ISSN: 1081-8359Issue 22 July 1998 The International Journal for Middle-earth Gaming I S S U E 22 THE BALROGS 1 Other Hands ISSUE 22 JULY 1998 Editorial: On-line In this Issue Ack! My brain is reeling from the im- that has been hitherto neglected by the Editorial .................................... 2 mensity of it all. I mean the prolificacy of pages of this journal. I hope this very inter- MERP-related sites on the Internet. But esting conversation will rectify that ab- Communication ........................... 2 most of you probably know this already, sence. since more than 80% of Other Hands’ read- The Balrogs ................................. 4 In lieu of an adventure scenario, we have ership enjoys access to the Internet. Why for this issue two shorter pieces: one a trea- Dwarven Magic ........................ 12 am I telling you this? Because Other Hands tise on game mechanics, the other a collec- now has an all-new webpage which will tion of campaign ideas for the TA 1640 pe- Interview ...................................... 15 soon offer a plethora of great stuff you riod. A recent subscriber to OH, Carl won’t find in hard copy. It's not fully opera- Brodt had originally written “Dwarven The TA 1640 Campaign tional yet—we’re shooting for August 1st— Magic” as a submission for Grey Worlds Facts and Problems .................. 17 but you can take a peek at it at http:// magazine (which never materialized). I al- www.netcom.com/~mrboy/OtherHands/ ways find it refreshing to read an article Rastarin's Log ............................. 21 Index.html. (This URL is temporary, the that approaches the “Magic in Middle- final version will omit “~mrboy/”.) earth” question from a specific vantage Cramped for space...must move onto intros point, in this case, that of a particular race. for this issue... I hope to see others apply a similar ap- A couple of months ago I was asked to proach to the particular magic of other write the “color texts” (topical mini-essays) races or cultures. C ONTRIBUTORS for ICE’s Balrog Player Guide (intended to For his part, Jason Vester takes on a accompany the not yet released MECCG critical issue for campaign design: what Carl Brodt expansion deck of the same name). In the themes or elements are unique to or em- Bridget Buxton course of researching various aspects of blematic of a given temporal setting in Mid- Chris Seeman Balrog-lore, I stumbled upon enough inter- dle-earth. The indeterminacy he finds in esting tidbits that I thought I might write Chris Tubb many of the MERP modules on the distinc- up in an organized fashion. This issue’s tive character of the 1640s is surely Jason Vester background essay is the result. grounds for undertaking the kind of explo- But the real feature for this issue is the ration of adventure possibilities he does. interview we have been granted by Chris And as always, we wrap things up with EDITING Tubb, designer of Mithril miniatures. another episode of Rastarin’s Log, in which Miniatures have traditionally been an im- our heroes run amok with Black Chris Seeman portant component of fantasy role playing Númenórean nasties in Umbar, with more games. It is a facet of Middle-earth gaming Star Wars references a-flying... AGEMAKING P Chris Seeman Quentin Westcott 1 July, 1998 ARTWORK COMMUNICATIONS Bridget Buxton Quentin Westcott Jason Vester: else lacking in-depth development. I’d Patrick Wynne much rather read another article on “Magic Congratulations on another solid issue of in Middle-earth” or someone’s campaign OH! I truly never expected the next issue premise. But in this case, despite my start- to be out on time. A few comments on spe- ing bias, I found the adventure remarkably cific articles follow. strong, easy to pick up and drop into an- NEXT ISSUE Adventures have always had a very other setting, and self-contained. Every site prominent place in OH and, while I do not and NPC had a write-up, and the illustra- DRAGONS! dispute this position, they have never really tions added considerably to the written ma- been all that useful to me. Many have been terial. If I had a criticism, it would be this: rather ordinary stories without purpose, or it’s too bad we don’t see more original mon- 2 Issue 22 July 1998 sters and menaces in M-e. Too often we employed some of your artists. A great tal- amount of PPs to cast this spell. resort to the familiar (Giant Spiders, Orcs, ent, I think, is the author of your last three 3) The caster loses 1D10 temporary Co