Still hilarious that we're the big bad monster but somehow outdo the kindly, grandpa figures in charisma of all things.
Since we're on the topic can you explain just where the modifiers come from on our own character sheet? Diplomacy for instance is at 15+26, but the trait modifier is just one, at 5. In comparison, learning is at 10+14+5 so I assume that 5 is from the Atoner trait? Is the Friend of Nienna diplomacy bonus folded into that 26, so our... whatever sort of modifer is really 21? And what about our penalties like that -5 Intrigue?
In all, it's really confusing with some stats getting 2 listed modifiers and some with just 1, and intrigue has that 5+22=27+5: 32 which even further baffles me, especially since there should be a -5 in there somewhere.
The very first number is the base stat which is either 15 (Martial and Diplomacy), 5 (Intrigue and Stewardship) and 10 for the rest. The second number is the results of the 6d5 used to determine these stats.
This is an effect of the Ainu Incarnate trait which makes you begin with 10 in all stats before counting bonuses/maluses incurred at character creation.
Then there are the bonuses you eventually gained which explains why not every stat has two modifiers.
The bit which I fully admit is confusing is that the Friend of Nienna and Valarauka trait were used to determine the starting stat before rolling dice.
Diplomacy by instance could be read more clearly: 10+26+5(Friend of Nienna): 41
I would interpret this as the fact that in the beginning, and if we hadn't fallen, we may have been more powerful then them. Still a maia for sure, but maybe closer to Eonwe in power and status.
I would interpret this as the fact that in the beginning, and if we hadn't fallen, we may have been more powerful then them. Still a maia for sure, but maybe closer to Eonwe in power and status.
It's not exactly that. It's more than as true Istari they are limited in their power and forbidden to go against Sauron "power to power" because the Children of Eru must demonstrate their free will and ousting Sauron the usual way would surely sunder another continent.
And Eru Allfather has made known to the Valar that the geography of Arda is nice as it is and if they could let the world evolve naturally from now on it would be nice. So they restricted their agents to Elven potential.
Saruman/Curunir is what Sauron could have been, without limitation you three would be equal with slightly different specialities.
Diplomacy: 10+21+5: 36: As honey is your voice and great power is contained therein
Intrigue: 10+25: 35: Perhaps you could lead the shadowy war against the Dark Lord
Learning: 10+17+5: 31: A Spirit of gears and machines always churning
Martial: 10+19: 29: You are no soldier but still are there to lead the War
Piety: 10+25+5: 40: Blessed is the prodigal son long thought lost
Stewardship: 10+21+5: 36: Gold is born in your hands
Traits:
Istar: Even if incarnation limits your possibilities you are still one of the Maiar offspring of Eru's wandering thoughts and few can match your skill : 10 as base skill : Roll 6d5 to determine stats. 40 is the limit for the Istari.
Aulendil: What Sauron was, you are now and you won't fall. +5 Learning and Stewardship.
Hope Returned: The Light, you had almost forgotten it +5 Piety
Voice of Saruman: You speak with the authority of Manwë himself: +5 Diplomacy
Gandalf the Grey
Diplomacy: 10+13+10: 33: You wander through the world bringing news to all.
Intrigue: 10+25-5: 30: Your eyes follow the growing darkness
Learning: 10+21+5: 36: Not the third were you sent
Martial: 10+14+5:29: Your blade is not from Gondolin but it is keen nonetheless
Piety: 10+18+5: 33: Thank the Allfather for he directs the Music still
Stewardship: 10+19: 29: You have helped more than a village to survive winter.
Traits Friend of Nienna: +5 Diplomacy; -5 Intrigue
Narya: The Ring of Fire keep the will of the Free People strong, +5 Diplomacy, +5 Piety, +5 Learning
Eternal Wanderer: You have lived in the world for more than an age, always on the move, always on adventure. +5 Martial
Radagast the Brown
Diplomacy: 10+15: 25: Your voice is like nature's, some hearken to it, some refuse it
Intrigue: 10+18: 28: Traps are also found in nature and few things escape your eye.
Learning: 10+19: 29: Maïa you are, of lesser stature than others but still.
Martial: 10+19+5: 34: You are the storm and the sacred hunt, no more cruel than winter.
