -2 Ranged Combat, -1 Command and Movement.
UNTRAINED -2 Command and Toughness, -1 Ranged and Melee Combat and
Movement and Support.
WIND -2 Movement and Command, -1 Ranged Combat.

Step Two: Order of Battle

To determine the Order of Battle the Leader of each side makes an Opposed Siegecraft Test.
The winner has the option to either execute all of his Maneuvers first or defer to his opponent. An
army that has no leader automatically fails the test. If both sides are leaderless then simply roll a
D10 and the highest roll prevails.

Step Three: Leaders Position

Each Leader must determine where he will position himself within his Army. This choice effects
the number of Maneuvers an Army will be able to make, as well as how likely the Leader is to be
captured or injured in combat. Each Leader must select which Arena he will operate from and
then he has 3 options.

OUTSKIRTS The Army can make one extra Leader or Support Maneuver.
THICK OF BATTLE The Army can make one extra Maneuver of any type.
HEART OF BATTLE The Army can make two extra Maneuvers of any type.

Step four: Maneuvers

Each Army may attempt to execute 2 Maneuvers per turn. The Army may also get extra
Maneuvers depending on the Leaders Position. Each Formation may only perform one
Maneuver per battle round. The only exception is when an Army has fewer Formations than the
number of Maneuvers allowed. When this is the case each Formation gets to make a second
Action. If any Maneuvers are left after all units have had second actions then all the remaining
Maneuvers are lost. When a Formation gets a second action they can never perform the same
Maneuver twice even if they failed in the first attempt.

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In order to put Maneuvers into effect a Test must be made. The Formation that is attempting a
Maneuver must make a test using the appropriate Statistic adding in any appropriate Terrain or
Situational Modifiers. If a formations Maneuver is successful the affect is immediately resolved
(in the case of actions which can be immediately resolved) or recorded. The bonuses to
formation attributes that are garnered from Maneuvers last for one battle round unless otherwise
specified.

Some Maneuvers have Formation targets in the other Army that will be affected if the maneuver
is successful. Because Formations vary in size there are penalties for small Formations to effect
larger ones and bonuses for larger Formations to affect smaller ones.

Maneuver Modifiers
Target Formation is Modifier
One Quarter the Size of the Maneuvering Formation -3
One half the Size of the Maneuvering Formation -1
Twice the Size of the Maneuvering Formation +1
Three times the Size of the Maneuvering Formation +2
Four times the Size of the Maneuvering Formation +3
Five or more times the Size of the Maneuvering Formation +4

Maneuvers are characterized by the Maneuver Type: the attribute used to execute them.
Command Maneuvers test a formations Command Attribute, Ranged Combat Maneuvers test
Ranged Combat etc. There are Leader Maneuvers which only Leaders may execute, and which
affect a Leaders Siegecraft Skill.

Some Maneuvers are designated first strike only. They can only be executed by a unit that won
Siegecraft test and opted to act first. Others are designated response only. These can only be
executed by a unit in an army acting last in a round.

MANEUVERS
AID THE WOUNDED
Maneuver Type: Support Maneuver Modifier: -2
Effect: If successful the target formation is relieved of any penalties they are
currently suffering to their Toughness, including those resulting from Terrain and
Situational Modifiers. A formation can target itself with this maneuver. A PC in the
formation may make a Healing Test and add a bonus to the Units Support roll equal
to their Success Levels. The maximum aid is determined by the Players Position in
the formation. See Heroes in Battle below.

ASSAULT FORTIFICATION
Maneuver Type: Command Maneuver Modifier: varies
Effect: Allows a formation to attempt to destroy a fortification and negate the
bonuses its defenders may get from it by deploying siege engines and the like. Only
affects a single Arena per use. The Modifier depends on the type of Fortification
being assaulted. Light (-1) Medium (-3) Heavy (-4) Legendary (-5 or more). A PC in
the formation may make a Stonecraft Test and add a bonus to the Units Command
roll equal to their Success Levels divided by 2. The maximum aid is determined by
the Players Position in the formation. See Heroes in Battle below.

CHARGE
Maneuver Type: Movement Maneuver Modifier: -2
Effect: Charge is just like Move save that the Difficulty is harder because of the
Maneuver Modifier. If successful a unit that successfully performed this maneuver
gets a bonus of +2 to its Melee Combat. A PC in the formation may make an Inspire

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 or Intimidate Test and add a bonus to the Units Movement roll equal to their
Success Levels divided by 2. The maximum aid is determined by the Players Position
in the formation. See Heroes in Battle below.

COMMIT ARCHERS
Maneuver Type: Ranged Combat Maneuver Modifier: Path Difficulty
Effect: Any unit can commit its Ranged Combat to an adjacent Arena with a
connecting Path Difficulty of -5 or less. If successful the formation that executed this
maneuver can declare an attack on a Formation within the targeted Arena during the
Launch Attacks step. A PC in the formation may make a Ranged Combat Test and
add a bonus to the Units Ranged Combat roll equal to their Success Levels. The
maximum aid is determined by the Players Position in the formation. See Heroes in
Battle below.

CONCENTRATE FIRE
Maneuver Type: Ranged Combat Maneuver Modifier: -2
Effect: Can only be used by a formation in the same Arena. If successful the
targeted Formation suffers a -2 Toughness penalty. A PC in the formation may make
a Ranged Combat Test and add a bonus to the Units Ranged Combat roll equal to
their Success Levels. The maximum aid is determined by the Players Position in the
formation. See Heroes in Battle below.

HEARTEN
Maneuver Type: Support Maneuver Modifier: -3
Effect: If successful the targeted Formation receives a +1 to Command and
Toughness. Can only be used on a unit in the same Arena. A PC in the formation
may make an Inspire or Perform Test and add a bonus to the Units Support roll
equal to their Success Levels. The maximum aid is determined by the Players
Position in the formation. See Heroes in Battle below.

INSPIRE
Maneuver Type: Leader Maneuver Modifier: -2
Effect: Success gives all allied Formations in the same Arena as the leader +1 to
Toughness and any one other Attribute the Leader chooses. A PC in the formation
may make a Siegecraft Test and add a bonus to the Units Leadership roll equal to
their Success Levels. The maximum aid is determined by the Players Position in the
formation. See Heroes in Battle below.

MOVE
Maneuver Type: Movement Maneuver Modifier: None (see below)
Effect: When attempting to move from one Arena to another enough successes
equal to the Path Difficulty must be made during a Movement Test. If enough
successes are achieved the unit arrives in the Arena it was moving to. If it fail the
controlling player has the option to remain in the original Arena or turn the test into an
Extended Movement Test. In an Extended Movement Test the acting Formation
records the amount of successes made in its Movement Test. In the next round of
battle it may attempt another Movement Test and add the amount of successes
achieved together. Once the total test result exceeds the Path Difficulty Level the
formation arrives at its destination.

Formations using Extended Tests are considered En Route and cant affect or be
affected by the battle. Even two opposing Formations on the same Path cannot
battle.

Formations may attempt to traverse two Paths with a single Move Maneuver only if
the Arena between them is NOT occupied by an enemy unit. Simply add the two

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 Paths Difficulty Levels together and make a Movement Test. If enough successes
are generated the Formation arrives at the destination Arena immediately. If not they
stay in their starting Arena. Extended Tests cannot be used to traverse more than
one Arena.

PRESS THE ATTACK

Maneuver Type: Melee Combat Maneuver Modifier: -3
Effect: To press the attack the maneuvering formation must target the largest
formation in the opposing army. If successful all Allied units in the same Arena
receive a +2 to Melee Combat. A PC in the formation may make a Melee Combat
Test and add a bonus to the Units Melee Combat roll equal to their Success Levels.
The maximum aid is determined by the Players Position in the formation. See
Heroes in Battle below.

RALLY
Maneuver Type: Leader Maneuver Modifier: -2
Effect: Can only be performed in an Arena where a Unit perished or in an adjacent
one and the Leader must be present in the Arena where the Unit is to be rallied. A
leader who succeeds with this maneuver reforms one Unit in his Army that was
destroyed in the previous round of battle. A PC in the formation may make an Inspire
Test and add a bonus to the Units Leadership roll equal to their Success Levels. The
maximum aid is determined by the Players Position in the formation. See Heroes in
Battle below.

