Fair enough. Everyone is entitled to have their own opinion. If they must.
Like you, Folwren, I haven't really read any of the histories, and what little I have read (which consists entirely of the Silmarillion - yup, that's it) I must admit, I don't remember in great detail, so Tolkien's version of Celebrimbor is pretty much a closed book to me. However, as far as I am aware, that particular character is not really described in so much detail as far as his feelings are concerned - which is a
good thing, as it gives the RPGers a rather freer rein as to how he is played. He isn't my character, certainly, and even Durelin has said that she wouldn't exactly claim him as her own, her main character being Maegisil, obviously - and this allows us yet more freedom. In a game, it's all about perception, I suppose - there are rules that govern us, rules about Canon, rules about RPG etiquette towards other players and their characters...but when they don't apply, as in this case, it may kind of come to being a first-come, first-served basis: this is how Durelin and I have chosen to percieve him.
That having been said, I actually don't consider Celebrimbor to be 'wimpy' as you put it; remember, in these posts, he is with his closest advisors, so he is more likely to show his true feelings rather than simply acting as a leader; these are the few people who he can be more...free with. And faced with twenty thousand orcs at short notice, wouldn't you be maybe a little despairing? And besides, to an extent, we are going on what is written about Celebrimbor: he knew about the danger the rings were going to cause for over a century, and he did nothing. Does this really imply a strong and decisive leader? I actually really liked Durelin/Maegisil's way of phrasing it: "You spent one hundred years wallowing in self-pity."
And yes, it is a different take on a historical Tolkien character - but there are strong leaders a-plenty, and this seemed a rather interesting, not to mention rather fitting, twist to the character. And it is a take that I am rather enjoying playing with, really.