Piety: 10+21+5: 36: The world sings to you and you answer your kind.
Stewardship: 10+23+5: 38: Before the first seed, before the first birth in blood, you were.
Traits Istar: Even if incarnation limits your possibilities you are still one of the Maiar offspring of Eru's wandering thoughts and few can match your skill: 10 as base skill : Roll 6d5 to determine stats. 40 is the limit for the Istari.
Friend of Yavanna: Your lady shared in the singing of the kelvar and the olvar, the plants and the animals, still some of this wisdom you remember. +5 Stewardship, +5 Piety
Wild-Speaker: Ravens and wolves for the one-eyed wanderer, trees that uproot themselves and walk. Such is the song of nature and fool is he who underestimate it. +5 Martial, Entourage of animals.
Well... I did find these pictures of Saruman but they're not altogether perfect.
He's not exactly "white" in that last one. And the one from "Guardians of Middle Earth" gives him sharp nails, which kind of takes away from the whole "redeemed" thing he has going on here.
A question on Saruman no longer falling: I thought he was already corrupted or in the process of by this time? He has the Elendilmir and has been searching for the one ring after finding Isildur's body long ago, no? When's he going to come clean with that, or at least the former?
Well... I did find these pictures of Saruman but they're not altogether perfect.
He's not exactly "white" in that last one. And the one from "Guardians of Middle Earth" gives him sharp nails, which kind of takes away from the whole "redeemed" thing he has going on here.
A question on Saruman no longer falling: I thought he was already corrupted or in the process of by this time? He has the Elendilmir and has been searching for the one ring after finding Isildur's body long ago, no? When's he going to come clean with that, or at least the former?
You are in 2801 so he just started his search of the One Ring' location. While he still risks to break the Elendilmir if he finds it to understand how it works (Maïa of Aulë typical behaviour) he won't hoard it and will reveal much of his thought to the Council.
Your arrival restored his faith in the final defeat of Sauron by proving the Valar have not forsaken the Istari. That your mandate with the Orcs tie to his ideas about the Dunlendings and the Children of Aulë have a prosperous kingdom once more helps too.
He is still a jerk but if you are going to respect his knowledge and the manner in which he does things (unlike Gandalf who personnaly thinks the establishment in Isengard is a mistake because the Istari should be righting wrongs and not commanding from fortresses), he won't succumb to his massive inferiority complex.
He is still a jerk but if you are going to respect his knowledge and the manner in which he does things (unlike Gandalf who personnaly thinks the establishment in Isengard is a mistake because the Istari should be righting wrongs and not commanding from fortresses), he won't succumb to his massive inferiority complex.
Well, since we're basically doing the exact same "commanding from mountains fortresses" thing, I imagine this will be more than doable, especially with our diplomacy stat.
Gandalf's stance on "righting wrongs" is one I find a bit iffy myself, since it's too reactionary.
TBF Gandalf is basically trusting in Eru design and allow himself to be guided by Providence to gather heroes. It works but not as it could.
You will have an option in your meetings to politely suggest the idea the Istari could, you know, coordinate and act as a cohereerent whole with Saruman keeping both Gondor and Rohan, and possibly Dunland in fighting shape and running a network of informants. Gandalf as troubleshooters and recruiting agents for adventurers. You as redeemer and destroyer of the marred.
And you will find something Radagast will be useful at, I'm sure.
Sauron has already scrapped most of his OTL plans with your arrival on the basis he has no anti-balrog weapons yet so things will change.
TBF Gandalf is basically trusting in Eru design and allow himself to be guided by Providence to gather heroes. It works but not as it could.
You will have an option in your meetings to politely suggest the idea the Istari could, you know, coordinate and act as a cohereerent whole with Saruman keeping both Gondor and Rohan, and possibly Dunland in fighting shape and running a network of informants. Gandalf as troubleshooters and recruiting agents for adventurers. You as redeemer and destroyer of the marred.
And you will find something Radagast will be useful at, I'm sure.
Sauron has already scrapped most of his OTL plans with your arrival on the basis he has no anti-balrog weapons yet so things will change.
Radagast keeps our efforts from becoming destructive? He is the check on us, and is the one who tells us "Now hold on there bubba-louie, maybe this isnt the best idea? You got any other sure-fire plans in that noggin of yours"?