RECEIVE CHARGE
Maneuver Type: Melee Combat Maneuver Modifier: -3 RESPONSE ONLY
Effect: If successful negates the bonuses gained through the Charge Maneuver by
an opposing unit and grants a bonus of +2 to Melee Combat to the unit that received
the charge. A PC in the formation may make a Melee Combat Test and add a
bonus to the Units Melee Combat roll equal to their Success Levels. The maximum
aid is determined by the Players Position in the formation. See Heroes in Battle
below.

SHIELD WALL
Maneuver Type: Command Maneuver Modifier: -3
Effect: Only Medium or Heavy Infantry may make this maneuver. If successful no
enemy formation may use its Ranged Combat to attack this unit. A PC in the
formation may make a Siegecraft Test and add a bonus to the Units Command roll
equal to their Success Levels. The maximum aid is determined by the Players
Position in the formation. See Heroes in Battle below.

SINGLE COMBAT
Maneuver Type: Leader Maneuver Modifier: -2
Effect: If successful when two opposing Leaders or Named Characters (PC or
otherwise) are in the same Arena then they meet and fight using the normal rules for
combat between single characters. If both Leaders attempt this maneuver in the
same round then the Modifier is reduced to -1.

STAND FIRM
Maneuver Type: Command Maneuver Modifier: -3
Effect: If successful the unit performing this maneuver receives a +2 to Toughness.
A PC in the formation may make an Inspire Test and add a bonus to the Units
Support roll equal to their Success Levels. The maximum aid is determined by the
Players Position in the formation. See Heroes in Battle below.

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 Step five: Launch Attacks
Once both sides have finished Maneuvering battle is joined in each Arena that contains
Formations from opposing sides. It can also occur in Arenas that were the target of a Commit
Archers Maneuver. The side that won the Siegecraft test at the beginning of the round goes first
and all that sides attacks are fully executed in any order that the leader chooses. Then the
opposing sides Formations do the same. Each Formations attack consists of two steps:

CHOOSE TARGET: The attacking Formation chooses a Formation on the opposing side that will
be the target of the attack.

MAKE ATTACK TEST: the attacking formation makes a Ranged or Melee Combat Test. The
attacking formation may normally choose which of these attributes it wants to test, though certain
maneuvers may dictate that one or the other must be used. Subtract the targeted Formations
Toughness from the roll. If attack results in a Success the number of units in the target Formation
equal to the attacking Formation are Imperiled. If 3 or 4 Successes are achieved twice that
number are Imperiled. 5 or more successes Imperils 3 times the amount of attacking units. If the
test fails the attack has no effect.

If the attack Imperils more units than exist in that Formation, the extra Imperilment can be applied
to units in any other formation as long as the second Formations Toughness is less than or equal
to the original target. Imperilment cannot spill over to a third unit.

Alternately, any time an attacker would normally imperil a unit he may choose instead to inflict a
penalty of -1 to the Toughness of a Unit that is already Imperiled. This makes it more likely an
Imperiled unit will not survive when casualties are determined. Such penalties can be stacked if
enough Imperilment is inflicted.
Step Six: Determine Casualties
Once all Formations have attacked, each side must determine how many of its Imperiled units
become Casualties of the battle. Each Imperiled unit makes a Difficult Toughness Test
(Toughness +D10). Each unit that fails the test is destroyed, while each successful unit shakes
off the attack and survives to fight in the next round.

Step Seven: Leaders Fate

Recall each Leaders position and Roll 1D10 on the Leaders Fate table for each Armys leader.
The roll is modified by -1 if the led unit was Imperiled this round and -3 if it was destroyed. If an
Armys Leader is Injured or Wounded the Army becomes Leaderless until that Leader recovers.
In such a case it is possible for a heroic PC or appropriate NPC to assume command of the Army
(the character must have the highest Rank Quality left among likely candidates). In order to
successfully assume command of an army during the chaos of battle a character must make an
Inspire or Intimidate Test. For every Success achieved the character assumes command of a
Formation within the Arena he is currently occupying. He receives a bonus equal to his Rank
Quality. If he succeeds in taking command of all the formation within his Arena he is considered
the leader of that Army.

LEADERS FATE TABLE

1D10 Outskirts Thick of Battle Heart of Battle
1 Captured Captured Captured
2 Wounded Captured Captured
3 Injured Wounded Captured
4 Injured Injured Wounded
5-6 Uninjured Uninjured Injured
7-10 Uninjured Uninjured Uninjured

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 Uninjured Nothing happens to the Leader.
Injured The Leader is incapacitated for the next round of battle, but returns
afterward. When the battle is over the Leader will have taken all but one Wound
point in his Injured Wound Level. If Wound Levels arent used then he is reduced to
half of his starting Life Points.
Wounded The Leader is incapacitated for the rest of the battle. When the battle is
over the Leader will have taken all but one Wound point in his Wounded Wound
Level. If Wound Levels arent used then he is reduced to 5 Life Points
Captured The Leader falls into the hands of the enemy.

Heroes in a Battle
Player Characters may choose to be a part of a Formation. Because they are the heroes of the
game they can affect a battle in major ways. Just like a Leader of an Army the PCs must choose
what Arena they will fight in and whether they will fight from the Outskirts, The Thick of Battle or
the Heart of the Battle. A PC that is in a Formation may make a Skill roll as determined by the
type of maneuver that is being attempted (see maneuvers above) and can add a bonus to any
actions of the Formation he is with equal to the Number of Successes rolled. The maximum
bonus provided is determined by the Players placement within the battle as detailed
below.
OUTSKIRTS The Formation can receive a Maximum bonus of +1 to any Maneuver or
Attack roll that round.
THICK OF BATTLE The Formation can receive a Maximum bonus of +2 to any
Maneuver or Attack roll that round.
HEART OF BATTLE The Formation can receive a Maximum bonus of +4 to any
Maneuver or Attack roll that round.

PCs can also be granted the ability to use a Leadership Maneuver if directed by the Leader of the
Army and this uses one of the Armys actions as normal.

When the Leaders Fate Step comes up each PC must make a roll on the Leaders Fate table as
normal. The Narrator can choose to let the effects on the Leaders Fate Table stand or he can
have the Players fight in a normal combat based on their roll on that table. If Injured is rolled the
Player may have to face a couple of opponents while rolling Wounded or Captured might mean
the Player must face overwhelming odds.

Fighting On
Once a round of battle has been resolved each side has the opportunity to withdraw from the field
of battle or fight on. If both sides choose- or are forced, because of their position to press the
battle go through another round. If one or both sides withdraw the battle is over. If one side
wants to withdraw and the other side still wants to press the attack the Chronicler will decide,
based on the circumstances, whether another round of battle must be fought or whether the
fleeing side can successfully escape.

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 Chapter 7:
Beasts of Middle-Earth

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 Mounts of Middle-Earth
Mounts can have special qualities that can be used to set the apart and make them memorable.
Thats where the special abilities described below come in. In the game statistic blocks below,
each mount type contains the entry Special Abilities with three numbers listed (1/2/3, for
example). This is the number of Mount Special Abilities recommended for that animal based on
its qualitythe first number is for an animal of regular quality, the second for an animal of
superior quality, and the third for an animal of extraordinary quality. Obviously, regular is a
relative descriptor when talking about a mear or elven-steed, even the lowliest of which receives
a couple special abilities. By way of contrast, only the most extraordinary riding horse should
receive two special abilities. The Mount Special Abilities are described below, and unless noted
otherwise each ability may be selected only once.

MOUNT SPECIAL ABILITIES

Steady: The mount is less likely to panic, receiving a +4 bonus on tests to resist fear. The mount
also never suffers the -1 to -4 penalty for being in combat.

War-trained: The mount is never panicked by the mundane sights, smells, and sounds of battle,
and it is trained to attack in battle without causing a problem for its rider. The mount receives one
extra action per round when ridden, which it can use to attack any target designated by its rider.

Fleet-hoofed: The mount is particularly swift upon its hooves. The horses base movement rate
is increased by +25%.

Mighty Charge: The mount charges with great ferociousness. When charging, the mount (or its
rider) receives a +2 bonus to Armed Combat tests and a successful attack does twice-normal
damage.

Trample Under Hoof: The mount can use its speed and weight to charge over the top of its
opponents. By making a full-round move action through an opponents position, the mount can
knock prone and trample a target, inflicting 2d6 points of damage. The horse must win a Strength
test opposed by the targets Strength test or (if the opponent spends an action) Dodge result.

