Are you ready for a Hobbit Heist? Here is my version of a Starter Adventure for the Shire: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Zq6ifc2cp9fWnnk.html.

The starter set is a fantastic intro to both Loremaster and Player. The physical media is a must if you plan on playing the core book. I find a modified version to fit in an hour is a great intro to the game at store events. Cross the river. Everyone knows how to use the dice now. Do a basic journey from the inside of the box rules. And then fight a wolf or an orc. And remember it’s a joint story so getting folks to fill in the gaps of a bland story is part of the adventure!

I'm gonna run the starter set as a first ever TTRPG for the whole table next week, I'm envisioning it might be quite fitting as a simpler introduction to RPGs both for the players and for me as a loremaster, I am planning on freestyling it a bit and for example making use of some of the event tables in the shire compendium, but it feels really nice to have the option to fall back on an essentially pre-scripted linear adventure even with prewritten speeches and descriptions, if my improvisation skills don't hold up. The Shire also feels like a perfect setting as we're planning on meeting IRL, sitting around a table, having some beers, cracking some jokes, and really just having a good time while playing this game and not have to put our full effort into any overly complex battle-plans or solving any half-hour-long riddles. Anyways, I might return to this video and give an update on how the game went! PS. Would love to see you review Tales from the Lone Lands! Great video as always

This Starter Set was exactly what my table needed after a bombastic final session of our D&D campaign. Whilst they had good fun roleplaying through silly Hobbit adventures (the last adventure most of all), we all agreed it was a little bit devoid of player choices having an impact. Fortunately they enjoyed the rules system enough to want to play the core game, and were most excited upon discovering that there are playable cultures beyond Hobbits (no-one plays a Hobbit anymore). If you have a table of players willing to try something different this set can be a great introduction despite the faults in its adventures (plus the psychical goodies are a key part of each session)

Just as a heads-up on your idea about playing the ancestors of Hobbits that might one day go on an adventure, a close look at the genealogies of the Fellowship might be in order. :)

As a sucker for physical media, I'm glad I have the Starter Set. I adore the maps, the dice are lovely, the item and stance cards are helpful, and the books are really nice. I agree that the adventures are a little simpler, especially compared to things I've already been preparing, but part of me wished I had actually started with the hobbit adventures if only for a nice, easy way into the game as someone with no prior TOR experience. The standout for me among the books, without a doubt, is the Shire book. Having that to build out the area is amazing, and my first adventure takes place in Buckland, so it was great having even more information. Obviously the Core Rule Book is a must, and so good, but I also praise Ruins of the Lost Realm! The 12 Landmarks provided are detailed and isolated enough to easily weave into your own narrative, the city of Tharbad is an exciting box to play in, but what excited me most was the Tale of Years. The Tale of Years gives a year by year bullet point style "guide" to possible plotlines, where a single year can easily inspire 3 adventure phases. I'm setting my first game 3 years before those timelines suggest starting, which will give us time to start lighter and slowly pepper in rumors or hooks, before they really see some pieces starting to move. I'm so excited about the potential of this game.

I just picked this up last week, because I'm a huge Tolkien fan and some of my players were interested in a low-stakes adventure after finishing our d&d campaign. Subsequently found and binged most of your videos on the game. I'm excited to see what sort of adventure you come up with too, if the timing works out I very well might incorporate it!

I have the physical version of the game, and if you're a lotr fan like me, you will cherish this box. At least I do, but nevermind me 😁

Another great video! I have the actual starter box, but have yet to play it still. Might be worth noting that some of the starter boxes have dice misprints, so verify you have the correct ones. Free League was quick to fix the error, which was great to see.

Looking forward to your next adventure!

100% agree with this review. The art, map, lore book and rule books are top notch but the adventure (Shire setting too IMO) is just soooooo bland and boring. I might also add that some of the Starter boxes came with misprinted dice so if you buy a box with those misprinted dice (if you see an 11 on a dice and no 1's) you can contact Free League Publishing and they will replace those dice.

Legend!

Thanks for the video