Radagast keeps our efforts from becoming destructive? He is the check on us, and is the one who tells us "Now hold on there bubba-louie, maybe this isnt the best idea? You got any other sure-fire plans in that noggin of yours"?
He is also probably best able to act as a go between with the Ents and the flora and fauna of Middle Earth. While we have seen Gandalf also able to communicate with animals after a fashion I would imagine a maia of Yavanna would find the task easier.
One could almost pity him. He's been planing this for two ages of the Earth and then when his triumph is almost at hand a repentant Valaruraka of all things pops up.
You will have an option in your meetings to politely suggest the idea the Istari could, you know, coordinate and act as a cohereerent whole with Saruman keeping both Gondor and Rohan, and possibly Dunland in fighting shape and running a network of informants. Gandalf as troubleshooters and recruiting agents for adventurers. You as redeemer and destroyer of the marred.
And you will find something Radagast will be useful at, I'm sure.
Sauron: What do you mean it would be easier to seek for the Ring once we've conquered Middle-Earth? That's a great idea? How have I not thought of that sooner?" *actually get to plan a war rather than just throwing huge hordes at everybody*
Sauron: What do you mean it would be easier to seek for the Ring once we've conquered Middle-Earth? That's a great idea? How have I not thought of that sooner?" *actually get to plan a war rather than just throwing huge hordes at everybody*
None. He was just frightened enough to actually listen to the Witch-King, the Nine as they're the ones to actually go seek the Ring are a bit more conscious of things like controlled territory and the like.
That and he knows he can't drown you in hordes of underlings, the Balrogs are immune to this sort of tactics, that means a change of plan is in order.
None. He was just frightened enough to actually listen to the Witch-King, the Nine as they're the ones to actually go seek the Ring are a bit more conscious of things like controlled territory and the like.
That and he knows he can't drown you in hordes of underlings, the Balrogs are immune to this sort of tactics, that means a change of plan is in order.
He calls the Seven to his side. (Well he calls every Ring to his side but the communication is wonker for the Three). And while he can't forge a new Ring he is in a crafting mood.
He calls the Seven to his side. (Well he calls every Ring to his side but the communication is wonker for the Three). And while he can't forge a new Ring he is in a crafting mood.
I think "only for protection" may have some exceptions. I find it hard to imagine Galadriel managed to cast down the Walls of Dol Guldur in canon with only the power that was hers by nature.
I think "only for protection" may have some exceptions. I find it hard to imagine Galadriel managed to cast down the Walls of Dol Guldur in canon with only the power that was hers by nature.
That one might have been incredibly weak after the Ring was destroyed. Sauron has this stupid habit to build on the foundation of his own power, so when that power is removed his stuff breaks down, like Barad Dur or becomes weaker, like the tower Luthien destroyed with a word once he surrendered control of it.
That one might have been incredibly weak after the Ring was destroyed. Sauron has this stupid habit to build on the foundation of his own power, so when that power is removed his stuff breaks down, like Barad Dur or becomes weaker, like the tower Luthien destroyed with a word once he surrendered control of it.
I was referring to the first destruction of Dol Guldur, when the Necromancer was driven from Mirkwood by the White Council. Galadriel cast down the walls of the fortress.
I think "only for protection" may have some exceptions. I find it hard to imagine Galadriel managed to cast down the Walls of Dol Guldur in canon with only the power that was hers by nature.
Is that coming from the Hobbit films? I don't remember it.
Galadriel's OP, plz nerf.
Still Galadriel is the purest-blooded elf in Arda, has seen the Two Trees in the summer of Valinor, was important enough the Valar forbade her to retrun at the end of the First Age, learned magic under Melian, saw right through Sauron's guise during the Second Age and like all elves she gained in power through the centuries.
She also didn't like Féanor very much proving she was wise even in Aman. Or had basic recognition pattern.
She can totally destroy a fortress or two with her own Magia. I wouldn't be surprised she was at the level of a minor Maïa at this point.
I was referring to the first destruction of Dol Guldur, when the Necromancer was driven from Mirkwood by the White Council. Galadriel cast down the walls of the fortress.