Mighty Stallion: The mount is a remarkable male specimen. He gains +2 Strength and +1
Stamina.

Swift Mare: The mount is a remarkable female specimen. She gains +2 Nimbleness and +1
Swiftness.

Bellicose Steed: The mount is particularly warlike and revels in battle. The mount gains +2 to
Armed Combat: Natural Weapons. The horse also inflicts +3 extra points of damage on a
successful bite or kick attack.

Majestic Steed: The mount possesses an air of special nobility and majesty. It gains +2 Bearing,
+1 Willpower, and +2 to Intimidate.

Mindful Steed: The mount is particularly alert and prescient. It gains +2 Perception and +2 to
Observe.

Patient Steed: The mount is particularly gentle and careful. It gains Ride (Keep Rider) +2 and
grants the rider +2 on any Ride and falling tests.

Robust Steed: The mount is particularly virile and fit. It gains +1 Vitality (and Health) and +2 to
Jump, Run, and Swim.

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Spirited Steed: The mount possesses a special bravery that allows it to accomplish great deeds.
It gains 1 Courage point. This ability may be taken more than once.

Edge: The mount gains any one Edge approved by the Narrator. Armor of Heroes, Doughty,
Hard to Kill, Hardy, Swift Recovery, Tireless, Valor, and Improved Senses are recommended
choices. This ability may be taken more than once.

Pony
Strength 6 Wits -3
Nimbleness 1 Perception 2
Vitality 4 Bearing -3
Life Points 55 Speed 15
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 1(2), Jump 2 (8), Run (Sprint) 2 (8), Observe (Hear, Spot)
2(4), Run (Sprint) 2 (8), Survival (Plains) 1 (3), Swim 1 (7)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Natural Weapons (Bite D2, Kick D6) Special Abilities (0/1/2)

Riding Horse
Strength 6 Wits -3
Nimbleness 2 Perception 2
Vitality 5 Bearing -2
Life Points 64 Speed 19
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 1(3), Jump 2(8), Run (Sprint) 2(8), Observe (Hear, Spot) 2(4),
Run (Sprint) 2(8), Survival (Plains) 1 (3), Swim 1(7)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Natural Weapons (Bite D2, Kick D6) Special Abilities (0/1/2)
There can be considerable variation in individual animals.

Warhorse
Strength 7 Wits -1
Nimbleness 3 Perception 2
Vitality 6 Bearing 1
Life Points 72 Speed 24
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 2(5), Jump 2(9), Run (Sprint) 2(9), Observe (Hear, Spot) 2(4),
Run (Sprint) 2(9), Survival (Plains) 1 (3), Swim 1(8)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Natural Weapons (Bite D2, Kick D6) Special Abilities (1/2/3)
There can be considerable variation in individual animals.

Elven Steed
Strength 8 Wits 4
Nimbleness 5 Perception 4
Vitality 7 Bearing 4
Life Points 80 Speed 29
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 4(9), Intimidate (Power) 1(5), Jump 6(14), Language:
Understand Sindarin or Quenya 1(5), Run (Sprint) 2(9), Observe (Hear, Spot) 4(8), Run (Sprint)
7(15), Survival (Plains) 3 (7), Swim 2(9)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Natural Weapons (Bite D2, Kick D8) Special Abilities (2/3/4)

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There can be considerable variation in individual animals.

Mule
Strength 7 Wits 0
Nimbleness 1 Perception 1
Vitality 4 Bearing 1
Life Points 59 Speed 10
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 1(2), Jump 2 (9), Observe (Hear, Spot) 2(3), Survival (Plains)
1 (3), Swim 1 (7), Teamster (Carts) 1(8)
Qualities/Drawbacks Special Abilities (0/1/2)
Natural Weapons (Bite D2, Kick D6)

FELL and MAGICAL BEASTS

Barrow-White
Strength 6 Wits 5
Nimbleness 4 Perception 4
Vitality 5 Bearing 6
Dead Points 69 Speed 9
Skills
Armed Combat (Longsword) 2(6), Intimidate (Fear) 2(8), Language (Westron) 2(6),
Observe(Spot) 1(5), Stealth 2(6), Unarmed Combat(Brawling) 2(6)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Hard to Kill (5 Levels), Night Eyed (+2 vs. Darkness Penalties), Hammerhand, Cruel -2,
Vulnerability (Sunlight, takes 2d6 of damage per round )
Special Abilities
Icy Touch: A Barrow-Whites touch is chill and deadly. For every round of contact, the victim
loses a point of Strength and Vitality. The victim can temporarily resist this loss by making a
Difficult Bearing test per round they are exposed to a Whites awful touch. When either attribute
reaches zero the victim falls unconscious for 2d6x10 minutes. Lost points are regained at the
rate of 1 in each attribute per 10 minutes or upon the application of a Healing Spell.
Undead Stamina: Barrow-Whites need never eat or drink, take only half damage from physical
attacks, and heal all injuries at five times the normal rate. Further Barrow-Whites do not have
Weariness Levels and never need make Stamina tests to resist Weariness for any reason
including spellcasting.
Spells: Bladeshattering, Create Light, Evoke Fear, Fog-Raising, Forgetfulness, Holding-Spell,
and Spellbinding. Some extremely powerful Wights know additional spells chosen from the
following list: Blast of Sorcery, Command, Misdirection, Power of the Land, Shadow of Fear,
Slumber, and Veiling Shadow.

Cold-Drake
Strength 13 Wits 9
Nimbleness 8 Perception 8
Vitality 8 Bearing 9
Life Points 164 Speed 32 (64 flying)
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 7(15), Inquire (Interrogate) 4(13), Insight 5(13), Intimidate
(Fear) 10(19), Language (Westron) 5(14), Language (Sindarin) 5(14), Observe (Spot, Smell)
10(18)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Hard to Kill 10, Hardy, Travel Sense, Natural Armor 15, Spellcasting: Wizardry 5

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Special Abilities
Natural Weapons - Claws 3d6***; Maw 5d6***; Tail 2d6 (Target must make a Difficult Strength or
Nimbleness Test to stay on feet when hit by tail)
Slow Healing After 10 years of rest a cold drake heals 10 Life Points per year.
Spells
Beast Speech, Display of Power, Dumbness, Enslave Beast, Forgetfulness, Reading the Heart,
Voice of Suasion

Fire-Drake
Strength 12 Wits 13
Nimbleness 6 Perception 10
Vitality 11 Bearing 12
Life Points 172 Speed 34 (68 flying)
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 8(14), Games (Riddles) 6(19), Inquire (Interrogate) 7(20),
Insight 9(19), Intimidate (Fear) 12(24), Language (Westron) 5(18), Language (Sindarin) 5(18),
Observe (Spot, Smell) 7(17), Persuade (Bewilder) 7(19)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Hard to Kill 10, Hardy, Travel Sense, Natural Armor 18, Spellcasting: Wizardry 5
Special Abilities
Natural Weapons - Claws 3d6***; Maw 5d6***; Tail 2d6 (Target must make a Difficult Strength or
Nimbleness Test to stay on feet when hit by tail)
Invulnerable to Fire Takes no damage from any kind of fire including magical fire.
Bewilder Whenever a firedrake speaks all who can hear it must make an opposed Easy Bearing
Test versus the drakes Persuade (Bewilder) skill. If the drake wins the contest the player loses
an action in a round due to confusion.
Fire Breath As a full round action can breath a cone of fire 50x50 yards in size. All in the cone
of fire take 8d6 fire damage. Armor has no effect on this damage.
Slow Healing After 10 years of rest a firedrake heals 10 Life Points per year.
Spells
Beast Speech, Burning Sparks, Calling, Command, Display of Power, Dumbness, Enslave
Beast, Forgetfulness, Reading the Heart, Voice of Suasion

Winged-Drake
Strength 11 Wits 11
Nimbleness 5 Perception 9
Vitality 9 Bearing 13
Life Points 160 Speed 28 (84 flying)
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 7(12), Games (Riddles) 4(15), Inquire (Interrogate) 6(19),
Insight 7(18), Intimidate (Fear) 11(24), Language (Westron) 5(16), Language (Sindarin) 5(16),
Observe (Spot, Smell) 7(16), Persuade (Bewilder) 8(21)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Hard to Kill 10, Hardy, Travel Sense, Natural Armor 18, Spellcasting: Wizardry 5
Special Abilities
Natural Weapons - Claws 3d6***; Maw 5d6***; Tail 2d6 (Target must make a Difficult Strength or
Nimbleness Test to stay on feet when hit by tail)
Invulnerable to Fire Takes no damage from any kind of fire including magical fire.
Bewilder Whenever a firedrake speaks all who can hear it must make an opposed Easy Bearing
Test versus the drakes Persuade (Bewilder) skill. If the drake wins the contest the player loses
an action in a round due to confusion.
Fire Breath As a full round action can breath a cone of fire 50x50 yards in size. All in the cone
of fire take 8d6 fire damage. Armor has no effect on this damage.
Slow Healing After 10 years of rest a firedrake heals 10 Life Points per year.

