For failed checks? No, I don't ever do anything for failed checks.

I did update character sheets for successful checks, if they hadn't already had a pip in the box.

Remember, I award in the following way for skill advancements:

First pip: any success in that skill group with any skill
Second pip: any great or extraordinary success in that skill group with any skill
Third pip: is awarded by me for great game use of a skill with roleplaying

Ok, if I'm reading the rules correctly then a failed Fatigue test while traveling adds the encumbrance of only your current travelling gear to your fatigue, so currently 1 because it's summer time.

I updated Rorin's sheet with that, and also, his Endurance and total fatigue weren't right either. His endurance didn't account for the Resilience Virtue, and his fatigue didn't account for his Redoubtable Cultural Blessing, I could have sworn that I had fixed those like twice in the past. Must not have saved it or something. Either way, it's all up to date including the penalty for the failed check.
 

Hi All. Sorry to let you down by disappearing for such a long time. I thought I would be busy for a couple of weeks and then return, but work and life have conspired against that. I'd love to come back to the game at some point but I don't see that happening before May. Apologies.

Doug, I just saw your Google+ message and will turn over control to Bandy to you.

Understandable, hope to see you back when you can.

Quote from: Bandobras on Feb 02, 2016, 07:27 AMHi All. Sorry to let you down by disappearing for such a long time. I thought I would be busy for a couple of weeks and then return, but work and life have conspired against that. I'd love to come back to the game at some point but I don't see that happening before May. Apologies.

Doug, I just saw your Google+ message and will turn over control to Bandy to you.

Glad to see all is well!

Thanks for switching control to the character. If you are able to join us again, we can see about giving the reins back over to you. For now, I am going to put him in Tom's control, as he has taken up the role.

Quote from: disench4nted on Feb 02, 2016, 07:07 AMOk, if I'm reading the rules correctly then a failed Fatigue test while traveling adds the encumbrance of only your current travelling gear to your fatigue, so currently 1 because it's summer time.

I updated Rorin's sheet with that, and also, his Endurance and total fatigue weren't right either. His endurance didn't account for the Resilience Virtue, and his fatigue didn't account for his Redoubtable Cultural Blessing, I could have sworn that I had fixed those like twice in the past. Must not have saved it or something. Either way, it's all up to date including the penalty for the failed check.
 

Awesome!

Tom - Bandy is now yours to control on the profiler page.

 Oh man....now I am really responsibe for him.

Quote from: Bandobras on Feb 02, 2016, 07:27 AMHi All. Sorry to let you down by disappearing for such a long time. I thought I would be busy for a couple of weeks and then return, but work and life have conspired against that. I'd love to come back to the game at some point but I don't see that happening before May. Apologies.

No worries, mate.  Take care until we see you again. 

Quote from: disench4nted on Feb 02, 2016, 05:04 AMHaha, jumped the gun a little bit on combat there  .  I guess Rorin just really wants to dance 

Likewise.  Serves me right for trying to post while my kids are nagging me to get dinner on the table. 

EDIT: Looking over Arbogast's character sheet, I see that he's actually carrying a spear again.  If, hypothetically, I were to make an opening volley with that, would you still allow my initial axe roll to stand? 

Encounter Difficulty
Doug,
I have a couple of thoughts that may pertain to making encounters more difficult.
1) the party sets their difficulty by their stances. This has an impact on all encounters.
2. I dont think the system is designed for a Boss type encounter. I think that the threat needs to be varied and come from multiple sources. I also think that due to the endurance aspect of the game and the mechanics the game lends itself to the loremaster progressively wearing the party down over time and continuing to throw endurance and resource sapping challenges at them.
3. Hate points are a good way to make a splash and make the PCs react as well as leveraging the Attribute Bonus into as many rolls as possible.

Thanks for the input, Tom.

As with any LotR's game, I want it to feel Tolkien - which to me means heroes overcoming great obstacles and the only loss is when there is a heroic moment (i.e. Gandalf's plummet, Boromir's death, etc.).

It also means that encounters are few - and heroes have the chance to recover between them (Wraiths on Weathertop, but then Rivendell; Spiders in Mirkwood, but then the Elven dungeon).

But, it is a game where I know the players want to be challenged by bad guys - otherwise, why play?

I just need to learn with this new system how to create a fun, challenging encounter that caters to all of the above. I don't want you guys to get bored that the game does not have enough sword time. I also want you to have a passion for your characters and at times feel fear for their lives. That is one thing I haven't seen well-displayed in TOR is fear. Although there are fear tests, a failure only limits a PC to no hope usage while afraid.

CODA's LotR game had a great fear mechanic which could make a character pause and it created a penalty based on how afraid was the PC. That penalty, as you know, applied to all tests.

Anyway, I will keep your thoughts in mind as we continue.

I think playing upon misery and weariness would help too.

I am having a hard time getting you guys to those states! 

I don't know about that - you managed the trifecta with Grimbeorn.  And that's about where you want things for maximum drama.  He's now playable, but effectively out of the game until we can get to Mountain Hall and rest in safety, and the rest of us have a tense time trying to get him there without running into any further trouble.  I think that's just right for emphasising the danger of wandering about Wilderland (and explaining why not many people do it) while not being a climactic, or plot-tangentialising, encounter. 

Yes, Doug, you broke the meat shield and the meat shield's shield.