'A Walk on the wild side. Strolling along the Slovak Hungarian border talking about The One Ring RPG' Two Shelves of Gaming Episode 16

Greetings podcasters - Thank you for your patience! I’ve put off recording and editing this latest offering as I’ve been under the gun regards our family relocation. The last couple of months have been a stressful blur of boxing household items, contacting international removal companies, deciding on schools for the children, choosing where to live and generally all the hassles that accompany such an upheaval. Not mention working a job too! Well, I don’t want to bore you with the ins and outs of my life at the moment but such is the state of things. Thus it is into this maelstrom of chaos that I try to find my gaming compass and look for some direction and inspiration from my dice. Truth be told, I’ve not had my gaming mojo on and to quote the wise Vince Noir from Season 3 of The Mighty Boosh “I’m just not feeling it”. Basically to much going on to want to set-up a game. Although in a way I’m making excuses, I’m sure rolling some dice and moving some figures around (the ones not boxed up in storage) would be amazing therapy. Never underestimate the power of gaming for one’s mental health. This episode I’m coming to you from the Slovak-Hungarian border a second time as I’ve dropped off my two daughters to be with their family while the wife and I run around finalising things both in The Netherlands and our new home of Switzerland. Still lots to be done so I thought I’d force myself to take a walk and muse about games to try and take my mind off things – and it worked! Today’s game in question is Free League Publishing’s ‘The One Ring’ starter set. A rather nice package that delves into JRR Tolkien’s world by taking The Shire as a starting point and by use of a simple and easy to grasp two D12 and D6 pool system. The box contains three booklets, cards, character sheets, dice, a huge map and even has information on the inside of both box halves. The game practically bursts out at you. I guess in a small way I’m surprised I bought this as I already have two other Middle Earth set games – ICE’s MERP and Decipher’s Lord of the Rings Role Playing Adventure Game – so why buy another? Impulse is one reason, it looked to good to pass-up. But also I suppose like every Tolkien fan I’m always seeing what other game designers’ take on Middle Earth is. Is it hack & slay, lots of journeying and moral dilemmas or something else. Without giving to much away, I think The One Ring does things rather well. I may even buy the incredibly light rule book some time. One the technical side of things, apologies for the wind howl on parts of this recording. Hope it doesn’t bore into your mind like the Eye of Sauron…!