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Wing Buffet All characters within 10 yards (20 yards if the Winged-Drake is hovering) must
make a difficult Strength Test to stay on their feet.
Spells
Beast Speech, Burning Sparks, Calling, Command, Display of Power, Dumbness, Enslave Beast,
Forgetfulness, Reading the Heart, Voice of Suasion

Ents
Strength 12 Wits 3
Nimbleness 3 Perception 5
Vitality 8 Bearing 5
Life Points 130 Speed 22
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 4(7), Healing (trees) 4 (7), Intimidate (Fear) 3(8), Language
(Westron) 2(8*), Language (Entish) 4(9*), Language (Sindarin) 4(9*), Lore/Race (Ents) 3(6),
Observe (Spot, Hear) 2(7),Run(Long Distance) 4(16), Stealth(Hide) 4(7), Survival(Forest) 6(11),
Weather Sense 4 (9)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Gift of Tongues*, Hard to Kill 10, Hammerhand +6, Hardy, Travel Sense
Special Abilities
Armor 10, Natural Weapons (Branches) 2d6 (slashing damage); Trample 4d6 bashing damage;
Shroud A cloud of shadow around the Ent and allies that allows double movement without
fatigue as long as they are within the cloud; Vulnerability to Axes and Fire Both cause x2
damage; Root and Stone Ents can quickly demolish the works of Men.
Spells
Fog-weaving, Misdirection, Power of the Land, Slumber, Spellbinding All are Abilities.

Huorons
Strength 10 Wits 2
Nimbleness 2 Perception 2
Vitality 8 Bearing 3
Life Points 107 Speed * Immobile for the most part
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 4(6), Intimidate (Fear) 3(6), Language (Westron) 1(3),
Language (Entish) 4(6), Language (Sindarin) 4(6), Observe (Spot, Hear) 2(4), Run(Long
Distance) 4(16), Stealth(Hide) 6(8), Survival(Forest) 6(8), Weather Sense 4 (6)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Gift of Tongues*, Hard to Kill 5, Hammerhand +3, Hardy, Travel Sense
Special
Armor 6, Natural Weapons (Branches) 2d6 (slashing damage); Vulnerability to Axes and Fire
Both cause x2 damage, Hates all 2 legged creatures.
Spells
Bladeshattering, Dumbness, Fog-weaving, Misdirection, Slumber, Spellbinding All are Abilities.

Standard Orc
Strength 4 Wits 1
Nimbleness 2 Perception 3
Vitality 4 Bearing 2
Life Points 42 Speed 6
Skills
Armed Combat (Swords) 1(3), Intimidate (Fear) 1(3), Language (Westron) 2(3), Language
(Orkish dialect) 4(5), Lore (Orcs) 3(4), Ranged Combat(Bows) 2(4), Ride(Warg) 2(4), Run(Long
Distance) 2(6), Siegecraft(Siege Engine) 1(2), Stealth(Sneak) 1(3), Track(Scent) 1(4)
Qualities/Drawbacks

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Acute Senses(Smell), Night Vision (+2 vs. penalties of darkness), Armor (2 points of Natural
Armor), Curse of Daylight(-4 to all rolls in bright light), Natural Weapons (Claws D4-1**), Cowardly
-1, Cruel -1

Forest-Breed Orc
Strength 2 Wits 1
Nimbleness 4 Perception 4
Vitality 4 Bearing 2
Life Points 34 Speed 8
Skills
Armed Combat (Swords) 1(3), Intimidate (Fear) 1(3), Language (Westron) 2(3), Language
(Orkish dialect) 4(5), Lore (Orcs) 3(4), Observe(Smell) 1(5), Ranged Combat(Bows) 2(4),
Ride(Warg) 2(4), Run(Long Distance) 2(6), Siegecraft(Siege Engine) 1(2), Stealth(Sneak) 2(4),
Survival (Forest) 3(4), Track(Scent) 1(4)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Acute Senses(Smell), Night Vision (+2 vs. penalties of darkness), Armor (2 points of Natural
Armor), Tireless (+2 vs. Weariness), Curse of Daylight(-4 to all rolls in bright light), Natural
Weapons (Claws D4-1**), Cowardly -1, Cruel -1

Mountain-Breed Orc
Strength 5 Wits 1
Nimbleness 2 Perception 2
Vitality 5 Bearing 2
Life Points 50 Speed 7
Skills
Armed Combat (Swords) 2(4), Climb 2(7), Intimidate (Fear) 1(3), Language (Westron) 2(3),
Language (Orkish dialect) 4(5), Lore (Orcs) 3(4), Observe(Spot) 1(5), Ranged Combat(Bows)
1(3), Ride(Warg) 1(3), Run(Long Distance) 2(6), Stealth(Sneak) 2(4), Survival (Forest) 3(4),
Track(Scent) 1(4)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Acute Senses(Smell), Night Vision (+2 vs. penalties of darkness), Armor (2 points of Natural
Armor), Tireless (+2 vs. Weariness), Curse of Daylight(-4 to all rolls in bright light), Natural
Weapons (Claws D4-1**), Cowardly -1, Cruel -1

Standard Orc Captain

Strength 4 Wits 2
Nimbleness 3 Perception 4
Vitality 4 Bearing 4
Life Points 42 Speed 7
Skills
Armed Combat (Axes) 4(7), Intimidate (Fear) 1(5), Language (Westron) 2(4), Language (Orkish
dialect) 4(6), Lore (Orcs) 3(5), Observe(Spot) 1(5), Ranged Combat(Bows) 1(4), Ride(Warg) 1(4),
Run(Long Distance) 2(6), Siegecraft (Leadership) 2(4), Stealth(Sneak) 2(4), Survival (Forest)
3(4), Track(Scent) 1(4)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Acute Senses(Smell), Night Vision (+2 vs. penalties of darkness), Armor (2 points of Natural
Armor), Tireless (+2 vs. Weariness), Curse of Daylight(-4 to all rolls in bright light), Natural
Weapons (Claws D4-1**), Cowardly -1, Cruel -1

Mountain-Breed Orc Magician

Strength 5 Wits 4
Nimbleness 2 Perception 3
Vitality 5 Bearing 4

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Life Points 50 Speed 7
Skills
Armed Combat (Swords) 3(5), Healing(Treat Wounds) 1(5), Intimidate (Fear) 2(6), Language
(Westron) 2(6), Language (Orkish dialect) 4(8), Lore(Magic) 2(6), Lore (Orcs) 3(7), Observe(Spot)
2(5), Persuade(Oratory) 1(5), Ranged Combat(Bows) 1(3), Ride(Warg) 1(3), Run(Long Distance)
2(7), Siegecraft (Leadership) 2(6), Smithcraft(Weaponsmith) 1(6), Stealth(Sneak) 2(4), Survival
(Mountain) 3(4), Track(Scent) 1(4)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Acute Senses(Smell), Night Vision (+2 vs. penalties of darkness), Armor (2 points of Natural
Armor), Tireless (+2 vs. Weariness), Curse of Daylight(-4 to all rolls in bright light), Natural
Weapons (Claws D4-1**), Cowardly -1, Cruel -1, Fell-Handed (+3 to hit Elves with Swords),
Spellcasting 3
Spells
Beast Summoning, Bladeshattering, Blast of Sorcery, Enslave Beast, Spellbinding

