The Fellowship of the Fourth Age: A New Beginning Planning Thread

[Durelin]

I was wondering, Child: What will your first post for the game cover? Because I was thinking that perhaps, if you were going to cover the stuff going on and Gondor, that I could write a post that would cover the stuff going on in Mordor (or vice-versa).

And that brings up another question: We are starting the game with the group from Gondor already hooked up with the Mordor group, right? Would the first post(s) be prologue-like, then, at least covering the Gondor group's being sent out and journey to Mordor?

Just bringing some questions forward to make sure they don't get overlooked. Please answer them whenever you get the chance (no rush; was just afraid my post was too cluttered and jumpy and such...or something).

Thanks very much.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Yes, good idea. My folk are in Gondor, and my first post will be their response in Gondor to the king's request. (I'll likely do a single joint post with both Lindir and Radagast in it.) If you'd like, I can merely mention near the end of my post that your Gondor character comes to us and we set out together to meet with the king. That would cover his entrance. It would be good if you could focus on the slave contingent.

BTW, I think all of the people Aragorn sends out would need to be staying in Minas Tirith or someplace not too far away. (including visiting Elves, hobbits, etc.) It wouldn't make sense that someone would take months to reach Minas Tirith (to say nothing of how they get the message).

That leads us back to the other question. What would first posts for slaves/ex-slaves look like?

Maybe for the Orcs first post would be their disatisfaction with their leader and how restrictive he is?

Once the first post is done, I think time has to leap forward for slaves and Gondor people till the point where they meet up in the caves. That meeting of slaves and folks from the west would be the second post.

Second post for Orcs might be their decision to strike out on their own, not knowing where they're going? Only the vague direction of north....perhaps to hunt for something valuable (perhaps weapons or armor of mithril?) they mistakenly believe Sauron might have left behind on the Plateau of Gorgoroth?

Just thinking out loud. Other views are definitely welcome....

____________________

Is that first game post OK?

[Durelin]

My folk are in Gondor, and my first post will be their response in Gondor to the king's request. (I'll likely do a single joint post with both Lindir and Radagast in it.) If you'd like, I can merely mention near the end of my post that your Gondor character comes to us and we set out together to meet with the king. That would cover his entrance. It would be good if you could focus on the slave contingent.

I could manage a post about both, I believe, unless you'd rather edit it in my character's role in the group (or you can edit that in either way; it's up to you).

And the first post looks great! I love Aragorn's reminiscing; that's a great touch.

What would first posts for slaves/ex-slaves look like?

Maybe for the Orcs first post would be their disatisfaction with their leader and how restrictive he is?

I suppose then that the slaves posts should deal with their escape from the rebellion gone wrong, and the ex-slaves...well, will they be hiding in the mountains as a gang, or will they be among the other slaves, escaping from the rebellion that they took part of? (Like a liberation force.)

Your ideas for the Orcs' first posts sound good to me; I'll have to come back with more ideas later if I can. Being pulled away from the comp now...

[Child of the 7th Age]

Just reviewing the earlier part of this thread. Here's an answer to a related question.... I do think it would be good if your major character was the slave, and the man from Gondor a secondary character. That way, as game founders, we'd have a solid foot in both those camps.

One other question I raised:

One more Orc issue that needs ironing out.....are these the kind of Orcs that prefer night and are blinded by the light of the sun? Or are they the Uruk-hai?

[Child of the 7th Age]

Ack....if you want to do the two posts---one for each character---that would be great (in fact, preferable). Just wanted to give you an out if that was needed.

So let's go with the two posts for you.

I'll try and write you a note tonight about some people interested in the game.

[Durelin]

Hmm...good question. I suppose the Orcs had to adapt to a new lifestyle once Sauron was destroyed, or does Sauron's darkness still linger there? It was dark there most of the time, wasn't it? And imagine it would at least be hazy from all the ash in the sky from the eruption of Mt. Doom. Hmmm... I'll have to come back to that one.

I'll add to this: it would be interesting if the Orcs, because they could only travel at night, were thought to be midnight prowlers by the 'Fellowship.' And that would be just another thing to negotiate if they could only travel at night.

The Uruk-hai were closer to men, possibly, weren't they? Then it might actually be more likely that they would 'rebel' and be more 'civilised.' It would also be more convenient if they were Uruk-hai.

Edit: Great! Can't wait to hear from you. And two posts it is.

Okay, now I've really got to go....unless something drags me back again.

[Child of the 7th Age]

I'll add to this: it would be interesting if the Orcs, because they could only travel at night, were thought to be midnight prowlers by the 'Fellowship.' And that would be just another thing to negotiate if they could only travel at night.

Interesting idea. My guess is that orcs would probably prefer to travel by night even if they could stand the daylight.

[piosenniel]

Just an FYI --


Nurn is the name of the eastern and southern regions of Mordor. (No accent on the "u".)

Sea of Núrnen is the name of the inland lake. (It does have the accent on the "u".)

I went through and edited those places in the proposal where those areas were mentioned.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Thanks, Pio. I'll go back tomorrow and check the spelling and diacritics.