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The One Ring™ Starter Set $19.99
Average Rating:4.9 / 5
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The One Ring™ Starter Set
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The One Ring™ Starter Set
Publisher: Free League Publishing
by Will [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 02/12/2024 09:13:22

You can see a more detailed video review here: https://youtu.be/sAD4sJm857g?si=JATKKhaWvLdqxzFj I have been very pleased with most of this starter set. The maps are absolutely beautiful and really make me want to buy the physical version pretty much just for them and the dice. The Shire booklet is also a really fun read. If you want to know more about the land of the Hobbits or are planning to write adventures set there, this booklet is pretty invaluable! The war-gear and combat stance cards are great. I wish they had a little more information such as what Combat Tasks and special damage options do, but I understand the limits of the card sizes. My few complaints about this set are the adventures which I feel are too simple to be terribly interesting to me. And, this set really is only built to support these specific adventures. There are no options to create your own characters, hobbit or otherwise and this feels very limiting. Still, overall this set is quite good.



Rating:
[3 of 5 Stars!]
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The One Ring™ Starter Set
Publisher: Free League Publishing
by Jonathan S. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 03/21/2022 13:04:31

Over the past few years, Free League has proven that they consistently produce quality, thoughtful products and The One Ring Starter Set is no exception. The writing and art combine synergistically to evoke the feel of an ancient world with thousands of years of civilized history. The addition of gear cards, unique dice, and stance cards adds a tactile element to the game that will appeal to younger players and those new to roleplaying games. However, those expecting deadly adventures outside the Shire or a variety of character types will be disappointed. For a detailed review, please go to www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/19/19057.phtml



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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The One Ring™ Starter Set
Publisher: Free League Publishing
by Björn L. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 03/10/2022 11:24:53

A family-friendly introduction like The Hobbit - a Mephisto review

4 stars if you are looking for a family-friendly RPG, 3 stars as a starter for The One Ring

The One Ring Starter Set

There have already been several role-playing games about The Lord of the Rings and The One Ring (TOR) has now been released in a second edition. To facilitate the introduction to rules and setting, a starter set has been released, consisting of three books, two maps, character sheets, item cards, and a marker. The latter, however, is not used for the starter set and only comes into play with the complete rules.

In the book The Rules, less than 30 pages describe the basic game mechanics and explain the basic concepts of a role-playing game and how it works. In The One Ring, d12 and d6 are used. The d12, called the Feat die, is the primary die, providing the values 1 to 10 as well as two special results. The Gandalf rune stands for an automatic success, the Eye of Sauron for a result of 0. Depending on the game statistics, additional six-sided success dice are rolled, and all dice results are added. The goal is to beat a target number, which usually depends on the character's three attributes and, in combat, the opponent's defense. This mechanic is extended as the success dice show another symbol that gives additional bonuses. In case characters have an advantage, two Feat dice are rolled, and the better one is used - in case of a disadvantage, the worse one is taken. Conditions can cause further modifications. Three attributes serve as character traits, which determine the minimum rolls. The 18 skills, in turn, determine how many success dice the characters have for specific actions. There are four weapon proficiencies for different weapon classes that work the same way as skills for combat. Damage is subtracted from endurance, and there are also hope points that can be spent on advantages.

Combat is very schematic and begins with an opening salvo and clear set-up rules for ranged and melee combat. An attack roll must exceed the target value based on the opponent's defense, and the damage determined by the weapon is subtracted from the endurance. If symbols are rolled on the success dice, they can be used for special effects such as heavy blows or armor penetration, which improve the attack. However, particularly good hits can cause wounds. Player characters can take one wound. If they suffer more (or lose all endurance), they are out of action. However, characters dying due to combat is not intended in the Starter Set.

The book The Shire presents the history, traditions, and homeland of the hobbits in over 50 pages. There is a brief background on how the hobbits came to the Shire, as well as a quick historical outline. This chapter focuses on aspects such as the art of pipe smoking and family traditions.

Then the reader is taken on a tour of the four Farthings of the Shire, as well as the Buckland and the Old Forest. Here, the various places and inhabitants are described, and random tables and ideas for adventures are offered to provide starting points for the player characters. Although the Shire seems mostly tranquil, some secrets and threats might challenge adventurous hobbits.

However, the book The Adventures, which offers a small story arc, provides a ready-to-play story arc. The story hook here is none other than the legendary Bilbo Baggins, who incites some young hobbits to some small adventures. Thus, they have to obtain a map from a museum, recover a historical treasure of the hobbits, secure fireworks, act as mailmen and confront a dangerous beast. The adventures are relatively simple stories with some minor challenges but few battles and no real threats to the hobbits. The story ties into the pre-made characters and also allows you to take on the roles of Balin and Bilbo later on.

Since the starter set comes without rules for character creation, eight immediately playable characters consisting of the character sheets and a brief background description are included. In addition to six different hobbits to support Bilbo, the selection also includes Bilbo himself and the dwarf Balin. Through the backstories, the characters are linked partly to each other and partly to the background of the setting. Since most of the characters do not have any combat gear to begin with, there are 23 cards of weapons and armor that show the item on one side and list the game values on the reverse.   The beautifully drawn maps show the larger region of Eriador and Shire in a more detailed version.

The starter set is aimed at beginners in two aspects. On the one hand, the rules are compactly reduced to the essentials and do without character creation in particular. On the other hand, the setting focuses on the hobbits and the Shire. Thus, compared to the rulebook, the Starter Set appears somewhat in the role of The Hobbit compared to The Lord of the Rings - namely, as the simplified, family-friendly version. This trend continues in the setting of the Shire and the adventures: Here, hobbits can experience a few harmless adventures where combat is hardly a factor, and the player characters are never in mortal danger. Unfortunately, the book about the Shire reminded me of the beginning of the Lord of the Rings about the hobbits: While the whole thing is well fleshed out, it's not what you expect for adventures in Middle Earth - and which is just an introduction before the real story starts.

Therefore, for me, The One Ring Starter Set is less of an introduction for roleplayers to the rules and setting of role-playing and more of a family-friendly, easy way to introduce children and possibly a still inexperienced game master to role-playing. In this respect, the Starter Set does an excellent job and provides a nicely crafted introduction. However, if you want to dive into the epic fantasy world of Middle-earth, more in line with The Lord of the Rings than with The Hobbit, you might want to give the Shire, and this set a wide berth and start your adventures directly with the core rulebook.

(Björn Lippold)



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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The One Ring™ Starter Set
Publisher: Free League Publishing
by Eric B. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 12/06/2021 14:17:50

I must admit being disappointed by this product.

I am a fan of the first edition and have followed the production of this new edition from afar.

I was very excited that Free League would use its in-house system and I think mechanically there is a nice improvement.

However, visually I am extremely disappointed and for me it is a big step backwards. I just don't like the "vibe" of this edition.

In addition, this starter set focuses only on the hobbits and the shire. It could be nice but the adventures are not good and childish. Adventures are only meant to be played by hobbits and I have to admit that none make me want to play them. It is sad because almost every adventures from the previous edition made me want to play it.

I will probably buy the core rulebook but to me, this is a disappointment



Rating:
[3 of 5 Stars!]
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