Greater Orcs
Strength 5 Wits 3
Nimbleness 4 Perception 4
Vitality 5 Bearing 4
Life Points 59 Speed 9
Skills
Armed Combat (Axes) 3(7), Intimidate (Fear) 1(5), Language (Westron) 2(5), Language (Black
Speech) 4(7), Language (Orkish dialect) 2(5), Lore (Orcs) 3(6), Observe(Spot) 1(5), Ranged
Combat(Bows) 2(6), Ride(Warg) 1(5), Run(Long Distance) 2(7), Siegecraft (Leadership) 2(4),
Stealth(Sneak) 2(4), Survival (Forest) 3(4), Track(Scent) 1(4)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Acute Senses(Smell), Night Vision (+2 vs. penalties of darkness), Armor (2 points of Natural
Armor), Tireless (+2 vs. Weariness), Natural Weapons (Claws D4-1**), Cruel -2, Fealty (to
Sauron or other patron), Hard to Kill (3 Levels)

Hill-Troll
Strength 7 Wits 1
Nimbleness 1 Perception 2
Vitality 7 Bearing 4
Life Points 81 Speed 8
Skills
Armed Combat (Troll Club) 3(4), Intimidate (Power) 1(5), Language (Westron) 2(5), Observe
(Spot) 1(3), Ranged Combat(Rocks) 2(3), Survival (Forest) 3(4), Track(Scent) 1(3)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Armor 4, Hardy(reduce damage penalties by 2), Hard to Kill (5 Levels), Cruel -1, Vulnerability
(Sunlight turns to stone permanently)

Snow-Troll
Strength 7 Wits 1
Nimbleness 1 Perception 2
Vitality 9 Bearing 4
Life Points 89 Speed 10

Skills
Armed Combat (Troll Club) 3(4), Intimidate (Power) 1(5), Language (Westron) 2(5), Observe
(Spot) 1(3), Ranged Combat(Rocks) 2(3), Survival (Northern Waste) 5(6), Track(Scent) 1(3)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Armor 5, Hard to Kill (5 Levels), Cruel -1, Vulnerability (Sunlight turns to stone permanently)

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Cave-Troll
Strength 9 Wits -1
Nimbleness 1 Perception 2
Vitality 9 Bearing 4
Life Points 93 Speed 10
Skills
Armed Combat (Troll Club) 3(4), Intimidate (Power) 1(5), Language (Westron) 2(1), Observe
(Spot) 1(3), Ranged Combat(Rocks) 2(3), Survival (Caves) 5(4), Track(Scent) 1(3), Unarmed
Combat(Brawling) 3(4)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Armor 5, Hard to Kill (5 Levels), Hardy (-2 to damage penalties), Night Eyed (+2 vs. Darkness
Penalties), Hammerhand (+5 to HTH damage), Cruel -1, Vulnerability (Sunlight turns to stone
permanently), Battle-Fury -2

Lesser Giant Spider

Strength 3 Wits 1
Nimbleness 4 Perception 3
Vitality 2 Bearing 3
Life Points 30 Speed 18
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 2(6), Climb 7(10), Craft: Trap(Webs) 4(5), Intimidate (Fear)
1(4), Jump 2(5), Language (Westron) 2(3), Observe (Spot) 1(4), Run 5 (8), Stealth (Sneak) 4(8),
Survival (Forest) 4(7)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Natural Weapons (Fangs D6**)
Special Abilities:
Lethal Poison Onset in 1 minute with 10 stages of damage. Each stage (minute) make a
Simple Vitality Test. If successful takes 1/2d6 damage. If unsuccessful take 1d6 damage.
Sickness Poison: - Onset in 1 round with 10 stages of effect. Each round make a Difficult Vitality
Test. If successful lose 1 point of Strength and Vitality. If unsuccessful lose 2 points of Strength
and Vitality. When the character reaches either Zero Strength or Vitality they go unconscious.
Characters will continue to take Strength and Vitality damage even while unconscious. Strength
and Vitality is recovered at 1 point each per minute once the 10 stages are over.
Webs Cutting web strands requires 6 points of damage from an edged weapon; Pulling a strand
apart requires 3 successes with an Easy Strength Test. If wrapped up completely by webbing a
character must make 4 successes on a Difficult Strength check to break free.

Greater Giant Spider

Strength 4 Wits 2
Nimbleness 4 Perception 4
Vitality 4 Bearing 4
Life Points 42 Speed 24
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 2(6), Climb 7(11), Craft: Trap(Webs) 4(6), Intimidate (Fear)
1(5), Jump 2(6), Language (Westron) 2(4), Observe (Spot) 1(5), Run 5 (9), Stealth (Sneak) 4(8),
Survival (Forest) 4(8)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Natural Weapons (Fangs D8**)
Special Abilities:
Lethal Poison Onset in 1 minute with 10 stages of damage. Each stage (minute) make a
Simple Vitality Test -2. If successful takes 1/2d6 damage. If unsuccessful take 1d6 damage.
Sickness Poison: - Onset in 1 round with 10 stages of effect. Each round make a Difficult Vitality
Test -1. If successful lose 1 point of Strength and Vitality. If unsuccessful lose 2 points of

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Strength and Vitality. When the character reaches either Zero Strength or Vitality they go
unconscious. Characters will continue to take Strength and Vitality damage even while
unconscious. Strength and Vitality is recovered at 1 point each per minute once the 10 stages
are over.
Webs Cutting web strands requires 10 points of damage from an edged weapon; Pulling a
strand apart requires 3 successes with an Easy Strength Test -2. If wrapped up completely by
webbing a character must make 6 successes on a Difficult Strength check to break free.

Warg
Strength 5 Wits 0
Nimbleness 4 Perception 4
Vitality 5 Bearing 4
Life Points 50 Speed 18
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 2(6), Intimidate (Fear) 1(5), Jump 2(7), Language
(Understand Orc Dialect) 1(1), Language (Warg Speech) 4(4), Observe (Spot) 1(5), Run 5 (10),
Stealth(Sneak) 4(8), Survival (Mountains) 4(8), Track(Scent) 4(10)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Acute Senses(Smell), Night Vision (+2 vs. penalties of darkness), Armor (2 points of Natural
Armor), Natural Weapons (Claws/Fangs D6**), Cruel -1

Animals of Middle-Earth
Badger
Strength 0 Wits -1
Nimbleness 4 Perception 4
Vitality 0 Bearing -2
Life Points 14 Speed 10
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 1(5), Climb 4(4), Observe (Hear, Smell) 4(8), Stealth (Hide) 2
(6), Survival (Forest) 3 (7), Swim 1 (1)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Acute Senses (Smell), Night Vision (+2 vs. penalties of darkness), Armor (2 points of Natural
Armor), Natural Weapons (Claws D4-1**, Bite D4**),
Special Ability
Ferocious-When defending their family or territory Badgers get a +2 to hit and damage as well as
to resist fear or intimidation.

Black Bear
Strength 7 Wits 0
Nimbleness 2 Perception 2
Vitality 6 Bearing 3
Life Points 77 Speed 16
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 3(5), Climb 1(8), Intimidate (Fear) 2 (6), Observe (Hear,
Smell) 2(4), Run (Sprint) 2 (9), Survival (Forest) 3 (5), Swim 1 (8)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Acute Senses (Smell), Night Vision (+2 vs. penalties of darkness), Armor (4 points of Natural
Armor), Natural Weapons (Claws D8**, Bite D8**, Hug D10), Hard to Kill 5, Hardy (-2 to damage
penalties),

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Brown Bear
Strength 9 Wits 0
Nimbleness 2 Perception 2
Vitality 8 Bearing 4
Life Points 102 Speed 20
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 3(5), Climb 1(10), Intimidate (Fear) 2 (6), Observe (Hear,
Smell) 2(4), Run (Sprint) 2 (11), Survival (Forest) 3 (7), Swim 1 (10)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Acute Senses (Smell), Armor (4 points of Natural Armor), Natural Weapons (Claws D8**, Bite
D8**, Hug D10), Hardy (-2 to damage penalties), Hard to Kill 8

Birds of Prey (Hawks, Eagles, Owls etc.)

Strength 0 Wits -2
Nimbleness 5 Perception 6
Vitality 3 Bearing 0
Life Points 18 Speed 8 (Ground), 30 (Flight)
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 1(6), Observe (Spot) 6(12), Survival (varies) 2 (8)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Acute Senses (Sight), Natural Weapons (Claws D4**, Beak D4**), Owls add Night Vision (+2 vs.
penalties of darkness)

Carrion Birds (Crows, Ravens)

Strength -1 Wits 0
Nimbleness 4 Perception 4
Vitality 1 Bearing -2
Life Points 18 Speed 5 (Ground), 25 (Flight)
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 1(6), Observe (Spot) 6(12), Survival (varies) 2 (8)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Natural Weapons (Claws D2**, Bite D2**)

Song Birds (Thrushes, Finches etc.)