Wargs, Wights, etc.). Just because JRRT covers. points and may cast no further magic for didn’t describe it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t The scenarios you produce I really enjoy, the next 10 minutes. The Co points exist! But until I submit an adventure of and in some respects my poor efforts pale (regained at the rate of 1 point/10 min- my own, perhaps I shouldn’t throw stones. by comparison. Rastarin’s log I enjoy im- utes) further strengthen the WC by of the The survey results were interesting, but I mensely—I was in tears after the last issue. caster’s lost Co at a 1:1 ratio. would encourage you to not give up com- Plainly Bridget is a fan of the prince of Example: A 2nd level mage is being pletely on articles that rested at the bottom thieves. I think I should respond with chased through Mount Gundabad by sev- end of the scale. An occasional article on something from Men in Tights: “Unlike eral Orcs led by a 5th level Uruk. Though M-e computer games, or CCGs, especially other role players I could mention, at least I he has the lead, the mage is tiring fast and if they relate to table-top role playing, speak with a English accent.” knows it is but a matter of time before they would still be welcome. Lastly, the picture at the back of Issue catch him. Seeing a door in front of him, he Keep up the great work, and remember 20: I am sure I have seen it before, Chris. rushes through it and slams it shut. Unfor- that we all appreciate you. Were you starring in “America’s tunately, it has no lock. Hearing the Orcs Mostwanted”(?)!! closing in, he decides he has no option but to cast Magic Lock (from Unbarring Ways); 4250 S. Arville #280 Now I would like to offer a rule sugges- but he also knows the Uruk should be able Las Vegas, NV 89103-3726 tion for handling Words of Command to break through this easily, so he opts to [email protected] (WCs), a topic that was originally broached by Dirk Brandherm in OH 10/11. If one use a WC. Since Magic Lock is a 2nd level recalls Gandalf’s shutting-spell on the door spell, using it as a WC knocks it up to Level Andy Alack: of the chamber of Mazarbul (LotR 1.341), 4 RR (probably still to weak to hold them). the following observations may be made: Groaning at the telling effect of the spell on his body, he looses 8 Co points, 3 of which I thought I would just drop you a line or • “To do things of that kind [i.e., shutting- go to reinforce the spell (thus raising the three so I can say how I’ve just finished spells] rightly requires time (ibid).” reading all 21 issues of OH — and what a RR to Level 8 —much more respectable). read!! What can I say? • A WC is precisely that—one word. Using the door to bar the Orcs’ progress, Excellent! And the quality of the material • Casting WCs is physically draining. he stumbles away from the door, recovering produced increases with each issue. Well • A WC harnesses incredible power (truly from the ordeal (constitution-wise) some 1 done! the sledge hammer, as Brandherm men- hour and 20 minutes later. Now the praise is over, some thoughts for tions), the use of which can cause struc- What happens when the spell is broken? you. It is with regret I heard from you tural damage (cf. Gandalf’s shattering of If the duration expires there should be no about the moratorium, but in some respects the Bridge of Khazad-dûm). ill-effect; but if the spell is broken by vio- I can understand ICE’s reasons (even if I From these I draw the following conclu- lence, give it a percentage chance of quite dislike them). One of your writers to OH sions: literally bringing the house down! If the mentioned that MERP was more popular focus of the spell’s power (i.e., the spell ad- 1) The time taken to cast a normal spell der, PP multiplier, etc.) happens to be de- in Europe than the US. This, unfortunately, should be increased (x2 seems a good does not seem to be the case. Where I live stroyed, that should also be factored into ideal, so that a 1st level spell would take 2 the equation. in England there are around 175,000 people rounds to cast, 4 rounds for a 2nd level, and only one gaming shop (if you exclude etc.). Incredible as it may seem, this option Games Workshop) and, according to the could technically work using the MERP 2) A WC will not increase the damage a owner (whom I know quite well), I seem to stats for Gandalf and the Balrog in Lords of spell might do (no super fireballs and the be the only person in Swindon who buys Middle-earth I (35th and 60th respectively).