Tolkien Quest #1: Night of the Nazgûl

[rusty_shackleford]

1 = 2D
2 = Shop → 2D
3 = 2D

[rusty_shackleford]

Realizing the urgency of his quest, Halfred decides to depart immediately taking the road west out of Bree.

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I'm unsure of when I'm supposed to add the time of 1D? It would seem silly to add it immediately, but it seems the time at the start of a section is for entering it. But you start at 1D? I guess it's just there for consistency so technically you could return to 1D? Perhaps to buy supplies?

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Another 24 hours to pick the next choice, which must be the direction to Move On in.

[Tangerine]

Nothing went wrong going along the road so far, so stay on it. Move on to 3D.

[rusty_shackleford]

Using AI for the real purpose billions of dollars have been spent researching it: To generate images of LP of 40 year old gamebooks on the internet.

Halfred 1.webp

[rusty_shackleford]

Halfred continues apace west on the road, making good time.
"This is adventuring? Why, it's quite easy actually…"

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Noticing a wagon headed in the same direction as him, he pauses for a moment to ponder if he should inspect.

[ArcaneLurker]

Denis Gordeev - LOTR.jpg

Denis Gordeev - LOTR 2.jpg

[Tangerine]

Observe the wagon more closely. There might be new friends for him.

[DagothGeas5]

Wanted to say the same but was not sure if rusty was waiting for input as he did not say the 24 hours waiting thing for this one and I figured he had made up his mind already.

I would definetly be careful of continuing through the road from here though. Whenever a book like this mentions something (in this case the bandits as well as the friend), from my experience it usually ends up being a veiled warning of something that might happen soon, I am very worried for Halfred

[rusty_shackleford]

Wanted to say the same but was not sure if rusty was waiting for input as he did not say the 24 hours waiting thing for this one and I figured he had made up his mind already.

24 hours will be for any decision posted, you guys can feel free to make any suggestion that is within the rules. Preferably with Halfred's character in mind, I suspect he is not the most courageous of sorts… but he does have an inquiring mind!

[Stack of Turtles]

Agreed, turn to 270.

[rusty_shackleford]

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It's in two parts because it spanned a page break.

[rusty_shackleford]

Here's approximately the same area as the gamebook's map in LotRO:



Little known fact: LotRO was heavily inspired by MERP and used a lot of its sourcebooks for ideas.

Considering downloading LotRO and using my hobbit to take screenshots for the LP

[A Chinese opium den]

It's in two parts because it spanned a page break.

Hail the man, we've got to see what hes about.

[DagothGeas5]

Hail!

[rusty_shackleford]

It's in two parts because it spanned a page break.

I was enjoying the SNES Wizardry VI so much I forgot to do the update. I will get to it later.

[Kalarion]

Hail the old man, can't be any harm in it.

[DemoGraph]

So many hails, Nazi forum for sure.

Hail!

[rusty_shackleford]

Halfred, the curious hobbit he is, decides he wants to know what this man is about. Surely he has a few minutes worth of time to spare for some pleasantries? It has been quite a trek so far. Perhaps he could even ride along for some part of the journey? Good folk wouldn't mind company, after all… Yes, that is what he will do, reassuring himself.

fixed halfred.jpeg

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► Show Spoiler

I don't like how the book forces Halfred into a lie here. Halfred is a quite honest hobbit in my humble opinion. Therefore, I rewrote it.
Here is the original passage:

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[edit]
Realized there's a second lie after posting. Oh well. I'm not certain if that's something I'd call a lie as much as withholding the entire truth. I'd probably reword it as "mostly provisions"(technically true!) than "just provisions"

[DagothGeas5]

Truly disdain when they force the character into dialogue that does things like these. Damnable bandit/wagon rider also!
I am very unsure on what I would pick myself if I were in your shoes. Halfred cannot outrun the man if he runs, but fighting him doesn't seem like something a Hobbit might do, perhaps he might in a panic? Truly unsure. If the book will allow, if he might run, to hide somewhere until the danger passes, and maybe that leads to further adventures as he strays from the road, that would be my choice, but with the dialogue doing that I am unsure how much I trust this book now XD

[rusty_shackleford]

Halfred cannot outrun the man if he runs

Halfred's Agility is above average

[DemoGraph]

Run, to 4C if possible. The man shouldn't leave his wagon.

[Oyster Sauce]

The NAP has been violated. Beat this guy into submission and take his dagger (surely an upgrade as it'll be like a short sword for a hobbit). The journey will be much smoother if you cut a horse free from the wagon.

[A Chinese opium den]

Halfred would run, I think.

[Kalarion]

Whip out the sling!

[Tangerine]

I would fight. But Halfred is not me. Halfred would run because the most exciting thing that's happened to him before this was him getting caught by his neighbor holding hands with the girl next door. Roll to run in a random non-eastward direction.

[rusty_shackleford]

1-4 — run
5-6 — fight

[rusty_shackleford]

Halfred recoils after seeing the weapon and falls off the wagon, the nimble little hobbit landing on his feet. Instinctively, he begins to look for a safe hiding spot but the man is already upon him. Halfred pulls out his sling and readies a stone…

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Here's the fighting rules taken from the pdf in the OP:

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We are not surprised, so we are at missile range.


Action table:

Combat table:

[DemoGraph]

What the hell is "EP 23"?
Edit, oh, it's "Endurance points" = HP.

If I rolled for combat then...
Round 1: Hobbit 32-5=27. Man 23=23, hobbit's missile attack failed and man closed to melee. I choose to keep meleeing, because without running bonus trying to run seems like a recipe for defeat.
Round 2: 27-0=27, 23-2=21
Round 3: 27-7=20, 23-0=23
Round 4: 20-1=19, 23-0=23
Round 5: 19-5=14, 23-0=23
Round 6: 14-4=10, 23-5=18
Round 7: 10-0=10, 18-3=15
Round 8: 10-4=6, 15-0=15
Round 9: 6-4=2, 15-2=13
Round 10: 2 -> instakill, 13-2=11

Hobbit has dealt several glancing strikes, while man was mincing him like a sausage and finished with instakill strike to the heart.
The end.

Seems quite brutal. Man would deal x4 damage on average and can kill or defeat us in about 8 turns (with 50% chance) only because of 11-12 rolls. He also defeat us in about 8 turns due to expected damage creep.

I suggest running away.

[Kalarion]

Nothing for it; I suggest that Halfred slings and then attempts the Run Past option.

[rusty_shackleford]

Waiting until Monday evening to continue, for the weekend to conclude.