Strength -3 Wits -2
Nimbleness 6 Perception 4
Vitality -3 Bearing -2
Life Points 10 Speed 3 (Ground), 25 (Flight)
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 1(7), Observe (Spot) 6(10), Survival (varies) 2 (6)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Natural Weapons (Claws 1**, Bite 1**)

Boar
Strength 4 Wits -1
Nimbleness 4 Perception 4
Vitality 4 Bearing 1
Life Points 48 Speed 16
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 1(5), Observe (Hear, Smell) 4(8), Run (Sprint) 1 (5), Stealth
(Sneak) 1 (5), Survival (Forest) 3 (7), Swim 1 (5)

127
Qualities/Drawbacks
Armor (2 points of Natural Armor), Natural Weapons (Tusks D6**), Hard to Kill 2

Cats (house)
Strength -2 Wits -1
Nimbleness 7 Perception 4
Vitality 1 Bearing 0
Life Points 10 Speed 8
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 2(9), Climb 5 (12), Run (Sprint) 4 (2), Observe (Spot) 2(6),
Stealth 3 (10), Survival (varies) 2 (6)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Natural Weapons (Claws D2**, Bite D2**), Night Vision (+2 vs. penalties of darkness)

Deer
Strength 4 Wits -1
Nimbleness 6 Perception 4
Vitality 5 Bearing -1
Life Points 46 Speed 22
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 0(6), Jump 2 (6), Run (Sprint) 5 (9), Observe (Spot) 2(6),
Stealth 3 (9), Survival (Forest) 2 (6), Swim 1 (6)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Acute Senses (Smell), Natural Weapons (Antlers D6**, Bite D2**)

Dog
Strength 1 Wits -1
Nimbleness 2 Perception 4
Vitality 2 Bearing 0
Life Points 16 Speed 8
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 2(4), Jump 2 (3), Run (Sprint) 2 (3), Observe (Smell) 3(7),
Run (Sprint) 2 (3), Survival (varies) 2 (6), Swim 2 (3), Track (Scent) 2 (6)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Acute Senses (Smell), Natural Weapons (Bite D4**)
Note that this is an average hunting dog. There is considerable variation in different breeds.

Elk (also moose and reindeer)

Strength 6 Wits -1
Nimbleness 5 Perception 4
Vitality 7 Bearing 0
Life Points 62 Speed 24
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 1(6), Jump 1 (7), Run (Sprint) 4 (10), Observe (Hear) 4(8),
Stealth 0 (5), Survival (Forest) 2 (6), Swim 1 (6)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Natural Weapons (Antlers D8**, Bite D2**)

Fox
Strength -1 Wits 0
Nimbleness 4 Perception 3
Vitality 1 Bearing 0

128
Life Points 14 Speed 10
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 1(6), Climb 3 (2), Jump 4 (3), Run (Sprint) 4 (3), Observe
(Hear, Spot) 4(7), Run (Sprint) 2 (3), Survival (Forest) 3 (6), Swim 4 (3)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Natural Weapons (Bite D4**)

Wolf
Strength 3 Wits 0
Nimbleness 4 Perception 4
Vitality 3 Bearing 2
Life Points 34 Speed 14
Skills
Armed Combat (Natural Weapons) 2(6), Intimidate (Fear) 1(3), Jump 2(5), Observe (Scent) 1(7),
Run 5 (8), Stealth(Sneak) 4(8), Survival (various) 4(4), Track(Scent) 4(8)
Qualities/Drawbacks
Acute Senses(Smell), Night Vision (+2 vs. penalties of darkness), Natural Weapons
(Claws/Fangs D6**)

129
 APPENDIX
Close Combat Test Modifiers
Situation Test Modifier
Defender prone +4
Attacker in better position +1 to +3*
Defender in better position -1 to -3*
Off-hand penalty -6**
* Narrator must determine exact modifier based on situation.
** Off-hand penalty applies whenever combatant relies on non-dominant hand to perform close combat action.

Ranged Combat Test Modifiers

Situation Test Modifier
Range Category:
Point blank +1 and +1 to the Damage Multiplier
Short +0
Medium -1
Long -3 and reduce the Damage Multiplier by one
Extreme -6 and -2 to the Damage Multiplier
Defender prone -4
Attacker in better position +1 to +3*
Defender in better position -1 to -3*
Attacker on horseback -2/ -6 if mount is moving
Off-hand penalty -6**
Target Moving:
Walk/Run -1/-6*
*Narrator must determine exact modifier based on situation.
** Off-hand penalty applies whenever combatant relies on non-dominant hand to perform ranged attack.

Inspiring Fear: Modifiers to Intimidate (Fear) Test Test Modifier

Target is in a stronghold of evil or a place of darkness +2 to 8
Target is near an evil place +1 to 3
Target is at a disadvantage (outnumbered and so on) +2 to 4
The cause of the fear is nearby + 1 to 6
Attacker utters terrifying soliloquy +1 to 6
Appropriate display of power or might +1 to 6
Brandishing the object the target has cause to fear +1 to 4

Resisting Fear: Modifiers to Bearing Test Test Modifier

Target is in a stronghold or a place of goodness +2 to 8
The cause of fear is at a distance +1 to 6
Defender utters an inspiring soliloquy +1 to 6

Physical Test Modifiers

Condition Test Modifier
Clear visibility/ideal lighting 0
Dim lighting (Full Moon, dark alley) -1 to - 2
Dark (Moonless night) -4
Light smoke/fog -2
Dense smoke/fog -4
Weather:
Light rain -1
Heavy rain -3

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 Physical Test Modifiers
Condition Test Modifier
Temperate -0
Uncomfortable heat/cold -2
Extreme heat/cold -4
Terrain:
Flat/unobstructed terrain 0
Uneven/lightly obstructed terrain -2
Broken/heavily obstructed terrain - 4 to - 8
On moving ship/boat -2
Slick surface/uncertain footing -2
Slippery surface/poor footing -4
Equipment Tests:
Adequate equipment -0
Inadequate equipment/inferior tools - 1 to - 4
Using makeshift tools - 5 to - 7
Totally unequipped -8
Well equipped/superior tools + 1 to + 4

Social Test Modifiers

Condition Test Modifier
Subject is:
Loyal/devoted +1 to + 4
Friendly/pacifistic +2
Indifferent +0
Aggressive/unfriendly - 1 to - 4
Hostile/violent - 4 to - 8
Subject has different native tongue -2
Subject of same race as character +2
Subject and character different race -2
Environmental factors make communication difficult - 2 to - 6
Character demonstrates evidence or sincerity + 1 to +4

Money Changing & Price Conversion

100 copper pennies (cp) = 1 silver penny (sp)
5 silver pennies (sp) = 1 Silver Piece (SP)
5 Silver Pieces (SP) = 1 Gold Piece (GP)
Thus: 1GP = 5 SP = 25 sp = 2,500 cp
GEAR
Item Price Shire/Bree Tharbad Minas Tirith Weight
Beasts and Vehicles
Boat 2 sp 1 sp, 20 cp 1 sp, 30 cp 75 lbs.
Cart 2 GP 2 GP 2 GP -
Horse, riding 2 SP 2 SP 1 SP, 2 sp -
Horse, war 4 SP 4 SP 3 SP -
Pony 1 SP 1 sp, 20 cp 3 sp -
Saddle and tack 1 sp 1sp, 20 cp 1 sp 20 lbs.
Wagon 4 GP 4 GP 4 GP -
Food and Drink
Ale, mug 10 cp 15 cp 15 cp -
Food, fine, 1 week 1 sp 1 sp, 20 cp 1 sp, 20 cp 15 lbs.
Food, ordinary, 1 week 40 cp 50 cp 50 cp 15 lbs.

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Item Price Shire/Bree Tharbad Minas Tirith Weight
Food, travel rations, 1 week 20 cp 25 cp 25 cp 8 lbs.
Meal at inn, fine 1 sp, 20 cp 1 sp, 50 cp 1 sp, 50 cp -
Meal at inn, ordinary 60 cp 75 cp 75 cp -
Pipeweed, 1 pouch 50 cp 2 sp 2 sp 0.2 lbs.
Wine, Dorwinion, per glass 80 cp 50 cp 65 cp -
Wine, ordinary, per glass 20 cp 20 cp 25 cp -
Wine, Dorwinion, per skin 1 SP 3 sp 3 sp, 25 cp 3 lbs.
Wine, ordinary, per skin 1 sp 1 sp 1 sp, 25 cp 3 lbs.
Lodging
Inn, fine, one night 1 sp 1 sp 1 sp -
Inn, ordinary, one night 50 cp 50 cp 50 cp -
Miscellaneous
Blanket 30 cp 30 cp 30 cp 3 lbs.
Clothes, fine, 1 suit 2 sp 2 sp 2 sp 5 lbs.
Clothes, ordinary, 1 suit 1 sp 1 sp 1 sp 3 lbs.
Clothes, travelling, 1 suit 1 sp 1 sp 1 sp 4 lbs.
Clothes, very fine, 1 suit 4 sp 4 sp 4 sp 6 lbs.
Dwarven magical toys 3 sp (min.) 1 sp (min.) 3 sp (min.) 0.1 lbs.
Lantern 50 cp 40 cp 50 cp 2 lbs.
Rope 50' 50 cp 50 cp 40 cp 12 lbs.
Torch 10 cp 10 cp 10 cp 1 lbs.

WEAPONS
Armed Combat Weapons Damage Weight (lbs.) Price
Axe, Battle D8 + 1(5)**& 8 3SP,1sp
Axe, Great D12 + 1(7) **@ 17 4SP,3sp
Small Club/Stick D6 1(2) 2 Free
Club 1d6(3) 4 Free
Huge Club/Pipe/Chair D8(4) & 8 Free
Dagger Small Knife D4 1(1)** 1 2SP,2sp
Dagger, Long Knife D4(2)** 1.5 2SP,3sp
Dagger, Orc /Huge Knife D6(3)** 3 3SP
Halberd D12(6)**@ 14 4SP,1sp
Hammer, War D8(4) & 8 2SP,3sp
Mace, Small D8(4) 7 3SP
Mace D10(5) & 9 3SP,2sp
Mace, Large D12 + 1(7) @ 12 3SP,3sp
Mattock D12(6) @ 15 4 SP
Maul D10(5) & 12 3SP,2sp
Pikestaff D8(4)@ 15 2SP,3sp
Shield (bash) 1d6(3) 4, 8 or 12 see armor
Spear D6(3)**& 7 2SP,3sp
Staff D8(4) 4 Free
Sword, Bastard D10(5)**& 8 3SP,3sp
Sword, Great D12+ 1(7)**@ 11 4SP,2sp
Sword, Longsword D8+1(5)** 6 3SP,1sp
Sword, Scimitar D8(4)** 5 3SP,1sp
Sword, Short Sword D6+1(4)** 3 3SP
** Indicates a stabbing/slashing weapon. After penetrating armor (if any), damage is doubled.
& Weapon may be used two-handed, raising the characters effective Strength by 1 when calculating damage.
@ Weapon must be used two-handed.

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Ranged Weapons Damage Range (in yards) Weight (lbs.) Price
Arrow, regular or Orc See Bow See Bow 2 (20) 2sp(20)
Longbow D8(4)** 10/30/50/100/200 3 2SP,2sp
Nmenorean Steelbow D10(5)** 7/40/65/150/250 3 Priceless
Shortbow D6(3)** 5/20/40/65/100 2 2 SP
Dagger, Throwing D4(2)** 3/5/8/10/13 1 2SP,2sp
Javelin D6(3)** 5/15/30/50/75 2 3 SP
Spear, thrown D6(3)** 5/10/20/40/60 7 2SP,3sp
Stone, thrown D4(2) 3/7/10/13/20 0.5 Free
** Indicates a stabbing/slashing weapon. After penetrating armor (if any), damage is doubled.
& Weapon may be used two-handed, raising the characters effective Strength by 1 when calculating damage.
@ Weapon must be used two-handed.

ARMOR TABLE
Armor Type Armor Value Encumbrance Value Weight Price
Padded/Quilted Cloth Armor 3 None 5 lbs. 1SP
Soft Leather/Skins 4 None 8 lbs. 1SP,2sp
Leather Armor 5 -1 10 lbs. 2SP
Studded Leather Armor 6 -2 15 lbs. 2SP,2sp
Scale/Ring Mail 8 -3 20 lbs. 4SP
Chain Mail 10 -4 30 lbs. 5SP
Chain Mail, Dwarven 12 -4 35 lbs. 3GP
Chain Mail, Mithral 20 -1 8 lbs. Priceless
Plate and Mail 12 -5 40 lbs. 2GP,3SP

SHIELD TABLE
Shield Size Defense Bonus Armor Value (AV) Damage Capacity Weight Price
Small Shield +1 6 30 6 lbs. 1SP
Medium Shield +2 7 40 10 lbs. 2SP
Large Shield +4 8 50 12 lbs. 3SP

QUALITIES AND DRAWBACKS

Name Points Prerequisites
ACCURATE 2-point Quality Weapon Skill 4+
ACCURSED Variable Drawback None
ACUTE/IMPAIRED SENSES 2-point Quality/Drawback None
ADVERSARY Variable Drawback None
ALLIES 1-point/Level Quality None
AMBIDEXTERITY 2-point Quality Nimbleness 4+
ARMOR OF HEROES 2-point Quality None
ARROGANT 2-point Drawback None
ARTISTIC TALENT (Type) 2-point Quality None
ATTRACTIVENESS Variable Quality/Drawback None
BATTLE-FURY 1-point/level Drawback None
BOLD 2-point Quality None
BORN TO THE SADDLE 2-point Quality None
CHARMED LIFE 5-point Quality None
CLOWN 1-point Drawback None
COMMAND 3-points/Level Quality Status
COVETOUS 1- to 3-point Drawback None
CRAFTMASTER 2-point Quality None
CURIOUS 2-point Quality None
CULTURAL CONFLICT 2-point Drawback None

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Name Points Prerequisites
DEPENDANT 2 or 3-point Drawback None
DOUGHTY 1-point Quality Str 4+
DULLARD 2-point Drawback None
DUTY 2-point Drawback None
ELF-FRIEND 1-point Quality None
ELVEN ENCHANTMENT 10-point Quality Must be an Elf
FAITHFULL 1-point/Level Quality None
FEALTY 3-point Drawback None
FELL-HANDED 1-point Quality/Level Weapon skill 6+
FORE-SIGHTED 2-point Quality WITS 5+
FURTIVE 2-point Quality None
GIFT OF TOUNGES 2-point Quality WITS 5+
GOOD LUCK/BAD LUCK 1-point/Level Quality/Drawback None
HAMMERHAND 1-point/level Quality STR 4+
HARD TO KILL 1-point/level Quality None
HARDY 2-point Quality VIT 4+
HEALING HANDS 3-points/Level None
HOARD 2-point/Level None
HONEY-TOUNGED 1-point/Level Quality None
HONORABLE 1- point/Level Drawback None
HONORS INSIGHT 1-point/Level Quality None
HUMORLESS 1-point Drawback None
INCORRUPTIBLE 1-point/Level Quality None
KINDLE SPIRITS 2-point Quality Perform 4+
LOVE 2-to-4-point Drawback None
MENTAL PROBLEMS 1-to 3-point drawback None
OATH 3-point Drawback None
OUTCAST 2-point Drawback None
PHYSICAL DISABILITY Variable Drawback None
QUICK REFLEXES 2-point/Level Quality Nimbleness 3+
RECKLESS 2-point Drawback None
RECURING NIGHTMARES 1-point Drawback None
REKNOWN 1-point/Level Drawback/Quality None
RIVAL 1 or 2-point Drawback None
SECRET Variable Drawback None
SHOWOFF 2-point Drawback None
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS 2-point Quality None
SPELLCASTING 5-points/Level Quality None
SPELL SPECIALTY 2-points per Specialty Spellcasting
STATUS 2 points/level Drawback/Quality None
STAFF OF POWER 2-point Quality + Spellcasting
STERN 2-point Quality None
STIFF-NECKED 1-point Drawback None
SWIFT RECOVERY 2-point Quality/Drawback VIT 4+
SWIFT STRIKE 5-point or 10 point Quality Nimbleness 5+
TIRELESS 1-point/Level Quality None
TRAVEL-SENSE 2-point Quality None
VALLIANT 5-point Quality Bearing 4+
VALA VIRTUE 2-point Quality None
VALOUR 2-point Quality Bearing 4+
WEAPON MASTERY 5-point or 10 point Quality Weapon Skill 4+
WISE 2-point Quality None

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 MASTER SKILLS LIST
Skill Attribute Untrained? Specialties
Acrobatics Nimbleness Y Balance, Swing, Tumble
Appraise Wits N Gems, Gold, Silver, Weapons,
Armor
Armed Combat Nimbleness Y Axes, Maces/Hammers, Spears,
Polearms, Swords, Shields, Knives
Climb Strength Y None
Conceal Wits Y Hide Treasure, Hide Weapon
Craft Nimbleness N Carpentry, Cooking,Pottery,
Painting, Gardening etc.
Debate Wits Y Bargain, Negotiate, Parley
Dodge Nimbleness Y None
Games Varies Y Chess, Riddles, Dice Etc.
Guise Wits N None
Healing Wits Y Treat Illness, Treat Wound
Inquire Bearing Y Converse, Interrogate
Insight Perception Y None
Inspire Bearing Y Leadership, Lift Spirits
Intimidate Bearing Y Fear, Majesty, Power, Torture
Jump Strength Y None
Language Wits N Sindarin, Westron, etc.
Legerdemain Nimbleness N Pick Pocket, Open Lock
Lore Wits N Lore Category (specialty)
Mimicry Bearing N Beasts, Voices
Observe Perception Y Hear, Smell, Spot, Taste, etc.
Perform Bearing Y Compose Verse, Sing, etc.
Persuade Bearing Y Charm, Fast Talk, Oratory
Ranged Combat Nimbleness Y Bows, Slings, Spears, Knives, Axes,
Thrown Stones
Ride Bearing Y Specific Animal
Run Strength Y Sprint, Long Distance
Sea-craft Wits N Boating, Sailing, Shipwright
Search Perception Y None
Siegecraft Wits N Defense, Siege Engine,
Unit Leadership
Smithcraft Strength N Armorsmith, Goldsmith,
Weapon smith, etc.
Stealth Nimbleness Y Hide, Shadow, Sneak
Stonecraft Strength N Building, Fortification, Mining
Survival Perception Y Forests, Mountains, Oceans, etc.
Swim Strength Y None
Teamster Strength Y Carts, Chariots, Wains
Track Wits N Specific Terrain,Specific Animal or Race
Unarmed Combat Nimbleness Y Brawling, Wrestling
Weather-sense Perception N None

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 MASTER SPELL LIST
Spell Time Range Cost Difficulty
Animal Messenger 2 Touch 3 1
Bane-spell 1 min Touch 6 2
Beast Cloak 2 Touch 3 1
Beast Speech 1 Self 3 1
Beast Summoning 2 Special** 6 2
Blade Preservation 5 min Touch 3 1
Bladeshattering [S] 1 10 yds 3 1
Blast of Cold 2 20 yds* 6 2
Blast of Sorcery [S] 2 20 yds* 6 2
Blessing of Aule 2 Touch 3 1
Blessing of Elbereth 2 Touch 3 1
Blessing of Orome 2 Touch 3 1
Blinding Flash 1 10 yds* 3 1
Burden of Evil 1 5 yds* 9 3
Burning Sparks 1 5 yds* 3 1
Call Fell Beasts [S] 2 Special** 6 2
Calling Special** Special** 3 1
Changing Hue 2 Self 3 1
Cloak of Shadow 1 Touch 3 2
Cold Ward 1 Self 3 1
Command [S] 2 20 yds* 6 2
Corrupting Affliction [S] 1 min. Touch 12 3
Corrupting Surface [S] 1 3 yards 6 3
Crafting-spell 5 min Touch 3 2
Create Light 1 Touch 3 1
Dark Stench 1 10 yd. r 6 2
Detect Foe 1 Special 3 1
Disarm 1 2 yds.* 3 1
Display of Power 1 Self** 6 2
Dull Senses 2 6 yds.* 6 2
Dumbness [S] 1 3 yds.* 3 1
Enhance Food 1 min Touch 3 1
Enslave Beast [S] 2 2 yds.* 6 2
Evoke Awe 1 Special** 3 2
Evoke Fear [S] 1 Special** 3 1
Exclusion 10 min Touch 3 3
Fair Seeming [S] 2 Self 6 2
Farseeing 5 min Special** 9 3
Farspeaking 2 Special** 3 1
Fiery Missile 1 Special** 3 2
Finding and Returning 1 min Touch 3 2
Fire of Udun 2 6 yds.* 6 2
Fireshaping 1 1 yds.* 3 1
Flame of Arnor 2 7 yds.* 9 3
Flame Arrow 1 Touch 6 2
Fog-raising 1 min 15 yds.* 3 1
Fog-weaving 2 7 yds.* 3 1
Forgetfulness [S] 2 2 yds.* 3 2
Guarding-spell 1 min Touch 6 3
Healing-spell 1 min Touch 3 2
Hex Spell 2 Touch 6 3
Hides Virtue 1 Touch 3 1

136
Spell Time Range Cost Difficulty
Holding-spell [S] 2 3 yds.* 6 3
Imitation-spell 2 1 yds.* 3 1
Intercept Missile 1 Special 3 1
Invocation of Elbereth 2 Touch 3 1
Ithildin -fire 1 min Touch 3 1
Keen Senses 1 Touch 3 1
Lame [S] 1 4 yds.* 6 2
Light of the Valar 1 Self 9 1*
Kindle Fire 1 Touch 3 1
Lightning 2 5 yds.* 9 3
Mastery of Shapes 1 min Self 9 3
Mind Barrier 1 Self 9 3
Mind Shield 1 Self 6 2
Mind-speech 1 min 1 yds.* 3 1
Misdirection 1 min Special** 6 3
Mist of Speed 1 hour 10 miles* 9 4
Morgul Wound [S] 1 Special 6 2
Moves as Through Water 1 Touch 6 2
Naming 1 min Touch 6 2
Opening-spell 2 Touch 3 1
Obscure 2 Touch 3 1
Power of the Land 3 1 mile 9 3
Preserve Fire 1 4 yds. 3 Special
Quench Fire 1 5 yds* 3 1
Rain-ward 1 Self 3 1
Reading the Heart 1 min 3 yds.* 3 1
Renew 1 Touch 3 1
Resist Fear 1 Self 3 1
Resist Fire 1 Touch 6 2
Revive 1 Touch 3 1
Sap Strength [S} 1 4 yds. * 3 1
Sense Power 1 3 yds.* 3 1
Shadow of Fear [S] 2 Special** 3 2
Shades & Phantoms[S] 1 min Special** 3 2
Shatter 1 2 yds.* 3 2
Sheath of Ice 1 3 yds.* 6 2
Shells Virtue 1 touch 6 2
Shutting-spell 1 min Touch 3 1
Slumber 2 2 yds.* 3 2
Smite 1 3 yds. 9 3
Smoke-weaving 1 1 yds.* 3 1
Sorcery Ward 2 Touch 9 3
Spawn Were [S] 2 3 yds. 9 3
Spawn Wight 2 hours 3 yds. 9 3
Spellbinding 1 2 yds.* 3 2
Spoken Thoughts 2 Self 3 1
Springtime 1 min Special** 6 2
Steady Craft 2 Touch 3 1
Steady Hand 1 Touch 3 1
Stout Body 1 Touch 3 1
Strength of Limb 1 Touch 3 1
Swift of Foot 1 Touch 3 1
Transformation 2 1 yds.* 12 5
Veil 1 min Self 3 1
Veiling Shadow [S] 1 min 35 yds* 3 1

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Spell Time Range Cost Difficulty
Victory-spell 1 min Touch 6 3
Virtue of Finding 2 20 Miles* 3 1
Voice of Command 1 Special** 6 3
Voice of Suasion 1 Special** 3 2
Vulnerability to Fire 1 6 yds.* 6 2
Watershaping 1 35 yds* 3 1
Wind Mastery 2 50 yds.* 3 1
Wizard's Guise 1 min Self 3 1
Wizard's Hand 1 5 yds.* 6 2
Word of Command 1 Special** 9 **
** see spell description, [S] denotes Sorcery spell, * X-yards per point of Bearing

138